Darkness at Noon: Exploring Pain, Fear, and Loss in Bhisham Sahni’s Tamas

Abstract

Tamas written by Bhisham Sahni is one of the greatest literary works on the Partition of India, as it reflects the catastrophic consequences of communal violence, in all their horror. The novel is written in the setting of a small town on the edge of horrible riots and employs personal stories and historical naturalism to reflect the overwhelming darkness that engulfed the Indian society in 1947. In this paper, I explore how Sahni brings out both violence, and the following pain, fear, and loss as these being not only a reaction to these acts of violence but rather the defining events that lead to the formation of individual and collective identity during times of sociopolitical collapse. The element of suffering can be seen on the part of characters that belong to the edges such as Nathu where his forced self-action serves as ignition to community massacre. Daniel more than suffers physically but emotionally, as well as being homeless and guilty. On the contrary, fear is what causes the violence and also a psyche that is in control of the lives of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs as well. The uncertain perception of the other due to the rumoursss and the manipulation of the political and religious leaders in such a way develops the atmosphere where the rationality ruins. The most persistent aspect of Tamas can be called loss of home, loss of humanity, and of moral compass. It explains the way the Partition divided communities, ended interfaith coexistence and created trauma. Applying the theory of trauma and contextualizing it in a historical context, this research paper will look at Tamas beyond being a historical text and beyond being a document of history but a document extremely human with the emotional truth of Partition. In applying realism, fragmentation and perspectives, Sahni brings out the aspect of universality of suffering and flimsiness of civil society. By bringing darkness at noon, violence in the middle of the day, Tamas cautions about the possibility of repeating such fateful events and warns of a reconsideration of the way of preserving history, memory, and dignity of humanity in books.