Cracking India: Analysis of Major Characters
"Cracking India" is a novel set against the backdrop of the 1947 partition of India, exploring the complexities of personal and social upheaval through the eyes of its young protagonist, Lenny. At just eight years old, Lenny belongs to an affluent Parsee family in Lahore and navigates the violent transformations occurring around her, gaining insight into her own identity and the adult world. Central to her experiences is Ayah, Lenny's Hindu nursemaid, who serves as a bridge to the outside world and exposes Lenny to the nuances of gender dynamics and religious tensions. Another key figure is Godmother, a strong and wise character who provides emotional support to Lenny while embodying the best aspects of womanhood.
The story also features the Ice-Candy-Man, an admirer of Ayah, whose name symbolizes the harsh realities of a male-dominated society that contributed to the chaos of partition. Alongside these characters, Lenny's relationship with her Cousin adds a layer of humor and complexity as they explore themes of sexuality amid the turmoil. Lastly, Electric-aunt, Cousin’s mother, showcases unexpected resilience, revealing deeper strengths in the face of crisis. Collectively, these characters illuminate the intersection of personal narratives with significant historical events, offering a rich exploration of human relationships during a pivotal moment in South Asian history.
Cracking India: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Bapsi Sidhwa
First published: Ice-Candy-Man, 1988 (pb. in U.S., 1991)
Genre: Novel
Locale: Pakistan
Plot: Historical realism
Time: 1944–1948
Lenny, the protagonist and narrator. Lenny is eight years old in 1947, at the time of the partition of India that creates Pakistan. The protected and pampered daughter of a wealthy Parsee family in Lahore, she not only observes the violence that engulfs the city but also witnesses and participates in the consequent upheaval that affects both her family and her circle of friends. As the events unfold and the horror that the partition creates encroaches on her childhood, she gains a fuller understanding of her own nature and the adult world.
Ayah, Lenny's nursemaid. This beautiful Hindu woman, simply called Ayah—the Urdu word for nursemaid—serves as Lenny's link to the outside world and provides her with the warmth her aristocratic mother fails to give. Ayah attracts a variety of male admirers, whom she treats for the most part with disdain. Ayah's circle offers Lenny a firsthand view of two important factors in Asian society: the subtleties informing male-female relationships and the conflicts created by religious differences.
Godmother, another of Lenny's mainstays. She possesses admirable strength, stability, and wisdom, as well as a keen understanding of human nature. Lenny depends on these qualities as the events of partition crack her once-secure world. Not only does Godmother, who remains nameless like Ayah, represent the finest qualities of womanhood, but she also emerges as a richly comic character, especially in her relations with her husband and sister, known as Slavesister.
Ice-Candy-Man, one of Ayah's admirers. When the novel was first published, it took this character's name as its title. Even though he does not play a major role in the conventional sense, he hovers over the action. His name comes from his occupation as a seller of flavored ice, a favorite confection in Pakistan. He represents the uncaring male world that, through its cold, political calculation, unleashed the destructive forces of partition and carried out the associated violence.
Cousin, Lenny's relative and companion. Another nameless character, this typical young Asian male has recently reached puberty and attempts to explain the mysteries of sex to Lenny. The narrator's stormy yet comic relationship with Cousin enriches the domestic side of the novel, showing how day to day life plays out alongside historical events of magnitude.
Electric-aunt, Cousin's mother. A nervous, energetic woman, she appears at first to be vacuous and silly. Once faced with the challenges of partition, however, she and Lenny's mother show their mettle when they smuggle gasoline to Hindus.