Though this is a momentous event, Lenny is mostly concerned with the lackluster celebration of her birthday. Just like that.” Yet what the reader sees here is the Partition of India from a child’s perspective. The Commission gives cities to either India and Pakistan and with the announcement of the boundary line, the split is complete. She describes the committee ironically as “British gods,” showing how a few men in a hotel conference room were able to arbitrarily decide the fates of millions of people. The event Lenny has feared for much of the book has come true: India has been split. It was chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe and made up of two Muslim and two non-Muslim members.

Known officially as the Boundary Commission, it was formed in 1947 to decide how the two newly independent countries should be split. The action in this chapter takes place just as the Radcliffe Commission announces the boundary line between India and Pakistan. He tells the people “You are free… You may belong to any religion or caste or creed, that has nothing to do with the business of State.” He ends with “Pakistan Zindabad,” or “Victory to Pakistan!” As they eat cake, they hear Jinnah’s voice on the radio inaugurating Pakistan’s Constituent Assembly. Electricaunt brings out some party hats and streamers used for Cousin’s birthday previously and Lenny is unimpressed. Ayah saves her from Cousin’s lips by scolding him. It seems he does not yet know how to kiss and Lenny decides the whole thing is overrated. He greets her with a kiss on the mouth but it goes on too long. The only person who really makes a fuss over Lenny’s birthday is Cousin. The typically absentminded Oldhusband gifts Lenny a book and reads her a short dedication about how great and influential people leave behind “footsteps on the sands of time.” Lenny spends time thinking about this phrase. Godmother is distracted and is even nicer to Slavesister than normal. Even the dessert they were supposedly making for Lenny’s birthday is really for this guest. They are having their sister Piloo’s husband, Dr. Godmother only gives her a quick hug and kiss before continuing to fight with Slavesister. Her mom fusses over her for a few minutes and moves on. India has been divided after all,” she says.ĭespite this momentous event, Lenny is most concerned with the fact that it is her birthday but no one is paying attention to her. Lenny, her family, and her city are now Pakistani. She describes them as “playing British gods under the ceiling fans of the Faletti’s Hotel” because there were “deal out Indian cities like a pack of cards.” With a stroke of a pen, the committee gave Lahore to Pakistan, while other nearby cities are given to India. At the beginning of the chapter, Lenny mentions the Radcliffe Commission, a group given the task of drawing the boundary between India and Pakistan.

Cracking india by bapsi sidhwa summary