Lakshman (poem) by Toru Dutt

 Thinking Activity:- Lakshman (poem) by Toru Dutt

Hello Readers! This blog is a response to the thinking activity, which was assigned by Megha ma'am, Department of English,MKBU. In this blog I am going to discuss one Poem "Lakshman" by Toru Dutt. 

Write a critical note on poem "Lakshman" by Toru Dutt.

Introduction of the Author:-

Toru Dutt:-

Toru Dutt popularly known as Tarulatta Datta. She was an Indian Bengali poet & 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, Manmohan Ghosh and Sarojini Naidu. She is known for her volumes of poetry in English, Sita, A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields and Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan, and for a novel in French , Le Journal de Mademoiselle d'Arvers. Her poems explore themes of loneliness, longing, patriotism and nostalgia. Dutt died at the age of 21 of tuberculosis.

Notable works:-

She is known for her volumes of poetry in English. Her notable works are below.

• Sita

• A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields

• Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan

• For a novel in French

• Le journal de Mademoiselle d'Arvers

Critical note of the Poem:-

Lakshman:-

Lakshman, a narrative poem, draws inspiration from Hindu mythology's Ramayana by Valmiki. It centres around Lakshmana, the son of Dashrath, who becomes the hero of this story. When Ram, his elder brother, is exiled from Ayodhya with his beloved wife Sita on the King's orders, Lakshman joins them as their protector, demonstrating his unwavering loyalty and deep affection for his elder brother.

This poem Lakshman is based on Indian myths. The poem is about Sita's Allegation and Goddess Sita vs Human Sita. This poem Lakshman carries the one line story of Sita's argument with Lakshman in the absence of Ram. The poem consists of twenty -two stanzas and eight lines for each with alternative rhymes. It is in ballad form with eight lines, yet standard ballad consists of four lines. Direct application of terms from the original Sanskrit text are "succour", "Videhan Queen ''.

In this pivotal moment from the epic Ramayana, Sita, under the illusion created by Maricha's cry ( a golden deer, magical form of Maricha ) ; Sita urges Lakshman to move from the bower for the rescue of their beloved husband, Ram. However, Lakshman, torn between his duty to obey Ram's command to guard Sita in the midst of the forest. Understanding the seriousness of the situation, she refuses to obey her words. Recognising the gravity of the situation and the potential danger, he steadfastly refuses to heed Sita's words. Sita, consumed by anger for Ram's safety,  directs bitter accusations towards Lakshman, questioning his loyalty both to her and her husband. In this tumultuous moment, Lakshman finds himself in an agonising predicament, torn between his unwavering devotion to his brother's orders and the emotional distress of Sita's allegations. 

The poem takes this story from the Ramayana and opens up the discussion between Sita and Lakshman, expanding it beyond what is present in the epic. Still, much of the core elements of their diolouge are preserved from the epic. first, Sita warns Lakshman to take heed of what are allegedly Rama's cries. When Lakshman tries to councel Sita otherwise, she accuses him of conspiring to bring Rama down and take her for his own wife. Lakshman is harmed by her words and finally bows to her wishes, drawing a circle with arrows that she is not to cross while he goes out to assist Rama. Despite the fact that Sita is enraged and has hurt Lakshman's feelings, however , he is calm, only speaking to bless Sita and pray that the deities of the forest will keep her safe when he leaves. The poem ends with a "sorrow dark" on Lakshman's face and a "Vulture scream" as he departs.

Sita's Allegations on helpless Lakshman:-

When Maricha's deceitful cries reached Sita's ears, she initially implored Lakshman to go to Ram's assistance. Her initial plea slowly transformed into a more earnest request, and eventually, it evolved into a furious reprimed directed at Lakshman. Throughout this episode, both Lakshman and Sita played prominent roles in the poem, while other characters such as Ram, Ravan, and the illusory golden deer Maricha remained offstage. In certain verses, we could discern the courageous valor of Ram through the arguments and words of Lakshman.

As Sita anxioly kept urging Lakshman to help and assist Ram as he believes her beloved husband is surrounded by the evil creatures, Lakshman tries to wipe out the causeless fear which exists there in her mind. Sita, overwhelmed by love, refused to heed his words. In her emotional state, she even threatened to go rescue Ram by herself if Lakshman didn't comply. 

"Oh no, and I must run alone,

For Further here I cannot stay;"

Lakshman, in his earnest attempt to reassure Sita, draws her attention to a captivating aspect of their situation. He shares with her the notion that the aura of lord Ram's power and strength knows no distinction between divine and malevolent beings. Even the most fearsome creatures of the forest, from serpents to pythons, are equally daunted by his might. It is as if an invisible tapestry of enchantment has been woven by their adversaries in the woods, crafting a web of deceit to cloud their minds.

"The Lion and the grisly bear

Cower when they see his royal look,...

Erect before in hooded pride."

Sita, noticing Lakshman's delay in rescuing his brother, began to question his loyalty and affection for Ram. She compared Lakshman to a star that only shines because of the sun's radiance and declared that he seemed insignificant without his brother's presence.

"But then thy leader stood beside!

Dazzle the cloud when shines the sun,

Reft of his radiance, see it glide

A shapeless mass of vapours dun;"

Sita taunted Lakshman by mentioning that one of Ram's brothers had taken his kingdom, and now another brother was seemingly trying to take his wife. These words were meant to upset him, but instead of getting angry, they deeply hurt Lakshman. He felt helpless because he couldn't defend himself against these accusations, as they came from his beloved brother, but he found the courage to stand up for Sita's sake.

…One brother takes

His Kingdom, -one takes his wife!

A fair partition!"

Lakshman decided to leave the shelter but had a responsibility to protect Sita from potential harm. Before he left, he drew a protective line around their space and asked Sita not to cross it, known as the "Lakshman Rekha." Despite Sita's accusations and complaints, he sought her blessings before departing, hoping to return quickly with Ram. Notably, he didn't look at Sita's face while taking her blessings, showing his deep respect for his. Brother's wife.

The poem concludes with Lakshman's hope that if he can't protect Sita, nature will come to rescue her. As he left their shelter, he heard the ominous of a vulture, a. Sign of impending trouble. This foreshadowed Sita's future challenges with the Lanka King, Ravan. 

"... Hoarse the vulture screamed,

As he strode with dauntless air."

In Toru's work, Sita is portrayed as an ordinary woman who is responsible for her life's struggle. While the story draws from the original Ramayana, it places a strong emphasis on nature and the concepts of good and evil spirits. However, the character of Lakshman remains true to the original text, reflecting his noble qualities and moments of helplessness. Toru's work transforms the mythological tale into a poem , presented in simple and straightforward language.

Conclusion:-

To sum up, this Poem "Lakshman" by Toru Dutt is that it highlights the inner conflicts and complexities of the characters, particularly women, responsible for her own struggles, while still maintaining the essence of these characters. Ultimately, it conveys the idea that even the most revered and legendary figures can be seen from different perspectives, with both strength and vulnerabilities. It encourages readers to view well - known stories and characters in a new light and to appreciate the depth of human experience within them.