IB English Written Task Sample

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ENGLISH A: LITERATURE

        

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT

‘Tamas’ by Bhisam Sahni

Voices unheard in the political conquests depicted in ‘Tamas’ by Bhisam

Sahni

                                                          REFLECTIVE STATEMENT

Work Used: ‘Tamas’ by Bhisam Sahni

Date: March 8^th, 2013  

Question: How was your understanding of the cultural and contextual consideration of the work developed through the interactive oral?

As per our discussion in the Interactive oral, Bhisam Sahni portrays the gruesome side of politics and the compassionate side of humanity that survives any carnage. It reminds me of the bestiality of violence. It appears to me that the entire event was recorded as a tragic event in human history. I feel that, we have extremist elements in every community, who try to create problems.

Style: Bhisam Sahni’s style used was extremely simple. The tone used in the entire novel is gloomy along with many instances of irony. There is a lot of disgrace related to human behavior and violence. The book basically gives me an insight into the power of religion, both negative and positive. The sufferings of women, the cruel and inhumane behavior of the British ruler Richard, are very disheartening.

Narrative Technique: -According to me, this book highlights the narrative technique of Bhisam Sahni, where he used many literary features in one instance. This book has an omniscient point of view as it is written in third person narrative. As this book is written by an Indian it is quite subjective and the way in which one chapter ends and the other begins create suspense amongst the readers.  Though the politics of that time was mainly interested in communal strife, but it is still difficult to believe that such intense harmony and disgrace can exist between two cultures.  The contextual killing of a pig with a Muslim’s hand behind it highlights the nature of politics prevalent but the reaction to the pig being praised in front of a mosque which causes riots highlights the beliefs, traditions and culture of the Muslims.

I strongly feel that marginal roles and sufferings of women in society, reveals them to be protagonists of and believers in humanitarian values.

A look into the traumatic incidents in the history of the Indian Pakistan partition of 1947 makes me realize that even if the killings stop, nothing can erase the awful memories from the minds of survivors now will the two communities ever trust each other again. I wonder if the gap between Hindus and Muslims will ever be lessened and will the unity between the two communities ever return? Many efforts have been made in this direction but the divide created in 1947 still remains, though in a less obvious manner.

Word Count: 391

Bhisam Sahni was a well known Hindu writer, best known for his most powerful and passionate account of the partition between India and Pakistan in his novel ‘Tamas’. He has strongly and convincingly portrayed the terror stricken Hindu people in areas of Muslim majority as well as the atrocities showered by the Hindus on the Muslims. He has dealt with the emotions and trauma that people on the whole had undergone at that time in a very detailed manner. His work clearly highlights how the human hearts were torn apart at the time of this partition. Sahni’s command over Urdu and Punjabi made the situation in his novel very realistic. He was able to connect to the masses through his work. I, as an Indian reader, felt emotionally bonded and deeply connected to a situation that happened years before my birth. I could somehow empathize with the people of that time.  Bhisam Sahni’s art of characterization is highlighted in Jounails character.

Cows are sacred to the Hindus and pigs are considered by the Muslims to be dirty and filthy animals and the religious law forbids them to be associated with this animal. The killing of a pig and its carcass being thrown in front of a mosque was a political move to create strife between the Hindus and the Muslims. This has led to the fulfillment of the British intentions of dividing Hindus and Muslims. Life in those times, as now, was in the hands of political powers. It shows us how a politician, who portrays himself as a man who works for the welfare of the people, has secretly sold his soul to the Britishers to fulfill their hidden intentions of causing a rift between the Hindus and the Muslims. After causing much havoc and bloodshed in the society Murad Ali ironically raises slogans as “Peace Committee Zindabad and “Long live Hindu Muslim unity!”. He escapes any element of punishment. People were mere puppets in the hands of the politicians!

Gandhi Ji’s ideology of non-violence and peace seems to fall short in the face of incidents such as innocent victims being pulled out of their houses, being stripped of their dignity and being subjected to physical attacks.

 Another truth revealed by the novel is the fact that humans failed at the doorway of power. The people who had been demanding complete independence from the Britishers seemed not to recognize their vested interests. The focus of the Hindus and Muslims became ‘Partition of India” Indians submitted themselves to the white rulers against whom they were fighting for years together. Ranvir, a member of the Youth Wing of the RSS, by killing a hen passed the initiation test and got into the party of the “warriors” who then go about killing innocent people. The act of killing the white hen  , which is a symbol of peace and love is ironic as it is killed in an initiation test to form the youth league thereby instills so much of bravado and pride within Ranvir that he starts believing “killing is easy”  The political scenario has blurred his vision to see the true life around him. He is blurred with the position he’s offered that he’s ready to put the lives of thousands of people at stake. The character sketch of Ranvir reflects those who were victims supporting the political conquests. It’s ironical to see how the people, who were against the British allowed them to intervene in their affairs in the end.

