Culture and Civilization in Toru Dutt’s Ancient Ballads of Hindustan

Abstract

Toru Dutt was a poet, novelist, essayist, translator and polyglot. She was an outstanding pioneer in the history of Indian literature. In the sphere of Indo-English poetry the era of Renaissance may be termed as the ‘Age of Dutts’ because the age was dominated by the two sisters Toru and Aru and renowned poetical man Romesh Chandra Dutt. Toru Dutt originated in a tradition in poetry which had to go, wait till Sri Aurobindo for a mature handling. She gave something fresh in English language. It was with her that Indian English Poetry really shifted from artificialness to genuineness. Toru’s poetry indicates strongly her sense of roots, the beginning of her exploration and expression of her commitment to her Indian self and cultural environment. Toru Dutt placed her country on world literary map brought fame on international map of letters. It is very clear that Toru inherited rich intellectual and moral treasurers from her parents and country.