A migrant's Journey: Borderlands

          In Manto’s story “Toba Tek Singh”, The story is set two or three years after the 1947 Partition, when the governments of India and Pakistan decided to exchange their Muslim, Sikh and Hindu lunatics, and revolves around Bishan Singh, a Sikh inmate of an asylum in Lahore, who is from the town of Toba Tek Singh. As part of the exchange of lunatics Bishan Singh is sent under police escort to India, but upon being told that his hometown Toba Tek Singh is in Pakistan, he refuses to go. The story ends with Bishan lying down between barbed wire: "There, behind barbed wire, was Hindustan. Here, behind the same kind of barbed wire, was Pakistan. In between, on that piece of ground that had no name, lay Toba Tek Singh”. In my opinion, I think that Manto’s story “Toba Tek Singh” teach us about the significance or danger of national Borders by explaining readers how unauthorized immigration can create Wars and asylum. For example, unauthorized immigration may be prompted by the desire to escape civil war or repression in the country of origin. Also, non-economic push factors include persecution (religious and otherwise), frequent abuse, bullying, oppression, and genocide, and risks to civilians during war. Political motives traditionally motivate refugee flows - to escape dictatorship for instance.

On the other hand, I think that it is important to note that the status of "unauthorized immigrant" may overlap with or be replaced by the status of "asylum seeker" for immigrants who have escaped a war or oppression and have illegally crossed into another state. If they are recognized as "legitimate" asylums by the destination state, they will then gain status. However, there may be numerous potential asylums in a destination state who are unwilling to apply or have been denied asylum status, and hence are categorized as "unauthorized immigrants" and may be subject to punishment or deportation. However, unauthorized immigrants may expose themselves to dangers while engaged in illegal entry into another country. Aside from the possibility that they may be intercepted and deported, some considerably more dangerous outcomes have been known to result from their activity. As an example, unauthorized immigrants may be trafficked for exploitation including sexual exploitation.

            To conclude, while reading and understanding Manto’s story “Toba Tek Singh” I think this story is hilarious. I am actually surprised that the story did not get Manto in serious trouble with the government as some of the conversations of people in the mental hospital seem to mirror the views of leading politicians of the time. Also, in any language "Toba Tek Singh" is a wonderful story that way transcends its setting. If you can read this without laughing out loud you must be in a very bad mood!