Cracking India Study Guide 2 (Student Contributions)

Ch. 9 (79-88)

Student Contributor: C. S. - Cracking India, Chapter 9, pages 79-88

1. Setting

Place: Lahore, India. Time: Before and during 1947. Pages 79-81 take place in the Sethi family kitchen. Pages 81-82 describes Ayah's suitor, the Chinaman. Pages 82-86 describes Ayah's other suitor, Sharbat Khan, a knife-sharpener. The setting is outside in front of the Sethi family residence. Sharbat gives Ayah and Adi a ride on his bicycle. Pages 87-88 takes place outside the Sethi family residence. Mother and Lenny greet father for lunch, they follow him into the bathroom, then accompany him to the dining room for lunch and to catch up on family affairs.

2. Characters

Part one: Lenny, a precocious 8-year old Parsi girl; Rosy, smug with a grown-up air, and wet cotton knickers; Adi, Yousaf, and Mrs. Singh. Part two: Ayah, the Chinaman; Sharbat Khan, the Pathan; Adi, and Lenny. Part three: Lenny, his mother and father.

3. Plot Events

Part one, pages 79-81, begins in the Sethi kitchen. Rosy, Lenny and Adi talk about Rosy's sister's impending baby, and argue about where babies come from. As Adi and Rosy's argument becomes heated, they become more angry end up pushing and knocking each other down. Then, Yousaf comes through the door and breaks up the fight. He snatches up Adi and carries him into the kitchen. He drags Rosy by her hair into the kitchen. Lenny "hypocritically" consoles Rosy as she follows her to her verandah (p 80). Mrs. Singh chimes in to ask Rosy what is wrong. While Rosy nurses her hurt feelings, Lenny contemplates stealing her "three miniature glass jars" (p 80). He has admired them for so long. He rationalizes that Rosy wouldn't miss them anyway. He steals the jars and buries them in the ashes of Rosy's fireplace. When Rosy comes into the room with a peace offering of tea, sugar, rice and red pepper, Lenny feels guilty and takes the jars from the ashes and puts them back on the shelf. Lenny remarks that she has a "scary-puss of a conscience," (p 81) and that fate always intervenes.

In Part two, pages 81-86, Ayah's two admirers appear. The Chinaman visits and brings embroidered silk and linen. He is "dapper, thin, brusque and rude" (p 82). He rides up on his bicycle shouting Chinaman come. Ayah tells him to go, but he coaxes her beside him with his silks. Ayah lives with Lenny, and the the tabletops and mantelpieces of their household are covered with the Chinaman's wares. Sharbat Khan, Ayah's Pathan admirer, wears drawstring pantaloons, a flared tunic and smells of sweat and tobacco . He often wears a gun. He is a man from the mountains, and appears mysterious to Lenny and Adi. He also brings Ayah news from other parts of India. He gives Adi and Ayah a ride on his bicycle.

Part three, pages 87-88, takes place at the Sethi household. Father comes home for lunch. Mother rushes out to meet him, takes the ledgers from his arm, and wipes the sweat from his eyes. Lenny rushes up to kiss him. Lenny and mother accompany father to the bathroom then follow him to the kitchen. As he eats, mother laughs, chatters about her friends, tells of family news from Bombay and Karachi. Mother brings Lenny into the conversation. Lenny feels inadequate and unworthy. In years to come, she has to think faster and offer more chatter to fill up time. Lenny wonders if that is when she learned to tell tales.

4. Commentary:

Lenny "hypocritically" (p 80) consoled Rosy. She did this in order to get into Rosy's home and close to the three miniature glass jars. For a young girl, Lenny was very manipulative. On page 81, Lenny declares that any time she maneuver's a set of circumstances to suit her, fate intervenes. I believe this sentence to be significant, as it gives us insight to Lenny's way of thinking. She had no control over the circumstances when Rosy chose to re-enter the room, and no control over the circumstances that gave her polio. Due to polio, Lenny is handicapped. She accepted her deformed foot. Because Rosy chose to re-enter the room, Lenny accepted her fate and put the three miniature glass jars back in their place.

When Lenny's mother brings Lenny into the lunch table conversation, Lenny feels inadequate and unworthy. She tells us that "as the years advance...her sense of inadequacy and unworth advances" (p 88). Once again, she accepts her fate and learns lengthier chatter to fill up the time of her father's mute meals.

Student Contributor: K.M. - Chapter 9 Overview

Chapter nine opens up with a scene in the kitchen where Adi and Lenny are listening to Rosy talk about where babies come from. Rosy and Adi get into a little bit of a fight after Rosy calls’ Adi too young to understand these things, in which Adi beats up Rosy and she begins to cry and not act so grown-uppish. Scene two in chapter nine continues in Rosy’s room where she has these miniature glass jars that Lenny loves to fill with sugar and spices. Lenny has this idea to steal the glass jars and hide them in the fireplace until she can come back and get them later. Scene three opens up with the Chinamen coming up the old worn out driveway of Lenny’s parents, and he is trying to sell his shinny mantel pieces and silk. Ayah at first does not want to buy anything from this Chinaman but in the end she cannot resist the touch of the silk or the Chinaman’s cunning selling. After the Chinaman a Pathan shows up who sharpens knives for the most part but also dabs into some selling of fruit and nuts tell Ayah that there is trouble in Calcutta and Delhi; giving the first hint that something terrible is going to happen. He says that there are people being killed from privileged households and he says that they are from all religions not just one. Ayah buys some pistachios and almonds from the Pathan and he is on his way. Scene four begins with Lenny hearing her dads bike come home for lunch she rushes out to meet him. He has lunch and does seem to be in a good mood. End of chapter.

Ch. 10 (89-96)

Student Contributor: C. S. - Cracking India, Chapter 10, pages 89-96

1. Setting

Place: Lahore, India. Time: Before and during 1947. Pages 89-90 take place at Mrs. Pen's house, next to Godmother's house on Jail Road. Lenny goes to the Pen house for schooling. After school, Lenny goes to Godmother's house. Godmother rents a large and small room with a kerosene stove and Primous stove in the back of a bungalow. Slavesister is also present (p 90). Pages 90-91 take place in the Sethi household. Pages 91-96 takes place at a palatial veranda. Gandhi visits Lahore.

2. Characters

Part one, pages 89-90 includes Mr. Pen, an Anglo-Indian with long, fat, large fingers; Mrs. Pen, a teacher who is fair, soft, plump and English; Lenny, Godmother and Slavesister who is short and stout. Part two, pages 90-94, includes Lenny, Adi, Godmother and Slavesister who lives with godmother and Oldhusband.. Part three, pages 94-94, includes Lenny, Mother, and Gandhi.

3. Plot Events

Part one, pages 89-90. Lenny goes to school at Mrs. Pen's. She observes that Mr. Pen is lounging and snoring on the veranda. From the Pen house, she notices the trees, leaves, new buds, pigeons, and crows. She notes that Mrs. Pen smells of cheap talcum powder [1]Ã -- "spent cells and aging bodies," (p 89) while Ayah's body smells of "the dark purity of creation" (p 90). Lenny has learned much from school today. After school, Lenny goes to Godmother's house. Slavesister serves Godmother strong steaming tea. Taking an occasional sip of tea, Lenny feels guilty as she is told that tea makes one darker.

Lenny has heard others say that Adi is fair, and Lenny is so dark. Part two, pages 90-94. Lenny obsesses about the jars, which she has hidden in an old pair of slippers amongst Adi's toys. When Adi goes through the toys, Lenny realizes that she needs another hiding place for the jars. The next morning she transports the jars to school with her. Then, she takes them to Godmothers and hides them in toilet paper. Much is going on at Godmothers. Godmother is scolding Slavesister. Lenny comfortably curls around Godmother on the bed. Godmother demands that Slavesister look for her Japanese kimono. In Slavesister's search for the kimono, she comes upon Lenny's stolen jars. Lenny tells Slavesister and Godmother that Rosy gave the jars to her. Immediately, Godmother accuses Lenny of stealing the jars. Lenny becomes upset, as Godmother explains to her that she is not suited to a life of crime, but is condemned to honesty. Lenny learns another lesson. If she tells the truth, all will be forgiven. Part three, pages 94-96, Mother takes Lenny to visit Gandhi. Gandhi is thin, dark, shriveled and old and wears only a loincloth. Gandhi reprimands the Punjabi women for being fat. When Mother passes gas, Gandhi blesses her and commands her to, flush her system with an enema. The lean women next to Gandhi have been g Ìiven enemas by him. When Gandhi touches Lenny, she suddenly feels shy and "lowered my eyes before man" (p 96). Lenny notes that "it wasn't until some years later (p 96)...when she raised her head again, that men lowered their eyes.

4. Commentary

The sentence..."She settles in the hollow of the bed and I wind myself about her like a rope," (p 90) is significant for the reader, as it lets the reader know how comfortable Lenny feels at Godmother's house.

Student Contributor: K.M. - Chapter 10 Overview

Chapter ten open up with Lenny doing some schooling at Mr. Pen’s house right next to grandmothers’ house. Lenny gets bored the whole time and her mind wonders off and she begins to smell Mrs. Pen and Ayah. She comes to the conclusion that Mrs. Pen smells like memories and Ayah smells like creation. Ayah is ten at grandmothers’ house watching her drink tea out of a saucer and she has a few ‘guilty’ sips. Scene two open up with Lenny taking the three glass jars from before and placing them into her school bag. She transports them to Mrs. Pen’s and then to grandmothers house where she hides them some boxes. Grandmother has her Slave sister look for a kimono in the boxes and finds the three glass jars and tell Lenny that stealing doesn’t suit her. Lenny gets upset that everyone else can lie and curse but it, for some reason, does not suit her mouth. Chapter four ends with Ghandi showing up in Lahore, Lenny and her mother go see him. Ghandi talks to them and says that they should each have an enema a day for 30 days, it will make them feel better.

