The Horrors of Rape and Trauma in Khol Do by Saadat Hasan Manto

 Saadat Hasan Manto was a prolific and controversial writer of Urdu literature, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest short story writers of the 20th century. He was born in British India in 1912 and migrated to Pakistan after the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. He wrote about various topics, such as sexuality, politics, religion, and social issues, but he is most famous for his stories that depict violence, trauma, and human suffering during the partition. He was often accused of obscenity and blasphemy for his realistic and graphic portrayal of the harsh realities of his time. He died in 1955, at the age of 42, from liver cirrhosis.

One of his most famous and controversial stories is "Khol Do", which was first published in 1948 in a collection of Urdu short stories titled Black Margins (Siyah Hashiye). The story is set in the aftermath of the partition when millions of people were displaced, killed, or raped as they crossed the borders between India and Pakistan. The story follows Sirajuddin, an elderly man who regains consciousness in a refugee camp in Lahore and realizes that his daughter, Sakina, is not with him. He searches for her in vain after which he accepts the assistance of several young male camp volunteers who assure him that they can locate her. They do find her. However, after initially providing succor, it is obvious that they rape her. She succumbs to her resultant injuries. Later, Sirajuddin enters a hospital where a corpse has been brought on a stretcher whereupon he realizes it, is Sakina. The story concludes with a disquieting scene. The doctor enters the room, takes her pulse, and orders the father, “Khidki khol do” (open the window), presumably because of the corpse’s fetor. Upon uttering “khol do” (open it), the corpse unties and lowers its salwar. We infer that Sakina had been so accustomed to following this order in the last days of her life, that even in death, her lifeless body complied with the command.

The story explores the themes of violence, trauma, identity, and nationalism through the characters of Sirajuddin and Sakina. Manto uses physical and psychological descriptions to portray their experiences and personalities. Sirajuddin is depicted as an old and frail man, who has lost his senses and his ability to think and understand what is happening around him. He is described as having "a long beard" and "a white turban" (Manto 1), which suggests his religious identity as a Muslim. He is also referred to as "old Sirajuddin" (Manto 1), which implies his respectability and dignity as an elder. However, he is also shown as being helpless and vulnerable in the face of the chaos and violence that has engulfed his life. He is unable to protect his daughter or himself from the brutality of the partition. He is constantly searching for Sakina, but he does not know where to look or whom to trust. He relies on the young men who offer to help him, but they turn out to be rapists who exploit his desperation and innocence. He is also unaware of Sakina's fate until he sees her corpse in the hospital. He does not recognize her at first until he sees her face and her clothes. He is shocked and devastated by her death, but he does not express any anger or grief. He only says "She's my daughter" (Manto 3) as if to confirm her identity and his relationship with her.

Sakina is depicted as a young and beautiful woman, who has been violated and traumatized by multiple men during the partition. She is described as having "a fair complexion" and "a mole on her left cheek" (Manto 2), which suggest her physical attractiveness and uniqueness. She is also referred to as "Sakina" (Manto 2), which means "tranquil" or "peaceful" in Arabic, which implies her gentle and innocent nature. However, she is also shown as being a victim and a survivor of the horrors of rape and trauma that have shattered her life. She is separated from her father during their journey from Amritsar to Lahore when their train is attacked by rioters. She is presumably raped by several men who find her unconscious on the road. She is then rescued by the young men who claim to be helping Sirajuddin, but they also rape her in their car. She is then taken to a hospital where she dies from her injuries. She does not speak or react much throughout the story, except for nodding or shaking her head when asked questions by the young men or the doctor. She is also unaware of her father's presence until he touches her hand in the hospital. She does not recognize him at first, until he says her name. She is happy and relieved to see him, but she does not express any pain or fear. She only says "Abba" (Manto 3), which means "father" in Urdu, as if to confirm his identity and her relationship with him.

The relationship between Sirajuddin and Sakina is one of the main focuses of the story, as it reflects the theme of love and survival in the midst of violence and trauma. Manto portrays them as a father and a daughter who share a bond of affection and loyalty, but who are also separated and alienated by the circumstances of the partition. They are both looking for each other, but they are also unaware of each other's whereabouts and conditions. They are both dependent on strangers for help, but they are also betrayed and harmed by them. They are both trying to survive, but they are also dying from their wounds. They are both happy to reunite, but they are also unable to communicate or comfort each other. They are both alive, but they are also dead.

The ending of the story is one of the most shocking and disturbing parts of the story, as it affects the reader's impression and understanding of the story. Manto uses a twist and a contrast to create a powerful impact on the reader. The twist is that Sakina's corpse responds to the doctor's order of "khol do" by lowering her salwar, which reveals that she has been raped so many times that she has internalized the command and obeyed it even in death. The contrast is that the doctor's order is meant to open the window, which symbolizes light and air, while Sakina's action is meant to open her body, which symbolizes darkness and death. The ending also suggests several meanings and implications for the story. It suggests that Sakina has lost her identity and dignity as a woman and a human being, as she has been reduced to an object of sexual violence and abuse. It suggests that Sirajuddin has lost his role and responsibility as a father and a protector, as he has been unable to save his daughter from the rapists and the death. It suggests that the partition has destroyed the lives and relationships of millions of people, as it has caused them to suffer from violence, trauma, and loss. It suggests that the story is not only a story of Sirajuddin and Sakina but also a story of many other fathers and daughters who have faced similar fates during the partition.

 In his short story "Khol Do", Saadat Hasan Manto uses the characters of Sirajuddin and Sakina to portray the horrors of rape and trauma during the partition of India and Pakistan, by showing how they are physically and psychologically affected by their experiences, how they act and react to their situations, how they relate to each other as a father and a daughter, and how they shock the reader with their tragic ending.

In conclusion, Manto uses the characters of Sirajuddin and Sakina to depict the violence, trauma, identity, and nationalism that characterizes the partition of India and Pakistan. He uses physical and psychological descriptions, actions and reactions, relationships, and endings to create a realistic and graphic portrayal of the human suffering that resulted from the partition. He also uses a twist and a contrast to create a powerful impact on the reader. He challenges the reader to question their assumptions and expectations about the story, and to empathize with the characters and their plight. He exposes the harsh realities of his time and invites the reader to reflect on their implications for his society and humanity.