CAPF 2016

Modern Indian Literature (Bengali)

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which of the following statements about the Bengali literary epic, Meghnad Badh Kabya (1861), is/are correct? 1. It was written by Michael Madhusudan Dutta. 2. It draws upon existing Hindu and Jain traditions of Ramayana. 3. It was translated into Assamese and Hindi. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept 'Meghnad Badh Kabya' is the first modern epic in an Indian language, introducing blank verse and a 'tragic hero' perspective to the traditional Ramayana story.

Explanation Written by Michael Madhusudan Dutta in 1861. It draws from Valmiki, the Krittivasi Ramayana, and potentially Jain versions where Ravana’s side is more humanized.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Statement 1 is correct; it is Dutta's most famous work.
Logic 2: Statement 2 is correct; the poet used diverse Ramayana sources to depict Meghnad as a heroic, patriotic tragic figure.
Logic 3: Statement 3 is incorrect. While globally famous, it was not immediately translated into Assamese and Hindi during that era; its first significant English translation was in 1924.

Active Recall

Question

What was the technical innovation in Meghnad Badh Kabya?

Answer

It introduced 'Amitrakshar Chhanda' or blank verse into Indian literature, breaking the traditional rhyme constraints.

Core Insight

The poem is a hallmark of the 19th-century intellectual shift where classical Indian myths were re-imagined through European epic sensibilities.