Insecurity is one of the most damaging of human qualities that causes a lot of destruction all around. This insecurity culminated in Nathu who feared the consequences of unknowingly being a part of this cruel plan. His silence helped the rulers succeed in their plan to show Indians that they are unable to coexist without foreign rule. Also Sahni has depicted that insecurity of self protection was at its height and this made attack as being the best way of defense. Sikh women took their own lives and that of their own children by jumping into the village well. The authorities arrived late on the scene and this was also a political move and yet it kept the faith of the people in them flying high. Harnam Singh and his wife Banto escaped to the nearest town and seek refuge in a Muslim household. His wife was particular about her religion and that is when he asks, “How can we drink from a cup of a Muslim.” When she’s offered by Rajo after giving shelter to the couple. The entire situation of leaving home and running around to save their lives had made them sensitive and emotional. They broke into tears on being asked about their whereabouts. The circumstances and the accompanied reaction accompanied explain the trauma that the people had undergone. , and this was very much unsaid and unheard. A tragedy like a partition cannot be associated merely to a geographical division but to the unaccountable variety of riots; bloodshed, rape, conversions of faith, loss of life and property. The partition was not a natural calamity but a deliberate action culminated due to a political conspiracy. But the low point to the fact is that the common people were butchered mercilessly. It converted civilized and affectionate people into wild beasts; such was the air during the partition days.

Bhisam Sahni has portrayed women as a symbol of unconditional love and support, though she has been suppressed, she has always acted as the embodiment of courage and inspiration. She works selflessly towards humanity and has been termed as a pillar of strength. Sahni has depicted women with empathy. Women’s protests were not only against the Britishers but also against the men in their own society. Their sufferings were ignored and treated as unimportant. Nathu’s wife was a woman blessed with infinite patience. She is able to pacify her husband when he narrates to her how he was cheated to kill a pig and how he killed it for earning five rupees. She is the provider of solace and comfort. Sahni stated that the trauma of partition was such that it had eroded human values and corroded the social and political system.

The outburst of the Hindu Muslim riots was surely because of the political conquests as the common men were still sympathetic towards each other. People didn’t consider themselves to be divided as Hindus and Muslims, and the humanity prevailed. This is very well reflected in the character of Rajo who being a Muslim woman gave shelter to a Sikh couple Harnan Singh and Banto. She was a kind hearted, god fearing woman who was sympathetic towards the sufferings of the people irrespective of their religion. Her attitude is reflected when she says, “Shall I push out a person who has come seeking shelter? Everyone has to go into God’s presence one day”. She was a perfect example of the humanity. Despite the disturbances between the two communities, she was of a stronger will of keeping love and peace her priority. She was a lady who thought beyond religious disparities and power game in politics. But her thoughts, voice and expression remained unheard and hidden.  Like her, there were people all over India and Pakistan who felt the same but were unable to express themselves freely and reach out to be masses to stand strong against the odds. It conveys human failing at the doorway of power.

In times of communal disturbances, women are targeted and are more vulnerable to suffering and exploitation. They are subjected to rape and abduction. It’s the common man who bears the scars of partition on his mind and soul till date. Sahni himself stated that the trauma of partition was so deep and shocking that it took him twenty three years to register and get used to the pain, agony and disturbance. The characters and events are described so intricately that you can almost feel the helplessness of the victims and can’t help but shed a tear for those who died especially the unheard Muslim, who is killed just because he was walking alongside and explaining the importance of fragrances to a young Hindu boy.

The story ‘Tamas’ deals with the outflow of emotions of the common man. It has a melancholic tone. Tamas means darkness and this is well reflected in the description how the clouds of darkness and struggle surrounded the people. It features human qualities of compassion and faith but all submerged under the impact of violence. And what makes this book special and worth reading is Sahni’s timeless message that the story carries- that during such riots , society is easily forgotten and feelings of brotherhood ignored,  neighbors who were once almost families turn out to be enemies overnight, craving for each other’s blood.

Partition was not division of nations but a division of communities, values, memories and dreams. It is a phase in history when Hindus , Muslims , colonial rulers , freedom fighters, and political stalwarts all achieved their targets at some point of time or the other, but in the process humanity was lost.

Edition Used: Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr Isaevich, and Raplph Parker. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. Harondsowrth: Penguin, 2000. Print.

Word Count: 1485