Canary Islands Parliament to Host Launch of 'Ishwari' Anthology Featuring Hindustani Women Writers

Literature is becoming a powerful tool for social connection and historical memory in the Canary Islands with the arrival of Ishwari. This new anthology, featuring contributions from 79 women of the Hindustani community living on the islands, will be launched at the Parliament of the Canary Islands this Monday, March 16, at 11:30 a.m.

Part of the official International Women’s Day program, this project highlights how cultural diversity helps shape modern Canarian identity. Coordinated by cultural promoter Jyoti Baharani and artist María del Pino Marrero Berbel, the book is more than just a collection of writing; it is a space for intergenerational conversation.

The title, Ishwari, comes from a Sanskrit term for creative and divine power. It serves as the theme for a series of texts exploring daily life through a female lens. Symbolically, the book is structured like a mala—a traditional Indian prayer necklace—where each story acts as an individual bead that, when combined, creates a complete narrative.

The book prioritizes authentic personal testimony over rigid literary rules. Through a mix of poetry and short stories, the authors share experiences of resilience, family heritage, migration, and spirituality. By publishing these works, the collective is moving stories that were once only shared privately into the public record, securing their place in the region’s literary history. The presentation at the Parliament recognizes this effort, celebrating how these women have turned their personal journeys into a shared cultural legacy.