The special train left Amritsar at two in the afternoon
This excerpt is based on the Partition of India, which takes place shortly after India gains independence from Great Britain. The partition split India into two separate states: India and Pakistan, based on religious majority. This resulted in the displacement of many people, which caused the refugee crisis that is being described in this excerpt. Based on my knowledge of this crisis, I am assuming that this "special train" was a refugee train that was meant to help Muslim refugees make it to Mughalpura, Lahore in Pakistan. These trains were frequently attacked by Hindu Nationalists.
To me, it's somewhat shocking to hear an account like this. Usually when learning about the Partition of India, you only focus on when India was freed. You never truly learn about the aftermath. The author's language and descriptions makes feel like we are experiencing this tragic event alongside Sirajuddin. We are even walked through the pacing of his thoughts. "Attack... fire... escape... railway station... night... Sakina." I can feel his thought process change from confusion, to slow recollection, to focus, to panic. You can feel his distress. You can also feel his love for his daughter. When he says, “she is alive. My daughter is alive,” you can feel a sense of relief and joy. The language of this passage is very effective. Each sentence evokes an emotion. I've never been able to learn about history through an account like this one. It helps build a sense of sympathy for the people going through these tragedies. It also helps you understand this moment in history in depth.
I would also like to add on my own connection to this historical event. My great grandmother lived through the Partition of India while in Trinidad. Being that Trinidad was still under British rule at that time, she frequently received news from India. When I was little, I remember her telling stories about what she heard. Her recounts were just as tragic as this excerpt. She even spoke of the events that her own family members in India went through.