Tamas

By Bhisham Sahni and Bhisham Sahni

Book Overview

'Tamas, in either Rockwell's translation or the original Hindi, remains an essential text for the times'

Nilanjana Roy, Business Standard

'Tamas is a prophetic warning against the use of religion as a weapon to gain and perpetuate political power' GOVIND NIHALANI

In a city in undivided Punjab, Nathu, a tanner, is bribed to kill a pig. When the animal's carcass is discovered on the steps of the local mosque the next morning, simmering tensions explode into an orgy of bloodlust. But in the midst of the ensuing carnage, despite the darkness of the times, rare moments of unexpected friendship and love also surface.

Winner of the Sahitya Aakdemi Award, Sahni's iconic novel about the Partition of India tells the tale of an unfolding riot from different vantage points. In Daisy Rockwell's definitive translation, this magnificent work comes vividly to life.

'Tamas drove the point home that ordinary people want to live in peace' Guardian

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0143441248
• ISBN13: 9780143441243
• Release Date: September 2018
• Publisher: India Penguin Modern Classics
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.1" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

Darkness of Turbulent Times

The book and later TV mini series gives a closer to life of the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. Brisham Sahni, came as a refugee to India from West Punjab (now in Pakistan) and the story is perhaps partly autobiographical. Tamas along with Khushwant Singh's Train to Pakistan are excellent accounts of those turbulent times.