Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t3.20

v2.c10.s2.t3.20

In 1909, Su Manshu translated *Garden of Joy*, a short poem by Toru Dutt, a talented Indian girl-poet (March 4,1856 - August 30,1877). Dutt was a born linguist, and besides her mother language Bengali, she was also proficient in English, French and Sanskrit. The young girl once lived and studied at Cambridge, and could write in English and French, translate Sanskrit into English, and compose poems and essays. Sir Edmund Gosse praised her store of knowledge as simply miraculous. Su Manshu said in the preface, “Toru Dutt wrote this profound and meaningful poem to plead for his country. Alas! This talented girl lived such a short life! I translate it into a five-character poem and show it to my friends. I give a copy to her sister at her family garden”. In *A Letter to Liu San*, he further said, “Now I send a poem of Toru Dutt for your comment. She is a talented girl in modern India, and her poems are well known across Europe and America. Last year, she was just 19 years old. She dies young, and I have translated this poem and sent a copy to her sister.” Proficient in English, Su Manshu was well informed of the world’s literary circles. He and Toru Dutt both had a talent for languages, and naturally, he appreciated her ability and took pity on her early death. Through introduction by Su Manshu, Toru Dutt soon became well-known in China, and even now, many people still know about her.