Michael Madhusudan Dutt, or Michael Madhusudan Dutta (25 January 1824 – 29 June 1873) was a Bengali poet, writer and dramatist. Early in his childhood his exposure to English education and European literature at home and in Kolkata inspired him to emulate the English in taste, manners and intellect. Also he was inspired by his teacher at Hindu College,Calcutta, David Lester Richarson. Richardson was a poet and inspired in Dutt, the love of English poetry, particularly Byron.
Dutt began writing English poetry aged around 17 years, sending his works to publications in England, including Blackwood’s Magazine and Bentley’s Miscellany. They were, however, never published. It was during that time that he began correspondence with his friend, Gour Das Bysack, through his poems that were dedicated to the latter and had outpourings from his heart. Many of his poems speak of love.
The period during which he worked as a head clerk and later as the Chief Interpreter in the court in Kolkata, he reluctantly made his transition to writing in his native Bengali, following the advice of Bethune and Bysack. He wrote 5 plays: Sermista (1859), Padmavati (1859), Ekei Ki Boley Sabyata (1860), Krishna Kumari (1860) and Buro Shaliker Ghare Ron (1860). Then followed the narrative poems: Tilottama Sambhava Kavya (1861), Meghnad Badh Kavya (1861), Brajagana Kavya (1861) and Veerangana Kavya (1861). He also translated three plays from Bangla to English, including his own Sermista.
*Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Madhusudan_Dutt
Ironically he is more famous in Bengal for his Bengali Kabya. His most famous work Meghnad Badh Kavya, is a tragic epic. It consists of nine cantos and is exceptional in Bengali literature both in terms of style and content.
Please click on the titles below to read his poems.
Composed during a morning walk Evening in Saturn King Porus Queen Seeta The Fortunate Rainy Day The Parting