Marriage. Death. Attempted murder. Arson. Insurance fraud. Religion. Family strife. These are just a few of the elements that comprise the rollicking multigenerational family saga of Bapsi Sidhwa’s 1978 Pakistani novel “The Crow Eaters.” The story—equal parts moving, entertaining, bawdy, and insightful—revolves around the patriarch of the Junglewalla clan, Faredoon (Freddy) Junglewalla, as his family and fortune grows in Lahore, India (now Pakistan). The novel opens “towards the end of the nineteenth century” as Freddy, his pregnant wife (Putli), his infant daughter (Hutoxi), and his mother-in-law (Jerbanoo) pack up all of their belongings into an ox-cart and leave Freddy’s ancestral home for Lahore. Like the author, the Junglewallas are Zoroastrians, part of the Parsi community in India. There is a small community of Parsis in Lahore (four other families), and they readily adopt the Junglewallas into their ranks. One of the many charms of “The Crow Eaters” is the way it explores the Parsi experience—an experience often overlooked in the West. As religious minorities in a country dominated by religiosity, they must simultaneously find ways to fit in to the culture at large and ways to retain their unique heritage. In an interview with “Monsoon Magazine,” Sidhwa had this to say about growing up as a Parsi in Pakistan: “Lahore was a city of five million when I was growing up and there were only 200 Parsis. Naturally, one adopts the mores of the dominant society. This is particularly true of Parsis; we are a people who have no land, so we have to adapt to whichever culture we find ourselves in.” The author’s experiences with cultural adaptation shone through in the novel. As a Parsi businessman (he opened a successful shop shortly after arriving in Lahore), Freddy fluidly moves between dealings with Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, and colonial Brits. For all of his modernity, however, Freddy is not without his own prejudices. When his sensitive young son wants to marry his non-Parsi classmate to rescue her from an unpleasant family life, Freddy angrily rejects the notion, explaining that the “spark” of pure Parsi lineage would be “scrambled” and “revert to the primitive.” He goes on to note his belief that the children of such a union “might look beautiful but they will be shells—empty and confused; misfits for generations to come. They will have arrogance without pride—touchiness without self-respect or compassion; ambition without honor…and you will be to blame.” Bapsi Sidhwa deftly maneuvers this tightrope walk between cultural inclusion and cultural separatism throughout the novel.Like most family sagas, many of the tragedies, joys, annoyances, and emotions woven throughout “The Crow Eaters” feel both familiar and comfortable. The book demonstrates that families all over the world share the same basic experiences, for better or worse. The differences, of course, lie in the specifics—the details the make up our lives. The challenges that the Junglewallas face are unique to their time and place in history. The intricacies of arranged marriages, the towers of silence associated with death rituals, the slap-in-the-face realization that colonial London is not the glorious land of kings and queens one imagined—these are the experiences that are likely to be unfamiliar (but interesting) to modern Western readers. On the other hand, the unexpected death of a child, tension with one’s mother-in-law, losing sleep over finances—these will resonate with any reader. As a novel, this lively book, full of earthy humor, is a consistent joy to read. As a reminder of how much families across the world are both alike and different, it is hard to do any better.
All claims justified. Yes, I found it humorous. Yes, I found it rich. Yes, I found it informative. So, all in all, the things people said about Sidhwa's masterpiece are true. But unfortunately, after reading the book, I found out that the fame of the novel is just because of its individual or specific characteristics. And the novel has not got that "WOW" factor in it.The central character of the novel is Fareedon Junglewalla, a stout Parsi and a genius of his time. This novel portrays his life and his achievements (which can even make a murdering scoundrel blush!). But its the persuasive style of Sidhwa that makes him the hero of the story. Fareedon abandons his jungle sanctuary in search of fortune and ends up in Lahore with his wife, daughter and cunning mother-in-law. Instantly, Lahore adopts Faredoon and Fareedon accepts Lahore. He starts his business which flourishes and dooms on the basis of his moods. He wages a continuous battle against his mother-in-law,Jerbanoo. Years pass and because of his subtle ingenuity he becomes an instant celebrity. He rears seven children and finally retires from his extra-ordinary life. He is an animal of want and need.Coming to the good points. Firstly,I would say that Bapsi Sidhwa has got a very good sense of humor. The book starts with a joke and ends with a joke. It keeps the readers entertained. It is certainly one of the good things about the novel that Sidhwa turns nearly every serious issue into nasty jokes that are sure to forge a smile on the reader's face. She makes roosters ride on Fareedon's hips while he is having sex with his wife in a bullock cart. She makes Fareedon's 80 years old mother-in-law bathe with a bucket and chamber pot in the balcony of a British Hotel room. She portrays Fareedon's son consummating his wife lying in mud in a freezing thunderstorm on Jacco Hill, Shimla, in front of thousands of monkeys. And this is not the end!Secondly, the most important and undeniable feature of the book is that it depicts the interesting culture and traditions of the Parsi community in a very efficient style. Sidhwa pens down the beliefs, norms, thoughts and customs of the the fire-worshipers in a comic way. It certainly enables the reader to peep into the world of the crow-eaters.This novel delineates the fact that Sidhwa has got a strong command over language and mechanics of fiction. And like all her novels, she is sure to mention the Partition of the sub-continent in the story. Sometimes, I feel like it was the partition that inspired the writer in Sidhwa.However, this novel fails to be one of my favorites as its story has got no twists and turns, no suspense, no excitement. The story starts, goes on and ends. I am deeply unsatisfied with the plot. And this extends to another objection of mine. This thing particularly annoyed me that Sidhwa develops sensual characters in the story and after using them disposes them off. Yazdi, son of Fareedon, was the character that drew my attention and sympathy and I was craving to know about his end, yet Sidhwa chooses to simply skip this character.One thing worth-noticing was that Sidhwa has paid quite a lot of heed when it comes to describing the characters and places in this novel which is something new and improved when compared to her novel The Pakistani Bride.Despite my objections, the novel is worth-reading. One learns a lot though this book. So I would say it's a must read for everyone. Don't miss it.
