31 pages • 1 hour read
Bhisham SahniTamas
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1972A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Why do you think the author focuses on so many characters, rather than following one protagonist all the way through the novel?
Do you believe the author is optimistic about India’s future? Why or why not?
What role do women play in Tamas?
Why do you think Shah Nawhaz pushes the servant, Milkhi, down the stairs? After breaking his back, why does he then offer to take him in?
What is the significance of Richard’s attachment to the Buddha statues?
What do you make of the fact that Liza has such a hard time distinguishing between Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs?
Can you imagine circumstances in which a system like Partition could work without harming anyone? Why or why not?
After reading Tamas, do you think the characters would have benefited from a better understanding of India’s history? Why or why not?
Why is Ramzan unable to kill Harnam Singh?
Do you believe that the racism depicted in the novel can ever be abolished? Discuss.
