Shimla, December 7
Black Magic of Women from the Mountains — an anthology celebrating the poetic voices of Himachali women — was released at the Gaiety Theatre’s Conference Hall on Sunday. The event, hosted by the KEEKLI Charitable Trust, featured IPS officer Ms Satwant Atwal as the chief guest.
Edited by Kamayani Vashisht and Shelly Bhoil, the collection brings together 24 women poets from Himachal and the Himalayan region. The anthology captures themes of nature, memory, feminine strength and the deep emotional bond women share with the mountains. Most poems are translated from Hindi, while some appear in their original English.
Calling the anthology “a strong reminder of women’s power to connect even with the ordinary,” Ms Atwal praised the effort to bring women’s voices to the forefront. Co-editor Shelly Bhoil could not attend due to her commitments abroad, but her mother conveyed the family’s gratitude for the overwhelming response.
Writers, artists, professors, students and poetry lovers packed the hall.
Prof Meenakshi Faith Paul said Himachali literature must now travel beyond the hills and reach national platforms.
Prof Roshan Lal appreciated the editors, stressing that teamwork enriches creative projects.
Dr Praveen Malik offered a critical reading of the compilation, while poet Ajeya from Kullu reflected on the emotional terrain of the book.
Dr Janesh Kapur applauded the translators for handling the delicate task of carrying local sentiment into another language.
Notable attendees included S.N. Joshi (Retd IAS), Abhishek (IPS), historian Raja Bhasin, Dr Jaiwanti Dimri, and Rupali Thakur (IAS).
The anthology features works by Kamayani Vashisht, Dr Rekha Vashisht, Dr Jaiwanti Dimri, Pooja Priyamvada, Priyanka Bhardwaj, Priyanka Vaidya, Meenakshi F Paul, Tsesing Wangmo Dhompa, Deepti Saraswat and others — marking a significant moment for Himalayan women’s literature.
