TRAIN TO PAKISTAN

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧
𝐁𝐲 𝐊𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧
𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤: 𝟏𝟖𝟓
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟗𝟓𝟔
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥
𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐


Author Khushwant Singh takes us into the heart of the Partition in Train to Pakistan. History is viewed from the perspective of individuals, and discord and hatred are easily propagated. We see how fear of others spreads, and how easily people can be coerced to turn on their neighbors.

It is set in an isolated village called Mano Majra, where Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims coexist peacefully. Until an incident causes suspicion, chaos, and animosity among different communities, the village stands as a symbol of ignorance and peace.
Three major characters are featured in the story: Jagga, an infamous robber, Hukum Chand, a village magistrate who is in charge of maintaining peace, and Iqbal, a political activist and a mysterious identity who visits the village to inspire a revolution in the proletariat.

For some readers, the book's slow pace might be off-putting, and its scenic descriptions were distracting at times. Despite this, I suggest you read this book because it tells a powerful tale about people, and how they are never so completely evil as when acting out of religious conviction. The book gives a clear picture of the social, political, physical, and mental atmospheres during that period, when people should have been happy with their freedom, but was instead keen on cleaning opposite sides of their respective homes.

My Rating:

3/5

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