Circle of Fate

By Raja Mohanty

Above the Himalayan peaks, Garuda, the divine eagle of the god Vishnu, sees the Lord of Death hastening towards an exquisitely beautiful little bird. He decides to save it, and hides the bird away – but can death be cheated? An evocative take on a timeless Hindu parable of destiny and love, this unbelievably beautiful handmade silkscreened book is illustrated in the delicate and ornamental Patachitra tradition of art from Orissa in eastern India.

Tara Books, hardcover, 8.7 x 9 in, 24 pages.

Tara Books is an award-winning, internationally-recognized independent publishing house made up of a collective of writers, designers and book artisans who favor a non-hierarchical mode of functioning, informed by feminism and other movements for social justice.

Founded in 1994 by Gita Wolf and based in Chennai, India, Tara Books runs its own print shop, employing over 25 bookmaking artisans on a fair-trade basis. Known for their handmade books, they use handmade paper and non-toxic inks to create numbered artists’ books, as well as art prints and unique stationery (we also carry their wonderful Flukebooks!)

They collaborate with a range of writers, artists and designers from lndia and elsewhere, and an integral part of their publishing is a pioneering engagement with the rich diversity of Indian folk and tribal art.