Train to Pakistan is a novel by Khushwant Singh, set in the 1947 partition of India. The novel tells the story of a small village called Mano Majra, located on the border between India and Pakistan. The village is predominantly Sikh, with a small Hindu and Muslim population.
The novel begins with the arrival of a train in Mano Majra, carrying the bodies of Hindus and Sikhs who have been killed by Muslims in the nearby city of Amritsar. This event serves as a harbinger of the violence and unrest that is about to sweep through the village.
As tensions rise between the Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim communities, the village's peace is further disrupted by the arrival of a group of bandits led by the fearsome Jagga. Jagga and his gang use the chaos of partition to their advantage, terrorizing and extorting the villagers for their own gain.
Despite the efforts of the village's leader, Hukum Chand, and the village's only Muslim, Iqbal Singh, to maintain peace and harmony, the violence and unrest continue to escalate. Eventually, a train arrives in the village carrying a group of armed Muslims, leading to a brutal massacre of the Sikh population.
Through the eyes of the novel's protagonist, Hukum Chand's secretary, we see the devastating effects of partition on the people of Mano Majra and the devastating consequences of communal violence. The novel serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of political division and the importance of understanding and tolerance.
Train to Pakistan 4. Karma Summary & Analysis
He feels anxious and foolish. He hauled the bodies of his wife and children off and came to India. Not long after, a group of soldiers comes by to evacuate the Muslim half of town the other half is Sikh to Pakistan which leads Nooran to depart while Jugga is in jail in the regional capital of Chundunnugger. Right now, Jugga is the prime suspect, which is upsetting and alarming to Meet Singh. If the train goes at top-speed, some will get to Pakistan. Chand asks for blank official papers for orders. The refugees they have taken in so far are a peaceful lot, but that could change, and the local Muslims might be in danger.
Train to Pakistan Summary
It also seems, based on his accent and his attitude of entitlement, as though he might be too important to arrest. At first glance, he stands out because of his manner of speech, dress, and manner. However, Jugga is illiterate and does not know much about the world beyond his village, so when he seeks guidance, he seeks it from his faith. The novel is based on the Hindu-Muslim riots of 1947 which followed the partition of India. Meet Singh reenters and asks Iqbal what his name is.
Train to Pakistan Summary & Study Guide
Upstairs, they find the moneylender, Lala Ram Lal, hiding under a charpoy. They each had the intentions to save the train, though they were well aware of the fact that it may cost their lives. This morning, a young, small, and effeminate man gets off, along with 12 police officers and a subinspector. The late spring storm season in India is the finish of a long, difficult dry spell period where plants and creatures the same endure in the severe warmth. Realizing what he is doing, the leader raises his rifle and shoots.
Train to Pakistan Study Guide
As part of their release, the men are fingerprinted and told to report to the police station twice a week. Nooran sits and waits, then she hears the sound of footsteps, which stop outside of the door. Juggut, the priest reasons, has no honor. The bhai agrees but tells the young man to cover his hair and not to bring in any cigarettes or tobacco. A unit of Sikh fighters has shown up and positioned themselves close to the town, framing a protected region for investigations where no townspeople were permitted. Neither the magistrate nor the police is able to stem the rising tide of violence.
