'Main Mujh Mein' sparks moments of healing, self-discovery

How often do you look into the mirror and find yourself? Not just see yourself, but truly find who you are. Chances are, not very often. There are certain defining moments in everyone’s life that alter the course of their entire being. For Aanchal Anita Dhara, a poet and a self-described multi-layered artist, that moment came when she decided to go bald.

“The moment I did that, nothing changed for me. But the lives of my family and close ones were destroyed,” she shared, with a touch of sarcasm that was instantly understood.

“It revealed how women and their choices are defined by years of conditioning, social and otherwise, and how crucial it is to break free from it,” she said. Aanchal went on to inspire, draw applause and even transform an evening of spoken poetry into a group therapy session for over 250 women, all members of Phulkari-Women of Amritsar (WOA).

Hosting an interactive and heartfelt session titled “Main Mujh Mein — Reclaim Yourself” at Taj Swarna, Aanchal’s poetry became a celebration of womanhood, stillness and strength, a space where every pause spoke, every silence healed and every thread of thought wove a story of self-discovery.

Through poetry and pause, “Main Mujh Mein — Reclaim Yourself” unfolded as an intimate journey into the spaces between words — a call to return home to oneself. Curated by Phulkari WOA, the event honoured the quiet, powerful force of feminine reflection and renewal.

“I believe everyone has a story, one that deserves to be told in whatever form they choose,” Aanchal shared. “I began writing to release my frustration, over patriarchy, gender oppression and anything that comes across as condescending in the grab of ‘care’. Most of these poems draw from my own experiences and my journey as an individual,” she said.

Aanchal began her creative path as a wedding photographer, later took up poetry as a form of self-expression and is now a two-time TEDx speaker, multidisciplinary artist and mindful storyteller. She describes herself as a “multipotentialite,” weaving art with threads of experience. Her voice, words and journey of self-realisation have resonated with countless hearts.

Mumbai-based and Delhi-born, Aanchal continues to explore the world. One of her most challenging pursuits has been The Audacious Project, which she undertook with her partner Prashant. “We walked from Mumbai to Goa, about 550 km, in 2021. We’ve continued the journey since. Last year, we hiked across the Alps and now we’re planning more such excursions,” she said.

These experiences, she shared, leave her with a powerful blend of emotions which she struggles to express in words.

Phulkari president Meenakshi Khanna said, “As women, we are often overly critical of ourselves, too cautious to create disruption, even when silence comes at our own expense. This session was very close to our hearts.”

Khanna also highlighted a major milestone achieved by Conquer Cancer, which has conducted 198 seminars, organised 17 screening camps, screened 1,418 women and educated more than seven lakh women.