In the oppressive heat of colonial Madras, now known as Chennai, British elites enjoyed their Scotch whisky chilled with ice imported from the lakes of New England. This ice, stored at the historic Ice House in Triplicane, was a symbol of luxury, yet its story is intertwined with a darker narrative of exploitation and suffering.
The Ice House, constructed in 1842 by Frederic Tudor, was pivotal in the trade of naturally formed ice shipped from America to India. The blocks, insulated with materials like sawdust or rice chaff, were stored and cut into smaller pieces for local consumption. However, this trade was sustained by the labor of Scheduled Caste (SC) workers who endured harsh conditions to handle these massive ice blocks.
Tamil writer Jeyamohan explores this overlooked history in his novel Vellai Yaanai, translated into English as White Elephant by Priyamvada Ramkumar. The novel, a blend of fact and fiction, is set against the backdrop of the Great Madras Famine of 1876-78, which severely affected the SC population. Jeyamohan's narrative was inspired by a conversation with the late Anbu Ponnoviyam, a scholar from an SC community, who recounted a protest by Dalit workers at the Ice House during the famine.
The novel's protagonist, Aiden Byrne, an Irish police officer in Madras, becomes aware of the brutal realities faced by the workers. After witnessing the harsh conditions at the Ice House, Byrne inspects the facility and is appalled by the conditions. The workers, handling ice in darkness with minimal protection, suffer from severe physical ailments, described vividly in the novel as “ash-like lesions” and “peeling skin.”
Jeyamohan uses the metaphor of the “White Elephant” to describe the massive ice blocks, which could weigh up to 30 tonnes. The novel portrays the workers' panic as these blocks, unpredictable and dangerous, are unpacked. This story of labor exploitation is set against the broader devastation of the Great Madras Famine, which Byrne witnesses firsthand as he travels through the region.
Historical and Fictional Intersections
In the narrative, Byrne collaborates with Kathavarayan, a young activist from the oppressed community, to organize the workers at the Ice House. Kathavarayan is based on the historical figure Pandit Iyothee Thass, a prominent SC scholar and social reformer. Although Jeyamohan's depiction of Kathavarayan's union activities is fictional, it draws on the real-life Thass's advocacy against caste discrimination.
Iyothee Thass, known for his role as a Siddha practitioner and Buddhist revivalist, was a significant figure in challenging caste hierarchies. He met Theosophist Colonel H. S. Olcott and expressed a desire to embrace Buddhism, eventually founding the Sakya Buddhist Society in Madras in 1898. This movement, which promoted Buddhist teachings, faced opposition for its critique of established religious traditions.
Jeyamohan's novel highlights the historical transformation of Iyothee Thass, who rejected Hinduism in favor of Buddhism after experiencing caste discrimination. In the book, Kathavarayan's renunciation of his Vaishnavite identity mirrors Thass's own journey. This fictional account serves as a reminder of the real struggles faced by those challenging social norms in colonial India.
Despite the fictional elements, Vellai Yaanai seeks to revive the forgotten history of the Ice House and the laborers who toiled there. It also aims to bring attention to figures like Pandit Iyothee Thass, whose contributions to social reform and religious discourse remain largely unrecognized in Chennai's collective memory.
