REVIEW OF 'THE HENNA ARTIST' BY ALKA JOSHI

'I breathed deeply. As if I could already smell the bracing air of the blue himalayan mountains'

- Lakshmi from 'The Henna Artist'

In the parallel universe, there are two souls longing for compassion and end up together in 'The Henna Artist' by Alka Joshi.

The colonialists left India in 1947 leaving the Indians baffled and confused about their culture and norms. We had rigorous rules in our culture and on the other hand western culture pampered us without any constraints. Post colonial peroid is remarkable because it enumerates the dispositions of Indians who lived in rigorous rules and western thoughts. The caste system and male chauvinism were brawny in post colonial India and threatened the women and her reputation.

We meet our protagonist Lakshmi as a busy henna artist, who does henna for upper class women. She veils her child marriage and the dark past from everyone.

As an independent woman Lakshmi manages to live without ruining her reputation in the pink city Jaipur. Her past knocks her door when her husband Hari and her little sister Radha turn up. 

 Lakshmi, who is a victim of domestic abuse, carefully pampers her sister and teaches her about the upper class ethics. On the contrary, Radha, a delusional thirteen years old girl who is not aware of the real world and its cruel treatment imagines her life as a fairytale by imbibing English novels and  western writers' imagination.

In the setting of post colonial period, Alka Joshi has weaved the characters vividly in a  beautiful storyline. 

This is definitely not an exaggeration, I literally cried after  reading this book. The impacts of domestic violence and the struggles of women to live independently amidst the parochial minds wrecked my heart into pieces. The writing style is spectacular with rich description.

Two years ago,I was blown away  after reading an exquisite Indian novel 'Glass Palace' by Amitav Ghosh. Ever since 'Glass Palace', 'The Henna Artist' is the another exquisite and breath taking Indian book that  I read.

The refined prose and imagery startled me. This brilliant novel is  in my highly recommended list now. 

I am SCREAMING : C'mon, don't procrastinate pick it up soon!