Which author wrote the novel "Train to Pakistan"?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
Khushwant Singh
Explanation
"Train to Pakistan" is a historical novel written by the renowned Indian author and journalist Khushwant Singh, published in 1956. The novel is widely considered a classic of modern Indian literature, providing a deeply moving account of the human tragedy surrounding the 1947 Partition of British India into India and Pakistan.
The story is set in Mano Majra, a fictional border village where Sikhs and Muslims had lived together in peace for generations. The novel brilliantly explores how the political upheaval and communal violence of Partition suddenly tear the social fabric of this quiet village apart, culminating in the arrival of a ghost train filled with the bodies of refugees. Through its compelling narrative, the book shifts the focus of Partition from political deals to the raw human suffering, trauma, and ultimate acts of individual sacrifice.
Key Points
Mulk Raj Anand was a pioneer of early Anglo-Indian fiction, celebrated for his realistic depiction of the lower castes in traditional Indian society through novels like "Untouchable" (1935) and "Coolie" (1936).
Arundhati Roy is an acclaimed author and activist who won the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 1997 for her debut novel, "The God of Small Things."
Vikram Seth is a highly accomplished poet and novelist known for his massive epic novel "A Suitable Boy" (1993), which is one of the longest novels ever published in a single volume in the English language.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: In which fictional border village is the entire plot of Khushwant Singh's "Train to Pakistan" centered?
Answer: The novel is set in the fictional border village of Mano Majra.
Question: In which year was "Train to Pakistan" officially published, establishing it as a definitive piece of Partition literature?
Answer: The novel was published in 1956.