Train to Pakistan, A Novel of Partition

Train to Pakistan deals with the theme of the partition of India and Pakistan. It is a novel by Khushwant Singh. The novel was published in 1956. The partition was the incident that occurred following the Independence of India. India got freedom in 1947. The partition was the post-independence incident. The partition was on the basis of religion. The theme is developed through the fictional village Mano Majra. Dacoity, Kalyug, Mano Majra, and Karma are the four chapters of the novella to depict the episodes of partition. Mainly two different religious communities lived in the Indian village adjacent to the Pakistan border. They are Sikhs and Muslims. Sikhs were the majority and Muslims were the minority. They lived peacefully until the moneylender Lala Ram Lal was murdered. They were quiet until a trainload of dead bodies of the Sikhs arrived. Love between Juggut Singh, a Sikh and Nooran, a Muslim girl, is portrayed to show communal harmony. Hukum Chand's lovemaking with a Muslim prostitute, Haseena, shows the ambiguous nature of the government. Juggut Singh and Muhammed Iqbal were arrested. The gang of Malli was arrested. Again, they were released. Food in the Sultej river represents the havoc of anarchism. Drought in the village stands for a breach of the relationship between the Sikh and Muslim. Juggut Singh's sacrifice symbolizes his patriotism, love to Muslims, and fraternity.