Who is Tulsi from Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia and what is their importance?

Tulsi is a 17-year-old Indian tomboy half Elizabeth Gilbert's age and height, Tulsi becomes Liz's friend in the Indian ashram during the second part of her year-long travels. They scrub temple floors together and talk. Tulsi's family does not understand her devotion to God or her desire to study psychology and to roam the world like Liz. Tulsi is destined for an arranged marriage without a possibility to be independent like Liz.