Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1-2)

Michael Madhusudan Dutta was a popular 19^th century Bengali poet and dramatist. He was born in Sagordari on the bank of the Kopotaksho river, a village in Keshobpur Upozilla under Jessore district. From an early age, Dutt aspired to be an Englishman in form and manner. Though he was born in a shophisticated Hindu family, he took Christianity as young man, much to the ire of his family, and adopted the first name Michael. In his childhood, he was recognized by his teachers as a precious child with a gift of literary talent. His early exposure to English education and European literature at home and at his college inspired him to imitate the English in taste, manners and intellect.

Since his adolescence, he started believing that he was born on the wrong side of the planet, and that his society was unable to appreciate his intellect. He also believed that the West would be more respective to his creative genius.

Michael was an ardent follower of the famous English poet Lord Byron. So after adopting Christianity, he went to Europe and started composing poetry and drama almost entirely in English. They showed his higher level of intellectual ability. However, he failed to gain the right appreciation. To his utter frustration, he found that he was not esteemed as a native writer of English literature. Out of his frustration, he composed a sonnet in Bangla “Kopotaksha Nad” which earned him huge reputation in Bangla. Gradually he could realize that his identity lay in Bengal and he was a sojourner in Europe. Afterwards he regretted his fascination for England and the West. He came to Bengal and devoted himself to Bangla literature from this period. He is the poet to write the first Bangla epicMeghnad Badh Kabya.

মাইকেল মধুসূদন দত্ত ছিলেন ১৯ শতকের একজন জনপ্রিয় বাঙালি কবি ও নাট্যকার। তিনি যশোর জেলার কেশবপুর উপজেলার কপোতাক্ষ নদের তীরে সাগরদাঁড়ি গ্রামে জন্মগ্রহণ করেন। অল্প বয়স থেকেই দত্ত রূপে ও চরিত্রে ইংরেজ হওয়ার আকাঙ্ক্ষা করতেন। যদিও তিনি একটি সম্ভ্রান্ত হিন্দু পরিবারে জন্মগ্রহণ করেছিলেন, তিনি তরুণ বয়সে খ্রিস্ট ধর্ম গ্রহণ করেন, যা তার পরিবারের চরম অসন্তোষের কারণ হয়েছিল, এবং মাইকেল নামটি গ্রহণ করেন। তার শৈশবে, শিক্ষকরা তাকে সাহিত্য প্রতিভাধর একটি অমূল্য শিশু হিসাবে চিনতে পেরেছিলেন। বাড়িতে এবং কলেজে ইংরেজি শিক্ষা ও ইউরোপীয় সাহিত্যের সাথে তার প্রাথমিক পরিচয় তাকে রুচি, আচার–আচরণ এবং বুদ্ধিমত্তায় ইংরেজদের অনুকরণ করতে অনুপ্রাণিত করেছিল।

কৈশোর থেকেই তিনি বিশ্বাস করতে শুরু করেন যে তিনি গ্রহের ভুল দিকে জন্মগ্রহণ করেছেন এবং তার সমাজ তার বুদ্ধিকে মূল্যায়ন করতে অক্ষম। তিনি আরও বিশ্বাস করতেন যে পশ্চিম তার সৃজনশীল প্রতিভার প্রতি আরও শ্রদ্ধাশীল হবে।

মাইকেল বিখ্যাত ইংরেজ কবি লর্ড বায়রনের একজন অনুরাগী ছিলেন। তাই খ্রিস্ট ধর্ম গ্রহণের পর তিনি ইউরোপে যান এবং প্রায় সম্পূর্ণ ইংরেজিতে কবিতা ও নাটক রচনা শুরু করেন। সেগুলো তার উচ্চ স্তরের বৌদ্ধিক ক্ষমতা প্রদর্শন করেছিল। তবে, তিনি সঠিক প্রশংসা অর্জন করতে ব্যর্থ হন। তার চরম হতাশার বিষয় ছিল যে তিনি ইংরেজি সাহিত্যের একজন দেশীয় লেখক হিসাবে সম্মানিত হননি। তার হতাশা থেকে, তিনি বাংলায় “কপোতাক্ষ নদ” নামে একটি সনেট রচনা করেন যা তাকে বাংলায় enorme খ্যাতি এনে দেয়। ধীরে ধীরে তিনি বুঝতে পারলেন যে তার পরিচয় বাংলার মধ্যেই নিহিত এবং তিনি ইউরোপে একজন প্রবাসী ছিলেন। এরপর তিনি ইংল্যান্ড ও পশ্চিমের প্রতি তার মুগ্ধতার জন্য অনুশোচনা করেন। এই সময় থেকে তিনি বাংলায় ফিরে আসেন এবং বাংলা সাহিত্যে নিজেকে নিয়োজিত করেন। তিনিই প্রথম বাংলা মহাকাব্য “মেঘনাদ বধ কাব্য” রচনা করেন।

