Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the book 'Kaho Kalidasa!' by Yugul Joshi, published by Manjul Publishing House, at an event organized by the Kala Nidhi Division of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). The event took place at the Samvet Auditorium, IGNCA, New Delhi on August 25, 2026, and was attended by a large gathering from diverse fields including literature, culture, and public life.
The Minister emphasized that women in Kalidasa's works are not merely subjects of beauty but are portrayed as embodiments of consciousness, dignity, and love. He described the book launch as an opportunity to address the historical silence surrounding Kalidasa's personal and creative life, noting that authentic biographical details about the poet are limited. The book explores various dimensions of Kalidasa's life and works, including love, separation, responsibility, nature, and particularly his female characters, drawing on emotions and subtle indications from the poet's own writings.
Author Yugul Joshi referenced Goethe's observation about Kalidasa, stating that if heaven and the human world can be seen together, it is possible only in Kalidasa's Shakuntalam. Joshi noted that different regions of India including Mithila, Ujjain, and Uttarakhand claim Kalidasa as their own, but the poet ultimately belongs to the entire nation. The event was part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and featured discussions on Kalidasa's literary contributions.
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