Ch. 13 (120-127)

Student Contributor: E. S. - Chapter 13

Setting: Winter time.
Characters: Ayah, Lenny, Ice-candy-man, Hari, Godmother, and Slavesister
Plot: The chapter opens with Lenny going over to Godmother’s house and finds out from Slavesister that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Rogers has been murdered, “His mutilated body discovered in the gutter”(120). Lenny asks if he is going to hell and Slavesister tells her that all the English are going to hell to burn. This is where we find out about the Tower of Silence, a place where Parsees put their dead, so that the vultures can eat from the carcass and therefore give back to nature. During the discussion between Godmother and Slavesister regarding the Tower of Silence, we get a glimpse into the true dynamics of their relationship.
Lenny leaves with Yousaf to retrieve his bike from the Lawrence Gardens, and while they are walking the come upon a Brahmin Pandit (holy man), sitting and eating. He instantly shows fear and gets up to leave. Lenny realizes that he was afraid because of his religion and they may possibly have some sort of recourse against him, “Now I know surely. One man’s religion is another man’s poison” (125).
Later, Lenny joins with everyone at her house in trying to tear off Hari’s dhoti. Lenny joins in after stating, “Why must he persist in growing it (his bodhi)? And flaunt his Hinduism? And invite ridicule?” (126). Lenny is evening starting to have contempt for Hari and his Hindu ways. After Iman Din squashes the torment of Hari, Lenny notices that Ayah is staring into the darkness with frightened eyes and as Lenny follows her gaze, Ice-candy-man appears from the shadows (127). This is the first sign that we get of Ice-candy-man’s obsession with Ayah and how frightened she is by him.

Ch. 15 (136-142)

Student Contributor: T. H. - Chapter 15 Outline

Setting: An afternoon in the wrestler’s restaurant.

Who:
Ice Candy man
Masseur
Government House Gardner
Butcher
Sher Singh
Sepoy from the barracks
Wrestler
Yousaf and Hari
Faletti’s hotel cook
Adi
Lenny
Ayah
Mother

What happens:

The people mentioned above are all in the restaurant sitting around two large tables talking about if Lahore will stay in India because of the Muslim majority. Pg. 137

The gardener and Massuer argue about money being the important factor not the people because the Muslims own most of the property and businesses. Pg. 137

Sher Singh argues that there are more Sikhs than Muslims and Hindus and that they hold more farm land than both of them put together in Punjab. Pg 139

The wrestler restaurant owner says that once the line is drawn across Punjab the Muslims to the east of it will have their balls cut off. Pg. 139

The Sikhs prepare to drive the Muslims out of East Punjab. Pg. 139

Lenny has a horrifying dream about children being crucified. Pg. 142

Commentary:
An interesting note for Chapter 15 that I found was at the end when Lenny had the dream about children being crucified. I didn’t understand it at first but when I read Chapter 16 it all came together. But, this was an incredibly horrifying dream for a five year old to have. It didn’t really make any sense for Lenny to have such a dream when we all know that five year olds don’t think about things like that. But, in the scheme of things leading up to Chapter 16, it made sense.

Ch. 16 (143-149)

Student Contributor: T. H. - Chapter 16 Outline

Setting: Outside of the Assembly Chambers where Master Singh is making an appearance and during a riot/fire burning.

Who:
Master Tara Singh
Ayah
Ice Candy Man
Ramzana (the butcher)
Masseur
Adi
Lenny
Mother
Father
The Singhs
The Phaibuses

What happens:

Mostly everyone in Lenny’s household went to see the appearance made by Master Tara Singh, who gave a speech about who will leave Lahore and fighting till the last person stands. Pg. 143

A naked child, on a spear struck between her shoulders is waved around like a flag. Pg. 144

A man is tied to two different trucks and the driven in two different directions pulling his body apart. Pg. 145

Shalmi starts to burn. Pg. 146

A fire truck comes in an sprays buildings and shops with petrol instead of water, blowing the buildings and shops even more. Pg 146

Ice Candy Man assumes that the fire is caused by the Hindus of the Shalmi that they are trying to drive the Muslims out from the Mochi Gate. Pg. 146

Lenny arrives at home and begins to take out all of her dolls, she and Adi try to pull one apart and end up splitting it in half. Pg. 148

When the fire breaks out in Lahore many families leave their homes, including the Shankars, which leaves part of Lenny’s home abandoned. Pg. 148-9

Mozang Chawk burns for months and months in Lenny’s memory but in reality it could not have. Pg. 149

Commentary:
Again in this chapter Lenny sees something very horrific, two things actually, she actually sees a child being dangled from a stick and the child she feels is looking at her. This relates back to her dream in Chapter 15. Then she sees a man being pulled apart by two trucks, and since she really does not understand what is going on she goes home and tries to figure it our by trying to rip her dolls apart. And when she does see what happens when you pull really hard on a body she begins to cry hysterically. I again don’t understand why her guardians would be letting her see such things, they were awful and obviously were hurting her psychologically.

Ch. 17 (150-154)

Student Contributor: C. H. - Chapter 17

The date is August 11th [1947] and India has been separated. Lahore is now a part of the new nation Pakistan, Amritsar is in India, Sialkot is in Pakistan, and Pathankot is a part of India. Lenny feels she is now Pakistani and has a sense of pride of it. It is also Lenny's 8th birthday. She feels like no one has time for her birthday, only to get quick hugs and brief kisses from mother, father, and Ayah in their living area. Lenny asks Ayah is they dug the long, long canal that she said they would but her question doesn't get answered. Ayah is preparing Lenny's bath. She is given a cup of milk and rose petals by Imam Din to pour over my head before my bath. Lenny goes to the kitchen to announce her birthday in there. Adi doesn't care and Imam Din and Yousaf say "how nice" and that's it. Ayah comes to get Lenny for her bath and has to remind Ayah to pour the milk and rose petals over her head. Everyone seems preoccupied. They go to Godmother's house after the bath and she too just hugs and kisses Lenny briefly. She is busy in the kitchen with Slavesister. Dr. Manek and Piloo (godmother sister) are coming for supper. Godmother tells Slavesister to hurry up and that she hasn't even started the halva for him. Lenny is hurt she thought the halva is for her and asks godmother if it is so. She is reassured that it is for her and to welcome uncle Manek and to celebrate the new nation. Oldhusband comes into the kitchen and kisses Lenny on the forehead. He hands her a gift, it's a book. He reads the note inside. "To my dear Lenny, 'The lives of great men all remind us How to make our lives sublime; And departing leave behind us Footsteps on the sands of time!'" (p.152) Lenny is impressed. He asks her "Will you leave your footsteps on the sand s of time?" (p.152) She is overcome and in awe over the words; but nods yes. Ayah takes me across the street to Electric-aunts house. Cousin runs to meet us at the gate shouting "Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!" He then leans into her for a kiss. Lenny puckers up and kisses cousin and they both don't know when to stop. Lenny opens her eyes to see Cousin staring right at her. Ayah slaps Cousin on his back and scolds him. Cousin seems to be off balance and is acting a little bashful. Electric Aunt appears and asks " What, No party?" and cousin says, "we'll have one right here."(p.153) Ayah is making hard- boiled egg sandwiches. Cousin and the cook ride off on their bikes to the store for a cake and potato chips. Electric-aunt gets out candles and party supplies that were left over from cousins last birthday. Cousin and the cook return. Lenny blows out the candles of the squashed cake and they hang around the radio listening to the celebration of the new nation.

Ch. 18 (155-162)

Student Contributor: C. H. - Chapter 18

It is at dusk on Warris road in Lahore. Mr. Singh is carrying a hockey stick and walking up the driveway with his American wife and their children. They sit on the porch in the wicker chairs. Mother greets them. Mr. Singh tells us that "The Mehtas have gone! The Malothras have gone! The Guptas have gone!"(p.155) They are all upset. There is no more Hindu families left on Warris Road. There are only 2 Sikh families left; Lenny's family and Pritam Sighs. Father is coming up on the driveway ridding his bike. Mr. Singh is relieved that father is there. Father drinks a glass of water and settles in on the porch. He and Mr. Singh talk of the separation of India. Father snaps at Yousaf wanting to have his water refilled. The men become comfortable and relaxed in their discussion. Mr. Singh tells father "Sethi Sahib, we have received orders from our leader... We are to leave Lahore forever!" (p.156) Father is surprised. Mr. Singh continues "I'm meeting with them tonight. They've worked out plans for a complete Sikh evacuation. We'll form our own-armed escort. I'll take our buffaloes… And whatever essentials we can pile into a truck. Each family is allotted a truck."(p.156) Father asked if there is anything that they could do to help? They ask to store belongs at their house in Lahore. Mother says "Of course, bring anything, we'll keep it with the Shankars' and we'll keep it as long as you want." Mrs. Singh starts to cry, mother asked Lenny to go outside or inside to play with Rosy and Peter. It is dark now and she turns on the light. We decide to go into the kitchen to get chapatties with sugar and butter. Lenny's family no longer go to the Queen's Garden or the wrestler's restaurant. Ayah admirers have slowed down too. Ayah too has slowed in seeing Lenny only when mother calls for her. It is nighttime and Masseur, Hari, Sher Singh, the Government house Gardner, Ayah, Adi, Rosy, Peter, and Lenny are all around the radio listening to the broadcast about Gurdaspur. They say everything is under control but everyone in the house thinks that mass murder is happening there. Moti and Muccho are now there too. They talk about leaving the town if they are told too. Then they are ready to leave when they hear a bike coming up the driveway, its' Ice-candy man. He says to them "A train from Gurdaspur has just came in and everyone is dead. Butchered. They are all Muslim. There are no young women among the dead! Only two gunny-bags full of women's breast!" Ice-candy man is very upset; everyone is upset. Ice candy man explains that he waited for days for relatives to come on the train. Lenny visualizes this horrific act of the women on the train. A crowd has formed in the thin ally in front of the tobacco-naswar shop. Lenny gets away from Ayah and sees that Sharbat Khan is back. Everyone is coming to get their instruments, tools and knifes sharpened. Masseur finds Lenny in the crowd and finds Ayah. That evening Sharbat Khan visits them and brings Ayah almonds, pastachios, dried fruit wrapped in red satin. She is very happy to see him. Soon Masseur come to visit as well, he is well groomed and very cool. He tells Sharbat Khan he has been there while he's been away. Then Masseur offers Ayah a small packet of prepared paan. Sharbat Khan leaves without saying a word. Lenny wonders about Chinaman and his whereabouts. Massuer is with Ayah every evening and Lenny wonders where is Ice-candy man. They wonder where everyone is like the butcher, zoo attendant, Ice-candy man, Yousaf, and Imam Din.

