The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
Lakshmi is a woman who escapes her abusive marriage to find her own way in a newly independent India. She has nothing but her unique skillset – as a healer and a henna artist, with which she grows into this famous professional in Jaipur, sought after by both men and women of the affluent families, (albeit for totally different reasons). She carefully architects this life for herself, finding a place in the high society of Jaipur, and comes very close to owning a house in the wonderful city when Radha, a younger sister she has never known, enters her life. How Radha’s arrival alters Lakshmi’s life and threatens her dreams, and the constantly evolving dynamic between the duo is the central story of the book.
A combination of drama and intrigue, this book is fast-paced, with an interesting setting and some realistic characters. The story is set in 1955-56, with short glimpses into the past of the protagonist and her family. This book also has an array of other characters who contribute to a lively portrayal of the Jaipur elite. This was one of the few things this book did well. The setting was brilliantly written and I was truly transported into one of those Jaipur streets.
I was reminded of Austen’s Emma when the different families were introduced and Lakshmi dons the matchmaker garb, but, this book took a different turn and Lakshmi finds herself in a bigger mess.
The portrayal of a thirteen-year old Radha was another thing this book did well. She is a bundle of energy, curiosity, emotions, confusion and strength as any adolescent would be and her actions, or the lack thereof, drive the plot. Her character development and evolution of the relationship between the two sisters was written really well.
I also liked the resolution of Lakshmi-Hari relationship, and how they find their roles reversed towards the end – Hari, the opresssor turned into the man who helped the poor and needy, and Lakshmi, unwittingly, the woman who supported a form of oppression.
But, there are a few things that disappointed me.
First, I wasn’t sure about the availability of the DNA test or any other testing methods to verify fatherhood claims in the 1950s India. What could have been a huge burden(given the time period) was resolved easily with a blood test. Also, I felt like the Sameer-Parvati-Lakshmi dynamic should have been a little more complex than what it was – weighing heavily in favor of Lakshmi, making even the strongest threats to her existence seem trivial in the end.
Final words on the book:
I really liked it for the setting. The plot started out strong but weakened towards the end, because too many things just fall into place for Lakshmi and Radha – hospital bills were paid off, loans written off, the main burdens of Lakshmi were off her shoulders due to timely interventions of friends and benefactors and yet, she is worried about leaving her house and Jaipur. This made me not really root for her anymore. Also, her travails in the end seemed forced and could have been avoided, like the unnecessary scenes with the oil vendor and his wife. So yeah, 2.5/5.
View all my reviews
Snippets and Vignettes 