In Hindi and Sanskrit, the word tara means “star,” and in the crowded galaxy of book publishing, Tara Books, based in Chennai, India, has a resplendent shine. Fifteen years ago, founder Gita Wolf charted the publishing house’s course based on feminist tenets. “One of the guiding principles of feminism for me has been a critical relationship to power,” explains Wolf. “The second is a belief in dialogue and communication.”

Like all branches of media today, publishing has grappled with cost-saving measures and corporate consolidation. Tara is a worker-owned collective that bucks the traditional publishing model and empowers individuals. It also reminds readers that books can possess a magical quality. Tara’s gorgeous illustrated books fuse Indian folklore and traditions with workmanship crafted by an array of international artists and writers. Some of the titles are offset-printed, but several of them are hand-bound in Chennai; letterpress and screen-printing bring text and imagery to life on sumptuous handmade papers. Working with a team of about 15 craftspeople, head of production Arumugam, or Mr. A., as he’s affectionately known within the company, is responsible for production, including all of the handmade books.

SSSS: Snake Art & Allegory, Tara’s latest handmade offering, evidences Mr. A.’s incredible ability to teach people the craft of book-making on a commercial scale. Artist Ianna Andreadis, already working on a large-scale project based around pieces in the collection of Musée du quai Branly in Paris, was so impressed by another handmade title, The Night Life of Trees, that she approached Tara with an idea. Using Manasa, “a cult figure of a snake goddess,” as a starting point, Andreadis researched the presence of snakes in Hindu and Buddhist lore and then created fluid, bold artworks that accompany a text written by Wolf.

As soon as you hold the book, you can feel that it’s something different and special. Turning the pages releases an amazing aroma of ink and hints of sandalwood — apparently this is what Mr. A.’s studio smells like. You can’t help but continually run your fingers over the screen-printed ink held on the textured paper as you read these sensuous and sacred tales.

Tara’s offset-printed books boast exciting illustrations and high production values, but the handmade operation is staggeringly impressive by any measure. Tara has released seventeen handmade titles in several different languages — well over 100,000 units. Screen-printing one 32-page, three-color book requires 100 pulls of ink. And once the pages are printed, the books need to be assembled, which is a true craft.

Tara workers looking through the pages of the book SSSS: Snake Art & Allegory.

Over the years, Mr. A. has mentored and encouraged a fleet of artisans. Those that move on to other jobs remain dedicated to Tara, happy to return to the shop to help make sure a big order gets out on time.

Tara’s approach works, both for the people that create the books and for those that read them. The books regularly garner international awards and accolades, and are distributed through traditional trade channels in North America and Europe. The titles have also been selling better and better in India, with the promise of increased sales once construction of a new office, which will include a bookshop and gallery space, is complete.

In SSSS, the story “The Tight Knot” reminds us that if living creatures did not “fall victim to their own unwisdom …The tight knot of habit would start to unravel.” As ambition and dedication lead to an expansion of the publishing operation, Tara’s wisdom is in its ability to make unique books by staying true to Gita Wolf’s initial vision, nurturing a creative and progressive publishing culture that values art, artists, and the entire collective involved.