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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How is gender applied to Urdu?

2. How is the following phrase translated into English in Chapter 1? "Sach Khuda hai. Khuda hi Sach hai" (9)?

3. Alongside whom was Anjum's mother buried in the cemetery?

4. What is the system of delegating peoples into different segregated groups called in India?

5. What does the narrator say the poor villagers were treated as in the opening of Chapter 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. What led to Hazrat Sarmad Shaheed's execution? How was he killed?

2. What is signfificant about Zakir Mian's presence in Chapter 2?

3. What exchange takes place between Anjum and the blind imam in Chapter 1? What does Anjum realize from this exchange?

4. How is the exchange at the house described with Saddam, Ishrat, and the mysterious woman?

5. What is the significance of the vultures' deaths in the Prologue?

6. Compare and contrast the characters of Biplab Dasgupta and Dr. Azad Bhartiya.

7. How is the protagonist described as living in the cemetery in Chapter 1?

8. Why were Anjum, Mr. Aggarwal, and Ustad Hameed arrested in Chapter 3?

9. How does the structure differ in Chapter 6 from the rest of the narrative? What is this chapter comprised of?

10. What aspects of the government and the current circumstances was Dr. Azad Bhartiya protesting? How?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Naga in the novel. What is Naga's relationship to Biplab Dasgupta? What role does Naga play directly in the plot? What becomes of Naga by the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the character of Biplab Dasgupta. Why do you think that this is the only character who has a first-person narrative? How does Biplab Dasgupta further the plot of the novel? What becomes of him by the end of the story?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the setting of the Khwabgah in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. Where is the Khwabgah located? Who lives there? What does its name translate to in English?

(see the answer keys)

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