Question

Michael Madhusudan Dutt's masterpiece, Meghnad Badh Kavya (1861), is notable for which of the following?

• A. It strictly adheres to the traditional narrative of the Ramayana, focusing solely on Rama's victory.
• B. It creatively reinterprets the Ramayana from the perspective of the demon prince Meghnad.
• C. It is primarily a collection of short stories inspired by ancient Indian folklore, unrelated to epic poetry.
• D. It is a historical novel depicting the life of a lesser-known Mughal emperor, with no connection to the Ramayana.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. It creatively reinterprets the Ramayana from the perspective of the demon prince Meghnad.

• The poem is explicitly described as an epic "inspired by the Ramayana" that focuses on the death of the demon prince Meghnad (Indrajit).

• Dutt's work is celebrated for its innovative and sympathetic portrayal of the traditional "villains" of the epic, revolutionizing Bengali literature.

• It is widely considered his magnum opus, marking the peak of his literary career.