The Indian subcontinent has always been a melting pot of different religions—sometimes a happy melting pot, sometimes a not-so-happy melting pot. In Beneath a Marble Sky, we see a simmering undercurrent of tension that stems from the conflict between the two main religions in Hindustan: Islam and Hinduism.
On the macro level, there is the unrest within the city of Agra due to the fact that Muslims are ruling over the Hindu majority. There are also frequent battles with neighboring Hindu kingdoms. Then there's the struggle within Jahanara's family to reconcile their different thoughts on religion—take the conflict between Dara's broad, scholarly acceptance of all religions and Aurangzeb's extremist adherence to Muslim superiority, for example.
Basically, it's a big mess, and the conflict between these philosophical viewpoints serves as a background for all the events that unfold in the novel.
Questions About Philosophical Viewpoints: Hinduism vs. Islam
- Has Aurangzeb always been an extremist, even since childhood? Or does he grow into this position over time?
- What are some of the more interesting religious tidbits that Shors mentions in the book?
- How does Jahanara feel about religion? How important is it to her?
- Why is it important to consider the differences between religions when discussing the characters in our story? For example: what role does religion play for Aurangzeb? How about Ladli?