The Secret Keeper of Jaipur

The Jaipur Trilogy consists of The Henna Artist (2020), The Secret Keeper of Jaipur (2021), and The Perfumist of Paris (2023). The author based the central character, Lakshmi, on her mother, whose life choices were limited by the dictates of her culture. Joshi’s mother wanted her children to have the freedom of self-determination that was denied to her, and the three novels in the trilogy all examine this issue—not only as it plays out in Lakshmi’s life but also as it relates to her adopted son and sister.

The first installment in the trilogy, The Henna Artist, details Lakshmi’s struggle to break free of an abusive marriage in a small village. She succeeds in establishing a successful business as a henna artist and herbalist but is sabotaged by a member of the social elite, who spreads gossip about her. This causes Lakshmi to retreat to a small mountain village, where she finds a new life purpose as a holistic healer. She’s welcomed by the local community, which is suspicious of the healing modalities offered at the Western hospital in town.

Lakshmi performs a dual role in the novels. She fights for her own right to self-determination but denies this same right to others on more than one occasion. She adopts an authoritarian stance toward her younger sister, Radha, forcing her to make choices that go against Radha’s own wishes and inclinations. Eventually, Lakshmi realizes that she’s behaving in an overbearing manner. Even though she wants the best for her sister, she has no right to make decisions on behalf of another person.

In The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, Lakshmi makes the same mistake when she interferes in the romance between Malik and Nimmi. Again, she argues that she only wants what’s best for her adopted son. However, Nimmi sets Lakshmi straight by saying that the latter has no business controlling Malik’s life. Once more, the former henna artist realizes her mistake and allows the people she cares about to pursue happiness on their own terms.

The Perfumist of Paris follows Radha’s life in Europe, where she marries a Frenchman, gives birth to two daughters, and pursues a career as a perfumier. By 1974, Radha still has some unresolved issues related to her past since she refused all contact with the baby boy she gave up for adoption when she was 13. He’s now a teenager and comes to Paris in search of his biological mother. Like her sister Lakshmi, Radha must face the consequences of her choices.

The historical context for the trilogy parallels India’s emergence as an independent nation. The first novel takes place in 1955-1956, less than a decade after India emerged from a century of British rule and multiple prior centuries of European colonialism. Lakshmi’s struggle to reinvent herself is mirrored in the larger identity crisis of her new nation.

The second novel is set more than a decade later, in 1969. During the preceding year, the government passed the Gold Control Act, which had the unanticipated effect of creating a booming contraband market for smuggled gold. The greed and corruption associated with this activity are mirrored in the greed and corruption of Ravi Singh, whose desire for self-determination takes a dark turn.

The third novel is tied less to historical events in India and more to the question of self-determination as Radha struggles with her duties as a wife and mother and her desire to continue working to create unique perfumes. The final novel comes full circle by attempting to reconcile Radha with her rejected past. Ultimately, all three books in the trilogy emphasize the necessity of allowing individuals to choose their own versions of happiness independent of familial or cultural expectations for what’s appropriate.