Meet Alka Joshi Author of Six Days in Bombay

San Mateo County Libraries is thrilled to welcome Alka Joshi, bestselling author of Six Days in Bombay and the Jaipur Trilogy, for an unforgettable evening of storytelling and discussion. Alka will join us on Tuesday, May 27th at 5:30 PM at the San Carlos Library!

Alka Joshi’s latest novel brings to life the fascinating and complex legacy of Amrita Sher-Gil, a prodigious artist often called India’s Frida Kahlo. Through the fictional character Mira Novak, Joshi pays tribute to Sher-Gil’s revolutionary spirit, artistic genius, and enigmatic life. 

Like Kahlo, Amrita Sher-Gil was bold, political, and unapologetically herself—a woman who straddled two cultures: her father, a Sikh aristocrat and scholar; her mother, a Hungarian Jewish opera singer. Yet, despite her brilliance, she remained unrecognized on the global stage, her untimely death at 28 only adding to her mystery. 

Set in 1937 Bombay, Six Days in Bombay follows Sona, a young Anglo-Indian nurse, who crosses paths with the enigmatic and half-Indian painter Mira Novak after Mira suffers a devastating miscarriage. Drawn into Mira’s world of adventure, art, and reckless passion, Sona forms a deep connection with the artist. But when Mira dies under suspicious circumstances, Sona finds herself entangled in a web of suspicion.