READING LITERARY CULTURE: Perspectives from Orissa

A mélange of surveys, introductions, essays, reviews and interviews, this unique book offers a window-view to some key cultural figures, historical moments, and issues in one of India’s fascinating locations ‘‘Orissa’’ whose rich and ancient literary heritage remains relatively obscure to the world outside. Between them the pieces here ably illustrate, contrary to popular misconception, how traditional as well as contemporary Oriya literature has been enriched by several extraordinary voices. Going by their intrinsic worth and cultural impact, and through the perspectives offered here, works such as those of Sarala Das, Jagannath Das, Fakir Mohan Senapati, Gopinath Mohanty, Kalindi Charan Panigrahi, Sachi Rautray, Basanta Kumari, Basanta Satpathy, Jayanta Mahapatra, Ramakanta Rath, Sitakant Mahapatra, JP, Pratibha Ray emerge as masterpieces, not only of Oriya or Indian, but world literature. This volume will be of interest to specialists as well as to a general readership.