Partition took place in 1947 when areas where Muslims were in

majority were united and given the name Pakistan and the parts of Hindu
majority were called India. It was an epoch-making event which left deep
impact on peoples psyche and life. Manto was also influenced by it, and
he wrote stories where Partition was taken as a backdrop. With the
partition came destruction of many families. Innumerable lives were lost
including women, the aged, and children women got raped and
abducted, and properties destroyed. Unbelievable scenes of brutality and
barbarism were normal to view each day after the partition. Muslims,
Hindus, and Sikhs had been living together for centuries in peace, but now
they were intolerant even of the sight of each other. The time when
Partition took place saw extremely horrible brutalities taking place in the
sub-continent. Millions were tortured, killed, or disabled for life; women
were abducted and raped (many women took their lives by jumping into
wells in order to save their endangered chastity); above all, newly-born
children were pierced to death with spears and were raised on the edges
of the spears.

Manto portrayed Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims equally responsible for

the mass-scale violence that had erupted at the time of independence. His
partition-stories also reflect his stance of considering the partition an
unnecessary act an act which turned people of different religions who
were living in peace and harmony against each other.