The question I have is what is paan and what is the importance of this item?

Ch. 19 (163-168)

Student Contributor: K. H. - submitted paper copy only
[Cora typed in student's notes, so please forgive me any errors.]

Setting: The setting takes place in the town of Lahore, between Queen's Road and Jail Road. Also at the Shankara's abandoned veranda.

Characters:

Lenny - a young 8-year-old girl who has polio. She is the narrator of the whole story
Papoo - the sweeper's daughter who is constantly beaten by her mother Muccho. She is very energetic, defiant, devilish and delightful.
Adi - brother of Lenny, 1 year and one month younger than Lenny - younger, vibrant, and alert
Ayah - a beautiful young 18-year-old nanny and mentor to Lenny. Lenny learns (almost) all she knows from Ayah
Ice-Candy-Man - a traveler in a sense; always knows the gossip and tells many stories on his visits, not o mention having lots of popsicles.

Plot Events:

[See] Pg. 163.
This chapter begins with young Adi whispering into Lenny's ear to follow him. On the way he tells her that the black box is back in the bathroom and he knows what is in it. She climbs the stairs to the bathroom and is almost scared to open it. Within lies a two-barreled gun. The two then take turns holding it as they begin to hear the call of the Muslim Gooduas of Mozang. Adi and Lenny stand as the mob passes, holding the gun; no one talks to them. Father then arrives to find Adi holding the gun. He slaps Adi and thumps Lenny. They walk back into the house. The black box then disappears again.
[See] Pg. 164 & 165.
In the second part of this chapter, the Ice-Candy-Man returns at last, though he has changed. He has acquired an unpleasant swagger. He begins to discuss how Kirpa Ram ("the skinflint they all owe money") has packed his family off to Delhi, though he has stayed behind. They all enter his house to see Ram run out the back door. Ramzana (the butcher) noticed a damp patch on one of the walls. It has been hastily whitewashed. He scraped the cement and removes a brick. Inside they found pouches with 900 golden guineas sewn into them. Ice-Candy-Man tries to give Ayah a golden coin and she refuses it. It is then brought to everyone's attention that Sher Singh (zoo attendant) has left Lahore as well. Ice-Candy-Man then shouts, "there is justice for all of you."
[See] Pg. 166.
He explains how he and the Muslim tenants exposed themselves to Singh's womenfolk and even played with one of his sisters, forcing her husband to turn ugly and get killed off in the scuffle. Ice-Candy-Man then talks about his passion to kill some of the Hindus due to the mutilation of Muslims on the train from Gurdaspur. He tells them he threw grenades through windows of Hindus and Sikhs he had known his whole life. It is now that everyone talks about leaving the town of Lahore.
[See] Pg. 168.
Hari has nowhere to go and will ride out the storm. Moti and Papoo are converting to Christianity. The chapter then ends with Ayah talking to Masseur about leaving. Lenny is upset because she doesn't want to lose her [Ayah]. She is afraid she will never be able to trust another Ayah.

Student Contributor: N. R. - Chapter 19:

Setting: This chapter starts out in the afternoon and goes until late at night. This chapter or scene also takes place in the front and back yard of Lenny’s house and also at the next door neighbor’s house that is abandoned. (They share the backyard.)

Who: The main characters in this chapter are:

*Lenny- The main character in the story

*Adi- Lenny beautiful brother

*Ice-Candy-Man- one of Ayah’s pursuers

*Ramzana- The butcher who is also one of Ayah’s pursuers.

*Imim Din- small character

* Masseur- Ayah’s favorite pursuer

* Sher Singh- zoo attendant that likes Ayah

Plot Happens: The chapter starts out with Adi running over to Lenny and telling her to follow him. He leads her to the forbidding black box which they open an discover a double-barrow gun. Adi and lenny take the gun out to the front yard and pretend to shoot and their father catches them and gives them a good smack (163-164). Later on that night as the sun cools off they are all sitting in the yard of a deserted next door house and all of Ayahs admirers are visiting including Ice-Candy-Man, Ramzana, and Masseur. They are just sitting around talking about people that have left town or fleeing and Ayah discovers that she will need to leave too before they come looking for her. Masseur jumps in and will not let anyone hurt Ayah and that he cares deeply for her and Ayah declares her love for him too. Lenny then starts crying thinking Ayah will flee or marry Masseur and leave her behind. Lenny is going through an emotional battle! She keeps seeing her neighbors and friends fleeing for their lives and she is afraid that Ayah will desert her too (165-168).

Commentary: One significant sentence that I found very interesting was when Adi and Lenny were caught with the gun and their father told them that their “lives weren’t worth two pice when you showed off with that gun” (164). This showed the fathers values and what he was trying to install upon his children. He was trying to help the persecutors and when they were boasting with the gun this made them look lower then what they were. Another sentence I find significant is that “money lender would squeeze blood from a fly! (165). This sentence showed that even a rich, prideful man was fleeing and not waiting around and not standing their ground. This also showed that things were definitely getting serious for a person so in love with money to flee with out getting his money back from the people he lent it too.

Student Contributor: D. B. - Chapter 19:

Papoo and Lenny come back to the bathroom to find that the long black box is back so they decide to check it out. Nestled in velvet was an enormous double-barreled gun. While they were checking out the gun the father happens to be riding up and takes the gun away and explains that it’s not worth killing yourself to play with a gun.

Ice-candy-man visits and looks different with an almost unpleasant swagger. Ramzana the butcher finds a pouch inside the layer of brick and inside was nine hundred golden guineas. Ice-candy-man has a gold coin and shows everyone but no one wants it.

Ch. 20 (169-171)

Student Contributor: K. H. - submitted paper copy only
[Cora typed in student's notes, and I have changed the text somewhat
- e.g. adding quotation marks & page numbers.]

Setting: Takes place in the town of Lahore, where millions of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs are being uprooted too.

Characters:
Nehru - Favored by the British, carries about him an aura of power. He doles out promises, smiles, kisses on cheeks. He is the prime of Brahmin manhood (169-170).
Jinnah - is "incapable of compliments. Austere, driven, pukka-sahib accented, deathly ill: incapable of cheek-kissing" (170).
Jinnah's wife is a Parsee, who dies at 29 from a broken heart (170).

Plot Events: [Historical-Political Context]
[See] Pg. 169.
In this chapter "wave upon scruffy wave of Muslim refugees flood Lahore - and the Punjab west of Lahore. Within three months seven million Muslims and 5 million Hindus and Sikhs are uprooted in a terrible exchange of population known to history" (169) "Now that its objective to divide India is achieved, the British favor Nehru over Jinnah" (169). Nehru is "Suave, Cambridge-polished[;] he carries about him an aura of power . . . . He doles out promises, smiles, kisses-on-cheeks. He is the prime of his Brahmin manhood" (169). Whereas Jinnah is almost the exact opposite, "past the prime of his elegant manhood" (170). "The fading [British] Empire sacrifices his cause to their shifting allegiances" (170).

Jinnah lost his beautiful wife when she was only 29 years old. In the forty years since the Partition, Jinnah--once known as as "Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity"--is "caricatured and portrayed as a monster" in films and books by British and Hindus. The chapter ends with a poem written by Naidu Sarojini in tribute to Jinnah (171).

Student Contributor: N. R. - Chapter 20:

Setting: This takes place I believe at Lenny's home during the day.

Characters: The characters that take place in this chapter are:

*Lenny- a little girl who is the main character.

*Nehru- a kishmiri who wears red carnations in the button wholes of his jacket. He is handsome and uses this to his advantage. He is a people person who can sweet talk the ladies and be smooth with the men.

*Lady Mountbatten- Believed that Nehru was her lover by other people because of the way he sweet talks her.

*Jinnah- not handsome and you would have a hard time giving him a complement. He also has a very beautiful and sweet wife that nobody can believe that he has.

Plot Events: This chapter is not really that exciting it just tells enters in some characters and describes them as did above. Also this is a time for Mother and Lenny to bond and for Lenny to gain some insight on what is going on around her (169-171). Also Lenny's mother talks about Jinnah's beautiful wife and how she died of a broken heart.(170-171).

Commentary- Lenny gets some insight on pain and suffering when her mother is telling her on how Jinnah's wife died of a “broken heart at age 29” (170). Then there is this poem that Naidu wrote that I don’t really understand. “ The calm hauteur of his accustomed reserve masks, for those who know him, a naïve and eager humanity, an intuition quick and tender as a women’s, a humor gay and winning as a Childs- pre-eminently rational and practical, discreet and dispassionate in his estimate and acceptance of life, the obvious sanity and serenity of his worldly wisdom effectually disguise a shy and splendid idealism which is of the very essence of the man” (171). I know that this has to have significance on the story; I'm just not seeing it. I do think that this poem was written to expose the true inner man that Jinnah was and show how he tormented his wife and this is why she died at young age of 29.

