This play is set against the backdrop of the Indian struggle for independence from British colonial rule, a movement that began in the 1800s. Explore the history of British colonization of India and the national independence movement that spanned the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. What were some of the pivotal events in this historical struggle?

Stoppard has been compared to renowned playwrights such as Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, and Harold Pinter. Delve deeper into the life of one of these illustrious playwrights. What are his significant works? How do critics describe his dramatic style? Is his work associated with any specific school of dramatic style?

Characters in Stoppard's play discuss classic Indian art, including paintings and sculptures. Investigate the history of Indian art. How has religion influenced Indian art? What have been the major trends in twentieth-century Indian art?

Stoppard’s characters refer to several prominent European painters of the twentieth century, such as Modigliani, Picasso, Matisse, and Derain. Learn more about one of these artists. With which style or school of painting is he associated? What are some key elements of his artistic style? What are some of his major works?

Indian characters in Stoppard’s play try to explain aspects of the Hindu religion to the European characters. Research Hinduism. What are the core beliefs and tenets of Hinduism? What is the history of the Hindu religion?