UNVEILING CULTURAL DIFFERENTIALISM IN PAKISTANI ENGLISH FICTION: A SOCIOLINGUISTIC STUDY OF BAPSI SIDHWA’S ICE-CANDY MAN

Abstract

This paper aims to explore cultural differentialism in Bapsi Sidhwa’s Ice-Candy Man (1988). In the novel, during the pre-partition days, Indian multicultural society is depicted as tolerant and peaceful, because the multicultural group of Ayah Shanta, Lenny, Ice-Candy Man, and other minor characters live in harmony and peace. However, the bloody episode of partition unveils the rift of cultural differences in the multicultural group replicating the cultural divergence in the multicultural society of India. For the interpretation of data, qualitative research methodology is employed, and moreover, theoretical framework is based on George Ritzer (2011) and Samuel Huntington’s (1993) views of cultural differentialism. This paper will pinpoint cultural differences of different cultural communities, including Parsees, Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, during pre-partition and post-partition days in united India. This study will also guide researchers to uncover other dimensions of the novel apropos to cultural differentialism. In addition, it will help people of multicultural societies to tolerate cultural differences for promoting peaceful coexistence in today’s globalised world.

Keywords: Cultural differentialism, multicultural societies, multicultural group, pre-partition, post-partition, peaceful coexistence.