Bhubaneswar, Sep 16: Odia literature has found a prominent space at the ongoing Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, with BK Publications emerging as the only publishing house from Odisha participating in the international literary event. The participation is being seen as an opportunity to take Odia books, writers and the state’s literary heritage to a wider global audience.
The book fair, which began on September 11 and will continue till September 18, has brought together publishers, authors and book lovers from across the world. BK Publications is showcasing a range of Odia literary works as well as English-language books at the event.
Publisher Bijay Kumar Mohapatra, who has represented Odisha at several international book fairs, including those in Berlin, Frankfurt, Italy, London and Sri Lanka, is leading the participation. He has also taken part in national book fairs in New Delhi, Kolkata, Patna, Guwahati, Kochi and Chennai.
The publishing house has brought out several works of Odia literature and hundreds of English classics. Among the notable Odia works published by it are Surendra Mohanty’s Nilashaila, Kahnu Charan Mohanty’s Kaa and autobiographical works of Gopinath Mohanty, Santanu Acharya and Janaki Ballabh Patnaik.
For Odias living in the UAE, the presence of a publishing house from home has added a strong emotional connect to the international event.
Chirag Dhawan, an Odisha-born book lover who is settled in Dubai due to his business, said he was delighted to see Odia literature being represented at such a major international platform.
“It feels wonderful to see a publishing house from Odisha at an international book fair in the UAE. For Odias living here, it is a matter of happiness and pride to see our language, literature and writers getting this kind of exposure. Many of us remain connected to Odisha through its books and culture, even while living abroad,” he said.
He added that such participation could also help introduce Odia writers and literature to younger generations of Odias growing up outside the state.
The Abu Dhabi event also comes against the backdrop of Odisha’s broader outreach in the UAE, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi recently leading a three-day investor outreach programme in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
According to the Odisha government, the visit resulted in investment proposals worth more than Rs 2.43 lakh crore across sectors. The outreach included 32 one-to-one investor meetings and round-table engagements and resulted in 24 MoUs and investment intents, officials said.
The proposed investments cover sectors including tourism, logistics, finance, processed food, critical minerals and rare earths, metals and mining, aluminium and steel downstream industries.
Majhi said the UAE visit had opened avenues for further foreign investment in Odisha and that the state was working towards diversifying its economy and achieving its target of becoming a USD 500-billion economy by 2036.
While the investor outreach focuses on economic ties, the participation of BK Publications at the Abu Dhabi Book Fair adds a cultural dimension to Odisha’s presence in the UAE.
For the state’s publishing sector, the international exposure provides an opportunity to connect with overseas readers, publishers and literary communities. For Odias abroad, it offers a chance to encounter familiar language and literature in a global setting.
As the book fair continues till September 18, BK Publications’ participation is also expected to strengthen efforts to place Odia literature on international platforms and create greater visibility for the state’s literary traditions.
