Hello Everyone, This blog is a part of thinking activity.
- Assigned by Megha ma'am.
1) Write a critical note on Lakshman by Toru Dutt.
Toru Dutt :
Tarulatta Datta, popularly known as Toru Dutt (Bengali: তরু দত্ত; 4 March 1856 – 30 August 1877) was an Indian Bengali poet and translator from British India, who wrote in English and French. She is among the founding figures of Indo-Anglian literature, alongside Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809–1831), Manmohan Ghose (1869–1924), and Sarojini Naidu (1879–1949). She is known for her volumes of poetry in English, Sita, A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields (1876) and Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan (1882), and for a novel in French, Le Journal de Mademoiselle d'Arvers (1879). Her poems explore themes of loneliness, longing, patriotism and nostalgia. Dutt died at the age of 21 of tuberculosis.
About the Poem :-
Toru Dutt’s poem Lakshman is a dramatic retelling of an episode from the Ramayana, focusing on the emotional confrontation between Lakshman and Sita during Lord Rama’s exile. The poem captures Lakshman’s dilemma and Sita’s fear, set against the backdrop of the ancient Indian epic. It explores themes of duty, love, and the clash between rationality and emotion, while incorporating elements of the original story with poetic embellishment.
Background of the Poem:
Lakshman by Toru Dutt is based on a famous episode from The Ramayana, focusing on the intense interaction between Sita and Lakshman during Rama's absence. The poem is written in the form of dramatic dialogue, where Sita’s fears for Rama’s safety clash with Lakshman’s steadfast faith in his brother’s strength. Dutt uses this episode to explore themes of duty, trust, and misunderstanding.
Role of Maricha:
Maricha plays a crucial role in sparking the conflict between Sita and Lakshman. Disguised as a golden deer to lure Rama away, Maricha, following Ravana’s orders, imitates Rama’s voice, crying out for help to manipulate Sita's emotions. This fabricated cry creates a rift between Sita and Lakshman as Sita becomes overwhelmed with fear and suspicion.
The pivotal moment occurs when Sita hears the cry:
"Hark! Lakshman! Hark, again that cry!
It is, — it is my husband's voice!
Oh hasten, to his succour fly,
No more hast thou, dear friend, a choice."
This cry from the disguised Maricha initiates Sita’s panic and sets off a series of accusations against Lakshman, forcing him into a difficult moral dilemma.
Sita's Allegations Against Lakshman:
Sita’s response to hearing Rama’s cry is immediate and emotional. She implores Lakshman to go to Rama’s aid. However, Lakshman remains calm, believing that Rama cannot be in real danger. This calmness frustrates Sita, who interprets his hesitation as indifference, or worse, as malicious intent.
In her desperation, Sita accuses Lakshman of cowardice and even suggests that he harbors sinister motives:
"Is it my brother that I see!"
"What makes thee loth to leave this spot?
Is there a motive thou wouldst hide?"
Sita's accusations escalate to a point where she questions Lakshman’s loyalty to Rama and insinuates that he might desire her for himself:
"He perishes — well, let him die!
His wife henceforth shall be mine own!
Can that thought deep imbedded lie
Within thy heart’s most secret zone!"
This scene showcases Sita's vulnerability and emotional distress, pushing her to accuse Lakshman of betrayal, a stark contrast to her typically composed and devoted image.
Lakshman’s Inner Conflict:
Lakshman’s role in the poem highlights his unwavering sense of duty. He is caught between obeying Rama’s command to protect Sita and responding to her plea for help. Despite Sita’s accusations, Lakshman remains respectful and composed. He explains the power and invincibility of Rama, attempting to soothe her fears:
"No cause is there for any fear,
Hast thou his prowess never seen?
Wipe off for shame that dastard tear!"
Lakshman’s calm reasoning reflects his deep belief in Rama’s strength and abilities. However, Sita’s persistence in her accusations deeply wounds him, but he ultimately decides to leave in response to her demands:
"Have I deserved this at thine hand?
Of lifelong loyalty and truth
Is this the meed?"
Before leaving, Lakshman draws a protective line (Lakshman Rekha) around the hermitage to ensure Sita's safety:
"Here with an arrow, lo, I trace
A magic circle ere I leave,
No evil thing within this space
May come to harm thee or to grieve."
This scene illustrates Lakshman’s deep sense of duty and love for his family, despite the harsh accusations against him.
