Guwahati: Penguin Random House will translate prominent Assamese literary works into English in collaboration with the Assam Publishers and Booksellers' Association .

The international publishing house has requested the association to carry out the primary selection of books for the first phase of publication, which will begin soon.

"Penguin Random House vice-president Nandan Jha made the proposal during his visit here for the inaugural ceremony of the 19th North East Book Fair. We will extend all help. Our aim is to promote the works of Assamese writers globally," Dhiraj Goswami, the general secretary of the association, which organises the book fair.

Goswami also requested Jha to help invite Nobel laureates to the book fair.

"Jha assured us of help in inviting Nobel laureates and internationally acclaimed writers so it can gain global recognition. Penguin also publishes books by young English writers from the Northeast. We have noticed an increasing market for English books in the region. So Penguin is interested to work here," he said.

On the need for copyright sharing, he said, "The state government should send delegates to international and national book fairs. If the copyright of a great Assamese literary work is shared with a foreign publishing house, it can get international exposure."

Penguin Random House spokesperson Pinaki Sarkar, said, "We have spoken to the association about the project. Our board of editors will select the books to be translated into English. We hope to provide exposure to Assamese literature through this initiative."