A book named ‘Train to Pakistan’
has been written by Khuswant Singh, an Indian writer. He writes on social,
political, religious, and other issues with satire. This book is about the love story of a Sikh
with a Muslim woman set during pre-independence era in India.
The book is truly revolutionary
highlighting various beliefs of India, how people start challenging them, and
some who give them up completely to become revolutionaries. This may apply to
any injustice happening in any field. One such person was Juggat Singh, a Sikh
who was also in love with a Muslim girl named Nooran. The story is set during
the summer of 1947 in a small village of Mano Majra on the border of India and
Pakistan. Ram Lal, a local money lender is killed and the suspicion falls on
Juggat Singh.
The story depicts the unity among
Indians against the Britishers, who were exploiting India and its citizens in
all possible ways. When the time of Partition came, and there were massive
massacres spread over the old geographical map of India and Pakistan, which
existed together and as a matter of fact, the Muslims were killing Sikhs along
with Hindus and vice versa but the natives of this village saved each other by
their friendly skills.
Nooran cannot marry Juggat Singh
because he sacrifices himself for the peace and happiness of the people yet
their true love lived in the form of all Indians who, survived, whichever side
of the border they, settled. She and Juggat’s mother are shown to be strong and
kind to each other in nature, even though portrayed as staunch enemies of the
time. Some other characters that really touch one’s heart are Iqbal Mohammed,
Meet Singh, Hukum Chand to name a few.
The last few pages of the book
are an eye opener for any human being. They depict the ironical reality and how
a logical wave of thought can bring the ‘Change that we all Seek’ but do not have
the strength to fight against them. Here I remember the dialogue towards the
climax, of a Hindi Film, which states ‘Be in the system to change the system.’
It is a book worth reading for any reader.