Ice Candy Man

 

Ice Candy Man

By

HABIB HUSSAIN GHOURY

Summary:

Ice Candy Man is a novel by Bapsi Sidhwa that is set in Lahore, Pakistan during the 1940s. The novel tells the story of a young Parsi girl named Lenny and her family, who live in a predominantly Muslim neighborhood. The novel explores themes of identity, race, class, and the effects of political upheaval on everyday people. The main focus is on the character of the Ice Candy Man, a Hindu man who becomes romantically involved with Lenny's mother. The novel is a powerful exploration of the social and political changes that occurred in Pakistan during the 1940s.

ICE CANDYMAN:

Ice Candy Man is a novel by Bapsi Sidhwa that explores the complexities of identity, race, class, and political upheaval in Lahore, Pakistan during the 1940s. The novel tells the story of a young Paris girl named Lenny and her family, who live in a predominantly Muslim neighborhood.

The novel's main focus is on the character of the Ice Candy Man, a Hindu man who becomes romantically involved with Lenny's mother. This relationship serves as a catalyst for the novel's exploration of the social and political changes that occurred in Pakistan during the 1940s. The novel takes a deep dive into the complexities of the various communities that existed in Lahore at the time, and how they interacted with one another.

One of the novel's most striking features is its portrayal of the Paris community, which is a minority within a minority in Pakistan. The Paris community is often depicted as being torn between their desire to assimilate into Pakistani society and their desire to maintain their distinct cultural identity. The novel also explores the ways in which the Parsi community is affected by the wider political changes happening in Pakistan.

The novel also delves into the complexities of the Hindu-Muslim relationship in Pakistan. The Ice Candy Man, a Hindu, falls in love with Lenny's mother, a Muslim. This relationship serves as a microcosm of the larger political and social issues that were happening in Pakistan at the time. The novel illustrates the ways in which politics and religion can divide communities and cause tension between individuals. Another major theme in the novel is the impact of political upheaval on everyday people. The novel takes place during a time of great political change in Pakistan, including the partition of India and Pakistan, and the subsequent violence and displacement of millions of people. The novel illustrates the ways in which political events can have a profound impact on individuals and communities, and how people are often caught up in larger historical forces beyond their control. In conclusion, Ice Candy Man is a powerful novel that explores the complexities of identity, race, class, and political upheaval in Lahore, Pakistan during the 1940s. 

The novel takes a deep dive into the complexities of the various communities that existed in Lahore at the time, and how they interacted with one another. The novel's portrayal of the Parsi community and the Hindu-Muslim relationship in Pakistan is particularly striking. The novel also illustrates the ways in which political events can have a profound impact on individuals and communities. Overall, Ice Candy Man is a thought-provoking and insightful novel that offers a unique perspective on the history of Pakistan.