Keywords : Postcolonialism, Identity, Displacement, Partition of India, Trauma, Bapsi Sidhwa

Abstract : Postcolonial literature examines the impact of colonialism on cultures, identities, and nations, often grappling with the challenges of independence, displacement, and hybridity. Bapsi Sidhwa, one of the most prominent voices in South Asian postcolonial literature, uses her works to reflect on the socio-political realities of postcolonial Pakistan and India. Novels such as Ice-Candy-Man and The Pakistani Bride interrogate themes of identity, displacement, gender, and cultural conflict, particularly in the context of historical events like the Partition of India. This research paper examines Bapsi Sidhwa`s exploration of identity and displacement in her novels Ice-Candy-Man and The Pakistani Bride. Through the lens of postcolonial theory, the paper analyzes how Sidhwa portrays the fragmentation of identities amid socio-political upheaval, particularly during the Partition of India. It highlights the intersectionality of gender and culture, revealing how women navigate their identities in a patriarchal society shaped by colonial histories.

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