This anthology explores themes of women’s rights, anti-casteism, and unity in India. It consists of 100 poems written across five languages—English (69), Marathi (15), Hindi (8), Punjabi (5), and Urdu (3)—each accompanied by English translations and transliterations. In Tara, Palak reflects on how women’s history and culture must be redefined by uniting, reflecting upon, and revolutionising ideas of gender, religion, purity, enlightenment, and Mother Nature.
Drawing on histories of caste-based cruelty, women’s progress, and personal anecdotes, the poems weave together reality and imagination to call for meaningful change, while being a “dream” for some ancestors and a “nightmare” for others. While women and privilege are often defined by external forces, Palak emphasises the responsibility to recognise one’s position in society and take action (karma) to reshape these definitions, inspired by Toni Morrison’s words, “Definitions belong to the definer, not the defined,” Kabir’s “Dheere Dheere Re Mana,” and icons such as Buddha, Gandhari, Krishna, Ma Tara (the mother of all Buddhas), Mai Bhago, and Savitribai Phule.
Contents –
English
1. I Am My Forefather’s Nightmare
2. Divine Choir
3. Universally Enshrined
4. Bardo Home
5. Divinity
6. Oasis Light
7. Meaning of Whispers
8. Value of Karma
9. Say It Differently
10. Transcending The Way
11. Humanity is Red
12. Artist
13. Love God
14. Mother’s Religion
15. Repair Yourself
16. Victim
17. Earth Feeds
18. Harbour
19. 10 Spoons of Salt
20. Protest Against Puddles
21. Today’s News
22. Her Own Authorial
23. A Path Love Waded
24. Eyes of An 8-Year-Old Smoker
25. Even Death is Impermanent
26. Scripture
27. Blood
28. Who is in Power?
29. Rebirth Possibility
30. First Breath
31. Inheritance
32. Negligible
33. Value
34. Womb
35. Non-permanent
36. Mountain
37. Dancers
38. Let Go
39. Sant Kabir Says
40. Gangster
41. Choice of God
42. Progress
43. Crime
44. Monsoon’s Artwork
45. Rationalist Reform
46. Yin and Yang
47. Imagine
48. Evolution
49. Protest
50. Inked
51. Protests Flood Peace
52. Flow
53. Velvet
54. Armour of Sight
55. Freedom
56. Maroon
57. Poison
58. Defined View
59. Own Resolve
60. Ocean
61. Maya Messiah
62. Breath Kicks
63. Indian Spirit
64. Roses
65. Rearrange
66. Blink
67. Creator
68. Flames
69. Same Sky
Marathi
(With English Transliterations and Translations)
70. मानवता Maanavta (Humanity)
71. कर्माचे रक्त Karamche Rakt (Karma’s Blood)
72. रश्मा पुत्री Rashma Putri (Rashma’s daughter)
73. दर्शन Darshan (Divine Sight)
74. सावित्री महादेवी Savitri Maha Devi (The Great Goddess, Savitri)
75. महापुरुषाची नैतिकता Mahapurushachi Naitikta (Morality of a Great Man)
76. ग्रंथ Granth (Scripture)
77. नियम Niyam (Rules)
78. प्रकृति Prakriti (Nature)
79. सतरंगी Satrangi (Seven Coloured)
80. परम सत्य Param Satya (Ultimate Truth)
81. लाल Laal (Red)
82. विचार Vichaar (Thought)
83. सत्य पटते Satya Patate (We Recognise the Truth)
84. घाम Ghaam (Sweat)
Hindi
(With English Transliterations and Translations)
85. तारा Tara (Star)
86. जीवन Jeevan (Life)
87. गांधारी Gandhari
88. नारी Nari (Woman)
89. जूठा Jootha (Pre-touched or Pre-consumed)
90. वृक्ष Vriksh (Tree)
91. भाग्य Bhagya (Fate)
92. विकास Vikaas (Development)
Punjabi
(With English Transliterations and Translations)
93. ਸੀਸ਼ਾ Sisaa (Blessings)
94. ਤਰੰਗ Tarang (Wave)
95. ਜਾਨ Jaan (Life)
96. ਸਿਮਰੋਂ Simron (Spiritual Remembrance)
97. ਜੁੱਤੀ Jutti
Urdu
(With English Transliterations and Translations)
آسمان . 98 Aasmaan (Sky)
محبت . 99 Mohabbat (Love)
سکون . 100 Sukoon (Peace)