A still from the gathering

Jinadevan came all the way from Lebanon for a boat trip in Kochi.

The mid-May afternoon was hot but he was excited at the prospect of meeting all those friends whom he had only interacted with at the Orkut community called Harisree which is primarily for lovers of literature.

Like Jinadevan, over 40 others came from different parts of the world to meet the people they have come to consider as family and celebrate the second anniversary of ‘Harisree’.

It was Mumbai-based Muraleedharan, originally from Kozhikode, who came up with the idea of Harisree. “I was thirsting to read and write in Malayalam,” he says. “I sought the company of Malayalis in order to know them and my Kerala.” He came to be known as ‘muthalali’ (owner) in the community.

From experienced writers like Ahmed Muinudeen to newbies like Hafiz and Harishankar, everyone has an important role to play in Harisree. “I started writing after joining this group with the support and encouragement of the others,” says Arumugham, who came from Bangalore.

Dhanya Mahendra published her book of poems called ‘Vazhimarangalude Smrithimandapangal’ after joining Harisree.

Uma Devi a.k.a. Indrasena, moderator of the group, says she is happy to have a forum where she could write freely in Malayalam. “I was tired of writing in English. With Harisree’s advent, it was a pleasure to rediscover the wonderful world of Malayalam literature again,” she says.

Everyone in the group is either a writer or aspires to be one. There are people from all walks of life including engineers, students, artists and doctors. In two years, the membership has grown from 15 to 1377.

Literature-loving Malayalis from all corners of the world like Sydney, UK, New Zealand, US and the Gulf countries have joined the group. While the youngest member is 11, the oldest is 70.

After the boat trip that lasted a few hours, when they talked, sang and recited poetry, they split, promising to return next year.