Ice Candy Man/Cracking India

Introduction

Cracking India, (1991, U.S., 1992, India; originally published as Ice Candy Man, 1988, England) is
a novel by author Bapsi Sidhwa.

Author Bio
• Birth—1938
• Raised—Lahore, Pakistan
• Education—Kinnaird College
• Awards—Bunting Fellowship; Sitara-i-Imtiaz; Lila Wallace-Reader's
Digest Writer's Award; Premio Mondello
• Currently—lives in Houston, Texas, USA

Born in Karachi, Pakistan and raised in Lahore, Bapsi Sidhwa has been lauded as “Pakistan’s finest
English-language novelist.” Sidhwa is the author of four novels: The Bride, Crow Eaters, An
American Brat, and Cracking India (Ice-Candy-Man), which was a New York Times Notable Book,
nominated by the American Library Association as Notable Book, and won the Literature Prize in
Germany in 1991, and was made into the award-winning film Earth by Indian director Deepa Mehta
in 1999.

Sidhwa was the recipient the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s highest honor in the arts in 1991, and was
inducted into the Zoroastrian Hall of Fame in 2000. She has been awarded the National Endowment
for the Arts Fellowship, the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Writer’s Award, and the Bunting
Fellowship from Radcliffe, among other honors.

Her novels have been published abroad in India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Russia, France,
Germany, Greece, and Italy. She has taught at several universities in the United States and the
United Kingdom. Though she currently resides with her husband in Houston, Texas, Sidhwa travels
often to Pakistan, seeking the inspiration of Lahore and working as an activist for women’s and
minority rights. (From the publisher.)

Characters

The Family:

 Lenny's parents, the Sethi’s

 Adi, her younger brother

 Electric Aunt (she does everything at the speed of lightning)

 Cousin, her son and close friend to Lenny

 Godmother (Roda) & (her) Oldhusband

 Slavesister or Mini Aunty, sister of Godmother whom she treats like a servant

 Dr Manek Mody, brother in law of Godmother who lives in Rawalpindi

 Imam Din, the family cook

 Ranna, his great grandson from the village

 Hari, the gardener who becomes Muslim and changes his name to Hiram Ali

 The sweeper family, Moti, Muccho and their much abused daughter Papoo

 Hamida, the new Ayah recruited from the house for fallen women

The Neighbors and other locals:

 Ice-Candy-Man, Ayah's admirer who keeps her in captivity after she leaves the family

 The Shankars, the newlyweds

 Rosy & Pete and their Sikh father & American mother

 Inspector General Rogers and his wife

 Colonel Bharucha, surgeon and leader of the Parsee community

 Mr & Mrs Pen, Anglo-Indian couple who tutor Lenny's schoolwork

 Ayah's admirers: Masseur; Chinaman; Government House Gardener; Ramazan the Butcher;
Sher Singh, the Zookeeper; Wrestler who owns the restaurant; Sharbat Singh the Pathan, the
knife-sharpener;

