Review: The Hindi-Bindi Club by Monica Pradhan

A Novel About Family Values and Blending East-West Cultures

Nov 30, 2008

A heart-warming and thoughtful story about the relationship between mothers and daughters and the challenges of blending Indian and American cultures across generations.

A fascinating blend of family relationships, passionate and complex characters and Indian history, culture and recipes, The Hindi-Bindi Club (Bloomsbury, 2008) by Monica Pradhan is much more than an Indian version of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club (G P Putnam’s Sons, 1989).

The Hindi Bindi Club

Focusing on the lives of three first generation Indian-American women and their families, particularly their relationships with their mothers, the narration of The Hindi Bindi Club is shared by each of the six central women.

The story begins with Kiran, a divorced doctor longing for a sense of permanence and belonging in her life. Kiran decides to repair her relationship with her parents and ask for their assistance in organising an arranged marriage.

Kiran’s mother Meenal enlists the assistance of her two best friends, Saroj and Uma, to find a suitable husband for Kiran. These women are central to a friendship and support group their daughter have laughingly named the Hindi-Bindi Club.Kiran’s return to her family home also brings her back into contact with the daughters of these two women, Preity and Rani.

Each of the six women is struggling with issues such depression, infidelity, illness, lack of direction and motivation and unresolved issues from their past. Each daughter must put her relationship with her mother in perspective and acknowledge the significant role that the Indian heritage of her family plays in shaping not only her parents’ lives but also her own.

The three mothers must work to resolve the cultural differences between their home and adopted country and seek to combine the strengths of each into their relationship with their daughter.

While the themes of cultural differences and the complex nature of parenting, particularly when combining two difference cultures, are very strong throughout the novel, Pradhan has also created a very warm and enjoyable story filled with realistic and engaging characters.

The complex and at times tragic history of India is shared through the memories of Meenal, Saroj and Uma, introducing readers to a rich and diverse culture. The significance of family relationships, particularly respect shown to elders and the importance of family loyalty, is emphasised, contrasting with the more independent American lifestyle.

The novel is divided into five parts, with the narration of each part shared by three or four of the women, both mothers and daughters. This adds to the depth of understanding of the reader as the different cultural viewpoints are interwoven and contrasted as well as offering different perspectives of a central event.

The more significant themes and occupations of the story are interwoven with the sharing of food and recipes between the women and their families. Descriptions of traditional and family dishes are scattered throughout the text of the novel to entice readers, with step by step recipes at the end of each section.

Many of the recipes require specific Indian ingredients, with particular brands and possible alternatives offered where possible. Recipes include mango lassi, chhole, tamarind chutney, moong daal, chappati and bebinca.

is predominantly a story of the importance of family relationships, friendships and the role cultural heritage plays in the shaping of an individual and their own priorities. The many ways to communicate - through words, actions, sharing of meals, phone calls and emails – highlight the complex network individuals form to connect themselves to their family and friends. The novel also shows damage that can be inflicted by careless or thoughtless words.

The Hindi Bindi Club works on many levels and is suitable for a casual beach read as well as being an ideal book club selection. Pradhan’s characters are engaging, the story interesting and well told and the insights into Indian culture and history fascinating.

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