Group Assignment: Research Article

Members: Muhammad Zameer Jafar (47356),

Abid Ali Waqas (46548),

Umair Ahmed (47199),

Muhammad Naseem XXXarkoon (46922)

Dept. BSELL, Sem. 7th

Submitted to: Mr. Abdul Waseh

Ingredients of Feminism in the Novel: Ice-Candy Man

Abstract:

Feminist literature highlights the male biases and violence against women and presents a picture,

where women are shown as having all qualities in competing with men and are highly intelligent

beings that can uplift any society and are emancipated from the shackles of man, who believes in

suppressing the other genders. This paper analyses the feminist idealization in Bapsi Sidhwa's

novel Ice-Candy man. Sidhwa has equally sketched the different approaches of women in the

patriarchal society. On one hand, readers encountered the typical south Asian patriarchal society

where women are being subjugated and consider useful for only domestic chores. On the other

hand, Sidhwa has introduced other female characters who are part of the same society but they

decided to stand against the marginalization of women and through their fearless actions proved

that "one is not born but rather becomes a woman". Thus, the dual representation of the female

characters in the light of Feminist theory is the aim of the present study.

Keywords: Feminism, Patriarchal, Emancipated, Marginalization, Victimization

Introduction:
 Feminism is a socio-cultural and literary movement that works for the social, cultural, and

physical rights of women. It came up into being as a resistance movement against the patriarchal

mindset that does not give even basic rights to other genders, specifically womenfolk, and

oppresses this gender in every manner possible. As Birx (2006) puts it, "feminism refers to the

commitment to actively engage in political and social change that promotes equality in all aspects

of life for those who are historically subordinated and oppressed by gender, race, ethnicity,

sexuality, religion, disability, or other differences" (p. 2330). Feminism is a framework that strives

to raise the flag of equality between genders socially, economically, and politically (Wilson, 1996,

p.192). Similarly, Jackson et al., (1996) say that scholarly feminism is defined as a movement that

raises the issues regarding the significance of women, their rights, “political inclusion and freedom

of choice.” The world has seen three waves of feminism up till now, with each wave further

intensifying the voice for freedom and rights of women, and escalating the protest against males.

Feminist literature questions the predominant male-centric ideologies and definitions given

to other genders by patriarchs (Dar, 2013). This criticism, like other protesting criticisms,

manifests to objectify the oppressive viewpoints against female folk and give a new enlightened

perspective about women, in which womenfolk work as protagonists and powerful and intellectual

force. Feminist literature sensitizes its audience to the submissive and oppressive forces against

other genders than males. This Literature is filled with the idea of womanhood and feminine power,

and most times “penetrate and undermine the masculine system which contain them”, varying from

“the matriarchal households of Louisa May Alcott and Mrs Gaskell to the women’s schools and

colleges of Dorothy Sayers, Sylvia Plath and Muriel Spark.” (Eagelton, 2010). In south Asia,

feminist criticism came up as an addition to the post-colonial literature and produced intellectuals

like Anita Desai, Bapsi Sidhwa, Amrita Pritam, Ismat Chughtai, Kamila Shamsie and many more.
“South Asian societies have often had a history of silencing women in public spaces – literature

does the exact opposite by becoming a mouthpiece for feminist activists in the region” (Irfan,

2021). South Asian literature, thus gives the themes of distinct, strong woman identity and removal

of unjust patriarchal pressure from women. Bapsi Sidhwa as a prominent South Asian writer, has

used the Indo-Pak partition settings to enlighten her audience about the feminist perspective of

great upheavals like this in the Ice-Candy Man.

Bapsi Sidhwa as a prominent South Asian writer, has used the Indo-Pak partition settings

to enlighten her audience about the feminist perspective of great upheavals like this in the Ice-

Candy Man. She has highlighted the innumerable issues faced by women of South Asia, where

women are thought to be insignificant gender and societies don't even raise their voice to protect

women's rights. Women in patriarchal societies, whether in peace or war situations don't have any

rights, they are thought to be some inhumane creatures born to satisfy masculine powers. Along

with highlighting these issues, Sidhwa has also produced several pure feminist female characters

who are hellbent to surrender against patriarchy and having their own distinct identities, striving

to make everyone realize the importance and power of women. That is the reason this novel is one

the of most well-known pieces of literature in South Asian feminist criticism and this study will

try to analyze these feminist aspects of the Ice-Candy Man.

