Page 25 - Train to Pakistan

women, but these Muslims have no respect for the weaker sex. But what are we
to do about it? How long will it be before it starts here?’
‘I hope we do not get trains with corpses coming through Mano Majra. It will
be impossible to prevent retaliation. We have hundreds of small Muslim villages

all around, and there are some Muslim families in every Sikh village like Mano
Majra,’ said the subinspector, throwing a feeler.

Hukum Chand sucked his cigarette noisily and snapped his fingers.
‘We must maintain law and order,’ he answered after a pause. ‘If possible, get
the Muslims to go out peacefully. Nobody really benefits by bloodshed. Bad
characters will get all the loot and the government will blame us for the killing.

No, Inspector Sahib, whatever our views—and God alone knows what I would
have done to these Pakistanis if I were not a government servant—we must not

let there be any killing or destruction of property. Let them get out, but be
careful they do not take too much with them. Hindus from Pakistan were
stripped of all their belongings before they were allowed to leave. Pakistani

magistrates have become millionaires overnight. Some on our side have not done
too badly either. Only where there was killing or burning the government
suspended or transferred them. There must be no killing. Just peaceful

evacuation.’
The bearer brought a bottle of beer and put two glasses before Hukum Chand
and the subinspector. The subinspector picked up his glass and put his hand over

it, protesting, ‘No, sir, I could not be impertinent and drink in your presence.’
The magistrate dismissed the protest peremptorily. ‘You will have to join me.
It is an order. Bearer, fill the Inspector sahib’s glass and lay out lunch for him.’

The subinspector held out his glass for the bearer to fill. ‘If you order me to, I
cannot disobey.’ He began to relax. He took off his turban and put it on the table.
It was not like a Sikh turban which needed re-tying each time it was taken off; it

was just three yards of starched khaki muslin wrapped round a blue skullcap
which could be put on and off like a hat.
‘What is the situation in Mano Majra?’

‘All is well so far. The lambardar reports regularly. No refugees have come
through the village yet. I am sure no one in Mano Majra even knows that the
British have left and the country is divided into Pakistan and Hindustan. Some of

them know about Gandhi but I doubt if anyone has ever heard of Jinnah.’
‘That is good. You must keep an eye on Mano Majra. It is the most important