Student Contributor: D. B. - Chapter 20:

Rosy Peter and the government gardener have gone and the sound of music is playing. A wave of Muslims flood into Lahore. The population has greatly changed is the moving of seven million Muslims and five million Hindus and Sikhs in the exchange of people. His mother shows him a picture of a beautiful woman who is wearing daring clothing that in the era was reprehensible. But when he asked where she was, his mother told him that she died at the age of 29 because she was heart broken.

Ch. 21 (172-181)

Student Contributor: J. M. - Chapter 21

            In this chapter we are told about the changes that Hari has under gone to become a Muslim. He has shaved off his bodhi, been circumcised, traded in his dhoti for the drawstring shalwar, and even changed his name to Himat Ali.
            While at Electric Aunt’s house, Cousin tricks Lenny into experimenting with their sexuality. This is the first time that Lenny is confronted so bluntly with Cousin’s sexual whims and she does not like it.             In the second half of the chapter Lenny spends the night at Godmother’s house. Dr. Manek Mody is also there. He teases Lenny and she realizes that she is growing up. She is now eight and is tired of being called Lenny Baby.
            Later, in the morning there is an exchange in the kitchen between Godmother and Slavesister. Godmother exerts her power as older, wiser sister by putting Slavesister in her place. Is this a normal relationship for siblings to have at this time?
            Godmother invites college students from King Edward Medical College to tea. Four boys are invited but only two show up. Yakoob from Peshawar and Charles Chaudhry an Indian Christian from Multan tells everyone why the other boys have not come to tea. The others have left town to get to safety. Roshan Singh, a Sikh went, to Amritsar and Prakash, a Hindu, went to Delhi. Yakoob said that some goondas where after Roshan’s sisters. What are goondas? They must be bad people because Roshan’s family had to have an escort to get to a convoy safely. After some talk about eyes, Lenny tells Dr. Mody that Rosy-Peter’s family, who are American, have left Lahore as well. This section tells the story of most other families who also left Lahore. At the time the Americans, Hindus and Sikhs were all leaving. Lahore is becoming predominantly Muslim. It is also setting the reader up for events yet to come. Ayah and Dr. Mody talk about a fly in this chapter. Does the fly have any significance?
            Oldhusband finally speaks. Up until this point in the book he has been on the sidelines. Bapsi Sidhwa narrates the last of the chapter by talking about what Oldhusband has been doing in the whole book. She then allows him to silently slip away by telling the reader that he will no longer be in the book.

Ch. 23 (187-195)

Student Contributor: Tom Hage - Cracking India Plot Summary: Ch. 23

            We begin with chapter #23. The setting is Lahore sometime after Lenny’s eighth birthday (circa 1945-46).* The decisions have been made as to the delineation between India and the new country, Pakistan. Lahore, being on the Pakistani side but close to the border, bears the brunt of mass immigration and emigration. Primarily, the Hindus and Sikhs flee to the Indian side as the Muslims flee westward to Pakistan. This abandonment in Lahore has created a sea change in culture, abandoned/unattended homes and gangs of looters, ostensibly Muslim, taking whatever remnants of Hindu or Sikh possessions are left behind.
            Since Masseur’s death, Ayah (Shanta) is devastated. As a Hindu, she is also very wary. The key event of the chapter unfolds as a frequently heard mob of Muslim looters/rampagers find their way to the Sethi compound. As many in the mob are former Ayah suitors or neighborhood merchants (the barber, the butcher, his brother and of course the ice-candy-man), they are all well aware of whom in the compound is Hindu or Sikh. They inquire first of the Singh’s who have left for India, then of the gardener (Hari) who has converted to Islam and finally of Ayah who is hiding. Imam Din (the Sethi cook) lies to his fellow Muslims to protect Ayah as he knows all too well the consequences of her capture. Ice-candy-man approaches Lenny and tells her not to worry and that he will protect Ayah with his life. Lenny reveals the hiding place. The mob mentality is almost immediately transformed and unstoppable. The ice-candy-man disappears and Lenny realizes the depth of her mistake and betrayal. “The stone faced credulity” of Adi and Papoo and her mother's dazed expression speak volumes. Ayah is dragged carelessly though the courtyard to a cart by the mob, ripping her clothes and supporting her with “careless intimacy”. The Muslims and particularly ice-candy-man have captured an object of great value.
[Tom Hage's Ch. 23 & Ch. 24 Commentary:]
            There are a few main points that need to be made about these two chapters [chapter 23 and chapter 24]. First and foremost, the treatment of women is a major theme of this novel and these two chapters underscore that. One could say that the mob was after Ayah because she was Hindu, but in reality, her Hinduism was only an excuse to kidnap and subjugate what was obviously a sought after “prize.” . . . . [see also Tom Hage's Ch. 24 Commentary on Papoo's wedding below.]
           What happens to women throughout this book is degrading, criminal and even murderous. How interesting that all these acts are done in the context of the times, the culture and especially the religion as if that somehow explains or rationalizes it.
            Another interesting point is the parallel between the Lahore of Lenny’s earlier childhood and the subdued and hushed countenance of its later remaining populace. The multicultural and colorful vibrancy, the joy, the jokes and laughter and the normalcy in Lahore are replaced by roving Muslim mobs, terror, death and destruction. The trigger for this change is the partition of India supplemented by the fanaticism of various religions.
            Finally, the character development of Lenny in chapter #23 takes a huge step. That one terrifying mistake, betraying her nanny, transforms Lenny, that self-centered, learning, laughing, inquisitive little girl, into a young lady burdened by a huge sense of guilt-that understanding that living itself has consequences. Life isn’t fun any more. It’s not really her fault. Nor is it the fault of the other Sethis or the Singhs or any of the other individuals who are transformed by events beyond their control. There are those whose character allows them to shine in a moment of truth, like Imam Din, and there are those whose character traits allow them to do almost anything, like ice-candy-man. But these are all just players in the grand schemes of the Great Religions and Empires of the World.

* As discussed in class, the chronology of events is difficult to track in Cracking India, and time/year of plot events is estimated. ~ Cora Agatucci.

Student Contributor: I. G. - Chapter 23

            A view of Beadon Road, and the Sikh people on that road, in colorful turbans, hairy bodies, yellow shorts, tight pajamas—all characteristic of the Sikhs in that place. Also, the place is empty of Brahmins and Hindus. Many houses were ransacked as well. As for Rosy and Peter’s place, the vegetation grew to a point where it looks like no one was taking care of the plants; it looked like a yard in neglect: Weeds have also taken over the yard. Some houses were abandoned because the Hindus that once lived there abandoned their houses, and departed for India. The author says she hasn’t even seen her new Muslim neighbors yet. Many abandoned houses look like they are neglected and look like they are deteriorating. Anarchy has set in, and houses are getting ransacked (187).
            Apparently some men on carts are looking for Hindus. These men go into one house, then they come up to Lenny’s place. Imam Din gives a few insults to the group of men, who are searching for the Hindus. He said that there were no Hindus there, that they all left, and when they asked for Ayah, he said that she wasn’t there. They did not believe him, then when they did not believe him, he swore by Allah that she is not there. Since Muslims don’t take oaths lightly, they back off” (188-193). I suppose they were looking for her to convert her to Islam. The gardener converted to Islam, and Moti became Christian. Surprisingly, they did not kill Moti. Then, the group of people dissolves, and leaves only Ice-Candy-Man. He knew that she was there, and that he was going to ‘protect her with his life.’ Lenny confessed that she [Ayah] is hiding somewhere in the house. Then she [Lenny] realized that she messed up by revealing the location of her [Ayah]. Three men go into the house (this includes Ice-Candy-Man), tale her out and kidnap her (192-195).
[Discussion Question:]  I noticed that the Christian wasn’t killed in this newly created Muslim state, but the Muslims searched for Ayah, probably to kill or convert her. Why?

Student Contributor: J. W. - CH. 23 (pp 187-195)

This chapter is set on Warris Road and the main event takes place at Lenny’s house. Ayah has stopped receiving visitors. She is in mourning over Masseur’s death. She wanders around the city aimlessly. Lenny notices that Ice-Candy-Man sneaks around following Ayah on her walks. Lahore has become mostly Muslims because the Hindu’s and Sikh’s have left for fear of their lives. Looters roam the streets of Lahore going through empty houses and also collecting any Hindus or Sikhs left in Lahore. Lenny questions, “Does one get used to everything? Anything? (189)” The looters appear at Lenny’s house and Ayah hides from them. Imam Din talks to them. They are looking for the Hindus who live in the house. Imam Din tells them that there are no Hindus there. The looters ask about Hari the Gardner but he has become Muslim. They then ask about Moti the sweeper, but he has become a Christian. They then ask about Ayah. Imam Din swears she has left and is not there. Ice-Candy-Man is one of the looters and approaches Lenny. He asks Lenny where Ayah is and not to worry because he will protect her. Lenny still a child and trusting of Ice-Candy-Man tells him where Ayah is. The looters run into the house with Ice-Candy-Man to take Ayah away. Lenny learns a valuable lesson that the truth is not always what is right. It is a loss of her innocence.

Multiple Plots - Main Plot and Subplots of Cracking India: "Lenny's passionate love of Ayah and the loss of innocence that accompanies their changing relationship through the Partition is an energetic center to the plot. Lenny's relationships with her mother, her powerful godmother, and her sexually invasive cousin are also important to the novel. Lenny's polio forms a significant early narrative thread. Other minor but compelling subplots include Lenny's parents' changing relationship, the murder of a British official, and the child marriage of the much-abused daughter of one of Lenny's family's servants" (Holmes).

