Train to Pakistan_Jugga

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

Jugga:

Introduction: Introduction: Jugga is a central character in the novel Train to Pakistan. He lives in Mano Majra and is a dacoit by profession. His full name is Juggut Singh, and he is twenty-four years old, standing six feet tall. A member of the Sikh religion, he is infamous (कुप्रसिद्ध) in police records, described as "badmash number ten." Whenever something goes wrong in Mano Majra, Jugga is often the one arrested. The police warn him not to leave his home after evening. He is uneducated and is in love with a Muslim girl named Nooran.

The novel opens with the murder of Lala Ram Lal, the only Hindu in Mano Majra. He is killed by Malli, Jugga's rival. This incident marks a turning point in the fate (नशीब/प्रारब्ध) of Mano Majra.

Role of Hukum Chand: Hukum Chand arrives in Chundunnugger, a town near Mano Majra, as the deputy commissioner. His duty is to maintain law and order in the area. He realizes that unless the Muslims are moved from Mano Majra to Pakistan, there will be a fear of violence, so he designs a delicate and complex plan.

After Lala Ram Lal’s murder, Jugga is arrested. At the time of the murder, he was with Nooran and had seen Malli and his gang. During interrogation (जबाब नोंदणी), he informs the police about Malli, leading to his arrest. Alongside Jugga, another person named Iqbal is also arrested. Iqbal has come from Delhi to educate the villagers and is a social worker.

According to Hukum Chand’s plan, Malli and his gang are released. The police conduct a casual inquiry in Mano Majra regarding Sultana and Iqbal. Sultana has already gone to Pakistan, but the villagers suspect that a Muslim is responsible for the murder of a Hindu. They also begin to doubt Iqbal as a worker of the Muslim League.

Changes in Mano Majra: The villagers’ distrust (विश्वसघात) about the Muslim brothers intensifies when they observe a train coming from Pakistan with dead bodies. Sikh refugees from Pakistan come to Mano Majra. They narrate the horrible stories of violence in Pakistan. In this way, Hukum Chand becomes successful in breaking the bonds of love between the two communities.

Finally, the refugees and youths compel (सक्ती करणे) Muslims to evacuate Mano Majra. It is decided that they will be shifted to a refugee camp at Chundunnugger and from there to Pakistan.

Nooran is upset with this news. She meets Jugga’s mother and tells her that Jugga’s baby is growing inside her. Jugga’s mother assures her that once Jugga returns from custody, he will take her care. Helpless Nooran and the other Muslims leave Mano Majra with heavy hearts.

Final Plan: Some other Sikh youths from neighbouring village come to Mano Majra. They instigate (उद्युक्त करणे) the villagers to take revenge on the Muslims. So, the villagers decide to attack a train which is going to Pakistan. Hukaum Chand gets this news. He realizes that the situation is likely to go out of control. He makes one more plan. He releases Jugga and Iqbal.

Jugga, the hero: Jugga returns Mano Majra. When he understands the villagers’ plan, in that night, he goes to the bridge. The villagers had tied a rope on the bridge, so that people on the rooftop of railway will be pushed down and will be killed. The villagers think that perhaps the train will be halted. In that case they will violently attack the train and will butcher all the Muslims. But, Jugga reaches there in time. He climbs the pole and starts to cut the rope. The leader of villagers fires Jugga. Jugga is injured, but still, he continues his task. He becomes successful in cutting the rope. But he fells down on the rail track and the railway goes to Pakistan over his dead body.

Jugga, Hukum Chand and Iqbal: Hukum Chand knows about the villagers’ plan. But he finds himself helpless. He has seen the horrific violence erupted after the partition. He does not want to take any initiative in stopping the likely violence in Mano Majra. Iqbal is well-educated. He comes to Mano Majra to educate the villagers. He brings with him a dream of new India. But when the moment comes, he does not stop the Sikhs to attack the train. He does not want to sacrifice his life.

Against Hukum Chand and Iqbal, Jugga stands tall. He is uneducated. He does not have any authority. But he listens to his inner voice. He does not bother about sacrifice. He thinks only of Nooran. For the sake of his love, he sacrifices his life.

Jugga-Nooran love story: The novel begins with Jugga-Nooran’s love story and ends with the same. The writer has very skillfully handled the love story in the novel. After the arrest of Jugga, the focus of the novel shifts to gruesome experiences of partition. The novel talks about the dramatic transformation in Mano Majra. Most of the part in the novel is dedicated to the partition theme. But while coming to the end of the novel, once again Jugga comes to centerstage. His sacrifice a powerful slap (थप्पड मारणे) to communal tensions and violence. It very effectively gives the message that only love is a true religion which knows no boundaries, which is really universal.

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