The Henna Artist: Book review



Title: The Henna Artist
Author: Alka Joshi
Genre: Literary Fiction

Set in 1950s, post independent India, The Henna Artist is a sweeping tale of a girl who runs away from an abusive marriage in a village and establishes her identity as a henna artist amidst the elite in Jaipur. 

Lakshmi Shastri is revered for her creative Henna designs and worms her way into the high society of Jaipur. She treads cautiously and maneuvers her way amidst malice gossips, wagging tongues and fragile egos while harboring secret ambitions of her own. Lakshmi is surprised when her husband Hari lands at her doorstep with 13 year old Radha who is the sister Lakshmi never realised she had. Radha's arrival creates an uproar in Lakshmi's life and threatens her several years of hard work. Will Lakshmi still fulfil her dreams of leading an independent life? 

The vivid and descriptive style of the author transports the readers to the pink city, capturing the sights and smells to perfection.  She certainly has a good eye of detail and one gets a virtual glimpse of the plush palace interiors and the elite society of Jaipur. The scent of the delicacies waft through your nostrils, especially that of rabri or dal batti churma. The several herbs described in the book  add a mystical touch to it. The characters of Lakshmi and Radha evoke your sympathy and admiration as they fight their way amidst a rather patriarchal set up. 

The story moves at a comfortable pace and presence of several characters certainly does not confuse the reader. The author describes the human emotions which are as complex as the henna designs and patterns.  Themes of freedom, loneliness, power and family are touched upon here. 


The Henna Artist is compelling and thought provoking. It mirrors the caste system and brings to light certain pertinent issues that are largely prevalent even in today's times. As the author firmly states in her book, Independence changed everything, Independence changed nothing.

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