Ch. 24 (196-200)

Student Contributor: Tom Hage - Cracking India Plot Summary: Ch. 24

            Chapter #24 is also primarily played out inside the Sethi’s compound. It is one week after the capture of Ayah and it is Papoo’s wedding day. Lenny has spent an agonizing week and the rest of the household is spiritless without Ayah.
            Papoo, the daughter of Muccho and the untouchable sweeper, is being married off at the age of eleven to a middle-aged man. This terribly abused child is once again betrayed by her mother. The groom, Tota Ram, is a dark skinned, brash little man with a pockmarked face. Muccho's constant beatings have yet to break the spirit of this little girl, so to avoid a wedding scene, she drugs her daughter with opium.
[Tom Hage's Ch. 23 & Ch. 24 Commentary:]
            There are a few main points that need to be made about these two chapters [chapter 23 and chapter 24]. First and foremost, the treatment of women is a major theme of this novel and these two chapters underscore that. One could say that the mob was after Ayah because she was Hindu, but in reality, her Hinduism was only an excuse to kidnap and subjugate what was obviously a sought after “prize.”
            As for Papoo, her value to her mother was in what she could get in terms of a dowry from that wicked little man. She was never valued as a human being, but rather as a beatable slave. This speaks not just to Muccho’s inhumanity, but more widely as a cultural issue. Christianity, the caste system and everyone involved including the Sethis allowed this kidnapping, disguised as a wedding, to continue.
            What happens to women throughout this book is degrading, criminal and even murderous. How interesting that all these acts are done in the context of the times, the culture and especially the religion as if that somehow explains or rationalizes it.
            Another interesting point is the parallel between the Lahore of Lenny’s earlier childhood and the subdued and hushed countenance of its later remaining populace. The multicultural and colorful vibrancy, the joy, the jokes and laughter and the normalcy in Lahore are replaced by roving Muslim mobs, terror, death and destruction. The trigger for this change is the partition of India supplemented by the fanaticism of various religions.
            Finally, the character development of Lenny in chapter #23 takes a huge step. That one terrifying mistake, betraying her nanny, transforms Lenny, that self-centered, learning, laughing, inquisitive little girl, into a young lady burdened by a huge sense of guilt-that understanding that living itself has consequences. Life isn’t fun any more. It’s not really her fault. Nor is it the fault of the other Sethis or the Singhs or any of the other individuals who are transformed by events beyond their control. There are those whose character allows them to shine in a moment of truth, like Imam Din, and there are those whose character traits allow them to do almost anything, like ice-candy-man. But these are all just players in the grand schemes of the Great Religions and Empires of the World.

Student Contributor: I. G. - Chapter 24

            It’s evening, and drums are beating in the background. Things are sad for Lenny, Mother, and the others, because of the kidnapping of Ayah.
            Lenny, who regretted what she said when she released a report to Ice-Candy-Man where Ayah was; he kidnapped her with the help of two other men. Because of this, Lenny took out her toothbrush and scoured her tongue with it over and over again, because she did not ‘watch her tongue.’ She said that she threw up constantly.
          Papoo was dressed up, and massaged with mustard oil. Papoo flings herself on the ground, protesting, and Muccho got after her for that, ‘but withdraws cursing,’ maybe partly because it was a ‘special’ event, and the fact that other women were ‘bribing Papoo with candy causing Muccho to calm down.’
            Since Ayah was not there to wake up Lenny from her sleep, she slept in late and Adi wakes her up, tugging on her toe, saying, ‘The guests have come, and the bridegroom is coming soon. Let’s go!” So she gets ready, goes to the back, goes through the ‘thick crowd,’ and sees Papoo buried under clothing thrown upon her haphazardly. She was asleep. Lenny tries to wake Papoo up, and then she wakes up drowsy, looks at Lenny with a ‘cock-eyed grin’ because she was drugged by Muccho, but Lenny did not know that yet. Then the bridegroom’s party enters the gates with the bridegroom and some women. He’s short, wearing a purple satin lungi and a long white gleaming satin shirt. He has garlands on his chest with gold beribboned cardboard hearts, and strung with fresh one-rupee notes and flowers, and he has on a thick white turban, with a gold kuhlah, and the sehra hangs on it, with curtains of marigold flowers veiling his face. His name is Tota Ram.
            At first, Lenny thought he was twelve years old, about Papoo’s age, but later finds out that he is middle-aged. Lenny finally see his face after he parted the curtain of flowers, and that was when Lenny knew he was not a boy. She describes the pock-marked face, the subtle hardness and cruelty, and gestures, and weird behavior. Lenny was concerned therefore about what might happen to Papoo. Two or three older women pull themselves together to greet and bless the bridegroom. ‘The elderly and cynical dwarf [the bridegroom] permits their embraces, and then sits back, his spread legs swinging carelessly, and the women, shocked for a moment, resume their chatter. Then the women of the groom family come forward and make compliments, and bring her gifts to her and to her mother.
            Muccho orders Papoo to eat, but she is drowsy and drugged, and Lenny figured this out simply by observing drug-addicted people in her neighborhood. As the other women start to eat, Muccho shakes Papoo roughly, and starts to feed her. Later, the Mission padre comes into Moti’s quarters, and prepares to marry the couple together” (196-200).
[Discussion Question:]  So, as Cora summed up, Muccho drugged her daughter so that she can get her a cruel husband. But why? We all know of Muccho’s brutal heart.

Student Contributor: J. W. - CH. 24 (pp196-200)

This chapter is also set at Lenny’s house. Papoo is going to be married. It is an arranged marriage. Lenny is to busy feeling guilty to take in the excitement of the wedding. She tries to punish herself for telling the truth. She does this by believing her tongue is the problem. She scrubs it until it bleeds. Papoo is not happy about her wedding. She constantly throws tantrums while being prepared for the event. On the day of the wedding Papoo seems to be sleeping through most of the events, and not her usual wild self. Lenny believes the groom, Tota Ram must be only 11 or 12 like Papoo herself. When she goes to his quarters to get a closer look Lenny sees his face and realizes he is a middle aged man. He appears to be arrogant in the eyes of Lenny. When back with Papoo Lenny realizes Papoo has been drugged. Papoo goes through her Christian wedding drugged and unaware. Her mother, Muccho can control a drugged daughter and save face by having no outbursts by Papoo. Papoo’s arranged marriage gives us a glimpse of how women were treated in their culture.

Student Contributor: S. F. - Chapter 24

Most of this chapter takes place in the bathroom where Lenny is looking at her tongue. The other part of the chapter takes place in Haris quarters. On a Saturday exactly a week from the day Ayah was carried off, Papoo is getting married. Lenny notices a lot of things he doesn’t like about the groom such as his gestures and the way the groom shifts in his chair. Then Lenny waiting for the wedding to proceed realizes that Papoo has been drugged. He realizes this because Mr. Bankwalla’s and Colonel Bharucha’s are both addicts and he knows what addicts look like. Papoo's father [Moti] shakes her roughly to try and get her to eat some food to help reduce the effectiveness of the drug. Papoo is eventually shaken some more and propped up by Muccho as the padre recites the marriage.

The characters are as follows: Lenny, Papoo, Muccho, Tota Ram, and the father/priest.

Ch. 25 (201-220)

Student Contributor: S. F. - Chapter 25 (201-220)

This chapter has many different settings. The beginning of this chapter is set in the courtyard. However, they are looking at the courtyard from the servant’s quarters. The second setting is in a dark widowless room where Rana and all the men go to hide. However, the Sikhs find them and cut off Dost Mohammad the leaders head and Rannas uncles and cousins head. Ranna is traveling trying to get to his aunts and uncles house and when he finally gets there he faints and his aunt and uncle leave him for dead, then he hides in there barn to keep away from the Sikh’s and after that he travels through the sugar cane to a refugee camp. So as you can see there are many different settings. Ranna survived the battle although he had a piece of his head cut off and his aunt left him for dead. The women all planned ahead to meet at the Chaudry’s house where they would poor kerosene all over themselves to avoid the brutality of the mob. However, they didn’t end up lighting the fire in time. However, they didn’t end up lighting the fire in time. So the women that were found were tortured until death.

The characters are: a Sikh guard, Adi, Lenny, Hamida (Ayah), Electric Aunt, Sharbat Khann, Iman Din and Yousaf Ranna, Jagjeet Singh, Chidda Khatija and Parveen Chaudhry Mohammad Ranna's two toothed old grandmother, Noni chachi, Iqbal chacha

Student Contributor: B. B. - Ch. 25

In chapter 25 the chapter begins with the description of the village. The Sikh men standing guard outside. The little boy Ranna has a story to tell, reliving his memories of what happened to him and the other children along with the adults. He witnessed the beheading of his uncles, brothers and cousins. Ranna having to survive the ordeal and make it out to safety. Thinking that the Sikh's were going to help them and befriend them in reality turned out to be their enemies and wound up killing them. Ranna was told by Dost Mohammad that, "It won't hurt any more than the sting of a bee" (212). Ranna found himself wanting to repeat it to a woman who was yelling, "You'll kill me..." (213). Ranna told her "Don't be afraid to die... It will hurt less than the sting of a bee" (213). Ranna is trying to be brave and exude confidence to others that are in the same predicament. Finally he is able to go see his mother who married a Hindu and he is sent out to a refugee camp where he lived for two months.

