Renowned Pakistani novelist Bapsi Sidhwa, acclaimed for her searing portrayal of the Partition of India in her masterpiece "Ice Candy Man," has died in the US city of Houston at the age of 86.
She passed away on December 25, her daughter Mohur Sidhwa told AFP.
Born on August 11, 1938, in Karachi to a Parsi family, Sidhwa spent her formative years in Lahore, which was the backdrop for much of her writing.&nbsp;
She was the first Pakistani writer to gain global recognition for her works, which were written in English and paved the way for a wave of celebrated authors in that language in recent years, including the likes of Kamila Shamsie and Mohammed Hanif.
Her most famous book, 1988's "Ice Candy Man" -- later published as "Cracking India" -- tells the story of a young Parsi girl, afflicted by polio as Sidhwa herself was, as she witnesses the brutal communal strife that accompanied the Partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947.
The novel draws on Sidhwa's personal experiences. In interviews, she recounted harrowing memories, including seeing the body of a young man spill out of a gunny sack kicked over by her gardener as he escorted her to a private tutor.
"Ice Candy Man," was later adapted into the critically acclaimed 1998 film "Earth," directed by Indian-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta and starring Bollywood icons Aamir Khan and Nandita Das.&nbsp;
It was also included on the BBC's list of 100 most inspiring novels in 2019. Her other works include 1978's "The Crow Eaters," a witty satire poking fun at the foibles of a Parsi family in colonial India, and 1993's "An American Brat," a coming-to-America story following the journey of a Parsi girl fleeing Islamization in dictator Zia-ul-Haq's Pakistan.&nbsp;
Parsis -- followers of Zoroastrianism, one of the world's oldest religions -- fled Persia over a millennium ago, seeking refuge in the Indian subcontinent.&nbsp;
Recent emigration, driven by instability in Pakistan, means there is only a tiny community left in the country.
Sidhwa herself later emigrated to the United States, teaching at institutions including Columbia University, Mount Holyoke College and the University of Houston.
Her accolades included the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, a high-ranking Pakistani civilian award, and Italy's prestigious Mondello Prize for foreign authors, in 2007.&nbsp; 
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Renowned Pakistani novelist Bapsi Sidhwa, acclaimed for her searing portrayal of the Partition of India in her masterpiece "Ice Candy Man," has died at the age of 86.

Renowned Pakistani novelist Bapsi Sidhwa, acclaimed for her searing portrayal of the Partition of India in her masterpiece "Ice Candy Man," has died in the US city of Houston at the age of 86. She passed away on December 25, her daughter Mohur Sidhwa told AFP. Born on August 11, 1938, in Karachi to a Parsi family, Sidhwa spent her formative years in Lahore, which was the backdrop for much of her writing. She was the first Pakistani writer to gain global recognition for her works, which were written in English and paved the way for a wave of celebrated authors in that language in recent years, including the likes of Kamila Shamsie and Mohammed Hanif. Her most famous book, 1988's "Ice Candy Man" -- later published as "Cracking India" -- tells the story of a young Parsi girl, afflicted by polio as Sidhwa herself was, as she witnesses the brutal communal strife that accompanied the Partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. The novel draws on Sidhwa's personal experiences. In interviews, she recounted harrowing memories, including seeing the body of a young man spill out of a gunny sack kicked over by her gardener as he escorted her to a private tutor. "Ice Candy Man," was later adapted into the critically acclaimed 1998 film "Earth," directed by Indian-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta and starring Bollywood icons Aamir Khan and Nandita Das. It was also included on the BBC's list of 100 most inspiring novels in 2019. Her other works include 1978's "The Crow Eaters," a witty satire poking fun at the foibles of a Parsi family in colonial India, and 1993's "An American Brat," a coming-to-America story following the journey of a Parsi girl fleeing Islamization in dictator Zia-ul-Haq's Pakistan. Parsis -- followers of Zoroastrianism, one of the world's oldest religions -- fled Persia over a millennium ago, seeking refuge in the Indian subcontinent. Recent emigration, driven by instability in Pakistan, means there is only a tiny community left in the country. Sidhwa herself later emigrated to the United States, teaching at institutions including Columbia University, Mount Holyoke College and the University of Houston. Her accolades included the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, a high-ranking Pakistani civilian award, and Italy's prestigious Mondello Prize for foreign authors, in 2007. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Pioneering Pakistani novelist Bapsi Sidhwa dead at 86

