This artwork depicts a refugee train from the Partition of 1947, a period in which mass migration was accompanied by extreme violence. When British India was divided into India and Pakistan, approximately fourteen to fifteen million people attempted to cross the new borders. Punjab experienced the largest displacement, and trains quickly became the primary method of transport for those leaving their homes.
The journey was often dangerous. Numerous trains carrying Muslim refugees to Pakistan or Sikh and Hindu refugees to India were attacked along major routes. Historical records describe convoys arriving at stations with large numbers of casualties, or in some cases with no survivors at all. Rail lines between Lahore, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Mianwali, Rawalpindi and Montgomery witnessed repeated assaults during the peak months of migration. Contemporary reports from British military officers, Indian police, and journalists consistently record ambushes, derailments, armed mobs and targeted killings. These incidents contributed significantly to the estimated several hundred thousand to one million deaths associated with Partition.
Beyond physical danger, these journeys involved deep personal loss. Millions left ancestral homes, family graves, farms, businesses and communities where they had lived for generations. Many left with only what they could carry. Official correspondence from August to December 1947 describes scenes of people boarding trains while unsure whether their relatives were alive, whether their homes still stood, or whether they would ever be able to return. Refugee testimonies collected in later decades repeatedly describe the heartbreak of abandoning livestock, property, neighbourhoods and memories built over centuries. Families were often separated in the confusion. Some never reunited.
Trains became central to this experience. They carried people fleeing violence, people who witnessed violence en route and people forced to rebuild their lives in completely unfamiliar environments. The fear associated with each journey was widely recorded. Refugees frequently travelled on roofs, steps or between carriages due to overcrowding, heightening the risk of falls and accidents. Armed escorts were added to some trains, but not all convoys received protection, and the sheer volume of migration overwhelmed available resources.
The refugee trains of Partition remain among the most documented and tragic elements of 1947. They appear in official reports, newspaper archives, survivor interviews, court testimonies and historical studies. They represent the combination of urgent flight, communal conflict and the emotional trauma of leaving one’s birthplace under threat and without certainty of return.
Every artwork in the Riwayah collection is available in four premium display formats, crafted to suit every home and interior style. Our canvas prints offer a rich, textured finish that brings depth and character to each piece, stretched on FSC certified wooden bars for a refined gallery feel. For a minimalist and versatile look, our magnetic hangers use durable pine wood to hold your print securely without marking it, making it easy to change artwork whenever you like. Those seeking a classic, museum style presentation can choose our premium wooden frames, crafted from responsibly sourced oak or ash with visible natural grain and protected with shatterproof plexiglass. And for a sleek, contemporary finish, our aluminium frames pair clean black metal with heavyweight matte paper for a polished, modern aesthetic. All prints use FSC certified paper and high quality inks, arrive ready to hang or assemble, and are produced on demand in the UK to reduce waste and ensure the highest standard of craftsmanship.
