Bapsi Sidhwa, noted South Asian writer at the book reading for 'Pakistani bride'

Bapsi Sidhwa: Telling South Asian stories

The lovely bride was just 25 years old but in book years, ‘The Pakistani Bride’ had turned a hefty quarter of a century old! This was the very first novel of noted author Bapsi Sidhwa and was being reissued after its first publishing in 1983. To celebrate the event the Indo-American Arts Council threw a bash at the Aicon Gallery on Fifth Avenue which was attended by Bapsi Sidhwa and a gaggle of book lovers lugging other Bapsi novels, ‘The Crow Eaters’, ‘Cracking India’ and ‘American Brat’ for signing. By coincidence, the Aicon Gallery was showing the erotic art of Pakistani artist Muhammad Zeeshan, so the flavor was distinctly Lahorian.

'The Pakistani Bride' book reading

Bapsi Sidhwa’s Pakistani Bride

The reception was a bookie’s delight: Not only was Bapsi Sidhwa there but guests also got to chat with the very elusive novelist Anita Desai who has written the introduction to Sidhwa’s book, and with actress Madhur Jaffrey, author of the memoir ‘Climbing the Mango Trees.’ Jaffrey was accompanied by her husband jazz violinist Sanford Allen. The wine-sipping guests were transported back to the Partition of India and all the drama of those turbulent years as Sidhwa read from her book and later answered questions on everything from the tribal code of honor to British colonial rule to current day Pakistan. With Pakistan very much in the news, the book has suddenly become very relevant, and old was now very new. Bapsi Sidhwa had flown in from her hometown of Houston, Texas and so New Yorkers turned up in droves to catch her and the line for the book signing was long. Almost a bride-seeing event!

© Lavina Melwani

Photos: IAAC/Michael Toolan

Aroon Shivdasani of IAAC with Bapsi Sidhwa