Student Contributor: C. L. - Brief Summary of Chapter 25 (Pg. 201-220)

Setting: Lahore

Who: Lenny, Cousin and Adi, a tall Sikh guard, Sharbat Khan, Hari (Himat Ali) Mother, Father, Imam Din, Hamadi, Ranna, Noni Chachi, Iqbal Chachi, Jagjeet Singh

What Happened:

· 201-202- Lenny, Cousin and Adi spy on what they perceive to be a women's "jail" being guarded by a Sikh man (it's actually the whore house)

· 202 Hindu doctor's house is occupied by strangers who only come out at night

· 202-203 Hamida, a women from the whore house, is hired to replace Ayah- Lenny saw her at the "jail" and is uncertain of the new arrangement but won't tell her Mother

· 204 Sharbat Khan returns from the hills- He and Hari (aka Himat Ali) talk about the dead body in the bag

· 204-205 Lenny's Mother has to train Hamida to do all of the housework, etc. She has no skills

· 205-206 A group of people from Pir Pindo arrive to stay with Imam Din- among them is a severely neglected Ranna. Noni chachi (grandmother), Iqbal chachi and Ranna tell about the attack on Pir Pindo

· 206 Jagjeet Singh goes to Pir Pindo to check for survivors, but it was too late

Story changes to Ranna's interpretation on p. 207

Setting: Pir Pindo (eventually a neighboring village, then Amritsar)

Who: Ranna, Dost Mohammad, people in Ranna's village, Chidda, Noni Chachi, and Sikh and Hindu soldiers

What Happened:

· 207-208 Nervousness at Ranna's village, everyone is quiet. They have caught news that the Sikhs have attacked a nearby village and are waiting for Dost Mohammad to return with more news

· 209 Dost Mohammad returns and confirms the brutal attacks by the Sikhs- all the Muslim people are being killed

· 210 The village makes a plan to prepare for the attack- women and children will burn themselves in a hut; all the skilled men will fight to the end and the unskilled boys will hide

· 211 The Sikhs are attacking- the women's hut won't burn as planned, Ranna and the unskilled men are hiding in a nearby hut bawling as the Sikh's find the women

· The Sikhs find the hut with the men and attempt to kill them all- someone struck Ranna in the head and he passed out

· 213-215 Ranna had awakened and was walking around all of the dead bodies looking for his Mother. Ranna came across some Sikh men in the mosque with the women and was upset and scared so he ran to the village where his Uncle Iqbal and his Noni chachi lived

· 215 Ranna passes out in a field en route to the village and is awakened by the sound of Sikh and Hindu fighters. He hides until dusk and continues on.

· 216-217 Ranna finally makes it to the village and is in such poor shape that his aunt and the villagers are forced to leave him to die as they evacuate the village before the Sikhs/Hindus arrive

· 218-220 The Sikhs and Hindus come to the village and are surprised to see it has been evacuated. Ranna hides in some hay until they leave. He ventures on to Amritsar where the people have been brutalized and the town looted. He sees a small group of Muslims in the custody of the Sikh and Hindu police, among them Noni chachi and Uncle Iqbal. He runs up to meet them and it taken into custody by the Sikhs/Hindus. He was sent to a prisoner camp separate from his family. Two months later he was reunited with his Noni chachi and Uncle Iqbal at the camp.

Quotations

Children are the Devil... They only know the Truth..." -Sharbat Khan (204)

When Sharbat Khan said this he was referencing the honesty Lenny had when she was talking to Ice-Candy Man about Ayah. He wanted to convey that children don't know any better than to be honest and that makes them easy to manipulate. Had Lenny realized Ice-Candy Man's intentions she may have lied to protect Ayah. However, she was taught to be honest and to trust Ice-Candy Man so she unhesitatingly revealed where Ayah was hiding.

"Embedded in the heart of the Punjab, they had felt secure, inviolate. And to uproot themselves from the soil of their ancestors had seemed to them akin to tearing themselves, like ancient trees, from the Earth." (209)

This passage speaks for itself regarding the pain Ranna's village was experiencing in their being forced to move.

"How soon he had become accustomed to thinking of people he had known all his life as bodies. He felt on such easy terms with death." (214)

This quote addresses Ranna's ability to cope with the death of most people he knew. The mass murder of all of the town's people, and the villages that he would soon flee to, left him in such a state of shock that all he could do would be to look at the people with detachment or he would lose it.

Multiple Points of View: ". . . [W]hile Lenny is the clear protagonist and narrator for most of the novel, Ranna, a Muslim child whose experiences were particularly violent and traumatic, tells his own story. A significant aspect of the novel is the marginality of Britain and the Raj in the plot; colonialism sets this trauma in place, but postcolonial characters are its focus" (Holmes; emphasis added).

Ch. 26 (221-232)

Student Contributor: L. S. - Chapter 26

Time: After Ayah's kidnapping in July and the "cracking" of the country

pg. 221: Lenny's cousin hears rumors from his household's cook about Ayah being seen in Lahore, but he can't obtain anything substantial from him.

pg. 221-22: Godmother takes Lenny with her when she donates blood at the hospital (Lenny has been staying with her lately, along with Hamida and Adi-- mother has been over to see Lenny a few times, but seems distant. Possible marital problems at home?) Mini Aunty is not allowed to donate, and protests by hinting that she is being denied the good works needed to get into heaven. Godmother is stunned by her "ridiculous reasoning".

pg. 222-23: Godmother seems to have an extensive "espionage" network because she knows a lot of other people's issues and seems to be very popular and influential to Lenny. Lenny tells her about Ranna's experiences at his destroyed home viliage, and he suddenly is accepted to a convent in Shahdara as a boarder. Lenny thinks Godmother also knows something about Ayah by the way she whispers with Mini Aunty.

pg. 224: Lenny still wonders about the mysterious women in the nearby courtyard (the former Salvation Army building before the British left India), and she hears wailing at night and sees many trucks stop there.

pg.224: Lenny hears her parents fighting at night, and her mother yelling: "I won't let you go see her!" (An affair?). She also is wearing bruises, which Lenny sees when her mother is taking a bath.

pg. 225: Lenny is still having nightmares about Ayah.

pg. 225-27: One night Lenny comments on the wailing from the courtyard to Hamida, who calls the women "fate-smitten." Hamida says it is a place for "fallen women." She breaks down when Lenny tells her she saw her in the courtyard. Lenny, curious, asks Godmother what a "fallen woman" is, and that Hamida is one. Godmother seems to know about Hamida; she says Hamida was kidnapped by the Sikhs, and that sometimes husbands no longer want their wives when other men have touched them (is Godmother somehow involved in aiding the activities of the courtyard?). Lenny canot understand this injustice.

pg. 228-30: After a bout of teasing from Godmother and Mini Aunti, Lenny boasts that Cousin will marry her if no one else will. Strangely, she isn't even attracted to him, even though he says he will marry her when she mopes about the teasing and confesses her fears of never marrying to him. He is even attracted by her limp and says it makes her rear wiggle (which isn't an odd thing to comment on, knowing what he always has on his mind). She says she finds other males more attractive, and cousin asks her to point them out.

pg. 230-32: Lenny is starting to feel attraction for all sorts of men, and is feeling proud and possessive of her growing breasts. Everyone from Mother to Adi to Cousin are very interested in looking at and touching them, and she feels that they are her own prized possessions to enjoy alone (strongly suggests modern women's issues here).

pg. 232: Cousin is sullen when Lenny dutifully points out all of the other males she finds attractive, and feels bad, but she also feels she can't help it (Lenny must be nearing puberty).

Student Contributor: M. B. - CH. 26

In Chapter 26 of Cracking India many characters are mentioned but only a couple

of them actually play a major role in the chapter itself. First of all this chapter takes place

in a couple of different areas. It begins with Lenny being over at her cousin's house and

her cousin talking with his cook about where Lenny's Ayah might be. In this chapter the

cook threatens that he will not say another about it if Cousin is to ever blab a word to

Lenny. This means that there is a negative or at least suspicious attachment to Lenny's

Ayah's whereabouts. The chapter continues with Lenny going with Himat Ali to the

bazaars in search of Ayah. She also rides on Yousaf's shoulders looking everywhere for

her Ayah. In the book it describes her anxiousness to find her Ayah. "And when I ride on

the handlebars of his bicycle peering into tongas, buses, bullock-carts and trucks, I

sometimes think I spot Ayah and exclaim!...". This extremity to find Ayah means that she

is quite valuable to Lenny.

Along we move in the chapter. Next Lenny talks about how her Godmother is

influential. She then speaks about her Godmother going to donate blood. At the end of

this donation Lenny notes that she is certain that her Godmother's blood, "will save many

wounded lives ". This sentence shows of her eternal respect for her godmother. Her

godmother is the talk for the next couple paragraphs. Lenny talks about her incredible

network of influence and how she knows everything that is going on around her.

Back at Lenny's house she is concerned for the women she hears in the courtyard

at night. There is much turmoil going on all around Lenny. Her parents are fighting at

night in their bedroom and the women's cries in the courtyard and Lenny's dreams of the

lion. She cannot sleep. She wakes up screaming for her Ayah. Of course, her Ayah isn't

there, but her mother comes to her aid with magic to capture and banish evil spirits. Also

her mother tells her stories of the mousey with seven tails which Lenny has become too

familiar with but it still happy to listen to her mother tell it. Lenny awakens one night and

Hamida comes to her side to comfort her. Lenny asks Hamida about the women she hears

in the courtyard. Hamida tells her of fallen women which confuses and makes Lenny

wonder what she means by fallen women but Hamida won't fully explain and silences

herself by crying.

Lenny continues her quest in this chapter to find out what fallen women are. She

next goes to her Godmother for answers. Of course her Godmother tries to avoid the issue

but is not able to and has to tell Lenny the truth. After finding out the truth she is

somewhat satisfied that at least she knows what is going on but then is saddened by the

outcome of this.

After finding what she is after the chapter continues and comes to an end with

Lenny spending time with her cousin and finding out about his interest in her and her

teasing about finding other boys attractive.

Ch. 27 (233-240)

Student Contributor: L. S. - Chapter 27

Pg. 233: Lenny continues to watch the courtyard and sees a high turnover rate among the women there. She hopes to see Ayah show up there (she seems to be aware that Ayah, kidnapped as Hamida was, has very likely suffered a similar “fallen” fate, though she can’t comprehend the true magnitude of that).

Pg. 233-34: Lenny asks Hamida about her family, and doesn’t understand why Hamida isn’t allowed to return to it. Hamida says that everyone is a puppet in the hands of fate.

Pg. 236-38: Imam Din catches a pesky stray cat in the door of his kitchen to teach it a lesson, but Lenny’s mother screams at him to let her go and viciously attacks him with a fly swatter (it seems she associated the trapped cat with that of her own person, or perhaps women in Pakistan’s society: trapped).

