The Pain of Partition in Bhishma Sahni’s Tamas

Abstract

It is needless to say that the painful events of partition of such a vast magnitude is bound to affect the human sentiments and moral values to such an extent that all creative arts forms and artists involved with those arts forms came under its influence profoundly. That pain of partition is very well narrated in Bhishma Sahni’s Tamas. He experimented with his characters; it is remarkable to note that he is fully aware and acquainted with the customs, rituals and mannerisms of Muslim society. Sahani in his world famous and monumental novel Tamas presented his characters in realistic and true colors. Tamas is a harsh reminder of the immense tragedy of pre-partition communal riots in India. This novel demonstrated the realistic picture of the turmoil of partition in the wake of communal violence which aims to achieve political ends most of the time, catastrophe on large scale is expected.