Salim says, "Without Europeans, I feel, all our past would have been washed away." Support or refute this statement.

As the world becomes more splintered, how will people determine their identities?

Can Third World countries survive without the aid of colonial benefactors?

Why does Salim beat Yvette? What does he mean by "Do you think I'm Raymond?"

Nazruddin is called "A happy man." Why is he happy? Are there other happy characters?

Why does Indar take only the worst possible jobs? Why won't he accept help?

Salim speculates that his problems are caused by a lack of religion. What does he mean? Is he right?