'The Scent of Happiness could describe Vatsala too. Resilience, positivity, and laughter - these are the words that come to my mind when I think of Vatsala. Hers has been a life of deep troughs, just like the protagonist of this story. The scent of happiness pervades this story as it pervades Vatsala's spirit. Like the manoranjitham flower, the Ananda inside us may turn shades as we live, but it will always be fragrant.'

Justice PRABHA SRIDEVAN (Retd), Writer and Translator

'When women begin to examine and represent their lives critically and with honesty, many an untruth starts to crumble. In order to prevent this crumbling, society hands them the burdensome responsibility of preserving family honour, thus forcing them into silence. The journey of Prema in Vatsala's novel The Scent of Happiness acts like a beacon of hope and light for such women.'

A. ARULMOZHI, Advocate, Feminist and Social Activist