Vocabulary Box: Michael Madhusudan Dutta – The Poet of Renaissance

Here are 70 MCQ questions based on the passage about Michael Madhusudan Dutta

1. What was Michael Madhusudan Dutta’s profession? (i) Novelist and painter (ii) Poet and dramatist (iii) Musician and sculptor (iv) Historian and philosopher
2. When was Michael Madhusudan Dutta a popular figure? (i) 18th century (ii) 19th century (iii) 20th century (iv) 17th century
3. Where was Michael Madhusudan Dutta born? (i) Jessore district (ii) Keshobpur Upozilla (iii) Sagordari village (iv) On the bank of Kopotaksho river
4. Which river is associated with Michael Madhusudan Dutta’s birthplace? (i) Padma (ii) Meghna (iii) Kopotaksho (iv) Jamuna
5. What was Dutt’s early aspiration regarding his identity? (i) To be a Bengali scholar (ii) To be an Indian philosopher (iii) To be an Englishman in form and manner (iv) To be a famous musician
6. From what kind of family was Dutt born? (i) A poor Muslim family (ii) A sophisticated Hindu family (iii) A middle-class Christian family (iv) An aristocratic European family
7. What religion did Dutt convert to as a young man? (i) Islam (ii) Buddhism (iii) Christianity (iv) Sikhism
8. What was his family’s reaction to his conversion? (i) They were pleased. (ii) They were indifferent. (iii) It caused them great anger. (iv) They encouraged it.
9. What first name did he adopt after converting to Christianity? (i) John (ii) David (iii) Michael (iv) Peter
10. How did his teachers recognize him in his childhood? (i) As a mischievous child (ii) As an ordinary student (iii) As a precious child with a gift of literary talent (iv) As a talented musician
11. What inspired Dutt to imitate the English in taste, manners, and intellect? (i) His travels to England (ii) His early exposure to English education and European literature (iii) His desire to impress his family (iv) His love for English food
12. What did Michael believe about his birth since his adolescence? (i) He was born in the right place. (ii) He was born on the wrong side of the planet. (iii) He was born to be a leader. (iv) He was born to be a scientist.
13. What did he believe about his own society’s ability to appreciate his intellect? (i) It was fully capable. (ii) It was unable to appreciate it. (iii) It would appreciate it in the future. (iv) It was indifferent to it.
14. Where did he believe his creative genius would be more respected? (i) In his native Bengal (ii) In India (iii) In the West (iv) In other Asian countries
15. Who was Michael an ardent follower of? (i) William Shakespeare (ii) Lord Byron (iii) John Keats (iv) Percy Bysshe Shelley
16. Where did he go after adopting Christianity? (i) America (ii) Africa (iii) Europe (iv) Australia
17. In what language did he primarily compose poetry and drama in Europe? (i) Bengali (ii) French (iii) German (iv) English
18. What did his European compositions demonstrate about him? (i) His lack of creativity (ii) His average intellectual ability (iii) His higher level of intellectual ability (iv) His poor command of English
19. What was the outcome of his efforts to gain appreciation in Europe? (i) He achieved great success. (ii) He failed to gain the right appreciation. (iii) He became famous overnight. (iv) He was widely celebrated.
20. What was the source of his utter frustration in Europe? (i) He missed his family. (ii) He ran out of money. (iii) He was not esteemed as a native writer of English literature. (iv) He found Europe too cold.
21. What did he compose out of his frustration that earned him huge reputation in Bangla? (i) An epic poem (ii) A short story (iii) A sonnet in Bangla, “Kopotaksha Nad” (iv) A play in English
22. What did he gradually realize about his identity? (i) It lay in Europe. (ii) It lay in England. (iii) It lay in Bengal. (iv) It lay in America.
23. How did he describe himself in Europe after this realization? (i) A resident (ii) A permanent citizen (iii) A sojourner (iv) A pioneer
24. What did he regret afterwards? (i) His decision to become a poet (ii) His fascination for England and the West (iii) His family’s ire (iv) His early education
25. What did he devote himself to after returning to Bengal? (i) English literature (ii) European history (iii) Bangla literature (iv) Journalism
26. What epic poem is he credited with writing first in Bangla? (i) Mahabharata (ii) Ramayana (iii) Meghnad Badh Kabya (iv) Sonar Tari
