Give a brief Life-Sketch of TORU DUTT.

Ans.

TORU DUTT (1856-1877) Introduction

Toru Dutt’s name is immortal in the history of Indo Anglian poetry. Her life is a peculiar blend of joy and sorrow. Her early death was a great loss to Indo-Anglian poetry. Toru was born in a Hindu family in Rambagan, Calcutta, on March 4, 1856. Toru’s father, Govin Chunder Dutt was a famous linguist. Toru’s mother, Kshetramoni, was fluent in English and Bengali. She was a great devotee of the Hindu myths and legends. It was her routine to tell a famous myth or legend daily to her children at night. It made such an impact on Toru’s mind as she composed the immortal book: Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan.

Toru’s Ill-Health-Private Tutor

Toru was weak and sick as a child. Her physical appearance was not impressive. Doctors and nurses used to attend her all the time. The shadow of death began to darken her life quite early. In spite of Kshetramoni’s deep devotion to Hinduism, in 1862, some members of the Dutt family converted to Christianity. Toru’s father became an ardent Christian. At this time, Toru was aged 6, Aru 8 and their only brother Abju 11. To teach the children a private tutor used to visit home.

Abju’s Death-A Severe Setback

The family was shaken by the untimely death of Abju at the young age of 14, in 1865. Toru and Aru felt consoled with the reading of Paradise Lost repeatedly and growing interest in literary activities.

In Europe

In 1869, the family left India for Europe. Toru and Aru attended a French school at Nice. Just after a year, the family went to London. Here Toru took lessons in music. Toru improved in French and English also. In Cambridge Toru and Aru attended lectures for women.

Back to Calcutta

In 1873, the Dutt family returned to Calcutta after four years. Now the sisters divided their time between the city-house at Rambagan and the garden-house at Baugmaree. But Aru suffered from consumption on July 23, 1874, at the early age of twenty. Aru’s death was the second severe blow that upset the family. It was for the second time that she saw death so closely. It enabled her to deal with the theme of death in Savitri

Her Untimely Death

She was ill but by 1877, her health decayed never to recover. On August 30, 1877, Toru died leaving her parents all alone. Toru was buried at the C.M.S. Cemetery in Calcutta, in a corner near her beloved brother and sister whom she had remembered in Our Casuarina Tree.