Mother’s motherliness has a universal reach, and like her involuntary female magnetism, it cannot be controlled…I resent this largesse.” In light of this statement by Lenny, discuss the character of Mother in Ice-Candy Man.
Mother’s motherliness has a universal reach, and like her – Bapsi Sidhwa’s Ice-Candy Man (1988), also published as Cracking India, is one of the most powerful novels to emerge from the South Asian subcontinent on the Partition of India in 1947. Narrated through the innocent yet perceptive eyes of a young Parsi girl named Lenny, the novel explores the traumatic disintegration of a nation, the fragmentation of identity, and the deep scars left by communal violence. Amid this turmoil, the character of Mother (Lenny’s mother) emerges as one of the most complex and compelling figures in the novel—compassionate, strong-willed, socially conscious, and profoundly humane.
The quoted statement by Lenny—“Mother’s motherliness has a universal reach, and like her involuntary female magnetism, it cannot be controlled… I resent this largesse”—captures both admiration and resentment. Lenny admires her mother’s boundless compassion but also feels jealous and bewildered by her mother’s unrestrained affection toward others. Through this tension, Sidhwa presents Mother as a symbolic figure of nurture, resistance, and humanism, whose actions transcend the boundaries of religion, class, and gender.
1. Introduction: The Role of Mother in Partition Literature
In Partition narratives, women often occupy dual roles—as victims of violence and as symbols of endurance. In Ice-Candy Man, Sidhwa subverts this binary through Lenny’s mother, who embodies agency and moral courage during one of history’s darkest periods. Unlike the many women who suffer silently, Mother takes active steps to save abducted women, challenge patriarchal expectations, and serve as a moral anchor for her family and community.
Through Lenny’s eyes, readers see the many dimensions of Mother: a nurturing caregiver, a socially respected Parsi woman, a loving yet assertive parent, and an empathetic humanitarian who refuses to remain a passive observer to others’ suffering.
2. Mother as a Symbol of Universal Compassion
Mother’s motherliness has a universal reach, and like her– The phrase “Mother’s motherliness has a universal reach” is key to understanding her character. Mother’s compassion extends far beyond her own family or community. She does not confine her care to Parsis alone—she helps Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians alike. Her house becomes a sanctuary for the wounded and displaced during Partition.
When communal riots erupt in Lahore, Mother risks her own safety to rescue abducted women, often coordinating with Colonel Bharucha and other Parsi volunteers. Her courage is evident in how she navigates political and religious boundaries during a time when suspicion and hatred dominate social relations.
Her “universal motherliness” thus symbolizes an ideal of humanity that transcends sectarianism. In a world tearing itself apart through religious violence, Mother represents unity, empathy, and healing. Through her, Sidhwa envisions the possibility of moral resistance amid chaos.
3. The Complexity of Lenny’s Perspective
Lenny’s narration of her mother’s character is deeply emotional and subjective. The child’s voice oscillates between adoration and jealousy, between understanding and confusion. When Lenny says, “I resent this largesse,” it reflects a child’s possessiveness and inability to comprehend the moral magnitude of her mother’s compassion.
Lenny’s jealousy arises because her mother’s affection seems to belong to everyone. Her mother’s house is constantly filled with visitors—servants, neighbors, refugees, and strangers seeking help. For Lenny, this universal generosity dilutes the intimacy of their mother-daughter bond. She craves exclusivity, but Mother’s love, like her “involuntary female magnetism,” radiates outward uncontrollably.
Sidhwa brilliantly uses this childlike resentment to highlight the selflessness of motherhood. Mother’s nurturing instinct is not limited by familial duty; it becomes a cosmic force of empathy. Her magnetism is “involuntary” because compassion is innate to her being—it is not a conscious performance but a natural emanation of her character.
4. Mother as a Representation of Feminine Strength
Mother’s motherliness has a universal reach, and like her– In Ice-Candy Man, Mother’s strength stands out in contrast to the patriarchal norms that surround her. While Father (Lenny’s father) is mild and peace-loving but largely passive, Mother takes the initiative in times of crisis. She is portrayed as decisive, vocal, and brave. For instance, she defies curfew restrictions and communal boundaries to rescue women who have been abducted during the riots.
This act is deeply subversive within the context of Partition, when women were often silenced, controlled, or treated as property to be exchanged between warring communities. Mother’s intervention restores agency to these women, symbolically reclaiming their humanity from the violence of patriarchy and nationalism.
