Mehlli Gobhai (1931-2018) was a painter and illustrator. He completed his undergraduate education at St Xavier’s College and then went on to train as an artist at the Royal College of Art in London, as well as at the Art Students League and the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York. He lived and worked in New York for twenty years and chose to return to Mumbai in the late 1980s. While in New York, he wrote and illustrated several children’s books, including The Legend of the Orange Princess; Lakshmi, the Water Buffalo Who Wouldn’t; and USHA, the Mouse Maiden.
<p>On a bright morning, a long time ago, there was great excitement at the palace of Chandpur. A princess was born, but during the day, she would remain in the form of an orange and at night she would emerge from her peel and transform into a beautiful maiden. On one such night, King Prithvi of Boondh saw her and fell deeply in love with her. They spent many years together, until one day the princess failed to return to the orange before dawn… Mehlli Gobhai’s beautiful retelling of the ancient legend of the mysterious orange princess is an enchanting read, enhanced by his opulent colour paintings.</p><div><br></div>
