The Dog Of Titwal - Sadat Hasan Manto

 

Sadat Hasan Manto (1912-1955) is a well known short story writer, film and radio script writer and journalist.  He has won much critical acclaim for his stories about the partition of India.  'The Dog of Titwal' is a political tale that tells the story of a stray dog caught between Indian and Pakistani soldiers.  It actually symbolizes the fate of thousands of refugees caught between communal violence and fanaticism.

'The Dog of Titwal' begins with Indian and Pakistani soldiers entrenched in their positions along the nation's border in a mountainous area.  After the partition of 1947, Muslims and Hindus were so hostile to each other.  But the weather was agreeable and the air infused with the scent of flowers.  Only the sound of fire that rang through the hills gave a start to the squalling birds.  Corporal Harnam Singh who was on patrol, awoke Ganda Singh and installed him in his position.  He thought about his beloved and sang.  Banta Singh too accompanied him.  On their hearing the barking of a dog, Banta Singh went and came with a dog with wagging tail.  He also declared that it was 'Chapadjhunjhun', an Indian dog.  They wrote it and tied it around its neck.  Harnam Singh gave it a few biscuits from his satchel.  All the recruits gave food next day and it happily devoured.

That evening, on the other side Bashir, who was leaning against a rock with his gun asked the stray dog, "where did you pass the night, darling?".  Only a few days ago it had come to them as an un invited guest.  Bashir found a piece of card board written 'Chapadjhunjhun' on its neck.  Captain Himmat Khan asked Bashir to remove it and wrote, "Sapadsunsun", a Pakistani dog' on a lid of a cigarette box and then hung it on its neck.  Then Captain Himmat Khan fired a shot into the air and drove the dog to deliver their letter to the enemy.  Corporal Harnam Singh saw the dog, through binoculars, coming from the enemy side and fired.  The dog froze in alarm.  Another shot from Captain Himmat Khan made it move towards Indian side.  But when it got a shot from Harnam Singh it changed its direction.  But Captain Himmat's fire changed its direction again.  But it got a fatal shot from Corporal Harnam Singh and collapsed.  It's death made Himmat Khan say that it martyred and Harnam Singh say that it died a dog's death.  Thus the story portrays the dehumanising effect of war and the terrible consequences of imposed divisions.  Apart from this it also reminds us of the need for kindness and compassion across borders and boundaries.

------Thulasidharan V