Literature Review:

Bapsi Sidhwa has true contributions to South Asian Feminist literature (Ilame, 2020). Bapsi

Sidhwa, as a member of the Parsi minority of Pakistan, has written about the great pangs faced by

women in South Asian societies (Kaur & Singh, 2013). She is, in fact, a "potent voice" among

feminists of South Asia specifically and globally generally (Dar, 2013). In her novels, The

Pakistani Bride, Water, The Crow Eaters, Ice-Candy Man (former Cracking India), and The
American Brat; Bapsi Sidhwa has questioned the social and cultural injustice towards women

(Kaur & Singh, 2013). In her literary works, she has drawn an opposite picture of women

conventionally seen by conservative or traditional societies. A woman with intellectual powers

and all potentials is depicted in her works, how women sustain all oppressions and suppressions

by societies and still come up with having power, will, and mirth to defeat all stereotypes and to

be able members of society, who can run every aspect of professional life very smoothly (Mahajan,

2016). Bapsi Sidhwa is, therefore a true representative of women against the patriarchal viewpoint

(Dar, 2013).

Ice-Candy Man is such a genuine embodiment of feminist literature, in which Sidhwa has

used the Indo-Pak partition of 1947 as a tool to oppress and crush the women specifically, and

children and minorities generally (Kaur & Singh, 2013). This novel has women characters in it,

who do not "surrender" to patriarchy, they insert endeavors to establish their own distinct identity

and are hellbent to recognize male monopoly (Mahajan, 2016). Rind et al., (2017) have analyzed

Sidhwa’s work in the light of Simon de Beauvoir’s (1988) feminist framework on four grounds.

Firstly, they observed that in the male-dominated society presented in the novel women are not

considered as living beings but are objectified. Mrs. Sethi, for instance, acted throughout the novel

to fulfill the needs of her husband and in return, Mr. Sethi does not only dislike to address her wife

but also beat her. In addition, double standards of the patriarchal societies are also observed in the

setting of the novel. It was decided that Lenny, as a girl, can do without attending school as

schooling has nothing to do with marriage and raising children but her brother Adi must attend it

to fulfill the standards of androcentric thoughts. Furthermore, the research mentioned that the

silence on the part of victimized women brings more disasters. Sidhwa has criticized the women

who do not speak for their rights and consider men’s atrocities as part of their kismet. Hamida, for
instance, puts herself and other victims of partition in the category of women who are ‘poor fate

smitten’ and prefers to endure it. Lastly, Rind et., al (2017) argued that women’s realization of

victimization could change their own and other’s perspective of generalized inferiority about their

gender. Sidhwa has urged the women to realize their value by introducing audacious characters

like Godmother who acted as a savior for everyone and Lenny’s mother who fearlessly rescued

fallen women in the chaotic milieu of post-partition Lahore. In the same vein, Kleist (2011) argues

that Sidhwa’s women are not merely a representation of submissiveness but portray the women of

power as well. The subtilities which just 8 years old Lenny has observed and realized that women

are not being served equally in the male-dominated society, make the story remarkable and a

milestone in the history of Pakistani fiction. Moreover, Ayah, who became the victim of the mob,

was the same one who enjoyed the influence over the men for her attractive looks for a long time.

However, Ahmed (2009), while dealing with the text through the lens of the postcolonial feminist

perspective, argues that Ayah has always been a victim of men’s lechery. Before the partition, she

was harassed by her admirers, and, later on, she was again compelled to become a dancer and

hussy at Hera-Mandi. Ahmed (2009) further states that it was not just about a woman, but Sidhwa

has symbolically used the character of Ayah to show that women of both sides (India and Pakistan)

have faced suppression because of the catastrophic aftermaths of the partition. Parmar (2015)

analyzed the novel and concluded that Sidhwa has shackled the long-accepted beliefs of patriarchal

societies where men are considered as superior and women are always associated with qualities

such as submissive, meek, weak, fragile, etc. Her protagonist Lenny, despite the fact she was

handicapped and weak, proved through her exquisite narrative style that women can be talented

even with illness. Thus, the women who used to be considered best for domestic chores and raising
children, have now come out of boundaries, and are telling barbarities they had faced at the hands

of men during the time of partition.

Research Methodology:

To explore the feminist ingredients used in the novel "Ice-Candy Man", this study has used

the qualitative research approach as this research method endeavors to identify the essential

attribute of materials.

