Bapsi Sidhwa Libri

Verso la fine del diciannovesimo secolo, Faredoon Junglewalla, detto Freddy, intraprende un viaggio. A ventitré anni, pronto all'avventura, non vede futuro nel suo villaggio nelle foreste dell'India Centrale e decide di cercare fortuna nei pascoli del Punjab. Con un carro trainato da buoi, porta con sé una suocera vedova, una moglie incinta e la piccola Hutoxi. Raggiunge Lahore, capitale delle Province Orientali, una città variegata e governata da britannici infastiditi dal caldo e dalla folla. Freddy si affida all'antica virtù del suo popolo, i Parsi, consapevole che senza il loro talento sarebbero solo "briciole di una presa di tabacco". Custodisce i principi fondamentali della sua cultura e li adatta alla sua situazione: diventare "i più grandiosi leccapiedi dell'Impero Britannico". Così, ancora giovane, inizia a ingratiarsi con il Colonnello William e, in breve tempo, gestisce il traffico di merci tra Peshawar e l'Afganistan. Con un linguaggio ricco di citazioni inglesi e un accento particolare, si afferma come un signore in grado di risolvere ogni conflitto pubblico. Questo romanzo, ricco di comicità, racconta l'epopea di un popolo che, grazie ai "dolci imperativi del bisogno", riesce a prosperare in una regione segnata dall'odio e dal conflitto.

"As the British eke out the final days of their rule of India, the threat of Partition gathers and sectarian violence escalates, spreading across the nation and inching ever closer to the affluent fringes of Lahore. Lahore is where eight-year-old Lenny lives. Crippled by polio but inquisitive and spirited, Lenny spends her days in the park with her beautiful Ayah, enjoying the company of the plethora of suitors drawn to her striking nanny. There's the Sikh zoo-keeper, the Masseur, the Pathan, strong Imman Din, and Ice-Candy Man, peddling popsicles along with political unrest through the streets. But Lenny's world is upended as riots break out and the once harmonious people of Lahore turn against one another. Amidst the chaos, her beloved Ayah is abducted. Lenny's innocence, exuberant humour, and heart-wrenching perspicacity leads us through these momentous events, revealing the irrationality of adult behaviour as the fragile unity of a nation teeters on the cusp of historic change." -- Publisher

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.

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.