What do You think about The Crow Eaters (2006)?
A young Parsi merchant called Faredoon 'Freddy' Junglewalla from Central India drags his wife, child and indomitable mother-in-law over a thousand miles in a rickety cart to start a new life in Lahore. The Junglewalla's swell the size of the small community from four families to five, but despite being taunted as "crow eaters" by the local Sikh children -due to the volume of their conversation- they find a tolerant home and a good place to conduct business.Unfortunately for Freddy, he can't always find the same comfort inside his own home. His mother-in-law, Jerbanoo, becomes the bane of his life, even as his wealth and influence grow in the community and beyond. Swindled by a traveling insurance salesman, Freddy considers both his 'wants' and his 'needs' to contrive a drastic, decidedly non-Indian solution to his problems. The 'Crow Eaters' is that hardest of narratives to pull off by any novelist, let alone a first-timer as Sidhwa was at the time- a breezy, light-hearted picaresque on the surface, but tough as old boats underneath, with a vein of tough blood pumping noiselessly throughout. There is an air of family legend passed down and embroidered somewhat over the years, myths within which Sidhwa can see pulsing the very pragmatism of life, a force far stronger than honesty and sentimentality.The Parsi Indians of 1900 were a 'fatalistic people...unconditionally resigned to the ups and downs of life', so Freddy's insurance fraud is a culturally unthinkable act; a Western act, if you will. The Jungewallas revere the English, from copying their mannerisms to the seal of authority invested in their appropriated proverbs. 'Had someone suggested to them that Englishmen, too, defecate, they might have said, "Of course ... they have to, I suppose"'. Still, magic and superstition has as much influence for the characters, influencing them from the cradle, after all they are descended from the Magi; yet all the multi-varied gods of the more dominant Indian religions are also given a token of reverence. The business of making money and favourable marriages is Freddy's true religion though, his ruthlessness in these tasks rival those of any patriarch I have encountered in Indian literature, which is saying something.Both Freddy Jungewalla and his nemesis Jerbanoo are hardly likable characters, nor does anything nothing astounding happen in the story, yet Sidhwa kept me enthralled from start to finish. Her skill in presenting her characters without blame or praise is some of the reason for that, as was her way with a yarn, which she spins with a charm and humour that was a constant delight, despite the darker implications.
—Perry Whitford
A fantastic read! I chanced upon this book randomly at a bookstore and now am wondering why I never picked up something by this author before. That may be because I usually do not like Indian fiction, but this book was nothing like the usual.The book chronicles the way of life for a smaller and lesser known community - the Parsis, the Crow Eaters, the Fire Worshippers. Freddy's story is a hilarious one starting from his move to Lahore to make a life for himself and his numerous vain attempts to get rid of his mother-in-law to his sorrows on losing two sons and finally dying, only to be survived by his nemesis - Jarbanoo.
—Prerna
This is a much more light-hearted read than the „Ice-Candy Man (Cracking India)“. Although not totally devoid of tragedy it is mostly funny and entertaining while providing some insight into Indian society and especially into the Parsee community.It tells the story of the ups and downs of the Junglewallas, a Parsee family who move from Central India to Lahore to seek and find their fortunes.Pride of place is given to the histrionic, maddening, indestructible Jerbanoo, mother-in-law and bane of patriarch Faredoon’s existence.For me, the story loses some of its charm when the next generation, Faredoon’s stingy son Billy, takes over the book. He’s a fairly unsympathetic and uninteresting character and although we return to Faredoon on his death-bed the winding-down oft he story is slightly unsatisfactory.
—Christiane
