Cracking India

“My world is compressed.” 

Lenny is a very young child and her disability has constricted her world to a few streets, so her perspective is very small. However, soon, the compression will come from the partitioning of India. By relegating the city and Indian Muslims to Pakistan, the country becomes much smaller. 

“‘The goddamn English!’ I think, infected by Colonel Bharucha’s startling ferocity. […] And notwithstanding the compatible and sanguine nature of my relationship with my disease, I feel it is my first personal involvement with Indian politics: the Quit-India sentiment that has fired the imagination of a subject people and will soon sweep away the Raj.” 

The Quit India movement was a massive series of protests staged by Gandhi in 1942. Their goal was to eject the British Raj from India in response to Britain unilaterally forcing India to enter World War II in 1939. After hearing Colonel Bharucha blame the English for bringing polio to India, Lenny has her first political thought. Although she is happy with her disability, she catches a bit of the enthusiasm for Indian independence and anger at the English. 

“I learn of human needs, frailties, cruelties and joys. I also learn from her the tyranny magnets exercise over metals.” 

Lenny is endlessly curious, learning by watching those around her. Ayah is sexually attractive and surrounded by men who want her. Since the novel is largely about women’s lack of power in India and Pakistan during this period, Lenny learns from Ayah one of the few levers women could press—using sexuality and sexual attractiveness.