On this day, the poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt converted to Christianity.
He was still in college then. He had always been attracted to western literature and culture and had wanted to write in English. But he converted also to escape a marriage arranged by his father according to the traditions of Hindu Bengali society.
He adopted the name “Michael” upon his conversion and composed a hymn to be recited on the day of his baptism. After his conversion, he was asked to leave Hindu College, as Christians were not eligible to study there. He was later admitted to Bishop’s College.
He would become one of the greatest poets of the Bengali language.
Among other things, Dutt wrote Meghnadbadhkavya, the story of Ramayana, but centred on the tragic death of Indrajit at the hands of Lakshmana.
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