Bapsi Sidhwa Bücher

Belletristik : Pakistan/Lahore ; Kindheit - Bürgerkrieg (1940/49).

»Ice Candy Man« erzählt aus der Sicht des kleinen Parsenmädchens Lenny von der grausamen Trennung Indiens und Pakistans in den 1940er Jahren. Lenny erlebt eine multikulturelle Idylle, die abrupt endet, als Lahore in Chaos versinkt und der einst gutmütige Ice Candy Man zum gewissenlosen Opportunisten wird. Bapsi Sidhwa fängt die Exotik und den brutalsten Wandel der Ereignisse ein.

The unique collaboration between Bapsi Sidhwa and Deepa Mehta brings the controversial themes of Mehta's film "Water" into literary form. Sidhwa's adaptation explores complex social issues surrounding gender, tradition, and the impact of colonialism in India. Through her narrative, Sidhwa delves into the lives of women affected by societal norms, offering a poignant commentary on their struggles and resilience. This work showcases the powerful interplay between cinema and literature, highlighting the shared vision of both artists.

Faredoon (Freddie) Junglewalla is either the jewel of the Parsi community or a murdering scoundrel. Freddie s mother-in-law, Jerbanoo, thinks he is planning to do away with her, but Freddie has always been a pragmatist: if the old woman were to die (be murdered?) the body would have to be placed on the open-roofed Towers of Silence, in keeping with custom, and that would never do. Insurance fraud and arson, however, are well within Freddie s repertoire in fact he thinks he has invented the idea, so advanced is it for India, in 1901. As his skills grow he becomes a man of consequence among the Parsis, with people travelling thousands of miles to see him in Lahore, especially if they wish to escape tight spots they have got themselves into. In this wickedly comic novel, the celebrated author of Ice-Candy Man takes us into the heart of the Parsi community, portraying its varied customs and traits with contagious humour.

This anthology brings together verse and essays, stories, chronicles, and profiles by people who have shared a relationship with Lahore. From the mystical poems of Madho Lal Hussain and Bulleh Shah to Iqbal’s ode and Faiz’s lament; from McLagan’s and Aijazuddin’s historical treatises and Kipling’s ‘chronicles’ to Samina Quraeshi’s intricate portraits of the Old City and Irfan Husain’s delightful account of Lahori cuisine, Beloved City is a marriage of the sacred and profane. Significant Pakistani writers like Intezar Hussain, Aamer Hussain, Kishwar Naheed, Bapsi Sidhwa, Sara Suleri, and Ashfaq Ahmed have also contributed to this volume.