Meghnad Badh Kabya: Michael Madhusudan Dutta's Epic
Michael Madhusudan Dutta authored the 1861 Bengali epic 'Meghnad Badh Kabya', which humanized the character of Meghnad using a variety of Ramayana sources.
Primary Reference: Standard Educational Reference
Archived:
Updated:
Exam Year
2016
Evidence Source
Link ↗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.
[CAPF 2016]
Detailed Solution & Historical Context
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.
Authentic Source Evidence
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.
Analytical Breakdown
Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic
"What was the technical innovation in Meghnad Badh Kabya?"
Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip
"The poem is a hallmark of the 19th-century intellectual shift where classical Indian myths were re-imagined through European epic sensibilities."
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