The Big Book

The Big Book of Odia Literature is a groundbreaking work that provides readers with a comprehensive introduction to the rich and varied literary traditions of Odisha

- Kamalakar Bhat

CULTURES always sought ways to transcend linguistic barriers, transmitting their literary and artistic light beyond borders. Translation has long been the vehicle for this exchange, allowing readers to experience the flavours of other cultures, satisfy curiosity and a thirst for new perspectives.

In India, as elsewhere, literary translation has been an essential tool in this civilisational dialogue, offering insights into diverse communities. Anthologies of translated works, in particular, play a crucial role in introducing non-specialist readers to a broad spectrum of voices from different cultures.

While there is no shortage of anthologies featuring Indian literature, it is rare for collections to transcend the boundaries of a single language. Recent publications have started to break this mould, notably Abhay K’s The Book of Bihari Literature (HarperCollins, 2022) and now The Big Book of Odia Literature (Penguin, 2023), edited by the renowned poet and publisher Manu Dash. These anthologies stand out for their effort to present not just a single dominant language but the rich linguistic diversity of their respective regions. In doing so, they remind us that India is a profoundly multilingual society, where many languages, particularly those without state recognition, often go unrepresented in mainstream discourse.