‘The Book of Queens’ Revives Forgotten Women’s Stories at Jodhpur Folk Festival

Forgotten stories of women warriors, poets, mystics and composers from India, Europe and Iran came alive through ‘The Book of Queens’, a cross-cultural music project presented at the Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) in Jodhpur.

Created by French opera singer and composer Camille Bordet following a commission from the Opera House of Dijon in France in 2025, the performance brings together poetry and music from different traditions to create a dialogue between cultures and generations. Indian classical singer Smita Bellur joined the project, expanding its original Iranian-European concept to include India.

The performance celebrates historical figures whose contributions have often been overlooked. They include Gordafarid, the warrior from the Persian epic Shahnameh; Hildegard von Bingen, a 12th-century German nun, composer and visionary; and Azalaïs de Porcairagues, a medieval French woman troubadour whose surviving poetry includes only one poem.

The Indian segment featured mystic poet Meera Bai, philosopher Akka Mahadevi, queen Rani Lakshmibai, Kannada poet Amba Bai and Marathi saint poet Soyarabai. Music composed by Bordet and tar player Maryam Tazdeh formed part of the performance.

Bordet said the project aims to inspire younger generations by demonstrating that women have always made significant contributions to society. She also highlighted the shared emotions of women across centuries, including love, fear and sadness.

Bellur stressed that history remains incomplete without women’s contributions, pointing to the continued influence of patriarchy and restrictions on women’s freedom. She noted that many challenges faced by women centuries ago persist today.

The ensemble also included theorbo player Madeleine Owen, kamancheh player Saeed Kamjoo and percussionist Hamin Honari. Bordet said she deliberately included women in the predominantly female creative team while welcoming men performing women’s works.

Organised by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, Jodhpur RIFF ran from October 22 to 26, featuring more than 250 folk musicians alongside international performers from around a dozen countries across six continents.

The project seeks to restore women’s voices to history while using music to connect cultures and challenge gender stereotypes.