Summary
Setting: Lahore
Time: 1943 - 1948
This novel is generally referred to as a story about the Partition of India – hence the title – but its
original title was “Ice-Candy-Man” which allows for broader interpretation of the story. The plot
involves Lenny, a 4-year-old Parsee girl who recounts her childhood memories after she is struck
by polio in her infancy. She spends most of her time with her ayah Shanta, an 18-year-old Hindu
girl from Amritsar. Their relationship is the main narrative because Lenny spends a lot of time with
her Ayah and she learns a lot about adult relationships from being with the voluptuous nanny and
her very diverse group of admirers.
Sexual awakening is a major theme of the book but so is communal identity as the story takes place
between 1943 and 1948 when India gained independence but was split into two countries. Ayah's
admirers are a cross section of the Lahore residents before Partition. Lenny has a lot of female
relatives and this novel has a plethora of characters, but Ayah is the one she is most intimate with.
Partition does not really affect Lenny until, during the chaos of 1947, she accidentally betrays
Ayah's presence in the house and Ayah is carried off by an angry Muslim mob.
The tone of the novel, written almost completely in the present tense, is rather caustic and remote
much like the relationship between the children and their parents. This distance is enforced by the
fact that in a couple of passages the writer reveals that she conjured up this little girl and her
memories 40 years after they happened. The consistent use of the present tense makes the memories
extra vivid but the insights, the language and the humor are not always those of a little girl.
Only the stories the adults tell Lenny and a special section called “Ranna’s story” are written in the
past tense. Ranna’s story is the grueling report on how the great grandson of Imam Din, the family
cook, - whom Lenny met on a visit to his village - witnessed the murder of his entire village and
barely escaped alive. The telling of it is the more striking because of the change of voice as the
extreme violence would be hard to convey through the eyes of an 8-year-old girl who was not there.
Once Partition and Pakistan become the new reality, the children worry about what may have
become of Ayah. Lenny's mother and aunt are involved in taking care of fallen women, victims of
the violence now rejected by their families. Then they see Ayah in a car, dressed up and made up
like a Bollywood star. They find out that she is living in the Kotha, the disreputable part of the old
city with Ice-Candy-man, one of her former admirers who has now transformed himself into
an Urdu poet but pimps her out and represses Ayah ruthlessly. Lenny's godmother intervenes and
they extricate Ayah from her captivity in order to let her return to her family village.
The book is made up of many lively and interesting anecdotes, some of them related to Partition,
but just as many to Lenny's personal development and the unique position of the Parsees in Lahore
and in India. Some of the chapters carry forward the plot but many of them do not but they leave an
indelible impression of a community in a place that was permanently transformed in a matter of
months.
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Bapsi Sidhwa's novel Ice-Candy Man deals with the partition of India and its aftermaths. This is the
first novel by a woman novelist from Pakistan in which she describes about the fate of people
in Lahore. The novel opens with the verse of Iqbal from his poem 'Complaint to God', with this, the
child-narrator Lenny is introduced. She is lame and helpless. She finds that her movement
between Warris Road and Jail Road is limited. She sees the Salvation Army wall with ventilation
slits which makes her feel sad and lonely. The narration is in the first person. Lenny lives on Warris
Road. The novelist describes about the localities in Lahore through the Child-narrator. Lenny
observes: "I feel such sadness for the dumb creature I imagine lurking behind the wall." Lenny is
introvert and she is engrossed in her private world.

One day, Lenny is in her pram, immersed in dreams as usual. Her Ayah attends to her. Suddenly an
Englishman interrupts them and he asks Ayah to put Lenny down from her pram. But Ayah
explains to him about Lenny's infirmity. Lenny is a keen observer. She has seen how people are
fascinated with the Hindu Ayah's gorgeous body. She notices how even beggars, holymen, old
people and the youngmen adore her for her feminine grace.

Colonel Bharucha is Lenny's doctor. He is a surgeon. Lenny is brought to the hospital for her limp
in one leg. In the first, attempt, plaster on Lenny's leg is removed but still she limps. Soon a new
plaster is cast over her leg. Lenny cries out of pain but her mother takes care of her.

Dr. Bharucha's surgery pains Lenny as she has become bed-ridden. The news of Lenny's operation
spreads in small Parsi community of Lahore and she has visitors but she cries for Godmother.
Lenny lying on the bed observes keenly the reaction of visitors and her parents. After one month,
Lenny is allowed to be taken in a stroller outside her house. Her eighteen year old Ayah Shanta
takes her to a zoo.

Lenny's Ayah Shanta has a number of admirers. Ice-Candy-Man is among her admirers. Another
companion of Lenny is her electric-aunt, a widow. She also picks up a brother. His name is Adi and
Lenny calls him Sissy. He goes to school and Lenny studies at home. When winter comes, Ice-
Candy-Man turns into a birdman and in the streets ofLahore, he is seen with birds. Rich ladies give
him money for these poor birds to be freed. Ice-Candy-Man is a chatter-box and he can talk on any
topic.

