Cigarette snatchers: Manto on the spoils of World War II
World War II brought severe shortages to India as goods and services were diverted to the war effort in Europe. The Army had been expanded and used to consume vast quantities of foodstuffs. These were rationed across India, as also were cigarettes, which now had to be got from the black market. Manto was always short of money, and often in debt. His circle of friends was mostly other writers, ...
