Some of the books available for free reading on the website. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, July 25: If people across the globe have found social networking helpful to connect with friends and know more about each other, there are other advantages of the Internet connectivity that have been explored by a group of literature enthusiasts in the state.

To popularise Oriya literature, a team of translators from different walks of life, along with software experts, have been running a website for six years now. The website offers a free reading of Oriya novels and literary texts that have already been translated into English.

The website, www.grassrootsbooksindia.com, was started in 2005 by litterateurs and literature enthusiasts who used to publish translations in paperback editions to reach readers of different generations.

“We started off with publishing English translations of Oriya literature classics in 1985 which took a backseat until we revived it in 2003. But technology has a great advantage since it reaches anyone anywhere. Hence, we came up with the website,” says K.K. Mohapatra, translator and member of the team behind Grassroots Books India. The site offers at least 30 translated Oriya books that can be read online, including the first Oriya novel ever — Umesh Chandra Sarkar’s Padmamali translated by Snehaprava Das and Paul St Pierre. It also has the celebrated ancient Oriya text Laxmi Purana’s English translation by Lipipuspa Nayak. A number of compilations of poems and short stories by well-known authors of contemporary times such as Surendra Mohanty, Ramakant Rath and others are also available on the site. A visitor to the site can easily navigate through the books and read them on the site itself or download them. One can also write reviews of the translations.

“We have the translations by eminent litterateurs such as Ganeswar Mishra as well as young amateur translators who, after going through the site, offered to translate some works. We encourage their endeavours,” said Mohapatra.

“A reader also translated one of the English translations into Spanish,” he added. The site is maintained by a Bhubaneswar-based software group who have done it for gratis. “It is a matter of immense pleasure and pride for us. It is probably the largest website of Indian literature with free reading material. We update it as and when we get time,” said software professional Pradeep Kumar Tripathy, who designed the website. At present, many more books are in the pipeline to be loaded on to the site.

“We have received many patrons and advisors through the website. It helps in getting the attention of the younger generation of readers, who, once they enjoy the translated version, are sure to look into the original literature, leading to revival of popularity of Oriya literature,” said Mohapatra.