Does India deserve a global star like Priyanka Chopra?&nbsp;

Former Miss World who has made a name for herself internationally is now being criticised in her home country for her choice of clothes, displayed on the newly launched Assam Tourism calendar 2018.&nbsp;

Congress leaders in Assam want Priyanka to be removed as the brand ambassador of the state as she chose to wear a western dress instead of a state dress. The political leaders feel that her photos on the Tourism calendar for Assam this year shows her&nbsp;&quot;inappropriately dressed&quot;.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/priyankachopra?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@priyankachopra</a> in Awesome Assam&#39;s new calendar 2018. <a href="https://t.co/NHUJfTOrE1">pic.twitter.com/NHUJfTOrE1</a>
&mdash; PRIYANKA GLOBAL (@priyanka_global) <a href="https://twitter.com/priyanka_global/status/965842630507556864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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According to a report published in a&nbsp;newspaper, they felt that her &quot;minimal clothes&quot;&nbsp;will not depict the state&#39;s culture in the right sense and will bring a bad name to Assam. They voiced their concerns over the choice of clothes and said that&nbsp;she should have worn the traditional mekhela sador for the calendar instead of a &quot;frock&quot;.

Failing to do so has resulted in demands of her removal as the brand ambassador of the state.

According to the report, Congress members Rupjyoti Kurmi, Roseline Tirkey and Nandita Das are at the forefront of this demand.

Meanwhile, Jayanta Malla Baruah, Chairman of Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) told a Guwahati-based newspaper&nbsp;that the &quot;calendar was made to promote Assam internationally and that it has also been sent to prominent international tour operators and dignitaries&quot;. &quot;Priyanka Chopra is an international figure and her presentation in the calendar has not diminished Assam&rsquo;s culture in any way,&quot; he added.

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Priyanka has courted controversy on several issues ranging from wearing a dress while meeting Indian PM Modi, wearing a tricoloured dupatta on Independence Day to many others

Does India deserve a global star like Priyanka Chopra? Former Miss World who has made a name for herself internationally is now being criticised in her home country for her choice of clothes, displayed on the newly launched Assam Tourism calendar 2018. Congress leaders in Assam want Priyanka to be removed as the brand ambassador of the state as she chose to wear a western dress instead of a state dress. The political leaders feel that her photos on the Tourism calendar for Assam this year shows her "inappropriately dressed". @priyankachopra in Awesome Assam's new calendar 2018. pic.twitter.com/NHUJfTOrE1 — PRIYANKA GLOBAL (@priyanka_global) February 20, 2018 × According to a report published in a newspaper, they felt that her "minimal clothes" will not depict the state's culture in the right sense and will bring a bad name to Assam. They voiced their concerns over the choice of clothes and said that she should have worn the traditional mekhela sador for the calendar instead of a "frock". Failing to do so has resulted in demands of her removal as the brand ambassador of the state. According to the report, Congress members Rupjyoti Kurmi, Roseline Tirkey and Nandita Das are at the forefront of this demand. Meanwhile, Jayanta Malla Baruah, Chairman of Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) told a Guwahati-based newspaper that the "calendar was made to promote Assam internationally and that it has also been sent to prominent international tour operators and dignitaries". "Priyanka Chopra is an international figure and her presentation in the calendar has not diminished Assam’s culture in any way," he added.

Priyanka Chopra appears on Assam Tourism calendar in dress, Congress leaders furious

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Pioneering Pakistani novelist Bapsi Sidhwa dead at 86

Priyanka Chopra appears on Assam Tourism calendar in dress, Congress leaders furious