Michael Madhusudan Dutt

Michael Madhusudan Dutt

Views: 4728

Category: Literature

Michael Madhusudan Dutt Profile

  • Name:
  • Michael Madhusudan Dutt
  • Spouse:
  • Henrietta Sophia White

Michael Madhusudan Dutt Biography

Michael Madhusudan Dutt was a Bengali poet and dramatist of 19th century. From an early age, Dutt aspired to be an Englishman in form and manner and hence converted to Christian, though born as a Hindu. He is addressed as ‘The father of the Bengali sonnet’ and widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in Bengali literature. He was a pioneer of Amitrakshar chhanda (blank verse). Meghnad Bodh Kavya, a tragic epic is one of his best works. He wrote poems as spoken in women’s voice. The tennis player Leander Paes is his descendant.

 

He was born in Sagordari on 25 January 1824 as the son of Rajnarayan Dutt, an eminent lawyer. His mother was Jahnabi Devi. His education was initiated at Shekpura village, at a mosque where he learnt Persian. He was a favourite student of teachers and often noticed for his imagination. First lessons of English education and European literature were done at home and later he got fascinated with English style and social life. Capt. D.L.Richardson at Hindu College influenced him a lot. His free thinking and post-Enlightenment West prompted him to adopt western culture and he believed that he was born in the wrong side of the planet.

 

He was inspired with English Romantic poet Lord Byron. Rajnarayan Basu, a noted Bengali writer was his friend and his first poem was a sonnet dedicated to him. Both these writers introduced Western classical elements into Bengali literature. Sharmistha was his first attempt at blank verse in Bengali literature. As encouraged by his Indian friends, he conducted many foreign trips. When he went to Versailles during the 1860s, Dutt was suffering poverty. Dutt was against traditional arranged marriage. In his life time, Dutt married twice. He died on 29 June 1873 at a younger age of 49. Actually Dutt’s works were ignored till 15 years after his death. Meghnad Bodh Kavya and Tilothama were among his major works.

Published: N/A

Updated: January 02, 2014

Famous People: By Profession

 
 

Suggest Rajalakshmi (writer) profile update

captcha image (Can't see? refresh)