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Tamas

Tamas

Sahni Bhisham
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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.

As the carnage ensues, ordinary lives are dramatically upturned: The women of a Sikh village resolve to make the ultimate sacrifice when faced with imminent death at the hands of an advancing mob; an elderly couple undertakes a perilous journey when the one place they call home is no longer safe for them; and wracked with guilt, Nathu must come to terms with his unwitting role in instigating the violence. Yet, despite the darkness of the times, rare moments of unexpected friendship and love also surface.

A timeless classic about the Partition of India, Tamas is also a chilling reminder of the consequences of religious intolerance and communal prejudice. Daisy Rockwell’s fresh and definitive translation expertly renders the power and passion of this iconic and award-winning novel for a new generation of readers.

Imprint: India Penguin

Published: Feb/2016

ISBN: 9780143441243

Length : 368 Pages

MRP : ₹399.00

Tamas

Sahni Bhisham

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.

As the carnage ensues, ordinary lives are dramatically upturned: The women of a Sikh village resolve to make the ultimate sacrifice when faced with imminent death at the hands of an advancing mob; an elderly couple undertakes a perilous journey when the one place they call home is no longer safe for them; and wracked with guilt, Nathu must come to terms with his unwitting role in instigating the violence. Yet, despite the darkness of the times, rare moments of unexpected friendship and love also surface.

A timeless classic about the Partition of India, Tamas is also a chilling reminder of the consequences of religious intolerance and communal prejudice. Daisy Rockwell’s fresh and definitive translation expertly renders the power and passion of this iconic and award-winning novel for a new generation of readers.

Select Preferred Format

Sahni Bhisham

Bhisham Sahni (1915-2003) was an iconic writer who transformed the landscape of Hindi literature. His oeuvre encompassed novels, plays, short stories and essays. Tamas, his best known novel, won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1975 and was subsequently adapted into a National Award-winning film by Govind Nihalani. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1998, and the Shlaka Award, the Delhi government's highest literary prize, in 1999.

Daisy Rockwell is a renowned artist, writer and translator. She paints under the alias Lapata (Urdu for 'missing') and has shown her artwork widely. She has a PhD in South Asian literature and has written extensively on literature and art. Most recently, she translated Upendranath Ashk's Falling Walls to widespread acclaim.

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Tamas

Tamas

Sahni Bhisham

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