A Literary Review on Toru Dutt’s Savitri

Abstract

Among the sixteen poems in Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan, ‘Savitri’ is the first and one of the
most famous poems. The legend or myth of Savitri can be considered as remarkable in case of a young
writer as Toru Dutt. Sita and Savitri have been ideals for Indian womanhood since ages. Toru’s attempt can
be seen as a continuity in Indian literary tradition. It is Sri Aurobindo who employs the myth of Savitri to
relate it with the spiritual reawakening of the nation. Before Toru no one attempted the story of Savitri in
English. She composed this story so effectively that it was well received by the readers and critics as well. It
is the longest poem in the volume and is divided into five parts. It narrates the story of Savitri’s fortune and
her encounter with Yama, the god of death. This ballad is divided into five part. In the first part, there are
information about Savitri’s birth, parents and Narad Muni’s approval of her marriage with the love of her
heart. The second part narrates Savitri’s marriage with Satyavan, her going to the hermitage, her constant
devotion to gods and goddesses by keeping fasts and vigils and by offering them prayers, Satyavan’s
departure for the forest along with Savitri, and the acute pain in Satyavan’s head. In the third part, Death’s
court is narrated, and the decision of Yama to go himself for the soul of Satyavan is communicated. The
fourth begins with Yama’s arrival, Savitri’s persistent following of Yama, and the philosophical discussion
of Savitri which pleases Yama so much that he grants her three boons which also includes Satyavan’s life. In
the fifth and last part is result of Savitri’s intelligence. It narrates Satyavan’s recovering of consciousness, a
happy reunion of his with her wife and his pleasant talk with her, their return to the hermitage, and their
happy domestic life. Though, Toru referred to strike more originality in the composition of her poems,
Romantic influences cannot be eschewed and so it can be marked at many places. In ‘Savitri’, Toru
embraces some of the Romantic elements, in an Indian context, like supernaturalism, Romantic love, and
images of death, and Nature with full zeal. The poem opens with the beautiful imageries of Nature for
Savitri. Savitri’s extraordinary charm is wonderfully described in the following lines:
‘The sweet simplicity and grace, / Abashed the boldest; but the good, / God’s purity there
loved to trace, / Mirrored in dawning womanhood.’ (131)