The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

Ten of us met at Ket Ti’s home on 27th February to discuss The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. Surinder, who was scheduled to lead the session, was called away on urgent business. However, she had circulated her questions earlier, and Nisha used them to guide the discussion.

A beautifully descriptive novel set in the 1950s, primarily in the vibrant city of Jaipur before the story eventually moves to the quieter hill station of Shimla, The Henna Artist immerses the reader from the very beginning in a sensory world of courtesan dancers, henna painting, bustling streets, social rituals, and royal traditions — a heady mix that is both dazzling and evocative.

At the centre of this richly textured world is Lakshmi, a strong-willed woman who has escaped an abusive marriage and reinvented herself as a highly sought-after henna artist and herbal healer to the wealthy women of Jaipur. Through skill and sheer determination, she builds a life of independence in the Pink City, moving confidently within the homes of the elite and adorning the bodies of her clients with henna designs that are imaginative, provocative, and sometimes even therapeutic.

Her carefully curated life unravels with the unexpected arrival of Radha, a younger sister she never knew existed. Radha’s arrival forces Lakshmi to confront her past, question the choices she has made, and re-examine the walls she has built around herself. Amidst the upheaval, the two sisters attempt to build a relationship, and it is here that themes of responsibility, family loyalty, and forgiveness take centre stage.

Joshi also introduces an interesting dimension through Lakshmi’s knowledge of herbal remedies. Her role as a healer, providing mixtures that assist with fertility or contraception, places her in a powerful yet morally complex position within the lives of the women she serves. This aspect of the novel highlights the quiet, often unseen ways women support one another within a society that limits their choices and freedom. It also reveals how women can sometimes be their own worst enemies.

The story’s ending in Shimla offers a welcome shift in setting and introduces an intriguing development: a new turn in Radha’s life and the possibility that Lakshmi’s traditional herbal knowledge might find a place alongside modern medicine in a hospital setting.

What stayed with me most after finishing the book was Lakshmi’s journey. Despite many setbacks, she continues to rebuild her life with resilience and dignity. More than a story of survival, it is one of transformation and the courage to begin again — a reminder of the strength that lies in reinventing oneself, whatever the circumstances. I especially liked the ending, as it leaves room for the reader to imagine where Lakshmi’s new path may lead.

The Henna Artist is an easy and engaging read. The group felt the writing was straightforward rather than remarkable, but the narrative blends tradition with modern sensibilities in a way that is both entertaining and quietly thought-provoking. From the outset, many of us agreed that the story would translate wonderfully into a film or a Netflix series.

This is the first book in the Jaipur Trilogy by Alka Joshi, followed by The Secret Keeper of Jaipur and The Perfumist of Paris.

Over a delicious lunch of Yee Sang and Lei Cha, we even tried henna tattoos ourselves to get a sense of what the art might feel like.

Surinder Jessy