Analysis of Indian Partition Public Memory: Film and History

This essay analyzes the film 'Train to Pakistan' to understand the public memory surrounding the Indian Partition. It examines how the film portrays historical events, offering an alternative discourse to conventional historical writing and highlighting the cooperative aspects often muted in mainstream accounts. The essay explores the advantages of using film in conveying memories, the role of images and objects in facilitating remembering, and whether remembering is always painful. It also discusses the political aspects of remembering, the responsibilities of contemporary politicians, and the role of educators in teaching this sensitive subject. The analysis emphasizes the film's potential to promote inter-faith harmony and the importance of remembering painful events to avoid repeating past mistakes. The essay concludes by highlighting the need to teach students to avoid fanaticism and hatred, promoting a more nuanced understanding of history.

Running head: CONFLICT IN ASIA
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Name of the Student
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Author Note

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Portraying historical events in form of literature or films are but alternative discourses to
the narration of the past which have escaped the perils of selective obliteration and glorification
of facts for the purpose of achieving political goals. These accounts should be treated as peace
building blocks for future generations, as they are reminiscent of the cooperative aspects of the
past which are often muted. In this particular essay the film ‘Train to Pakistan’ shall be taken up
for analysis with the aim to discuss the cooperative aspects in the otherwise conflictual event of
Partition between India and Pakistan (Ali, 2018).
The film is based on the novel of Khushwant Singh ‘Train To Pakistan’ based on the
perils of the Partition. The accounts are based on true events which had taken place and the
exchange of massacred bodies of escaping Sikhs and Muslims between India and Pakistan have
had a huge influence in the film and the novel as well. Apart from that, stories of both the
communities living in harmony becoming enemies of each other overnight in a fit of frenzy
fanned by jingoism is also present in the chosen film ("Train To Pakistan 1999 (Khushwant
Singh) By Najam Sethi on Aapas Ki Baat 2 August 2011", 2019).
As it has been mentioned that the chosen film can be treated as a narration of alternative
history, it can thus be advantageous in promoting inter-faith harmony between the Hindus,
Muslims and Sikhs in both the nations as not all Hindus and Sikhs had migrated to India and not
all Muslims living in the north western part of India had migrated to Pakistan in the event of
Partition. The peaceful existence of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs living in peace with each other
at Mano Majra as shown in the film shows that humanity transcends the parochialities of religion
and nationhood and the divisiveness of politics (Ali, 2018).
The images and objects facilitate the aspect of incidents as they have been derived out of
personal experiences, anecdotes and folk lores, something which is difficult to find in

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mainstream narration of the history. The mainstream history has a political bias inherent in it, but
narration of people’s experiences are but the unbiased truth. Remembering is thus painful as it
evokes a sense of regret that the untoward incidents could have been avoided had the masses not
been carried away by the political propaganda. Had the Sikhs not been incited against the
Muslims, vice versa, then the partition would not have not been painful and violent, in fact the
partition would not have been successful without inciting hatred (Khan, 2017).
Remembering as such is not political, it is an antidote to the divisiveness of politics and
makes one aware of the perils of politics dividing human beings. Hence remembering incites
resentment towards the politicians and their hallowed status as leaders is made possible to be
critically analyzed. The contemporary politicians must thus revoke the harmony that existed in
the past and carry forward that legacy in foreign policy decisions between India and Pakistan
(Singh, 2005).
These alternative narrations of history must be taught to students and the role of the
educator should be to teach the students not to tread the path of fanaticism and hate the others,
Indians or the Pakistanis.

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References
Ali, R. U. (2018). The Tired Men of India and the Partition Massacres of 1947. Journal of the
Research Society of Pakistan, 55(1).
Khan, Y. (2017). The great partition: The making of India and Pakistan. Yale University Press.
Singh, K. (2005). Train to Pakistan. Orient Blackswan.
Train To Pakistan 1999 (Khushwant Singh) By Najam Sethi on Aapas Ki Baat 2 August 2011.
(2019). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8i9odsdL0M