Mr. Sanjit Kumar Nayek
Special Issue June 2023
Volume-XI, Special Issue, June 2023 | ||
Published Online: 30.06.2025 | Page No: 162-167 | |||
Patriotism and Zeal for Social
Reformation in Henry Louis Vivian Derozio’s Poetry
Mr. Sanjit Kumar Nayek, State Aided College Teacher,
Department of English, Panchmura Mahavidyalaya, Bankura, West Bengal, India | |
There were very few poets in India in the 1st half of the 19th century who genuinely could reflect upon and give a direction to what way Indian poetry should move and in such an arena Henry Louis Vivian Derozio could prove himself as a great poet though his poetic career was cut short by his untimely death. He can well be regarded as a nature poet and a follower of British poetry, but the most vital aspects of his poetry are his patriotism and spirit for social reformation. These are the two dominant aspects which have made him immortal in Indian poetry in English. Derozio is widely acknowledged as the first Indo-Anglian poet for he pioneered the vogue of poetry writing in English language incorporating themes which were essentially concerned with Indian life and society. There is a strong justification to say that it was he who set the stage for succeeding Indian poets. This paper mainly investigates his patriotism as well as his zeal for social reformation which find expression in the poetry of Derozio. For making a discussion on the aspects in question, his poems, namely “The Harp of India”, “To India – My Native Land”, “The Fakeer of Jungheera”, “Freedom to the Slave” and “The Orphan Girl” have been taken for discussion and analysis. | |
Keywords: Derozio, Indo-Anglian poets, Indian poetry in English, patriotism, social reformation. |