ENGLISH FIRST LANGUAGE
POEM: - BUTTOO
POEM: - BUTTOO
TORU DUTT
Tarulata Dutt, also known as Toru, was born to a Bengali family on March 4, 1856 in Rambagan, Manicktollah Street, in erstwhile Calcutta. She came from a liberal family where education, art and linguistics were encouraged. Her ancestor Nilmoni Dutt had settled in Calcutta leaving his hometown in Ajapur, Burdwan some decades before. Nilmoni Dutt, though a pious Hindu loved conversing to people from different spheres of life. As a result the family was well acquainted with many Christian missionaries and European settlers, which was a sign of affluence in those days. Sometime later the family moved to Britain where, Toru pursued her education in Cambridge along with her continued French lessons. There she began corresponding with a new friend Mary Martin, who would later become a source of information on her life. In 1873 the family returned to Bengal.
VI. Question and Answer
1. Why had Buttoo gone to Dronacharya?
Ans: - Buttoo had gone to Dronacharya to learn the science of archery.
2. How did Drona respond to Buttoo's request?
Ans: - Buttoo was neither from a royal family nor rich. Hence he was rejected and driven away.
3. "I came here to learn 'thy science', says Buttoo? What does 'thy science' refer to?
Ans: - Dronachaiya's science refers to his expertise in archery.
4. Why did Buttoo revere Drona as his master?
Ans: - Buttoo revered Drona as his master because Drona was the best in archery, and Buttoo got his inspiration and knowledge from him.
5. Buttoo says "All that I have, all I shall conquer by my skill, gladly shall Ito thee resign". This shows Buttoo's a. reverence to Drona
b. generosity
c. gratitude
d. foolishness
Ans: - (a) reverence to Drona.
6. "Rash promises ever ends in strife." By saying this Drona is
a) warning Buttoo of unpleasant consequences
b) offering Buttoo a chance to change his stance
c) hinting that his demand for recompense could be damaging or destructive to Buttoo
d) regretting the rash promise he had made to Arjuna
Ans: - Both (c) and (d).
7. What did Drona seek from Buttoo as recompense?
Ans: - Drona asked for Buttoo's right-hand thumb as recompense.
8. What justification did Drona give for his unfair demand?
Ans: - He says that he had promised Arjuna that he shall make Arjuna the best archer ever, and there shall be no equal to Arjuna at Archery.
9. Discuss, in pairs, the great qualities of Buttoo and write down any five.
Ans: - Buttoo was low in caste but still aspired to be a great archer. He was also very dedicated to pursue knowledge. Though he was rejected knowledge by Drona, he still worshipped Drona as a teacher and perfected the science of archery by himself. Buttoo was never vain, despite his talent; he was humble and acknowledged Drona as his inspiration. Butto was not only physically strong but also emotionally strong. Even unfairly losing his vital thumb, knowing that he would never be a great archef, he still didn't get angry or reject Drona, he left the matter to God. He was at peace with nature and God. Drona also saw Butto as a role model for 'self-help, truth and modesty'. Conclusively we can say 'dedication, loyalty, humility, truthfulness, selflessness, sacrificing nature, brilliance in his art, intelligence, etc. are the great qualities of Butto. '
10. Discuss the following in groups of 4 each and write in a paragraph. Was Drona unfair in his demand?
Ans: - Drona was the teacher of the Pandava and Kaurava princes. He lived under their patronage and was responsible for making the princes the best in the land of their chosen areas of warfare. Thus, when Buttoo approached him for help in learning the art of archery, Drona rejected him and sent him away. Probably he had realized that Buttoo was not an ordinary hunter's boy. Yet he was loyal to the royal family and declined to teach Buttoo. Buttoo, on his part, should have understood the sentiments of Drona and stayed away from archery. But he did not do so. He created an image of Drona and learnt archery in front to it. When Drona realized that Butto had turned out to be a greater archer than Arjuna, he foresaw the threat to the princes. When Buttoo also confessed that he had learnt it secretively from Drona's image, Drona got his opportunity. Very shrewdly, and rather ruthlessly, he asked for the gift of his right-hand thumb from Buttoo, and eliminated all competition to his richer and more powerful students. He cannot be said to be unfair in his demand, though he was rather heartless.
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