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The First Modern Rebel Poet of Bangla Literature
By Fokhruz Zaman, a MMS Datta fan!
(2nd March, 2013, ISD Bangla Language Festival, Dhaka)
Michael Modhusudan Datta
(MMS Datta, 1824-73)
Quick Discussion Points
Why is Modhusudan still relevant?
Who is MMS Datta?
How did he became MMS Datta?
How can he still contribute to our Literature?
Where do we go from here?
Why is Modhusudan still relevant?
The first modern rebel Bangla Poet
Still the greatest verse-novel epic Writer in Bangla
Still the greatest Bangla Sonnet Writer
Liberated Bangla Poetry by introducing Blank-Verse
Liberated Bangla Drama, 2 greatest satires still modern!
Our “true” son of the soil from Sagardari, Jessore!
Who is MMS Datta?
Our “son of the soil”: born in 1824 (25 Jan), Sagardari, Jessore (only surviving child)
Father: Raj Narayan Datta; Mother: Janhobi Devi
A true genius and child prodigy! But pampered only child! Rebellious to all customs!
A Gifted Linguist and Polyglot
English, Bangla, Sanskrit and Tamil
Greek and Latin
Italian and French
Intense Infatuation with English / European Culture & Literature!
Luckily applied his Genius to the Bangla Literature later!
Who is MMS Datta?
Creative Life in 5 parts:
Calcutta (1833-48)
Madras (1848-56)
Calcutta (1856-62)
England & France (1862-67)
Calcutta (1867-73)
Converted to Christianity to escape early Marriage & to go to England!
Onset of creative surges: Wrote Poems, Dramas, Epics with great speed!
A Very Introvert Person, But loved to show-off!
MMS Datta Creations …
1. The Captive Ladie, 1849
2. Rizia, the Empress of Inde (unfinished play), Nov 1849-Jan 50
3. The Anglo-Saxon and the Hindus, 1854
4. Ratnavali, 1858
5. Sermista in both Bangla and English, Jan 1859
6. Ekei Ki Bole Sovyota (Is this called Civilization?), 1860
7. Buro Shaliker Ghare Rown in Bangla, 1860
MMS Datta Creations …
8. Padmavati in Bangla, 1860 (April-May)
9. Tilottoma Shomvob Kavya, 1860 (May)
10. Meghnad Bodh Kavya, Part-1 (Ballad of Meghnad), 1861, Jan
11. KrishnaKumari Natok, 1861
12. Brajangana, 1861 (July)
13. Meghnad Bodh Kavya, Part-2 (Ballad of Meghnad), 1861,
(July-Aug)
14. Virangona Kavya, 1862 (February)
MMS Datta Creations …
15. Choturdoshpodi Kobitaboli (Sonnets), 1866 (August)
16. Hector Bodh Kavya (from Homer…), 1871 (September)
17. MayaKanon Natok, posthumous, 1874 (March)
One of the Greatest Bangla Poet
MMS Datta Died on 29th June, 1873
How Did He Become MMS Datta?...
The Hindu College in the 1830s
was producing many Genius
Leaders…
Rebel Henry Luis Vivian Derozio
At Hindu College.. Initiated the
Young Bengals’ Movement…
How Did He Become MMS Datta?...
How Did He Become MMS Datta?...
David Lester Richardson, Poet’s
Mentor and Guru…
How Did He Become MMS Datta?...
David Lester Richardson’s
Anthology Influenced young Modhu
How Did He Become MMS Datta?...
Gour Das Basak, Poet’s Lifelong
Friend and Critic
How Did He Become MMS Datta?...
Raj Narayan Bosu, Poet’s Friend
and Critic
How Did He Become MMS Datta?...
Learnt Greek, Latin & Classical
Literature in Bishops’ College
How Did He Become MMS Datta?...
Henrietta, his life-partner in the
final years after Rebecca…
How Did He Become MMS Datta?...
Raja Pratap Chandra Singha
Patronizer of the Great Poet
Raja Ishwar Chandra Singha
Patronizer of the Great Poet
How Did He Become MMS Datta?...
How Did He Become MMS Datta?...
The Great Ishwar Chandra Vidya
Sagar Patronizer of the Great Poet
How can He still contribute to our
Literature…?
Adopting his modern rebel style to innovate Bangla
Rigorous R&D into both his finished and unfinished works
Adopting the Linguistic and Polyglot Style…
Derivative works in both his English and Bangla creations
Enrich the Bangla Sonnets more with his style!
Discovering many hidden jewels from all his creations!
How can He still contribute to our
Literature…?
Oh! who can look upon the plain, Where sleep the glorious - mighty slain, Brave Hearts that for their country bled, And read upon their eyes, tho' seal'd, The proud defiance there revealed, Lit by each spirit ere it fled - Or, mark the fierce disdain that lies, Upon their lips and and yet defies,- Unquench'd by Death, like the last ray, Of the set sun, still lingering there, As if too loth to pass away, But scorch and blast with lightning glare,- Nor feel his blood within his vein, Rage like the tempest-stirred main, As if to burst - to gush - to flow - And sweep away Fair Freedom's foe, Nor madly long to wield the brand, To save - defend - his Native Land...
How can He still contribute to our
Literature…?
”
How can He still contribute to our
Literature…?
How can He still contribute to our
Literature…?
Where do we go from here?
Why don’t we create MMS Datta Study Circles / Workshops?
Why don’t we build a rich Library at Sagardari, Jessore?
Why don’t we annotate / re-write his epics using modern
Bangla?
Why don’t arrange MMS Datta Literary Festival in schools?
Why don’t we spread his words and literature around the
world?
Why don’t we plan to arrange a grand 200-years Celebration
of MMS Datta in Bangladesh & across the World in the 2024?
Acknowledgements:
Modhusudan Collections, 1965 by Dr. Khetro Gupta
Lured by Hope, 1995 – by Ghulam Murshid
Michael for All, 2009 – by Ghulam Murshid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Madhusudan_Dut
t
http://open-poems.blogspot.com