Analysis:

Set during the period of Indo-Pak partition which came up with great unrest, chaos, turmoil,

and bloodbath, Ice-Candy Man is written with a unique pungent style wholly able to evoke readers'

emotions. Bapsi Sidhwa as her typical style has written this novel with the perspective of a limp

Parsi child Lenny who lives with her family in the vicinities of Lahore. She is handicapped though,

but she has a great view of her surroundings, especially on the indictments faced by women. A

Hindu maid (Ayah) is responsible for Lenny and her younger brother's care, and Lenny is greatly

attached to her. They usually go for walks and to a nearby park for leisure time and all men from

various occupations, religions, economic and social classes gaze at Ayah with lecherous eyes as

drooling dogs looks at a fresh piece of meat and Lenny notices all these things, "The covetous

glances Ayah draws educate me. Up and down, they look at her. Stub-handed twisted beggars and

dusty old beggars on crutches drop their poses and stare at her with hard, alert eyes. Holy men,

masked in piety, shove aside their pretences to ogle her with lust. Hawkers, cart-drivers, cooks,

coolies and cyclists turn their heads as she passes, pushing my pram with the unconcern of the

Hindu goddess she worships" (Sidhwa, 1988, p.13). This shows the position of women in the eyes

of men, who see women as mere objects born to fulfill their lust.
 Sidhwa has chosen a limp kid as the protagonist of the novel and this doesn't just have the

literal meaning but symbolic significance too, as women of patriarchal societies have no important

role in the social fabric and patriarchs think of women as childish creatures. On the contrary to this

thought, Sidhwa has depicted Lenny as having all abilities to understand her surroundings,

hypocrisy of men, and be able to mark a distinct identity and symbol of feminist thought. With

presenting patriarchal ills against women, Sidhwa has also developed several female characters

who work as the opposing forces to these biases against women. Ranging from Lenny as a central

character to her Godmother who has a strong personality and gives Lenny energy and view to be

able to stand against any threat to her being, this novel is just a true depiction of feminist will and

ability to challenge the male monopoly. Lenny even at a minor age also faces negative and typical

parochial stances on one occasion Col. Bharucha (even being a so-called educated and enlightened

man) says to Lenny's father that there is no need for her schooling, she would not become an

educated professional but would marry and have children, this is the very instance of patriarchal

mindset who does not want to give any significant role to women in the society (Sidhwa, 1988, p.

23). Patriarchy is being fused in the society, even male kids see other genders as mere toys and an

example of this in the novel Ice-Candy Man is Lenny's cousin who just wants to use Lenny as a

toy to satisfy his masculine parochial demands but Lenny, on the other hand, does not give him a

true space to achieve his goals even after a ton of endeavors and she develops a despise against

him. This is a very clear example of how strong is Lenny mentally, even in the whole narration

this cousin remains without a name, showing zero space for a patriarchal mindset in the feminist

world. Lenny observes her social surroundings with the understanding of an emancipated liberal

woman and there are several instances of it in the novel as when she sees a woman covered in a

burka with her ill child, scolded by her husband without any concrete reason in the hospital
(Sidhwa, 1988, p. 20), or when she sees the forceful marriage of Papoo with a middle-aged man

Papoo despises and who has no match to Papoo, Lenny becomes more saddened (Sidhwa, 1988,

pp. 161-163). In the sketch of Lenny's character, Bapsi Sidhwa has achieved an opposite picture

of the female gender having sharp observation of surroundings and courage to stand against

masculine hypocrisy, who is thought to be insignificant and “limp” in patriarchal societies.

Lenny defines her mother as a beautiful, intelligent, and maternal woman. She is well-

educated and keeps a circle of foreign friends. But the initial chapters of the novel show her as a

subservient and obedient wife whose sole purpose is to please her cold fish husband who does not

even hesitate to beat her, in return. However, readers find huge development in her character as

the story drags on. When Lahore was burning it was Mrs. Sethi who raises money by selling petrol

in the black market in order to rescue the victimized women of the partition who were, otherwise,

doomed to become a prostitute or pushed into forced marriages. She helped them to reunite with

their families or provide work and shelter who lost their relatives in the chaos of the partition.

From a passive serving wife to an enthusiastic social activist, Mrs. Sethi represents one of those

women in the novel through which Sidhwa recalls women to realize their value that they can do

more than just domestic chores.

Conclusion:

From highlighting the great pangs of women in patriarchal societies of South Asia, to

giving a picture of powerful feminist women, the Ice-Candy Man is a milestone in feminist writing

of South Asia. Patriarchal societies do not have any position of importance for women in any

circumstances. In peace, these societies treat the woman, as she is a childish creature, born to

satisfy masculine parochial mindset, and in situations of turmoil and chaos, men rape and massacre

women and minors to satisfy their rage. Bapsi Sidhwa has made several women characters who
challenge this hegemony and mark their identity as distinct, who help people in need, who don't

give men a single space to exploit them, who have distinct thoughts, who can observe things with

precision, who debunk the hypocrisies of men. This novel is, therefore a true feminist piece of

literature, written in a pungent style to evoke its readers' feelings and to sensitize society from

patriarchal hypocrisies against women.

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