PARTITION AND RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE
One of the main themes of the book is partition, and the complex socio-political scenario that resulted from it. the partition was carried out in 1947, and the book roughly traces the journey from the early 1940s to the late 1940s. the countries were supposed to be divided on the basis of majority population. However, the population was not homogeneously distributed which led to large scale displacement of Hindus to India, and Muslims to Pakistan. Here stemmed the tendency of religious intolerance. Muslims were not willing to accept any Hindus in Pakistan, and vice versa. This led to extermination of one community by the other, and a serious of violent struggles.
From Ranna, Imam Din’s great gran son’s story, we gauge that the Sikhs colluded with the Hindus, and slaughtered every Muslim in Pir Pindo and other neighbouring villages. The Hindus also slaughtered all Muslims who were going to Lahore from Gurdaspur and humiliated the women by cutting off their breasts and sending them in gunny sacks. This intolerance was so intense that it did overlooked the bonds of friendship and love. The ice candy man was the one who violated Sher Singh, his friend, flashed to the women in his community, and played with his sister. In fact, he was the one who took Shanta away from the Sethi family and forced her to become a dancing girl in Hira Mandi.
The Parsees had always been a politically neutral community. Colonel Bharucha, the head of their community, had strictly instructed all of them not to get involved in the infighting between Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs. He wanted them to remain passive, just like their ancestors had been, by promising the emperor that they would settle in and mingle with the Indians peacefully and add to the sweetness of their culture.
IDENTITY CONFUSION
It can also be said, that this religious intolerance brought about a kind of confusion in the minds of people. While on one hand it strengthened some people’s sense of belonging to their own community, like it did for the ice candy man, it forced some to rethink their religion. The threat of violence, death, violation and humiliation led to them changing their religion. This was done to protect themselves and their families from the wrath of others. Moti, Muccho and Papoo had to become Christians to save themselves from the Muslims. Hari switched to Islam, got circumcised and changed his name to Himat Ali.
EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN The narrator draws the readers’ attention to the pitiful condition of women in at the time of partition. Madhuparna Mitra, in her article ‘Contextualizing Ayah’s Abduction: Patterns of Violence against Women in Sidhwa’s Cracking India’ has discussed the condition of the female characters in detail.Ranna had the misfortune of seeing women of his community getting raped on the streets. He saw a naked woman holding herself, numb from all the pain. A naked woman was hung upside down and her hair was set on fire by the Hindus and Sikhs. Their babies were banged against walls in front of them. Ranna’s Noni chachi and his mother were apparently taken in by them. The women and children were asked to set themselves on fire had the others spotted them.
Sher Singh’s family was also violated by the Muslims. Shanta, was taken away by the ice candy man for being a Hindu. She was forced to become a Muslim, had to change her name to Mumtaz, and become a dancing girl to entertain the man who came to Hira Mandi. Shanta was only, in fact, one of the many women who were kidnapped and mistreated. Lenny’s parents had set up a refugee camp for all such fallen women, who were ignored by their own families, since they had been touched by another man in an inappropriate manner. Lenny could hear them screaming and crying at night, as if the horrors of their time in captivity was following them in their nightmares. By morning, they would have stone cold faces; almost emotionless. One of them was Hamida, who later becomes Lenny’s nanny. She had been taken to Amritsar where she had been humiliated so much, that it had taken a toll on her mental health. She felt the incessant need to press people’s feet all the time. Maybe it was something she was regularly forced to do while held captive, or just that she needed to hold someone, to feel their presence, to assure herself that she was safe. Whatever had happened to her, had made her emotionally unstable and she would cry all the time. She confided in Lenny and told her that she would never be allowed to meet her children again, because she her purity had been contaminated.
There are several instances where Shanta would be looked at with lust by all the other men. Muslim women were not allowed to speak to other men. There was an instance where Colonel Bharucha berated a Muslim woman for not speaking for herself. It was engrained in Ranna’s sisters’, Khatija’s and Parveen’s, brains that they were supposed to be covered at all times, and they were not allowed to cut their hair. The narrator also highlights the diverse difficulties women encounter. In all probability, Lenny’s mother was dealing with her husband’s infidelity amidst everything that was going on. (“I won’t let you go to her”).
By referring to Hira Mandi, the readers’ attention is also drawn to the plight of women who are forced to work as prostitutes under pimps. Ironically, even Lenny is violated by her cousin, who forces himself on her, and tries to convince her that she was in love with him.
CHILD ABUSE: Children were beaten up, and their heads were banged against the wall. Infants were killed in front of their mothers to punish them. Such horrific acts were carried out by communities against each other.
Muccho would often beat up her daughter, Papoo and would hurl abuses at her. “Bitch! Haramzadi! May you die” (54) “Haram Khor! Slut! Work-shirker!” Once, she beat her up so bad, that Papoo became unconscious and had to be admitted to the hospital. Muccho even married her off to a middle aged man. She knew that Papoo would have never agreed to the marriage in her senses, so she drugged her with opium.
LOVE AND BETRAYAL: The book also traces the tragic infatuation turned love between the ice candy man and Shanta. Initially, it was just an infatuation, but after losing her, he realized his true feelings. He would wait outside the Sethi house for hours, just to catch a glimpse of her. At the end, when Shanta moves to Amritsar, the ice candy man, despite being a Muslim, went to Amritsar in search of his love.
Lenny’s betrayal to Shanta, the ice candy man’s betrayal to Shanta, and one community’s betrayal of another depicts the theme of trust and betrayal.
What is most interesting in the book, is that it is written from the perspective of a four-eight year old girl. Some of the events have been described by her just like a child would have described it. The author has successfully achieved the aim of providing a rawness to the narration. We observe that Lenny develops a much more mature outlook at the end of the book.
The book is gripping, and manages to hold the readers’ attention till the very end. It explores complex scenarios and offers a better understand of the prevalent situation. It explores certain mature themes, hence, is suitable for readers above the age of sixteen. Certain controversies had arisen, on account of nudity and explicit writing, but that was essential not only to bring out the horrific truth, but also to throw light on the perspective of a child and what she saw happening. The author has used simple language, which is easily comprehensible. She cites certain historical references like the Cripps mission, and burning of the Shalmi to add authenticity to her narration. The book is based on facts, and on the stories of many people who had first-hand experience of the situation.
The author has successfully communicated the themes and the message to the readers.
Image Source: Good Reads
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