A Train to Pakistan

 (e-content developed by Prof. (Dr) N. A. Jarandikar)

    B. A. Part II

       Semester III, Paper No. IV

Partition Literature

A Train to Pakistan

Characters in the novel:

·         Jugga/Juggut Singh: the hero of the novel; lover of Nooran; dacoit (डेकॉइट: दरोडेखोर)by profession

·         Alam Singh: Jugga’s dead father; dacoit by profession

·         Nooran: beloved of Jugga; daughter of Imam Baksh

·         Imam Baksh: father of Nooran; a blind weaver

·         Iqbal Singh/Iqbal Muhammad: a social worker; came from Delhi to inspire the villagers to participate in political actions

·         Malli: another dacoit from the village; rival of Jugga

·         Lala Ram Lal: the money lender; the only Hindu family in the village; the novel begins with the death of Lala Ram Lal; Malli and his gang murder Lala Ram Lal

·         Bhai Meet Singh: priest in the Sikh temple

·         Banta Singh: the lambardar (the village headman)

·         Hukum Chand: the magistrate (Judge) and deputy commissioner

·         Mano Majra: The name of the village where the events in the novel take place

 

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A Train to Pakistan is a novel written by Khushwant Singh. The novel takes place in 1947, the year in which India gained independence from England and the new nation of Pakistan was created from the Partition of India. Around 14 million people were displaced by the Partition. The Partition led to chaos and violence. Hindus and Sikhs were made to move to India, and Muslims were forced into Pakistan.

The sad experience of the Partition forms background for the novel A Train to Pakistan. It is published in 1956. The novel is divided into four parts: 1) Dacoity, 2) Kalayug, 3) Mano Majra, and 4) Karma. The events in the novel take place in a village, Mano Majra. Mano Majra is one of the last remaining peaceful villages on the frontier. Sikhs and Muslims live peacefully in Mano Majra. 

The novel begins with the murder of Lala Ram Lal, the only Hindu in the village. A dacoit named Malli and his gang kill Lala Ram Lal. But the police wrongly arrest two men, Jugga and Iqbal Singh. The badmash, Jugga is a young man. He is the lover of Nooran, the daughter of the village imam. Iqbal Singh is a social worker. He has come from Delhi to inspire the villagers to take political action in the new India.

The magistrate, Hukum Chand instructs the sub-inspector to keep Jugga and Iqbal in custody, and to continue the search for true killers. One day, a “ghost train” from Pakistan arrives in Mano Majra. It is full of dead Hindus and Sikhs. The villagers are shocked by this event.

 As Jugga informs about the true killers of Ram Lal, Hukum Chand orders the arrest of Malli and his gang. He also tells the sub-inspector to contact the local Muslim refugee camp and arrange for the evacuation of the Mano Majra Muslims.

As a part of Hukum Chand’s plan to convince Mano Majra to evacuate (रिकामे करणे) its Muslim villagers, Malli and his gang are soon released. They are taken to the Sikh temple in the village. They stand by the head constable who refers to Iqbal and a group of Muslim dacoits in connection with Lala Ram Lal’s murder. After sending these doubts through the village, the head constable announces that all Muslims in Mano Majra will be taken to a local refugee camp.

When Imam Baksh tells Nooran they are leaving Mano Majra, she runs to Jugga’s house. Jugga is still in custody. She talks to Jugga’s mother. Nooran tells her that she’s pregnant with Jugga’s baby. Jugga’s mother calms her down. She convinces Nooran that Jugga will find her wherever she is.

The next morning it becomes clear that the Muslims aren’t staying at the camp, but will be sent to Pakistan. Terrified people wonder what will happen to the Muslims’ property. But it is Malli who is left in charge of the property. Once the Muslims are out of sight, Malli and his gang raid and loot the Muslim property.

Later that day, the Sutlej River begins to rise due to flood. The lambardar arranges a night watch to monitor the river. At that time, the people hear a train arrive at the Mano Majra station. But no one gets out from the train. Meanwhile on the river, dead bodies come floating down. In the morning, the men can clearly see the bodies of murdered men, women, and children in the river as well as in the train.

At night, the atmosphere in Mano Majra is sad. All of the remaining villagers are gathered at the gurdwara. A group of militant Sikhs enter the temple. They ask the Mano Majra men in helping them to loot the train and kill Muslims moving to Pakistan. The train is coming from the refugee camp, which means Mano Majra’s Muslims will be on it. Surprisingly several villagers, along with Malli’s gang approve this plan.

After their release from custody, Jugga and Iqbal reach Mano Majra. Jugga goes to look for Nooran. He comes to know about Nooran’s departure to Pakistan.

As per the plan, that night, the Mano Majra villagers take the position at the bridge. As they hear the train, they notice a man, climbing the bridge. He is Jugga. Jugga pulls out a knife and begins to cut the rope. The rope is there to kill the Muslims sitting on top of the train. The mob begins to shoot the man. Just as the train reaches the bridge, the bullets cause Jugga to fall. The rope breaks with him. The train rolls over him and continues on the way to Pakistan. In this way Jugga scarifies his life to save Nooran.

 

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