Romantic Literary Influence on Toru Dutt’s Savitri: An Analysis

Toru Dutt, the first poetess of Indian Writing in English, was very fortunate woman of the contemporarytime. Fortunate in terms to be born in a well-educated and well-established family of Bengal that not onlygave her wings to fly high through English education but also liberty to paint her imagination with herpowerful pen in the form of literary works. Her only known poetical work is Ancient Ballads and Legendsof Hindustan. The work consists a very few poems but gave a recognition to Toru as the first poetess.Among the sixteen poems in Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan, „Savitri‟ is the first and one of themost famous poems. The legend or myth of Savitri can be considered as remarkable in case of a youngwriter as Toru Dutt. Sita and Savitri have been ideals for Indian womanhood since ages. Toru‟s attempt canbe seen as a continuity in Indian literary tradition. It is Sri Aurobindo who employs the myth of Savitri torelate it with the spiritual reawakening of the nation. Before Toru, no one attempted the story of Savitri inEnglish. She composed this story so effectively that it was well received by the readers and critics as well.It is the longest poem in the volume and is divided into five parts. It narrates the story of Savitri‟s fortuneand her encounter with Yama, the god of death. This ballad is divided into five part. In the first part, thereare information about Savitri‟s birth, parents and Narad Muni‟s approval of her marriage with the love of herheart. The second part narrates Savitri‟s marriage with Satyavan, her going to the hermitage, her constantdevotion to gods and goddesses by keeping fasts and vigils and by offering them prayers, Satyavan‟sdeparture for the forest along with Savitri, and the acute pain in Satyavan‟s head. In the third part, Death‟scourt is narrated, and the decision of Yama to go himself for the soul of Satyavan is communicated. Thefourth begins with Yama‟s arrival, Savitri‟s persistent following of Yama, and the philosophical discussionof Savitri which pleases Yama so much that he grants her three boons which also includes Satyavan‟s life. Inthe fifth and last part is the result of Savitri‟s intelligence. It narrates Satyavan‟s recovering ofconsciousness, a happy reunion of his with her wife and his pleasant talk with her, their return to thehermitage, and their happy domestic life.