One day, the Parsi community assembles in the community hall in the Parsi temple. Two priests
prepare for the worship of fire. Lenny observes everything with curiosity. Then the meeting of the
Parsi community begins on their stand on Swaraj. Col. Bharucha holds the mike and apprises all -
about the latest political developments. After discussions and questions, all agree to observe the
middle path—to observe and see. They will not be with the Indian nationalists to oppose the Raj.
They fail to come out of their dilemma.

The Ayah takes care of the helpless child Lenny like a sister. Lenny's mother too loves her.

A portion of Lenny's house is lent to the Shankars who are newly married. Shankar's wife Gita is
seen welcoming him in the evening. The children observe this couple with curiosity. Gita is a good
cook and a good story-teller. She is popular with children. The reader is now introduced to Hari,
the gardner, Imam Din, the cook of Lenny's house. Here one finds focus on the character of Imam
din. He is sixty five years old. He is "tall, big-bellied, barrel-chested and robust." Imam Din likes to
play with children in his spare time. One day Imam Din takes Lenny to his village on his bicycle.
Lenny observes every thing keen on her way to the village. There she meets children Ranna and his
sisters Khatija and Parveen. This is the village Pir Pindo where Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims live
peacefully. Villagers have assembled beneath a huge sheesham tree to discuss about the situation in
other cities like Bihar and Bengal. They feel disturbed over the news of Hindu-Muslim riots. The
villagers blame the British government for 'inaction in the wake of communal riots. The Chaudhry
of Pir Pindo assures them about the safety of everyone in the village if riots break out. Later
Lenny and Imam Din return to Lahore.

Ayah has now two more admirers—a chinaman and the Pathan. They are fascinated by her
feminine grace. They visit Lenny's house daily to talk to her. Lenny doesnot go to school. She goes
to Mrs. Pen for her studies. Her house is next to Lenny's Godmother's house on Jail Road—opposite
to Electric-aunt's house. Ayah accompanies Lenny to Mrs. Pen's house. After tuition, Lenny goes to
her Godmother's house for sometime. One day Mahatma Gandhi visits Lahore. Lenny goes to see
Gandhijee with her mother. She is surprised to see him because she has always taken him to be a
mythic figure only. Gandhi jee blesses them all and advises them to follow the enema-therapy.
Lenny fails to understand as to why people call him a saint. To her, he appears to be 'half clown and
half-demon'.

Now it is April and Lahore is getting warmer day by day. Ice-Candy-Man finds his business
prospering. By now it has become clear that India is going to be broken. Muslim league
wants Pakistan to Muslims. Imam Din, the cook at Lenny's house is worried over the news of
communal riots and plans a visit to his village Pir Pindo. Lenny insists to join him on his trip to the
village. She still cherishes the memory of her earlier visit to Pir Pindo. On Baisakhi, they visit the
Dera Tek Singh near the village. Dost Mohammad joins them. They enjoy the mela and the feast.
Now people apprehend trouble. One day the relatives of Imam Din arrive in Lahore to stay with
him. They are accommodated in Servant's quarters. Military trucks arrive in Pir Pindo to evacuate
Muslims to safer places but the Muslim peasants are confused. They can't leave their home,
property and harvest all of a sudden. Mr. Roger's mutilated body is found in the gutters. He was the
Inspector General of Police. This news sends shivers among the people of Lahore. Children
including Lenny find it a strange incident. Ayah loves Masseur's songs and Ice-Candy-Man loves
Ayah for her blooming youth. Ice-Candy-Man is disturbed over the developments in the nearby
areas. People start moving to safer places. Riots begin and this leads to confusion among people.

