Touch of My Shadow

Every night Vali is sought after for his blessings as a jogta-presenting as a woman devotee. Though he is spiritually revered, he is also ostracized by the villagers and routinely subject to their harassment and violence. Stifled by his life of servitude, he wishes to renounce his Jogta identity and live as a man. To do so, he enlists the help of his only friend and fellow castaway, Tara.

With its intimate portrayal of the jogappa tradition in the rural regions of western Maharashtra, the novel immerses us in Vali's world, capturing his difficult journey while bravely interrogating gender expectations and religious tradition.