27. What does the word ‘aspired’ imply about Dutt’s desire? (i) He faintly wished (ii) He had a strong ambition (iii) He was forced (iv) He had no interest
28. The phrase “born on the wrong side of the planet” indicates Dutt’s feeling of: (i) Geographical confusion (ii) Cultural alienation (iii) Superiority (iv) Inferiority
29. What type of family was Dutt born into? (i) Orthodox (ii) Modern (iii) Traditional (iv) Sophisticated
30. What was a significant turning point in Dutt’s life that angered his family? (i) His decision to go to Europe (ii) His conversion to Christianity (iii) His pursuit of English literature (iv) His writing in Bangla
31. What did Dutt’s teachers recognize in him early on? (i) His mathematical skills (ii) His athletic abilities (iii) His literary talent (iv) His leadership qualities
32. Where did Dutt’s early exposure to English education occur? (i) Only at college (ii) Only at home (iii) At home and at his college (iv) Through self-study only
33. What aspects of the English did Dutt try to imitate? (i) Only their language (ii) Only their dress (iii) Taste, manners, and intellect (iv) Their political system
34. Why did Dutt believe his own society was unable to appreciate his intellect? (i) It was too traditional. (ii) It was not advanced enough. (iii) He felt he was too intellectual for them. (iv) All of the above.
35. What was Dutt’s primary motivation for going to Europe? (i) To escape his family (ii) To gain appreciation for his creative genius in the West (iii) To study European languages (iv) To explore new lands
36. What was the characteristic of his English compositions? (i) They were simple. (ii) They showed high intellectual ability. (iii) They were experimental. (iv) They were commercially successful.
37. What was Dutt’s biggest disappointment in Europe? (i) Lack of financial success (ii) Not being recognized as a native English writer (iii) Poor health (iv) Missing home
38. The writing of “Kopotaksha Nad” marked a shift in Dutt’s: (i) Language preference (ii) Literary genre (iii) Political views (iv) Religious beliefs
39. What did Dutt’s success with “Kopotaksha Nad” help him realize? (i) His true calling was English literature. (ii) His identity was tied to Bengal. (iii) He should stay in Europe. (iv) He was better at sonnets than epics.
40. What does “sojourner” imply about Michael’s status in Europe? (i) He was a permanent resident. (ii) He was a temporary visitor. (iii) He was a diplomatic envoy. (iv) He was a refugee.
41. What emotional shift did Dutt experience regarding England and the West? (i) Continued fascination (ii) Growing admiration (iii) Regret for his earlier fascination (iv) Indifference
42. What significant decision did he make after realizing his identity lay in Bengal? (i) He pursued a career in law. (ii) He returned to Bengal and devoted himself to Bangla literature. (iii) He continued writing in English. (iv) He started a business.
43. Which historical period is associated with Michael Madhusudan Dutta? (i) Renaissance (ii) Romantic (iii) Victorian (iv) 19th century
44. What was the name of the first Bangla epic written by him? (i) Sitayana (ii) Birangana Kabya (iii) Meghnad Badh Kabya (iv) Tilottamasambhab Kabya
45. The passage suggests that Dutt’s early education primarily fostered his: (i) Nationalist sentiments (ii) Appreciation for Bengali culture (iii) Desire for Western imitation (iv) Religious convictions
46. What was Dutt’s perception of his own intellect compared to his society? (i) He felt his society could not appreciate his superior intellect. (ii) He believed his intellect was average for his society. (iii) He felt his society was more intellectual than him. (iv) He did not consider intellect important.
47. What did Dutt hope to achieve by composing poetry and drama in English? (i) To teach English to Bengalis (ii) To gain recognition and appreciation in the Western literary world (iii) To prove his fluency in English (iv) To make money easily
48. The phrase “utter frustration” indicates a feeling of: (i) Mild disappointment (ii) Complete and extreme disappointment (iii) Slight annoyance (iv) Confusion
49. What did the success of “Kopotaksha Nad” primarily represent for Dutt? (i) A minor achievement (ii) A temporary distraction (iii) A validation of his Bengali identity and literary potential in Bangla (iv) A stepping stone back to English literature
