Passage: Toru Dutt is considered the earliest Indian female writer in English. She travelled extensively in Europe from a young age with her family. She and her sister Aru became fascinated with Paris and French literature. In London, they came in contact with such august personages such as Sir Bartle Frere, the Gover- nor of Bombay from 1862 to 1867, and Sir Edward Ryan, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Calcutta, from 1837 to 1843. Toru Dutt was greatly influenced in her writings by French Romantic poets like Victor Hugo and English writers like Elizabeth Browning, John Keats, Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen. She was also intrigued by the legends and myths of India, and even learned Sanskrit. Her writings were marked by romantic melancholia and an obsession and preoccupation with death. This was partly due to her suffering and pain following the early tragic deaths of her siblings, especially her older sister Aru, with whom she was quite close. Her chosen subjects often portrayed separation, loneliness, captivity, dejec- tion, declining seasons and untimely death. She led an ”Ivory Tower existence” and her own death came quite early, at the age of 21, in the full bloom of her talent and on the eve of the awakening of her genius. Toru Dutt’s most famous work is A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields, an anthology of poems translated from French to English. It also contained a few original poems that showcase her vast insight into French literature. She used to publish poems in the Bengal Magazine, under the pseudonym ”TD”. But most of her powerful work was published posthumously, in- cluding the French novel Le Journal de Mademoiselle D’Arvers and the unfinished English novel Bianca, or, the Young Spanish Maiden. Her work Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan depicts a shrewd knowledge of Hindu mythology and an instinctive empathy with the conditions of life they represent. An assimilation of the Occident and the Orient nourished Toru’s poetic skills; in her, we find a tripartite influence of a French education, lectures at Cambridge and the study of Sanskrit literature.
"Toru Dutt is an unsung genius in the world of Indian English literature."
Which of the following options most supports the above statement?
Show Hint
- Toru Dutt died tragically young, on the eve of the awakening of her talent.
- Toru Dutt belonged to the illustrious Dutt family, many of whom gained renown as writers.
- Toru Dutt often wrote about separation, loneliness, dejection and other melancholic subjects in her works.
- Toru Dutt wrote works in French and English, and also translated from Sanskrit, all in her short life of 21 years.
- Toru Dutt travelled extensively in Europe, including cities like Paris and London, and came into contact with many august personages.
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
According to the passage, which of the following is \(\textbf{not}\) true?
Show Hint
- Toru Dutt was a Romantic at heart and was influenced by Romantic writers like Hugo, Bronte, and Keats.
- Her works on Hindu mythology show Toru Dutt's instinctive sympathy with the people of her home country.
- The tragic death of her siblings is partly responsible for the strain of melancholy we find in Toru Dutt's writings.
- Toru Dutt was influenced by the literature of the Occident as well as the Orient, and this was reflected in her writings.
- Toru Dutt was fascinated by European traditions and literature, and considered them above the indigenous literatures of India.
The Correct Option is
Solution and Explanation
"Toru Dutt can be considered a cosmopolitan of the 19th century."
Which of the following options most supports the above statement?
Show Hint
- Toru Dutt travelled extensively in Europe and spent considerable time in the cities of Paris and London.
- Toru Dutt used to publish poems written in English, in the \textit{Bengal Magazine} under the pseudonym "TD".
- Toru Dutt translated the works of French Romantic poets into English for the enjoyment of the Indian public.
- Toru Dutt was accomplished in Sanskrit literature and wrote \textit{Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan} based on this.
- Toru Dutt was influenced by a French education, lectures at Cambridge, England, and the study of Sanskrit literature, and was well-versed in all three languages.
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Which of the following is implied in the passage?
Show Hint
- Toru Dutt wanted to return to Europe to further her knowledge of English and French literature.
- Toru Dutt contemplated suicide after the untimely death of her sister Aru, with whom she was quite close.
- Toru Dutt wanted to publish her French novel \textit{Le Journal de Mademoiselle D'Anvers} and gain popularity in European literary circles.
- Toru Dutt was conscious of the suffering of her compatriots under the British Raj and published her views under the pseudonym "TD".
- Toru Dutt felt isolated from contemporary Indian women, especially after the death of her sister, because of her keen interest in European culture.
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
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- Acrucial moderating factor in how people experience comparisons is self-esteem. Individuals with high self-esteem are more likely to interpret upward comparison as informative rather than threatening. They are more resilient in the face of others’ success and more likely to believe they can reach their own goals. In contrast, people with low self-esteem are more prone to interpret comparison as judgment, reinforcing negative self-views and triggering feelings of inadequacy.
This dynamic creates a self-reinforcing loop. People with high self-esteem are less vulnerable to upward comparison, which intensifies those doubts. Those with a secure sense of self are more likely to use comparison as a learning tool. The same external stimulus—a colleague’s achievements, a friend’s popularity—can have radically different effects depending on internal stability.
Self-esteem also influences how people choose their comparison targets. Research has found that individuals often engage in “selective comparison,” seeking out those who confirm their existing beliefs about themselves. This can become a subtle form of self-sabotage. Someone who feels unworthy may subconsciously seek out targets that reinforce that sense, perpetuating a narrative of inferiority. One of the most promising antidotes to social comparison is temporal comparison—evaluating oneself not against others, but against one’s own past. This method has been shown to increase motivation and satisfaction, especially when individuals can see concrete progress. Temporal comparison activates the same reward circuits as social comparison but avoids the threat systems associated with social ranking. It also reinforces agency: individuals focus on what they can control and improve rather than what others control. In therapeutic and coaching settings, temporal comparison is used to help clients build self-efficacy and track growth over time.
Moreover, people who focus on self-improvement rather than social dominance are less likely to fall into cycles of envy or self-pity. They can still use others as inspiration, but they do so without attaching their self-worth to the outcome. This is not to say they never compare—but that they focus on learning, rather than judgment. The most skilful approach to comparison may lie in eliminating it, but in reframing it as feedback. When we interpret comparison as information rather than a verdict, we can ask, “What can I learn from this?” This shift turns comparison into a growth tool. Teachers mentor their students, not as rivals. Psychologists emphasize that the key variable here is mindset.
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