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 :
1 only
2 and 3
1 and 2
1 and 3
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2016
1. It was written by Michael Madhusudan Dutta. This is correct. It is his magnum opus, published in 1861.
2. It draws upon existing Hindu and Jain traditions of Ramayana. This is incorrect. The epic is fundamentally based on Valmiki’s Hindu Ramayana, although Dutta reinterprets characters and events from a modern, humanist perspective, often showing sympathy for the ‘villainous’ characters like Ravana and Meghnad. It does not draw upon Jain traditions of the Ramayana, which have their own distinct narratives.
3. It was translated into Assamese and Hindi. This is correct. As a highly significant work of Bengali literature, it has been translated into several Indian languages, including Assamese and Hindi, making it accessible to a wider audience.
Based on the evaluation, statements 1 and 3 are correct, while statement 2 is incorrect.
– It is based on the story of Ramayana but reinterprets it.
– The work has been translated into various Indian languages.
– The epic’s innovative style and unconventional portrayal of characters marked a significant shift in Bengali literary tradition.