Train to Pakistan

by

Khushwant Singh

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Hukum Chand Character Analysis

The magistrate and deputy commissioner in Mano Majra, sometimes referred to as nar admi. He holds authority over the subinspector and the head constable. Chand, a Hindu of “lower-middle-class origin,” is in his fifties, “corpulent,” and married. He once had children, including a daughter of whom he was fond, but they died. Chand is obsessed by a fear of death and aims to evacuate as many Muslims from Mano Majra as he can to prevent a massacre. After a drunken evening of entertainment, he begins a relationship with Haseena, a teenaged Muslim prostitute. He develops love for Haseena because she is around the same age that his daughter would have been had she lived.

Hukum Chand Quotes in Train to Pakistan

The Train to Pakistan quotes below are all either spoken by Hukum Chand or refer to Hukum Chand. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Partition of India and Religious Warfare Theme Icon
).
2. Kalyug Quotes

He lay down again with his hands over his eyes. Within the dark chambers of his closed eyes, scenes of the day started coming back in panoramic succession. He tried to squash them by pressing his fingers into his eyes. The images only went blacker and redder and then came back. There was a man holding his intestines, with an expression in his eyes which said: “Look what I have got!” There were women and children huddled in a corner, their eyes dilated with horror, their mouths still open as if their shrieks had just then become voiceless … And all the nauseating smell of putrefying flesh, feces and urine.

Related Characters: Hukum Chand
Related Symbols: Railway Bridge
Page Number: 85
Explanation and Analysis:

It all came from his belief that the only absolute truth was death. The rest—love, ambition, pride, values of all kinds—was to be taken with a pinch of salt. He did so with a clear conscience. Although he accepted gifts and obliged friends when they got into trouble, he was not corrupt. He occasionally joined in parties, arranged for singing and dancing—and sometimes sex—but he was not immoral. What did it really matter in the end? That was the core of Hukum Chand’s philosophy of life, and he lived well.

Related Characters: Hukum Chand, Haseena
Page Number: 87
Explanation and Analysis:

“Sir, the Babu’s name is Iqbal Singh. He is a Sikh. He has been living in England and had his long hair cut.” The subinspector fixed the head constable with a stare and smiled. “There are many Iqbals. I am talking of a Mohammed Iqbal, you are thinking of Iqbal Singh. Mohammed Iqbal can be a member of the Muslim League.” “I understand, sir,” repeated the head constable, but he had not really understood. He hoped he would catch up with the scheme in due course. “Your orders will be carried out.”

Related Characters: The Subinspector / Inspector Sahib (speaker), The Head Constable (speaker), Juggut Singh / Jugga, Iqbal Singh, Hukum Chand
Page Number: 113
Explanation and Analysis:
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Hukum Chand Quotes in Train to Pakistan

The Train to Pakistan quotes below are all either spoken by Hukum Chand or refer to Hukum Chand. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Partition of India and Religious Warfare Theme Icon
).
2. Kalyug Quotes

He lay down again with his hands over his eyes. Within the dark chambers of his closed eyes, scenes of the day started coming back in panoramic succession. He tried to squash them by pressing his fingers into his eyes. The images only went blacker and redder and then came back. There was a man holding his intestines, with an expression in his eyes which said: “Look what I have got!” There were women and children huddled in a corner, their eyes dilated with horror, their mouths still open as if their shrieks had just then become voiceless … And all the nauseating smell of putrefying flesh, feces and urine.

Related Characters: Hukum Chand
Related Symbols: Railway Bridge
Page Number: 85
Explanation and Analysis:

It all came from his belief that the only absolute truth was death. The rest—love, ambition, pride, values of all kinds—was to be taken with a pinch of salt. He did so with a clear conscience. Although he accepted gifts and obliged friends when they got into trouble, he was not corrupt. He occasionally joined in parties, arranged for singing and dancing—and sometimes sex—but he was not immoral. What did it really matter in the end? That was the core of Hukum Chand’s philosophy of life, and he lived well.

Related Characters: Hukum Chand, Haseena
Page Number: 87
Explanation and Analysis:

“Sir, the Babu’s name is Iqbal Singh. He is a Sikh. He has been living in England and had his long hair cut.” The subinspector fixed the head constable with a stare and smiled. “There are many Iqbals. I am talking of a Mohammed Iqbal, you are thinking of Iqbal Singh. Mohammed Iqbal can be a member of the Muslim League.” “I understand, sir,” repeated the head constable, but he had not really understood. He hoped he would catch up with the scheme in due course. “Your orders will be carried out.”

Related Characters: The Subinspector / Inspector Sahib (speaker), The Head Constable (speaker), Juggut Singh / Jugga, Iqbal Singh, Hukum Chand
Page Number: 113
Explanation and Analysis: