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Time travels backwards as the Santoshabad Passenger lets out the first puff of smoke and chugs along the Kothuru Station. As Chintalavanka fills the window pane, you are caught in a pleasant warp. The history special is on the move and is one of the Telugu short stories translated into English in the latest book - 1947 Santoshabad Passenger and Other Short Stories by Dasu Krishnamoorty and Tamraparni Dasu.

At first glance, 83-year-old Krishnamoorty with his diminutive frame would hardly convince you that he is one half of the duo behind this impressive accomplishment. “I believe if you are not creative, you will fall into disuse. I wanted to remain relevant and be busy doing something,” he says with a smile. This former journalist is not new to the world of words. His stint as a professor helped him to connect to the younger generation. When he moved to the US, he found a new avocation in the form of ‘literary voices of India', a New Jersey-based web monthly magazine promoted by him and his daughter Tamraparni, a senior researcher.

The anthology of Telugu short stories translated in English has been brought out as a tribute to the Centenary Year of the Telugu short stories. “Most of the youngsters are ignorant about Telugu literature. The aim was to fill the cultural gap and make a generation of English readers aware of some great Telugu authors,” says Krishnamoorty. If you are acquainted with Telugu literature, the book will take you to a familiar territory after reading the stories by writers like Chalam, Rachakonda Viswanatha Sastri and Abburi Chaya Devi. Krishnamoorty says care has been taken to translate the stories in its spirit and not just in letter. “For example, in Syed Saleem's Talaak, the main character is a dramatist, who stages plays. We began describing the theatre, aisle and lighting so that readers will have a better understanding,” says Krishnamoorty. However, the process of translation was not easy. “We have added details while introducing a character only with the permission of the authors. We would try to inform the writers so that they could tell us their objections, if any. Communication was a problem as most of the writers don't have an email account and very few who had, would hardly open their emails,” says Krishnamoorty, smiling. He also remembers the arguments he had with his daughter before making the final translation. A second anthology on minorities and the dalits is also under way. 1947 Santoshabad Passenger and Other Short Stories is published by Rupa & Co. and is priced at Rs. 195.