Judy and Lakshmi

Naomi Mitchison had travelled to India in 1951 and to Madras (Chennai) in 1958, after which she visited her brother Jack. He was by then living an Indian lifestyle in Calcutta (Kolkata) with which she found it difficult to empathise - in stark contrast to her own later immersion in a Botswana community. As was her habit, she sought to understand the country and her reactions to it by looking at the role of women, in their homes and in society. This led to the writing of Judy and Lakshmi. The developing friendship between two girls is the framework for an open and straightforward account of the ethnic and cultural issues across the country at an important time in its history. It captures with a deft touch the nuances of social interactions and their consequences. The style may be dated, but the message remains relevant.