Pg. 239: Father rarely talks to Mother directly anymore—he even uses his own children to relay his messages to her without talking to her himself (definite marital stress here).

Pg. 239-40: Lenny thinks her mother is no longer looking for Ayah when she disappears on her mysterious missions in the car. She thinks Mother is setting fire to Lahore instead (as she believes the fuel loaded in the trunk of the car is being used for!)

Student Contributor: M. B. - CH. 27

Chapter 27 starts out with Lenny in the Servant’s quarters looking at all the fallen women. It continues with her sentiments on the women and how she feels sorry for them and hopes that everything comes out ok. Lenny talks to Hamida again about her children and wonder why she doesn’t go see them. Hamida tells her that she has bad Kismet and that people are “puppets in the hands of fate”. Of course Lenny being the wild child that she is disagrees with her and says that Cousin said that people can change their kismet if they want to. With that, Hamida tells her a story to attempt to bring Lenny to her side of thinking. It is a depressing story but gets Lenny to think about fate.

As the chapter continues it is basically with the cook catching an alley cat that has been messing with his food. He goes to punish it but Lenny’s mother comes out of her car and goes over to him and has someone fetch her a flyswatter and beats him with it. This act shows that Lenny’s mother is an animal lover. He goes off sulking and then tries to complain to Lenny’s dad but the mother interrupts and tells him that he is an idiot. The chapter ends with Lenny sensing that the hunt for Ayah is off but Lenny refuses to give up and says, “They can set fire to the world for all I care! I want my Ayah”. Again showing the importance of her Ayah to her.

Ch. 29 (246-264)

Student Contributor: G. C. - submitted paper copy only
[Cora typed in student's notes, so please forgive me any errors.]

Setting: Godmother's house is where the majority of the chapter is spent, with brief but important accounts of Lenny and Cousin in a room and then of Lenny and Mother in the bedroom. The scene then returns to godmother's house where it stays for the remainder of this long chapter.

Characters (in order of importance): Lenny, Godmother, Ice-Candy-Man, Cousin, Mother, Dr. Manek Mody, Slavesister (Mini Aunty), Hamida, Adi

Plot: The chapter starts out with Lenny catching a glimpse of a made-over Ayah in a taxi. There is a long, light-hearted account of the doctor entertaining Lenny and Adi by passing wind when his finger is pulled, claiming he is exorcising demons. A brief visit to the now queen-less garden leaves Lenny and Hamida feeling uncomfortable and out of place among Muslim men who now fill the garden. Lenny then tells Godmother that she has seen Ayah but Godmother is either unsure or wants to convince Lenny otherwise and this results in shattering Lenny's confidence. Lenny spends the next part of the chapter with Cousin as he unveils more details he has learned about Ayah: her whereabouts (the diamond market) and her new profession (a dancer), educating Lenny on these adult terms and happenings. Again though Cousin uses the occasion to engage Lenny sexually, she resists. Lenny then confronts her mother with the accusation of arson. Mother is shocked by Lenny's accusation and Lenny falls apart upon the realization that she thought her mother was capable of such deeds. Back at Godmother's house, Lenny learns that Ayah is now a wife and that her husband is coming to see Godmother that night. After an impatient few hours of waiting, Ice-Candy-Man arrives. He presents himself with elegant formality as a poet, having changed so much that Lenny hardly recognizes him. He launches into an extravagant display of knowledge and recounts how he is, in fact, related to them. After concluding his act with such amazing play of emotion that he hypnotizes Lenny, Godmother engages him ruthlessly. Godmother tears apart Ice-Candy-Man's action, accusing him and insulting him to a point where he is reduced to a broken man, weeping earnestly in the dust at their feet. Lenny takes in everything and she too goes into hysterics. The chapter concludes with Godmother returning to her tongue-in-cheek self and Ice-Candy-Man walking into the distance, muddied white cloths fluttering in the wind. Lenny's eyes are opened that night "To the pitiless face of love." She is growing up.

Student Contributor: S. F. - Chapter 29

The setting of this chapter is mostly in the godmother’s house but they do go to the Queens Garden.

It is late in the evening; Lenny wants Hamida to take her to the Queens Garden. When Lenny finally gets Hamida to agree to take them then Lenny’s mother announces that she wants Adi and Lenny to spend the night with grandmother. The reason for this is that Dr. Manek Mody is visiting again. Finally, they make it to the Queens garden and Lenny notices it doesn’t have the color it used to. For example, one line she says is that Muslim families who added color when scattered among the Hindus and Sikhs, now monopolize the garden, depriving it of color. Also, she notices how there are fewer women than men. Lenny and Hamida feel very out of place in the Queens garden as they know they will not find familiar faces. Now it is dusk and Lenny thinks she saw Ayah, Godmother tells her no that sometimes we see what we want to see. Later, Lenny finds out from her cousin that in fact it was Ayah she saw and that Ayah has become a dancing girl. Then cousin tries to show her what dancing girls go through. Then Lenny realizes that Ayah must be in trouble and decides to confront her mother about it. Grandmother finds out that Ayah is still in Lahore and lets Lenny know. Then Grandmother tells Lenny that Ayahs husband is coming who is also called bridegroom. However, when he shows up it is Ice-candy-man and lots of things are discovered.

The Characters are as follows: Lenny, Mother, Dr. Manek Mody, Slavesister, Electric Aunt, God Mother, Queen, Adi, Rodabai, Ice-candy-man and Lenny's cousin.

Cora's Notes on Ch. 29 - Key passages/quotations

"And the, late one evening, I, too, see Ayah" (246).

"The Queen has gone!" (249).

"Why isn't anyone telling me anything?" (250).

Cousin: "Want to know why Ayah was all made up?" (251). "Ayah is just a dancer in the Hira Mandi [Diamond Market] . . . The red-light district" (252).

"What things?" Lenny asks (252....

Lenny: "I decide it's time to confront Mother" (253).

[The adults' guilt for Lenny's "truth-infected tongue" (254)]

Lenny confronts Godmother, who concedes: "You're right. Ayah is still in Lahore . . . . She's married" . . . . and Ayah's husband is coming to see Godmother that night (255).

THAT EVENING, at Godmother's house, Lenny waits impatiently to meet Ayah's husband.
"The bridegroom comes" - It is "Ice-Candy-Man!!!! (256)

Godmother lets Ice-Candy-Man give his virtuosity performance (256-259) then when he's finished, Godmother lets loose her "cold rage" (259).

Godmother's fury (260-261): "It's no good crying now. You'll be shown as little mercy as you showed her" (261).

Godmother demands that Ayah be restored to her family in Amritsar. The marriage took place in May, a/c to Ice-Candy-Man. Godmother rages: "Why don't you speak? Can't you bring yourself to say you played the drums when she danced? Counted money while drunks, peddlers, sahibs, and cutthroats used her like a sewer?" (262)

"I can't exist without her" (262).

Lenny has a seizure (262-263)

"The innocence that my parents' vigilance, the servants' care and Godmother's love sheltered in me, that neither Cousin's carnal cravings, nor the stories of the violence of the mobs, could quite destroy, was laid waste that evening by the emotional storm that raged around me. The confrontation between Ice-Candy-Man and Godmother opened my eyes to the wisdom of righteous indignation over compassion. To the demands of gratification - and the unscrupulous nature of desire. To the pitiless face of love." (264).

Ch. 30 (265-279)

Student Contributor: S. E. - Ch. 30

Chapter 30 opens at Godmother’s house as Lenny discovers she is preparing to see Ayah. Lenny knows that Godmother “…is impelled by an urge to pop up at the right place in the hour of a person’s need.” Despite this she is surprised and desperate to come along. Lenny questions why Ayah will not come to see them and is told that Ayah is ashamed. A wise Lenny is aware that “They have shamed her…not the strangers, but …the other men she counted among her friends and admirers.” “I want to tell her I am her friend,” sobs Lenny.

Mini Aunty returns to Godmother’s with groceries and is alarmed that Godmother plans on taking Lenny to see Ayah in the Hira Mandi. “’How can you even dream of taking the child there!’ says Mini Aunty, her eyes brimming with reproach…her cheeks lengthening in solemn consternation.” Even slave sister blinks away tears at the thought. In Godmother’s firm and decisive manner the two leave, hand in hand.

Upon arrival in the Hira Mandi Lenny is greeted by empty streets and disheveled, snickering women. “Even [Lenny] can tell they were not well brought up.” Godmother marches regally down the street with her sari pinched austerely beneath her chin. A nervous Ice-Candy-man ushers them into his home and brings out Ayah, whom he has named Mumtaz. Ayah is painted, bejeweled and teetering on too high heels while trying to keep hold of her piles of skirts and ornaments. Lenny is frightfully shy towards the new Ayah and wonders; “Can the soul be extracted from its living body?” Ayahs vacant eyes are…colder than the ice that lurks behind the hazel in Ice-Candy-Man’s beguiling eyes.” “Godmother composes herself and asks Ayah, ‘Isn’t he looking after you?’” “…I can not forget what happened, ”are Ayah’s words, “I am not alive.”

Returning to the room Ice-Candy-man’s eyes are red and desperate. In a slow coiling movement, betraying the snake that he is, he squats in front of Godmother pleading his case. “…While Ayah is haunted by her past, Ice-candy-man is haunted by his future…”

Cousin is disapprovingly shocked that Lenny was taken to the Hira Mandi. Lenny still doesn’t understand why and as it is explained to her she conjures up the idea of a “cross between a Swiss finishing school…and a School for the Fine and Performing Arts.”

Student Contributor: T. C. - submitted paper copy only
[Cora typed in student's notes, so please forgive me any errors.]

