Bhubaneswar, Oct 5: An electronic compilation of the works of Odia writer Jagannath Prasad Das was released here yesterday.

His entire literary canon, including poems, plays, short story collections and other writings have been put together in the compact disc (CD).

His writings in English - 11 translated poems, eight short stories, six plays and a novel - have been preserved in the collection. His only Odia novel - Desh Kaal Patra - a fictional account of Odisha in the second half of the 19th century is also on the CD.

The collection also contains the children stories collection that he had written in Odia, Hindi and English. A number of articles and interviews published on the author have also been preserved.

An initiative by city-based organisation Srujanika, it aims to preserve the works of prominent Odia writers in electronic forms to make them easily available to readers and suitable for scholarly research.

"The pioneering works of our writers form a major part of the future of our literary heritage. Hence, one of the best ways to maintain them is through electronic literature. It increases the lifespan of literature and acts as an excellent medium of preservation at museums," said Jeeban Panda from Srujanika.

A student activist in the 1950s and a civil servant during the 60s and 70s, J.P. Das - as he is popularly known in the state - earned critical acclaim for his plays, including Sundardas, Before the Sunset, The Underdog and Absurd Play.

Most of his works focused on the unchanging and eternal factors that shape human relationships and the political scenario of the times.

In February this year, the group had released an electronic compilation of the works of another noted Odia writer Bamacharan Mitra. Around 90 short stories and essays written by the author, along with the three novels that he had translated to Odia were preserved on the disc.

The group is in the early stages of digitising the compiled works of Odia poet Mayadhar Mansingh and Odia playwright Gopal Chhotray.

"The contribution of these writers to the literary scenario of the state has been immense. The electronic version of the works of such eminent writers would enhance its reach and showcase the rich heritage of Odia literature," said Panda.