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.
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.
You'll notice that Manto uses language such as "inmates," "lunatic asylums," and "mad." It's okay to quote this language if you are using it as evidence; however, if you're referring to the characters in your own writing, it's more politically correct to use terms such as "patients."
Toba Tek Singh has been adapted into a movie. You could watch this and consider the parrallels or devisations from the text. The movie is over an hour long, yet the short story is less than 2500 words. What aspects has the director decided to expand and emphasise?