Shooter Tara Shahdeo at Ranchi Book Fair on Friday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Her gut-wrenching story has moved many a people in Jharkhand. Very soon, the entire country, perhaps the world too, will get to know how nationally acclaimed shooter had suffered ignominy and torture in the hands of her husband Ranjit Singh Kohli, alias Rakibul Hassan.

Tara, who has accused her now-estranged spouse of hidden identity, deception and faith crime, on Friday expressed her desire to write a memoir on her tumultuous relationship with Kohli.

“Oh yes! One of these days, I shall write a memoir that will mostly highlight my personal trauma and the torture that was inflicted on me,” said the 23-year-old who married for love only to discover that she paid a huge price for it.

Tara was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Ranchi Book Fair, which kicked off at Mahendra Prasad Mahila College grounds on Circular Road in the state capital. She was invited by the organisers, National Book Trust and Pustak Mela Samiti, to inaugurate the fair as the chief guest.

“We are part of a progressive society, where we have to be brave and bold. We should no longer be referred as ‘abala aur bechari’. We should make our own identity without depending upon others,” said the gutsy woman, who showed nerve of steel in escaping from her marital home last month and heading to police station to lodge a complaint against Kohli, a power broker with influential connections.

On the book fair that was launched on Friday, Tara described it as a great platform for book lovers to browse through reads that highlight how women have come out of their shells and fought against social evils to carve a niche for themselves.

“More writers of the new generation should come forward and write on social evils and corruption,” said the medal-winning shooter.

Later, she checked out the various kiosks put up by publishers like Upkaar Prakashan, Pustak Mahal, Vijay Books, Samay Prakashan, Rajpal and Sons and Yash Prakashan among others. Everywhere she went, Tara became the centre of attraction.

“She has become an idol for us as she fought against all odds to put her abusive husband in jail and has come back to practising shooting,” said a visitor, Jaya Singh.

Chandra Bhushan, secretary of Pustak Mela Samiti, said they decided to invite Tara and not any well-known political figure to inaugurate the fair because she represented the society and had become a role model for victims of domestic violence.

“At the fair, we have a large gathering of college students and homemakers, who need right direction and courage to raise their voice. I personally feel Tara has now become the people’s voice,” Bhushan said.

On till September 21, the book fair has 65 kiosks this year. Four kiosks have been dedicated to Jharkhand authors.

The fair is open from 11am to 9pm while entry is free.