Themes :
1. Duty and Loyalty:
The conflict in the poem revolves around Lakshman’s sense of duty. He is torn between his promise to Rama to protect Sita and Sita’s insistence that he rescue Rama. Lakshman’s internal struggle highlights the theme of loyalty, as he ultimately sacrifices his own feelings to fulfill his duty.
2. Mistrust and Misunderstanding:
The poem vividly captures the emotional turmoil that mistrust can create. Sita’s sudden doubt in Lakshman’s loyalty reflects her vulnerability in the face of uncertainty and danger. The poem emphasizes how fear can cloud judgment, leading to misunderstandings between even the most loyal of family members.
3. Sacrifice:
Lakshman’s decision to leave Sita unprotected, despite knowing the dangers, showcases the theme of sacrifice. He risks both Sita’s safety and his own life to adhere to her demands, despite the accusations against his character.
4. Gender and Power:
Sita’s portrayal in the poem contrasts with traditional depictions of her as a passive and submissive figure. Here, she is assertive and confrontational, commanding Lakshman to act according to her wishes. This shift in Sita’s character underscores the theme of power dynamics in relationships, particularly the role of women in decision-making.
Conclusion:
Toru Dutt’s Lakshman offers a nuanced portrayal of Sita, highlighting her human vulnerabilities in moments of crisis. While still devoted to Rama, her fear and mistrust push her to harshly accuse Lakshman, exposing a more emotionally complex side of her character than the idealized version in The Ramayana. Lakshman’s character, on the other hand, embodies loyalty, sacrifice, and moral integrity, as he endures Sita’s accusations and ultimately chooses duty over personal feelings. The poem effectively explores themes of loyalty, mistrust, and the complexities of human relationships, making it a powerful retelling of this episode from The Ramayana.
2) Do you think the character of Sita portrayed by Toru Dutt in her poem Lakshman differs from the ideal image of Sita presented in The Ramayana?
Ans. Yes, Toru Dutt's portrayal of Sita in the poem Lakshman is different from the ideal image of Sita in The Ramayana. In Dutt’s poem, Sita is shown as more emotional, impatient, and even doubtful, whereas in The Ramayana, Sita is often seen as calm, patient, and completely trusting of those around her. Let’s break it down with examples from the poem.
1. Sita's Emotional Reactions and Doubts
In The Ramayana, Sita is generally portrayed as a figure of patience and faith. However, in Dutt's poem, Sita is quick to question Lakshman when she hears what she thinks is Rama's cry for help. She urges him to go and rescue Rama without thinking much. She becomes very anxious and accuses Lakshman of not wanting to help his brother:
"Why standest thou, as magic-bound?"
Sita even goes further and makes very serious accusations against Lakshman. She suggests that he might want Rama to die so that he can have her for himself:
"He perishes — well, let him die!
His wife henceforth shall be mine own!
Can that thought deep imbedded lie
Within thy heart’s most secret zone?"
This is a big departure from the gentle and trusting Sita of The Ramayana. In the traditional version, Sita never questions Lakshman’s loyalty in such a harsh way.
2. Sita’s Anger and Assertiveness
Another difference is that Toru Dutt’s Sita is more assertive and even angry. She challenges Lakshman’s courage and accuses him of cowardice for not rushing to help Rama immediately:
"Art thou a coward? I have seen
Thy bearing in the battle-fray
Where flew the death-fraught arrows keen,
Else had I judged thee so today."
In The Ramayana, Sita is not usually portrayed as so harsh. Here, she speaks with frustration and anger, which makes her seem more human and emotional.
3. Her Determination
In the poem, Sita even decides to go on her own if Lakshman won’t help her. This shows her as more independent and determined, something not usually highlighted in the original text:
"I must run alone,
For further here I cannot stay."
In contrast, in The Ramayana, Sita usually waits for others to rescue her, rather than taking matters into her own hands.
4. Sita’s Loyalty to Rama
However, even in Dutt’s version, Sita’s love and loyalty to Rama are clear. Her accusations and emotional outbursts come from her deep worry for Rama’s safety. She is ready to die for him:
"If fire can burn, or water drown,
I follow him: — choose what thou wilt
Truth with its everlasting crown,
Or falsehood, treachery, and guilt."
This shows that despite the differences, Sita’s core devotion to Rama remains the same in both the poem and The Ramayana.
Conclusion
In Lakshman, Toru Dutt presents a more emotional and impatient Sita, who accuses and challenges Lakshman in ways that the idealized Sita of The Ramayana would not. However, at her core, Sita’s love and loyalty to Rama remain unchanged. Dutt’s version highlights a more human and flawed Sita, making her a more relatable figure while still keeping her devotion intact.
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