Bhubaneswar, Nov. 16: A new addition to the list of young writers from the state is designer Sujit Meher.

His debut novel Dreams Beyond Grades, which speaks about the importance of pursuing one's dreams, was published last month.

Meher hails from Kalahandi, which is touted as one of the most backward regions of the state. He has been popularising the fabrics of Odisha by fusing them with the western style. The book talks about his arduous journey from being a nondescript small town guy to a fashion designer and entrepreneur.

"I come from a region where people still struggle to meet the basic needs of life, where people don't dare to dream big and where people don't even know the contemporary meaning of fashion," said Meher, an alumnus of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bangalore.

"I want to tell the youth that if one really wishes something, no matter how difficult the situation is, one can achieve anything," he said.

Meher is at present working on a furnishing line by employing the Sambalpuri and Ikkat fabrics and designs. The collection will comprise cushion and sofa covers, bed covers and curtains.

"I love what I am doing and I do not want to take up writing as a profession. But, it is a great way to let my instincts and inhibitions flow," said 26-year-old Meher, whose latest collection includes a fusion of Sambalpuri handloom and Arabian clothing and was recently displayed in Bangalore.

The book is available in all major online sites across the globe and also available at major stores in India. "The book does not aim to speak about my achievements. I have been a backbencher all my life and through it I want to motivate people about the right ways to approach their life and the right people to meet to make a career in the field of designing," said Meher.

Earlier IIT-Bhubaneswar graduate Pramit Sarkar and Satyarth Nayak, a journalist from Cuttack, had come out with their books.

Pramit's debut novel The Last Surge, released a few months ago, is a tale of relationships. For him, writing books was the best way to take a break from his "mechanical" life.

"The life of engineers gets monotonous after a few months of getting into a job and if you love to write, it comes as a boon," he said.