50. What is the overall message conveyed by Michael Madhusudan Dutta’s journey? (i) The importance of foreign travel (ii) The superiority of Western culture (iii) The realization of one’s true identity and belonging (iv) The difficulties of learning a new language
51. What was Dutt’s family’s social standing? (i) Poor (ii) Middle-class (iii) Sophisticated (iv) Unknown
52. What event caused “much to the ire of his family”? (i) His decision to become a poet (ii) His conversion to Christianity (iii) His travels to Europe (iv) His writing in English
53. What quality did his teachers identify in him during childhood? (i) Mathematical prowess (ii) Artistic skill (iii) Literary talent (iv) Scientific curiosity
54. What role did European literature play in shaping his early aspirations? (i) It discouraged him. (ii) It had no influence. (iii) It inspired him to imitate European culture. (iv) It made him appreciate Bengali literature more.
55. How did Dutt perceive his position in Bengal during his adolescence? (i) He felt perfectly integrated. (ii) He believed he was out of place. (iii) He saw himself as a future leader. (iv) He was indifferent to his position.
56. What kind of writer was Lord Byron? (i) American novelist (ii) English poet (iii) French dramatist (iv) German philosopher
57. In Europe, Michael mostly composed in which language? (i) Bengali (ii) French (iii) English (iv) Latin
58. What was the primary reason for his failure to gain appreciation in Europe? (i) Lack of talent (ii) His foreign background; he was not considered a native English writer. (iii) Poor marketing (iv) He wrote in the wrong genre.
59. What immediate consequence did his frustration in Europe lead to? (i) He gave up writing. (ii) He returned to Bengal immediately. (iii) He composed “Kopotaksha Nad” in Bangla. (iv) He changed his profession.
60. What does the realization “his identity lay in Bengal” signify? (i) He preferred the climate of Bengal. (ii) His sense of self and belonging was deeply rooted in his homeland. (iii) He found more economic opportunities in Bengal. (iv) He realized Bengali language was easier to write in.
61. What did he do after regretting his fascination for the West? (i) He continued living in Europe. (ii) He moved to America. (iii) He came back to Bengal and devoted himself to Bangla literature. (iv) He started criticizing Bengali culture.
62. What is one of Michael Madhusudan Dutta’s most famous contributions to Bangla literature mentioned? (i) Writing the first Bangla novel (ii) Writing the first Bangla epic (iii) Introducing a new form of poetry (iv) Translating English literature into Bangla
63. The passage highlights Dutt’s journey from: (i) Patriotism to nationalism (ii) Western imitation to national identity (iii) Religious conversion to atheism (iv) Success to failure
64. What impact did his early exposure to English and European literature have on him? (i) It made him dislike English. (ii) It fostered a desire to emulate European customs. (iii) It made him a Bengali nationalist. (iv) It led him to reject all foreign influences.
65. What did Dutt initially believe about his creative genius and the West? (i) The West would not understand it. (ii) The West would be more receptive to it. (iii) The West would criticize it. (iv) The West was irrelevant to it.
66. What was the nature of his early compositions in English? (i) They were simple and childish. (ii) They demonstrated advanced intellectual capability. (iii) They lacked originality. (iv) They were politically charged.
67. What was the specific frustration he experienced concerning his English writings? (i) He found English grammar too difficult. (ii) He was not considered a native English literary figure. (iii) He didn’t sell enough books. (iv) Critics ignored his work completely.
68. How did “Kopotaksha Nad” change his literary standing? (i) It made him famous in English literature. (ii) It earned him a huge reputation in Bangla literature. (iii) It was largely ignored. (iv) It caused him more frustration.
69. What does his regret for fascination with England and the West signify? (i) A financial loss. (ii) A change in his cultural and intellectual allegiance. (iii) A personal falling out with English friends. (iv) A desire to travel more.
70. What does Michael Madhusudan Dutta’s life journey primarily illustrate? (i) The challenges of emigration. (ii) The importance of self-discovery and cultural identity. (iii) The superiority of Western education. (iv) The difficulties of learning multiple languages.