Communal riots spread from towns to small villages like Pir Pindo. Muslims and Sikhs become
enemies thirsting for each other's blood. In Lahore, people begin to move to safer places. Hindus
and Sikhs leave their houses behind and reach Amritsar. People hear announcements on All India
Radio about the division of districts into India andPakistan. The Parsee community in Pakistan is
safe but still worried about its future. Muslim mobs attack Hindu houses. A mob stops outside
Lenny's house and enquire about its Hindu servants. They ask about the Hindu Ayah Shanta but the
cook Imam Din tells them about her fake departure. Ice-Candy-Man comes forward and asks Lenny
about Ayah. Out of innocence, Lenny discloses about her hiding. The angry Muslims drag her out
of Lenny's house. This shocks Lenny and she repents for her truthfulness. A truth can also ruin
one's life, Lenny discovers. Ice-Candy-Man takes her to Hira Mandi, the bazars of prostitutes. Ice-
Candy-Man's mother was also a prostitute and Ice-Candy-Man becomes a pimp. He is fond of
reciting Urdu poetry.

In Pir Pindo village, Sikh crowds attack the Muslim community. Imam Din's family is in trouble but
nothing can be done. There is confusion. Muslims in Pir Pindo village get killed and their women
gang-raped. Children are butchered mercilessly. Ranna, the playmate of Lenny in Pir Pindo is also
wounded and buried under the heap of dead bodies. After some time, he safely moves to other
place. His journey of hide and seek has been dealt with in detail by Bapsi Sidhwa. Sidhwa narrates
Ranna's ordeal of escape in full fifteen pages. A little boy wounded and shocked, running for life
finds suddenly himself alone in the world. Earlier, it had been decided that the women and girls of
Pir Pindo would gather at Chaudhry's house and pour the kerosene oil around the house to burn
themselves. It was also decided to hide some boys and men in a safer place but nothing worked.
Muslims are killed, women molested and children butchered. Only Ranna escapes and finds shelter
in a camp in Lahore. When he reached Lahore, he observed, "It is funny. As long as I had to look
out for myself, I was all right. As soon as I felt safe, I fainted." Before reaching the camp, Ranna
had a tough time: "There were too many ugly and abandoned children like him scavenging in the
looted houses and the rubble of burnt-out buildings. His rags clinging to his wounds, straw sticking
in his scalped skull, Ranna wandered through the lanes stealing chapatties and grain from houses
strewn with dead bodies, rifling the corpses for anything he could use ... No one minded the semi-
naked spectre as he looked in doors with his knowing, wide-set peasant eyes." Later, Ranna was
herded into a refugee camp at Badami Baug. Then "chance united him with his Noni chachi and
Iqbal chacha."

After the abduction of Ayah by the Muslim mob, Lenny remains sad and dejected. She is shocked
over the betrayal by Ice-Candy-Man. She finds him to be a changed man. The day he saw the
mutilated bodies of his Muslim brethern, he became a different person. His beloved Ayah becomes
a Hindu for him. "They drag Ayah out. They drag her by her arms stretched taut, and her bare feet
that want to move backwards—are forced forward instead." This sight proves to be traumatic for
poor Lenny and she repents for telling the truth to Ice-Candy-Man. She is guilt-driven: "For three
days I stand in front of the bathroom mirror staring at my tongue. I hold the vile, truth—infected
thing between my fingers and try to wrench it out: but slippery and slick as a fish it slips from my
fingers and mocks me with its sharp rapier tip darting as poisonous as a snake. I punish it with
rigorous scourings from my prickling toothbrush until it is sore and bleeding." This act of Lenny
shows her sense of guilt. There has been Papoo's marriage but Lenny feels lonely without Ayah. By
now Lenny has become mature both in body and mind.

