Tamas
Tamas by Bhīshma Sāhanī, published by Penguin Books India in 2001, is a poignant narrative set in a small-town frontier province in 1947, just before the Partition of India. This edition, translated by the author, explores the harrowing events that unfold when a sweeper named Nathu is manipulated by a local politician into committing an act that ignites communal violence. The story captures the devastating aftermath as tensions escalate, leading to a cycle of brutality among the town’s communities.
Readers will find a gripping portrayal of the chaos and mistrust that arise from a single act of deception, reflecting on the broader implications of communalism. Tamas draws on true accounts from the riots of 1947, providing a sensitive examination of the impact on ordinary lives. This 352-page work delves into themes of conflict and memory, making it relevant to contemporary discussions about societal divisions.
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‘Tamasdrove the point home that ordinary people want to live in peace’
The Guardian
Set in a small-town frontier province in 1947, just before Partition, Tamas tells the story of a sweeper named Nathu who is bribed and deceived by a local Muslim politician to kill a pig, ostensibly for a veterinarian. The following morning, the carcass is discovered on the steps of the mosque and the town, already tension-ridden, erupts. Enraged Muslims massacre scores of Hindus and Sikhs, who, in turn, kill every Muslim they can find. Finally, the area’s British administrators call out the army to prevent further violence. The killings stop but nothing can erase the awful memories from the minds of the survivors, nor will the various communities ever trust one another again.
The events described in Tamas are based on true accounts of the riots of 1947 that Sahni was a witness to in Rawalpindi, and this new and sensitive translation by the author himself resurrects chilling memories of the consequences of communalism which are of immense relevance even today.
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