Answers: 1. (ii) 2. (ii) 3. (iii) 4. (iii) 5. (iii) 6. (ii) 7. (iii) 8. (iii) 9. (iii) 10. (iii) 11. (ii) 12. (ii) 13. (ii) 14. (iii) 15. (ii) 16. (iii) 17. (iv) 18. (iii) 19. (ii) 20. (iii) 21. (iii) 22. (iii) 23. (iii) 24. (ii) 25. (iii) 26. (iii) 27. (ii) 28. (ii) 29. (iv) 30. (ii) 31. (iii) 32. (iii) 33. (iii) 34. (iv) 35. (ii) 36. (ii) 37. (ii) 38. (i) 39. (ii) 40. (ii) 41. (iii) 42. (ii) 43. (iv) 44. (iii) 45. (iii) 46. (i) 47. (ii) 48. (ii) 49. (iii) 50. (iii) 51. (iii) 52. (ii) 53. (iii) 54. (iii) 55. (ii) 56. (ii) 57. (iii) 58. (ii) 59. (iii) 60. (ii) 61. (iii) 62. (ii) 63. (ii) 64. (ii) 65. (ii) 66. (ii) 67. (ii) 68. (ii) 69. (ii) 70. (ii)

B. Write the answer of the following questions:

1. What was Michael Madhusudan Dutta’s nationality?
2. Where is Sagordari located geographically?
3. What specific details about Dutt’s family background are mentioned?
4. Why did Dutt’s family react with ire to his conversion?
5. What talents did his childhood teachers recognize in him?
6. How did his early exposure to English education influence his personal tastes?
7. What motivated Dutt’s belief that he was “born on the wrong side of the planet”?
8. Why did he feel his society couldn’t appreciate his intellect?
9. Where did Dutt go immediately after converting to Christianity?
10. What kind of intellectual ability did his English compositions demonstrate?
11. What specific form of appreciation did he fail to gain in Europe?
12. Why was he frustrated with his reception as an English writer?
13. What was the name of the Bangla sonnet he composed out of frustration?
14. How did “Kopotaksha Nad” impact his reputation?
15. What realization did he come to about his identity while in Europe?
16. What term did he use to describe his status in Europe?
17. What personal regret did he later express?
18. When did he decide to devote himself to Bangla literature?
19. What significant contribution did he make to Bangla literature in terms of genre?
20. What is the approximate period of his popularity as a poet and dramatist?
21. What did Dutt aspire to be in terms of form and manner from an early age?
22. What was his family’s religious background before his conversion?
23. What prompted him to adopt the first name Michael?
24. What specific subjects shaped his early literary inspirations?
25. How did Dutt perceive his creative genius in relation to the West?
26. Who was the English poet that Michael ardently admired?
27. What language did he use almost entirely for his early poetry and drama in Europe?
28. What was the overall outcome of his attempts to establish himself as an English writer?
29. What was the exact nature of his frustration regarding English literature?
30. What literary work marked his return to Bangla writing?
31. What did he realize about his identity that led to a significant change in his life?
32. What specific action did he take after regretting his Western fascination?
33. What is the full title of the first Bangla epic he wrote?
34. What contrast does the passage draw between Dutt’s early aspirations and later realizations?
35. How did his conversion to Christianity affect his family relations?
36. What evidence is provided of his early literary talent?
37. What specific aspects of English culture did he try to emulate?
38. What made him believe the West would be more receptive to his genius?
39. What did his higher level of intellectual ability suggest about his English writings?
40. What was the key reason for his “utter frustration” in Europe?
41. What emotional journey did Dutt undertake from adolescence through his time in Europe?
42. How did his literary success in Bangla compare to his efforts in English?
43. What did Dutt learn about the concept of belonging through his experiences?
44. What shift occurred in his literary focus after his return to Bengal?
45. What is the significance of “Meghnad Badh Kabya” in Bangla literary history?
46. What societal norms was Dutt challenging by aspiring to be an Englishman?
47. How did his parents initially view his literary talents?
48. What internal conflict is suggested by his belief that he was “born on the wrong side of the planet”?
49. What role did frustration play in his turn towards Bangla literature?
50. What final commitment did Michael Madhusudan Dutta make regarding his literary career?