Lenny's Godmother is an influential lady. She loves Lenny, she has established a network of
espionage in Lahore. She has information from each corner of Lahore. One day, Lenny's cousin
comes with a news that he has seen the Ayah in a taxi dressed like a film actress. After a few days,
Lenny too sees Ayah in a car. Now she tells everyone about it and the search for Ayah begins. One
Monday, Lenny visits her Godmothers house to tell her about the Ayah. She is told about the
Ayah's husband's visit to Godmother's house in the evening. Lenny finds it difficult to wait for the
evening. At six o'clock, the bridegroom of Ayah arrives. He is none but Ice-Candy-Man, now
dressed in flowing white muslin. He recites a verse from Urdu poetry and greets everyone. He
informs that she is married to him and has been accepted in the family of dancers. Godmother
scolds him for illtreating Ayah and let her be raped. But he confesses: I am a man! Only dogs are
faithful! If you want faith, let her marry a dog." But Godmother reacts wildly by saying: "You have
permitted your wife to be disgraced! Destroyed her modesty! Lived off her womanhood! And you
talk of princes and poets! You're the son of pigs and pimps!" Ice-Candy-Man weeps and cries but
asserts that now he will make her happy by all means. Lenny has been listening to all this. She is
angry with Ice-Candy-Man to such an extent that: ‘There is a suffocating explosion within my eyes
and head. A blinding blast of pity and disillusion and a savage rage. My sight is disoriented. I see
Ice-Candy-Man float away in a bubble and dwindle to a grey speck in the aftermath of the blast.’

Ice-Candy-Man stands there with Jinnah—cap in his hand and "his ravaged face, caked with mud,
has turned into a tragedian's mask. Repentence, grief and shock are compressed
into the mould of his features." Then, Godmother plans a visit to see Ayah, now Mumtaz after her
marriage. Lenny insists of going with her to Hira Mandi. They reach Hira Mandi in a tonga. They
are led in a well-decorated room with the fragrance of sprinkled flowers. Ice-Candy-Man brings his
Mumtaz, the Ayah dressed as a bride before them. Lenny is shocked to see sadness in Ayah's eyes.
Lenny observes: "Where have the radiance and the animation gone? Can the soul be extracted from
its living body? Her vacant eyes are bigger than ever: wide-opened with what they have seen and
felt... She,buries her head in me and buries me in all her finery; and in the dark and musky attar of
her perfume."

Leaving Ayah with Godmother rand Lenny, Ice-Caiidy-Man goes to fetch tea. Now Ayah pleads
that she will not live, here anymore and she must go. Godmother asks her to think over it again but
Ayah (Mumtaz) insists of going back to her relatives inAmritsar. The visitors return after assuring
Ayah that she will be rescued.

Lenny's cousin asks her about a Kotha and her impression of it. Lenny understands by Kotha to be a
place of dancing girls. By now Lenny also understands that "the potent creative force generated
within the Kotha that has metamorphosed Ice-Candy- Man not only into a Mogul Courtier, but into
a Mandi poet. No wonder he founds poetry as if he popped out of his mother's womb spouting
rhyming sentences."

After her visit to Hira Mandi, Godmother contacts the government machinery. One day a police
party comes to Hira Mandi and takes Ayah away from.Ice-Candy-Man. She is put at the Recovered
Women's Camp on Warris Road which is well-guarded. Ice-Candy-Man visits the camp to see his
beloved but is beaten up badly by the Sikh sentry. Now Ice-Candy-Man has become a dejected,
wandering lover searching for his lost love. He has acquired a new aspect: "that of a moonstruck
fakir who has renounced the world for his beloved." Ice-Candy-Man places flowers for Ayah over
the wall of the camp every morning and his "voice rises in sweet and clear song to shower Ayah
with poems." This routine of offering of flowers and singing of love songs continues for many days.

One day, Lenny learns that Ayah has been shifted to Amritsar with her family there. Ice-Candy-
Man has also followed her across the Wagah border into India to pursue his love. The novel ends on
this sad and tragic note. The novel contains a number of poignant scenes alongwith scenes of
murder and violence. "The novel is a masterful work of history as it relates political events through
the eyes of a child." Ice-Candy-Manhas also been called as a multifaceted jewel of a novel. The
novel deals with "the bloody partition of India through the eyes of a girl Lenny growing up in a
Parsee family, surviving through female bonding and rebellion."