ISLAMABAD: Bapsi Sidhwa, one of Pakistan’s most celebrated writers and a pioneering voice in English-language literature, passed away on Wednesday in Houston, Texas, at the age of 86, according to media reports quoting her family.
Born in Karachi in 1938 and raised in Lahore, Sidhwa belonged to Pakistan’s Parsi community and became an influential literary figure with her keen social observations and vivid storytelling.
Her novel “Cracking India,” a poignant account of the 1947 Partition through the eyes of a young girl, was adapted into the internationally acclaimed film “Earth” by Deepa Mehta in 1998.
The deceased writer also left an imprint over readers in other parts of the world with interest in both literature and South Asian politics.
“One of Pakistan’s greatest writers and one of my last connections to my father … has died,” Iona Italia, managing editor of Quillette, an online publication focusing on long-form analysis and cultural commentary, said in a social media post.
“‘Cracking India’ is the best account of Partition ever written,” she added. “RIP Bapsi Sidhwa, Parsi lady of renown.”
Pakistani politician Khurram Dastgir-Khan highlighted her role as a trailblazer in Pakistani literature, saying, “RIP Bapsi Sidhwa. Pakistan-born novelist. Trail-blazer. Author of ‘The Crow Eaters’ & ‘The Ice Candy Man.’ Claimed English as an authentic Pakistani language.”
Razi Ahmed, the CEO and founder of the Lahore Literary Festival, said Sidhwa’s work would continue to inspire writers around the world.
Known for her wit and incisive critique of social norms, Sidhwa’s works remain an essential part of South Asian literature curricula worldwide.
Her other notable novels include “The Bride” and “An American Brat,” which explore issues of tradition, modernity and the diaspora experience. Sidhwa moved to the United States in the 1980s but continued to write passionately about Pakistan.
Madiha Afzal, a think tank scholar at Washington’s Brookings Institution, shared the news of Sidhwa’s death with a brief excerpt from her writings on Lahore, reminiscing about the gardens and fragrances of the city.
Zebunnisa Burki, a Pakistani journalist, summed up her influence, saying: “Bapsi Sidhwa: the OG desi writer. May she rest in words.”
The deceased writer’s funeral arrangements are planned in Houston.