Answers

1. Michael Madhusudan Dutta was a popular 19th-century Bengali poet and dramatist. He is renowned for his significant contributions to Bengali literature.
2. Sagordari is located in Keshobpur Upazila, which is under the Jessore district of Bangladesh. It lies specifically on the bank of the Kopotaksho River.
3. The passage states he was born in a sophisticated Hindu family. This background highlights the cultural and religious shift he made later in life.
4. Dutt’s family reacted with ire to his conversion because he took Christianity as a young man. This act was a significant departure from his sophisticated Hindu family’s traditions and beliefs.
5. His childhood teachers recognized him as a precious child. They noted his exceptional gift of literary talent from an early age.
6. His early exposure to English education and European literature at home and college influenced his personal tastes significantly. It inspired him to imitate the English in taste, manners, and intellect.
7. Dutt’s belief that he was “born on the wrong side of the planet” stemmed from his perception that his own society was unable to appreciate his intellect. He felt his creative genius would be more respected in the West.
8. He felt his society couldn’t appreciate his intellect because he believed it was not advanced enough to recognize his creative genius. He thought his intellectual capacity was beyond his native environment.
9. Immediately after converting to Christianity, Dutt went to Europe. There, he began composing poetry and drama primarily in English.
10. His English compositions demonstrated a higher level of intellectual ability. They showcased his profound understanding and skill in a foreign language.
11. He failed to gain the right appreciation as he was not esteemed as a native writer of English literature. This lack of recognition, despite his intellectual ability, led to his utter frustration.
12. He was frustrated with his reception as an English writer because he was not considered a native, despite his efforts. This meant his work, while intellectually strong, lacked the authentic voice that native English writers possessed.
13. The Bangla sonnet he composed out of frustration was titled “Kopotaksha Nad.” This poem marked a pivotal moment in his literary career and a return to his roots.
14. “Kopotaksha Nad” earned him a huge reputation in Bangla literature. This success helped him realize where his true identity lay.
15. While in Europe, he came to the realization that his identity lay in Bengal. He understood that he was merely a sojourner, or temporary resident, in Europe.
16. He used the term “sojourner” to describe his status in Europe. This highlights his understanding that he was a temporary visitor, not a permanent resident, despite his earlier aspirations.
17. He later expressed regret for his earlier fascination with England and the West. This regret stemmed from his realization that his true identity and belonging were in Bengal.
18. He decided to devote himself to Bangla literature from the period after his return to Bengal. This marked a significant shift from his previous focus on English compositions.
19. He made the significant contribution of writing the first Bangla epic. This monumental work was titled “Meghnad Badh Kabya.”
20. Michael Madhusudan Dutta was a popular figure in the 19th century. This places his literary contributions within a specific historical context of Bengali renaissance.
21. From an early age, Dutt aspired to be an Englishman. This aspiration encompassed adopting English form and manner in his personal style.
22. His family’s religious background was Hindu. This made his conversion to Christianity a significant and contentious event, leading to their ire.
23. He adopted the first name Michael after he took Christianity as a young man. This marked his new religious identity and was a symbolic break from his Hindu past.
24. His early exposure to English education and European literature shaped his literary inspirations. These influences led him to imitate English tastes and intellect.
25. Dutt initially perceived his creative genius as something that the West would be more receptive to. He believed his own society was incapable of appreciating his intellectual capabilities.
26. The English poet that Michael ardently admired was Lord Byron. Byron’s romantic and rebellious style likely resonated with Dutt’s own aspirations and feelings of alienation.
27. In Europe, he almost entirely used English for his early poetry and drama compositions. This was part of his ambition to be recognized as an English writer.
28. The overall outcome of his attempts to establish himself as an English writer was failure to gain the right appreciation. He found he was not esteemed as a native writer, leading to great frustration.
