Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Bapsi Sidhwa
Bapsi Sidhwa
Plot Summary
Ice Candy Man is a heartbreaking story about the Partition of India and the 1947 upheaval that left
countless people homeless, hurt and/or dead. This period of time has been documented from
various viewpoints, but Sidhwa’s novel approaches the subject from the point-of-view of a little
girl who lived through the troubles. Once precocious and seemingly innocent to the world, the
main character, Lenny, finds herself altered forever from the reality unfolding around her, as India
and Pakistan both form from the rubble of the Partition. The book has been so successful that it
was also made into a film, titled 1947.
The main protagonist of Ice Candy Man is a Parsee girl named Lenny Sethi. Her narrative begins
when she is only four years old, and ends four years later. Lenny details how the people around
her react to the Partition by commenting on the various people in her life, including her Hindu
Ayah, the Sikh zoo attendant, the Muslim cook and the ice candy man of the title’s namesake.
Through her use of these colorful individuals, Sidhwa gives a breathtaking view of power, terror
and heartbreak through the eyes of a young, naïve girl.
Lenny reveals how her ayah, a term which means “maid,” is romantically linked to the very
charming ice candy man. Her ayah plays an important role in her life, and yet Lenny is initially
unable to help her ayah when trouble begins. When the turmoil of 1947 breaks out in the form of
the Hindu-Muslim wars, all bets are off the table, including love. The ice candy man actually turns
on the ayah, abusing her due to her Hindu caste.
Over the course of the narrative, Lenny talks about other characters as well, including her brother,
Adi, and her mother and father. Another integral character, however, is Rodabai, Lenny’s
godmother. Rodabai is characterized as fat and stubby, and completely instrumental in the ayah’s
rescue. With Rodabai’s help, Lenny is eventually able to track down her ayah, thus helping the
woman who has always helped her in the past. Rodabai and Lenny rush to Diamond Market, where
the ayah is being held, and confront the ice candy man.
In the end, the ice candy man finds himself the victim of religious/social intolerance, and is beaten
up while Lenny’s ayah escapes. The ayah then says her goodbyes and heads to Lahore, to be with
her family. It is revealed that the Parsees have lost everything at this point with the fighting and
the Partition, and all sides of the struggle must move on and attempt to heal their wounds as best
they can.
Ice Candy Man is a narrative both comical and heartbreaking. Told from a young girl’s point-of-
view, the narrative often finds hilarious points-of-departure to comment on, and affords the reader
the naiveté of a child’s point-of-view. As Lenny grows, however, and as the fighting between
Muslims and Hindus hits closer and closer to home, Lenny’s insights are clouded with bloodshed
and the very worst of the human condition. Even people she used to look up to or at least admire
show their true nature. Lenny’s coming-of-age is made all the more heartbreaking in that it is set
against the backdrop of war. Lenny must find the strength to persevere and save her ayah, thus
highlighting that her naiveté has grown into genuine concern, and a more comprehensive
knowledge of others and their wellbeing.
The narrative is symbolic in its look at growing up and coming of age despite external factors that
seek to hinder growth. Lenny’s character, including her trials and triumphs, reveals that the human
desire for love, growth and compassion can far outweigh the effects of war and hate. The narrative
also shows just how important community is, especially during tumultuous times. Lenny looks at
her immediate family, extended family and family of servants, and in each of them, finds points
of connection. These relationships help to inform her worldview, and allow her to make informed
decisions based on newfound love and compassion.