Toru Dutt

Toru Dutt Biography

Toru Dutt was an Indian poet from Kolkata who wrote in English and French, and made a mark in literature in spite of her premature death. Born on March 4, 1856, she had an early death on August 30, 1877, aged 21. At the time of her death, she left behind two unpublished novels, Le Journal de Mademoiselle d’Arvers and Bianca, or the Young Spanish Maiden and an unfinished volume of original poems in English, Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan discovered by her father after her death. ‘Le Journal de Mademoiselle d’ Arvers’ is regarded as the first novel in French by an Indian writer and ‘Bianca, or the Young Spanish Maiden’ is thought to be the first novel in English by an Indian woman writer.

Born in Kolkata, her higher studies were done in London where she learnt French. She lived in Cambridge during 1871-1873 and attended the Higher Lectures for Women at the University. She became a friend of Mary Martin, the daughter of Reverend John Martin of Sidney Sussex College and their friendship continued even after she returned to India. Letters written by her to her cousins during her stay in London is included in her collection of correspondence. Toru Dutt was a natural linguist and was proficient in many languages like English, French and Sanskrit, apart from her mother tongue Bengali.

She left behind an impressive collection of prose and poetry. Both her novels are unfinished! Both of them contained non-Indians as characters and first attempt made by an Indian lady on both these foreign languages. A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields and Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan are poetry translation and adapted works. ‘A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields’, is a volume of French poems she had translated into English. Eight of the poems had been translated by her elder sister Aru. Her popular poems are Love Came to Flora Asking for a Flower, The Young Captive, Sonnet, Christmas and My Vocation.

Published: N/A

Updated: December 30, 2017