29. The exact nature of his frustration regarding English writings was that he was not esteemed as a native writer of English literature. This indicated that despite his intellect, he couldn’t fully penetrate the English literary circle as an insider.
30. The writing of the sonnet “Kopotaksha Nad” in Bangla marked his return to Bangla writing. This poem became hugely popular and pivotal in his literary journey.
31. His realization that his identity lay in Bengal led to a significant change in his life. This understanding prompted him to abandon his Western aspirations and dedicate himself to his native literature.
32. After regretting his Western fascination, he came back to Bengal. He then devoted himself entirely to Bangla literature from that period onwards.
33. The full title of the first Bangla epic he wrote is “Meghnad Badh Kabya.” This work remains a cornerstone of Bengali literary history.
34. The passage draws a contrast between Dutt’s early aspirations to be an Englishman and his later realization that his true identity and literary path lay in Bengal. This highlights a journey from Western imitation to embracing national identity.
35. His conversion to Christianity caused “much to the ire of his family.” This suggests a strong negative reaction, indicating a significant strain on his family relations due to his religious choice.
36. Evidence of his early literary talent is provided by his teachers’ recognition. They saw him as a “precious child with a gift of literary talent” from an early age.
37. He tried to emulate the English in taste, manners, and intellect. These were the specific cultural aspects he sought to adopt as part of his aspiration to be an Englishman.
38. He believed the West would be more receptive to his genius because he felt his own society was unable to appreciate his intellect. This belief fueled his ambition to seek recognition abroad.
39. His higher level of intellectual ability suggested that his English writings were sophisticated and skillfully composed. However, this intellectual prowess alone was not enough to earn him the desired native appreciation.
40. The key reason for his “utter frustration” in Europe was his failure to be esteemed as a native writer of English literature. Despite his talent, he remained an outsider in the English literary world.
41. Dutt undertook an emotional journey that began with adolescent alienation from his own society and a fascination with the West, leading to frustration when Western acceptance eluded him, and finally culminating in a realization of belonging and regret for his earlier Western obsession. This journey saw him move from feeling “born on the wrong side of the planet” to embracing his Bengali identity.
42. His literary success in Bangla, particularly with “Kopotaksha Nad,” earned him huge reputation, whereas his efforts in English failed to gain the right appreciation. This stark contrast led him to shift his focus entirely to Bangla literature.
43. Dutt learned that the concept of belonging was deeply tied to his native land and culture through his experiences. His European sojourn ultimately taught him that his identity was rooted in Bengal, not the West.
44. After his return to Bengal, a significant shift occurred in his literary focus: he completely devoted himself to Bangla literature. This marked the end of his English compositional pursuits.
45. “Meghnad Badh Kabya” is significant in Bangla literary history because it is the first Bangla epic poem. Its creation marked a new era for Bengali narrative poetry.
46. Dutt was challenging societal norms that expected individuals born into sophisticated Hindu families to maintain their traditional religious and cultural identities. His aspiration to be an Englishman and conversion to Christianity were significant breaks from these norms.
47. The passage indicates his teachers recognized his “gift of literary talent” in childhood. It does not explicitly state his parents’ initial view of his literary talents, only their ire over his religious conversion.
48. His belief that he was “born on the wrong side of the planet” suggests an internal conflict stemming from a perceived mismatch between his intellectual aspirations and his native environment. It hints at a feeling of being culturally misplaced.
49. Frustration played a crucial role in his turn towards Bangla literature because his inability to gain native appreciation as an English writer prompted him to compose “Kopotaksha Nad” in Bangla. The success of this poem then showed him where his true literary path lay.
50. Michael Madhusudan Dutta made a final commitment to devote himself entirely to Bangla literature. This decision came after he realized his true identity lay in Bengal and he regretted his earlier fascination with the West.