1. What are the origins of dharma?

Who practiced it in the past? Who practices it now?

2. Characters often bow to the spirit within other characters. What is the origin of this custom? What is its religious and philosophical foundation?

3. The society of The Iron Ring has elaborate obligations incurred by characters for kindnesses and services performed for them by other characters. How important a concern was this system of obligations in ancient India? How important is it in modern Indian culture?

4. What is the origin of the Indian caste system? What are the castes and what are the duties of each? How strong is the caste system in presentday India?

5. What role have elephants played in Indian culture? Do they have any religious standing? What tasks have they been set to? How have they been captured? How have they been...