Settings:

	Saturday morning at Godmother's house
	Godmother and Lenny go to the old city (the Hira Mandi)
	Later in the day, Lenny is sitting on Electric-aunt's veranda waiting for Cousin to get home

Characters:

	Godmother and Lenny are together
	Slave sister comes home from grocery shopping
	Tonga man takes Godmother and Lenny to see Ayah
	Mumtaz [Ayah] and Ice-Candy-Man

Plot: Godmother plans on going to see Ayah. Lenny desperately wants to go along. Slavesister comes home from shopping and ends up getting in argument about who should go with Godmother. Lenny and Godmother go to the old city to visit Ayah. Lenny notices the differences there and how the women are presented. They arrive at the home and are met by Ice-Candy-Man. They sit down and wait for Ayah, now called Mumtaz. Mumtaz is all dressed up yet her spirit has been broken. She is ashamed and is unable to look at Godmother or Lenny. Lenny is apprehensive about being around Mumtaz. When Ice-Candy-Man leaves the room, Mumtaz begs Godmother to help her leave and go back to her family. Ayah is unable to forgive Ice-Candy-Man for what he has done. Ice-Candy-Man also begs Godmother to convince Mumtaz to stay with him. It is now up to Godmother to decide to help or not. Later in the day Lenny is waiting for Cousin to get home so she can tell him all about her visit to Ayah. He is at first interested, but then becomes quickly sidetracked about the Kotha (Hira Mandi) and the dancing girls. He spends a lot of time trying to describe the Kotha for Lenny but she is still confused.

Extra Info [Commentary]: Two things that showed Lenny growing up:

	Lenny crying out in empathy for Ayah. She said, "I have never cried this way before. It is how grown-ups cry when their hearts are breaking."
	Her education about the Kotha.

Cora's Notes on Ch. 30 - Key passages/quotations

Godmother: "I'm going to see Ayah" (265)

Lenny's reaction - then Godmother agrees to let Lenny go with her to see Ayah (268)

Godmother and Lenny are taken to the old city, and there they find Ayah - rechristened Mumtaz (269-272)

The change in Ayah (272-273)

Ayah: "I will not live with him" (273).

Ice-Candy-Man: ". . . I will keep her like a flower . . .(276)
"He is a defiled poet, a collapsed peddler . . . "

Lenny and Godmother return home (276).
Lenny tells all to Cousin

Then Cousin tells much to Lenny: The "Kotha" and what goes on there & tries to explain what a pimp is (278-279)

Ch. 31 (280-286)

Student Contributor: S. E. - Ch. 31

Chapter 31 finds Mother entertaining some willing and not so willing guests on her patio. We are introduced to Dr. Seltzer, a new neighbor and a sign of life moving on for the Sethi family. Mother bubbles over about each one’s accomplishments and yanks Lenny over as a sort of “show and tell” on her recovery. In the midst of Mother’s performance a sudden commotion catches their ear. Watching the fight from the rooftop, the onlookers are aghast to see the Sikh guard has been fighting Ice-candy-man. A group of men snag him into the cart and drive off as the guard yells, “ Let anyone touch the women…See what I’ll do to their cocks and balls! They are my sisters and mothers!” An exhausted Ayah is in the safe house and doesn’t wish to see anyone. Exuberantly Lenny starts to chant:

“Ayah! Ayah! Ayah!” The children follow and the women

“…beat their breasts and cry ‘Hai! Hai! Hai!’ reflecting the

history of their cumulative sorrows and the sorrows of their

Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Rajput great-grandmothers who

burnt themselves alive rather than surrender their honor to

the invading hordes besieging their ancestral fortresses.”

Student Contributor: T. C. - submitted paper copy only
[Cora typed in student's notes, so please forgive me any errors.]

Settings:

	Mid-Saturday
	On the veranda of Lenny's house
	Ayah's home in the Kotha

Characters:

	Mother
	Phailbuses: Indian Christian family
	Dr. Selzer: German doctor next door
	Hari, Yousaf, Iman Din, and neighbors
	Ice-Candy-Man and pimps
	Ayah

Plot: Mother is sitting talking to the Phailbuses and Dr. Selzer about treatments. Fight breaks out next door over the wall. Hari and Yousef run and try to break it up, while Iman Din is shouting and lifts Lenny so she can see. When it subsides she is able to see that it is Ice-Candy-Man and his pimps. Ice-Candy-Man has been beaten up by the Sikh guard. The guard and Mother scream at them as they drive away. Women and girls on roof top chant for Ayah. Ayah is recued from the Hira Mandi and Ice-Candy-Man and his posse have pursued her but to no avail.

Extra Info [Commentary]: The plan to rescue Ayah happened the same day that Godmother and Lenny visited her. It goes to show that Godmother did have the influence the book said she had.

Cora's Notes on Ch. 31 - Key passages/quotations

Dr. Selzer, the Jewish German doctor who has taken the Shankars' old rooms in the back of the Sethi family compound (280).

Commotion in Rosy-Peter's old compound - they are beating up Ice-Candy-Man (282-283)

Ayah has come to the "Recovered Women's Camp; Lenny and other children chant "Ayah! Ayah! Ayah!" (284-285).

Account of Ayah's extradition from the Hira Mandi (285-286)

Ch. 32 (287-289)

Student Contributor: S. E. - Ch. 32

Chapter 32 “Ice-candy-man has taken to patrolling Warris Road”, spouting poetry and selling the occasional popsicle. The guard believes he is harmless and even “eyes him with a certain awe”. Ayah is yet “unseeing and unfeeling” as Lenny walks with her to the doctor. Ice-candy–man waits even there to see her. He is courteous and does not stare, but “Ayah behaves as if he is invisible.” Ice-candy-man is heard quoting:

“Don’t berate me beloved, I’m God intoxicated!
I’ll wrap myself about you; I’m mystically mad.”

Again, Ice-candy-man is depicting himself as a snake. He leaves flower petals in the courtyard each morning that the women wake to and sweep up as though they were “goat droppings”. One morning, the petals are gone, Ayah has returned home and Ice-candy-man has disappeared across the border to India still in pursuit.

Student Contributor: T. C. - submitted paper copy only
[Cora typed in student's notes, so please forgive me any errors.]

Settings: *Sometime after Ayah's rescue | *Warris Road and around Lenny's house

Characters: Ice-Candy-Man, Ayah, Sikh guard, Lenny

Plot: Ice-Candy-Man hangs around the house reciting poem in hopes of winning back Ayah. There are a few confrontations with the guard, but after while everyone gets used to him. When the guard and Lenny walk Ayah down to Mr. Phailbus's for treatment, Ice-Candy-Man doesn't look at her but follows and murmurs poems to Ayah. Ayah doesn't acknowledge his existence. One day Ayah leaves without saying goodbye; Ice-Candy-Man disappears across into India.

Extra Info [Commentary]: He [Ice-Candy-Man] went from infatuation, to disrespecting her [Ayah/Shanta/Mumtaz], and then finally after he screwed up, he finally developed true love for her, but it was too late. He did follow her in hopes of someday winning her back. Ice-Candy-Man must have really loved Ayah in the end.

Cora's Notes on Ch. 32 - Key passages/quotations

Epigraph: Iqbal (287)

Ice-Candy-Man strolls Warris Road, broken left arm in a sling . . . (287)

Ayah at last goes to join her family in Amritsar, and Ice-Candy-Man secretly follows her, though as a Muslim he is risking his life crossing the border into Hindu-dominated India (289).

Works Cited and Additional Resources

Agatucci, Cora, ed. "Cracking India." Handout, Humanities 210, Central Oregon Community
         College, Winter 2004.
---, ed. "Cracking India: Novel Notes." Handout, Humanities 210, Central Oregon Community
         College, Winter 2004.
---, ed. Cracking India: Novel Notes. [Online Handout] 2004. Humanities 210. Winter 2004.
         Central Oregon Community College. 26 Feb. 2004. <http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/
         hum210/coursepack/crackingindia.htm>.
---, ed. Cracking India Study Guide 1. [Online Handout] 2004. Humanities 210, Central Oregon
         Community College, Winter 2004. 6 March 2004 <http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/
         hum210/coursepack/crackingindiaSG.htm>.
---, ed. Cracking India Study Guide 2. [Online Handout] 2004. Humanities 210, Central Oregon
         Community College, Winter 2004. 6 March 2004 <http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/
         hum210/coursepack/crackingindiaSG2.htm>.
---, ed. Timelines of Asia: India, China, Japan: Table of Contents. 1997-2004. 20 Feb.
      2004 <http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum210/tml/asianTML.htm>.
       India Timeline 3: The British Raj (late 17th - early 20th centuries):
       <http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum210/tml/IndiaTML/indiatml3.htm>
       India Timeline 4: Independence of India and Pakistan (20th century):
       <http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum210/tml/IndiaTML/indiatml4.htm>.
Bapsi Sidhwa's Home Page. 2000-2002. 20 Feb. 2004
         <http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/bsidhwa/?mtbrand=AOL_US>.
Holmes, Martha Stoddard. "Literature Annotations: Sidhwa, Bapsi: Cracking India." 2001.
         Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database, 52nd ed., 2004. New York University. 20 Feb.
         2004 <http://endeavor.med.nyu.edu/lit-med/lit-med-db/webdocs/webdescrips/
        sidhwa11864-des-.html>.
Sidhwa, Bapsi. Cracking India: A Novel. [Originally published as Ice-Candy Man, 1988.]
         Minneapolis, MN: Milkweed Editions-William Heinemann, 1991.
---. "New Neighbors." 11 Aug. 1997. Time. 20 Feb. 2004
      <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/1997/int/970811/spl.neighbors.html>.
---. "Sense of the City: Lahore." BBC News, World ed., 29 July 2003. 20 Feb. 2004
        <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3106541.stm>.
Wilder, Jay. "Bapsi Sidhwa." 1998, 2001. Postcolonial Studies at Emory. English Dept.,
          Emory Univ. 2002. 15 Feb. 2004 <http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/Bahri/Sidhwa.html>.