Embedded Files
'‘Sardarji, have you completed your assignment?’
'‘Sardarji, have you completed your assignment?’
The young man nodded.
The young man nodded.
‘Should we then proceed with ours?’ he asked.
‘Should we then proceed with ours?’ he asked.
Click on the image or heading above to access this short story, which is taken directly from our edition of Mottled Dawn. It’s important to use this specific version—the one from the book—rather than any other version you might come across online. Since this is a translated text, other versions may differ in their translation and interpretation.
Consider This...
Consider This...
The "Consider This..." questions are designed to help you think about the methods used by the writer, and the different ways in which the text could be interpreted. Collect evidence and give possible answers to each of the questions to better understand this story.
Skill Builders
Skill Builders
وصیت نامہ
وصیت نامہ
Manto's original Urdu title "Wasiyat Nama" (The Will) for The Assignment carries a layered significance, evoking notions of finality, legacy, and personal conviction. It frames the story as an intimate, moral testament amidst the chaos of Partition. In contrast, the English title, The Assignment, shifts the emphasis to duty, obligation, and the transactional nature of the task at hand. This change draws attention to the broader sociopolitical implications of Partition, casting the characters' actions within a framework of imposed roles and ideological struggles. While the Urdu title roots the narrative in personal and emotional resonance, the English title abstracts it, offering a lens to examine systemic forces and ethical dilemmas.
Consider: How does the shift in title from "Wasiyat Nama" to "The Assignment" influence your interpretation of the story and its central themes?
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse