Page 130 - Train to Pakistan

over? Do you know of the massacres in Rawalpindi and Multan, Gujranwala and

Sheikhupura? What are you doing about it? You just eat and sleep and you call
yourselves Sikhs—the brave Sikhs! The martial class!’ he added, raising both his
arms to emphasize his sarcasm. He surveyed his audience with the bright eyes
daring anyone to contradict him. People looked down somewhat ashamed of

themselves.
‘What can we do, Sardarji?’ questioned the lambardar. ‘If our government

goes to war against Pakistan, we will fight. What can we do sitting in Mano
Majra?’
‘Government!’ sneered the boy contemptuously. ‘You expect the government

to do anything? A government consisting of cowardly bania moneylenders! Do
the Mussalmans in Pakistan apply for permission from their government when
they rape your sisters? Do they apply for permission when they stop trains and

kill everyone, old, young, women and children? You want the government to do
something! That is great! Shabash! Brave!’ He gave the holster on his side a
jaunty smack.

‘But, Sardar Sahib,’ said the lambardar falteringly, ‘do tell us what we can
do.’
‘That is better,’ answered the lad. ‘Now we can talk. Listen and listen very

carefully.’ He paused, looked around and started again. He spoke slowly,
emphasizing each sentence by stabbing the air with his forefinger. ‘For each
Hindu or Sikh they kill, kill two Mussulmans. For each woman they abduct or

rape, abduct two. For each home they loot, loot two. For each trainload of dead
they send over, send two across. For each road convoy that is attacked, attack
two. That will stop the killing on the other side. It will teach them that we also

play this game of killing and looting.’
He stopped to gauge the effect he had created. People listened to him with rapt
open-mouthed attention. Only Meet Singh did not took up; he cleared his throat

but stopped.
‘Well, brother, why do you keep quiet?’ asked the lad, throwing a challenge.
‘I was going to say,’ said Meet Singh haltingly, ‘I was going to say,’ he

repeated, ‘what have the Muslims here done to us for us to kill them in revenge
for what Muslims in Pakistan are doing. Only people who have committed
crimes should be punished.’

The lad glared angrily at Meet Singh. ‘What had the Sikhs and Hindus in