The forthcoming anthology, Kurukshetra – Between War and Peace, brings together over 200 poems and essays by 76 writers from around the world. Edited by Prof. Dr. Roopali Sircar Gaur and Anita Joseph, this powerful literary work delves into one of the most enduring dilemmas of human history: the cycle of conflict and the quest for peace.
The hauntingly evocative cover, recently released, is designed by Arayn Das and visually captures the emotional gravity of the themes explored within. The Foreword is written by acclaimed writer Nibedita Sen, whose compelling essay, “Echoes from Kurukshetra,” sets the tone for the anthology.
She writes:
“Any literature born of war and sprung out of the war-fire must vibrate with the sound of its explosion, bear the bruises of its splinters, look through the wounds of its bullet-holes… Literature that has emerged out of the remnants of a battlefield must therefore go tracking along the smell of its debris and decay in its aftermath…
Even after five thousand years of Kurukshetra, we are still being driven by our indomitable instincts leading us into different war zones, both externally and internally… and sadly, we don’t really need to go searching the war-trails in this war-infested universe… it is war that searches us out, and drawing us into its corridors of forlorn abyss, engulfs us from every side, dissolving us completely into its rudderless dark, until we ourselves become replicas of living wars.”
Contributors—poets, writers, and artists from across continents—reflect on the myriad forms of conflict that shape our personal and collective lives. Their words span geographies and generations, exploring the many faces of war, trauma, survival, and the longing for peace.
This anthology is not just about Kurukshetra the place—it is about Kurukshetra the metaphor. War is not a singular event in history—it is a repeated choice, often cloaked in righteousness, necessity, or even silence. Kurukshetra – Between War and Peace is an exploration of that deeply human and historic dilemma: the compulsion to fight, the burden to resist, and the yearning for peace.
Drawing from the epic Mahabharata, where Kurukshetra was more than a battlefield—it was a moral crucible where Arjuna faced his inner conflicts—the anthology poses enduring questions: What do we fight for? Whom do we fight against? And at what cost?
Today’s Kurukshetras are no longer limited to conches and chariots. They are found in war-torn cities, hospital wards, refugee camps, bombed classrooms—and in the quiet battles within our own minds. While nations debate borders, it is the individual, the common man, who bears the deepest scars.
This collection gathers voices from every continent—poets, artists, scholars, and civilians—each offering a deeply personal meditation on the experience of war and the elusive promise of peace. Some voices rage, others mourn, while some whisper in stillness. Yet all speak with clarity, urgency, and truth.
The book will be available soon on all major platforms. With its striking cover now unveiled, Kurukshetra – Between War and Peace stands as a timely and resonant contribution to global literature on peace, justice, and human resilience.