Blood-tainted ice cubes and a famine in Madras
The article explores the colonial history of the 'Ice House' in Madras, highlighting the exploitation of Dalit laborers who handled imported American ice during the Great Madras Famine. It discusses Jeyamohan's novel 'White Elephant,' which seeks to recover this forgotten history of labor unrest and suffering.
Why it matters
It sheds light on the intersection of colonial luxury and systemic labor exploitation, challenging the historical amnesia surrounding marginalized communities in India.
In the sweltering heat of colonial Madras, British rulers and the city’s elite raised glasses of Scotch whisky, chilled by ice cubes floating in their drinks.
The huge blocks of ice were naturally formed in the lakes of New England in the U.S. and imported to India. In Madras (now Chennai), the ice bars were brought to the Ice House in Triplicane, where they were stored and cut into smaller pieces for evening drinks.
The Ice House, even today, remains a popular reminder of a place where the British sold ice. Behind that luxury, however, lay a darker history of labour, exploitation, and suffering.
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