Gemma Doyle was born into a wealthy and influential family in England. However, her parents died when she was young, leaving her orphaned. Gemma was raised by her aunt, who was very strict with her. As a result, Gemma rebelled against authority and ran away from home at the age of sixteen.
She ended up in India, where she met Pramod Singh, an Indian man who became her friend and mentor. Pramod taught Gemma about Indian culture and religion, and she eventually converted to Hinduism. She also began to study the mystical arts under Pramod's tutelage.
Gemma eventually fell in love with India and decided to make it her permanent home. She left England behind for good and never looked back.