Mother also challenges gender roles within her own household. She commands respect not merely because she is a wife or mother but because she acts with authority, intelligence, and moral conviction. Her relationship with Ayah, the family’s Hindu servant, further demonstrates her egalitarian outlook—she treats Ayah with dignity and affection, refusing to view her as inferior despite class differences.
Thus, Sidhwa constructs Mother as a figure of female empowerment, representing the silent revolution of women who sustained humanity during Partition’s brutality.
5. The Mother-Ayah Relationship: Compassion Beyond Class
One of the most poignant aspects of Mother’s characterization is her relationship with Ayah, the young Hindu nanny who cares for Lenny. While many of Lahore’s upper-class families dismiss their servants as disposable, Mother treats Ayah as part of the family. Her affection for Ayah transcends class and religion, reflecting her intrinsic humanism.
When Ayah is abducted during the riots by the mob led by Ice-Candy Man, Mother’s grief is palpable. Despite the chaos around her, she takes active steps to locate and rescue Ayah, demonstrating rare courage and solidarity. Later, when Ayah is recovered, broken and traumatized, Mother offers her compassion and care, despite the social stigma attached to raped or abducted women.
Through this relationship, Sidhwa highlights the transformative power of feminine empathy. Mother’s actions become a moral contrast to the cruelty of men like Ice-Candy Man and the indifference of society at large. Her love for Ayah affirms that womanhood, when expressed through compassion, has the power to heal and rebuild even in the aftermath of devastation.
6. Mother’s “Female Magnetism” and Feminine Identity
Mother’s motherliness has a universal reach, and like her– The phrase “involuntary female magnetism” is layered with meaning. It suggests that Mother possesses an inner charisma—an emotional and moral energy that draws people toward her. This magnetism is not rooted in physical beauty or sensuality but in her emotional openness, empathy, and maternal aura.
Her charm attracts not only her family but also friends, neighbors, and even strangers. In a society fragmented by fear, she becomes a center of gravity, holding together the moral fabric of the community. However, this same magnetism also burdens her—she cannot refuse those in need, even at personal cost. Her boundless compassion sometimes leaves her emotionally drained, but she continues to act because her conscience demands it.
Sidhwa’s depiction of Mother thus challenges the conventional image of women as passive nurturers. Instead, Mother’s nurturing is active, deliberate, and transformative—it is both instinctive and political, rooted in resistance against injustice.
7. Mother as the Conscience of the Novel
Throughout Ice-Candy Man, Mother functions as the moral and emotional conscience of the narrative. Her actions provide a counterpoint to the political chaos engulfing India and Pakistan. She does not take sides in the religious conflict; her loyalty is to humanity itself.
When others retreat into fear or sectarian prejudice, she extends help to everyone. Her refusal to be consumed by hatred or vengeance embodies the Parsi ideal of neutrality and service—yet her neutrality is not passive but active. She chooses compassion over division, action over apathy.
In this sense, Mother represents what Bapsi Sidhwa sees as the ideal moral response to Partition: empathy, courage, and moral clarity in the face of moral collapse.
8. The Mother-Daughter Dynamic: Growth Through Observation
Mother’s motherliness has a universal reach, and like her- Lenny’s evolving perception of her mother is crucial to understanding both characters. At first, Lenny’s jealousy reflects her childish possessiveness. However, as she matures and witnesses the horrors of Partition—Ayah’s abduction, the disintegration of friendships, and communal violence—she begins to understand the depth of her mother’s compassion.
Mother’s actions serve as Lenny’s moral education. She learns that true strength lies not in domination or revenge but in forgiveness and service. By the novel’s end, Lenny comes to admire her mother’s courage and universal love, recognizing her as a moral hero rather than merely a parental figure.
9. Conclusion: Mother as a Symbol of Hope and Healing
Mother’s motherliness has a universal reach, and like her– In Ice-Candy Man, Lenny’s mother embodies the enduring spirit of humanity amid the dehumanization of Partition. Through her universal compassion, moral integrity, and feminine strength, she becomes both a literal and symbolic mother—one who nurtures, protects, and heals.
Lenny’s statement—“Mother’s motherliness has a universal reach… I resent this largesse”—captures the paradox of motherhood: its boundless giving and its emotional cost. Yet, through this very largesse, Mother stands as a beacon of hope in a world ravaged by hatred.
In the final analysis, Mother is more than a character; she is Sidhwa’s moral vision personified—a vision in which love transcends boundaries, compassion triumphs over violence, and women reclaim their agency as the moral center of society. Her “universal motherliness” is not weakness but strength—the strength to feel, to act, and to heal in the face of unimaginable pain.
