Train to Pakistan_Iqbal

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

Iqbal

          Iqbal does not play any role in the development of the plot. Yet, he is an important character in the novel ‘A Train to Pakistan’. Iqbal is young and well-educated. He is twenty-seven years old. He comes to Mano Majra with suspicious identity —Iqbal Singh/Iqbal Muhammad. He is a social worker. He has come from Delhi. He had spent some years in England. He is a western and a modern. He does not believe in religion. He has been sent to Mano Majra by People’s Political Party. He is in Mano Majra to educate the people.

          Iqbal comes to Mano Majra immediately after the murder of Lala Ram Lal. In Mano Majra, Iqbal stays in the gurdwara. Bhai Meet Singh considers him a Sikh, Iqbal Singh. Iqbal does not want to disclose his identity. He does not maintain the Sikh features such as turban, beard and kada. Police arrest Iqbal for inquiry regarding Lala Ram Lal’s murder. Iqbal is upset by this arrest. In police station, he repeatedly tells about his Sikh identity. As per Hukum Chand’s plan, he is registered as a Muslim, Iqbal Muhammad. Iqbal’s Muslim identity helps Hukum Chand to create disbelief in Sikhs against the Muslims of Mano Majra. Hukum Chand knows it well that Iqbal is a Sikh, but he deliberately declares him a Muslim.

          Iqbal comes to Mano Majra with dreams of changing society. He is disturbed by the communal violence erupted after the partition. He wants to establish social equality. He wants to be an ideal political leader. He aspires to do hard work to establish social harmony.  But in Mano Majra, after his arrest, he realizes that he is misfit to be a social worker or a politician.

When Hukum Chand comes to know about the villagers’ plan to attack a train going to Pakistan, Jugga and Iqbal are released from police custody. In the gurdwara, Iqbal too comes to know about this plan. But he lacks courage to convince the villagers. He finds his life at risk. He prefers to save his life. In this way, he is in contrast with Jugga. Jugga, though uneducated, a dacoit by profession takes a risk of his life, and saves the train from attack.

Iqbal represents the writer’s point of view. As an outsider, he looks at Mano Majra objectively. His thoughts over social inequality, and communal violence make him a symbol of the modern, educated India.