Khushwant Singh was inspired to write “Train to Pakistan” because he was witness to the horrible devastation that was happening at the time of the partition. The partition happened in 1947 and was a result of the British deciding to give India its independence after over one hundred and eighty years of British rule. The process divided the country into two countries, primarily by religious beliefs.
Pakistan contained a majority of Muslim people while Muslims were a minority in India. The partition caused riots, deaths, and a huge migration of Muslims away from India and toward Pakistan while Hindus and Sikhs migrated the other way. It’s been estimated as many and 14-16 million people were displaced.