Published Paper Details:

Toru Dutt is a leading Indian woman poetess in English. She translated the French lyrics one hundred and sixty in all, by some seventy different poets-into English verse, which were later published under the title, A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields. This book (which includes a few renderings by Aru also) attaracted the attention of eminent critics and scholars not only in France, but also in Englamd, and was reviewed by Edmund Gosse. Toru�s command of English language and the richness and variety of her poetic idiom are amazing. In fact, her translations are nothing but transcreation and reveals the force of her personality in its relatedness with greater cultural and literary heritage. For example, in the translation of Vincent Arnault�s �The Leaf� Toru achieves a heightening of emotion, and communicates not only the original poet�s sensibility, but also her own. Toru�s ballads and legends are significant not merely as cultural and philosophical anthropology, but also as, what Cleanth Brooks calls in a different contexts �a political or religious or moral instrument� The ballads are interspersed with serious observations that suggest much profound thought and familiarity with the best expositions of the Hindu philosophy. In fact, the poet has used Indian myths and fables to illustrate certain moral laws which give final beauty to human life. Thus, the story of Prahlad yields a political and moral lessons authentic enough to constitute the fire and force of a revolution in all times and all climes. Legends of Hindustan are essentially romantic in the treatment of themes. The profusion of lyricism and humanization of supernaturalism link Toru Dutt with the English romantic poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge.