Religious War

Mano Majra is a small town divided between Sikhs and Muslims; until Lala Ram Lal is killed, there is a prominent Hindu family in town as well. There is no deep tension between these differing religious groups, an impressive social achievement particularly in a time with such deep religious tension. Religious tension was radically exaggerated during the partition period, however, and this put a massive strain on religious peace and tolerance in Mano Majra towards the end of the book.

The partition split India into a secular and Hindu India and a Muslim Pakistan. Those who had the "wrong" religion for their geography had to flee before the partitioning occurred at the end of the summer, which led ten million people to cross the partition area. Unfortunately, the mixture of individuals moving at such a fevered pace caused mass instability and ethnic and religious violence broke out...