Concept of Cultural Trauma in Khushwant Singh’s Train to Pakistan

Marshlene R.

Department of English, Alumnus of St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Bharathidasan University, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India. marshlene1312@gmail.com

Abstract

This paper examines Khushwant Singh’s Train to Pakistan through the lens of cultural trauma, exploring how the novel portrays the violent partition of India and its enduring impact on individuals and communities. The Partition, marked by unprecedented violence and displacement, serves as a historical backdrop to understand the complexities of cultural trauma. The paper argues that Singh’s narrative vividly captures the trauma of Partition, highlighting themes of identity, belonging, and resilience amidst communal hatred. Through characters like Juggut Singh and the villagers of Mano Majra, the novel illustrates the human cost of partition, emphasizing the disruption of cultural and social fabrics. Drawing on theories of cultural trauma by scholars like Jeffery Alexander and Cathy Caruth, this analysis explores how Train to Pakistan serves as a literary testament to trauma and shaping of individual and communal identities. The paper also examines Singh’s narrative techniques, language and symbolism to convey the depth of trauma. The novel’s significance in understanding cultural trauma’s enduring legacy in India is underscored.

Keywords: Violence and trauma, Communal violence, Sacrifice, Symbolism, Partition literature.