I am extremely delighted to have received this letter of appreciation from Sri O.N.V Kurup - the receipient of India's highest literary honour Jnanpith Award 2007/08 - upon reading my book "Stillness of Silence".
Sri ONV who is busy in his writing world could have easily read the book and put that aside, that too if he chose to read! He chose to honor my work by responding with a personal letter, and their lies his Highness!
I refer this to his 'highness' of character because of one bitter experience I had at the initial stage of compiling my writings, just a few months ago. Through an extremely sweet and good friend of mine, I had a chance to forward a few excerpts to a relatively unknown writer who seem to have published a few books locally, just so that I would get a finger to hold as I take my first writing-steps. With high expectations she herself recommended me that I forward it to him, for he is one who she knew as a writer, and all she wanted was to help me out to get a neutral review! Her friend - "Happy Dracula" as he was known - wrote back saying "these are mere ramblings and do not look like writings that may fly off". I experienced a moment of dejection then, dried throat, wet eyes and heavy chest! I didn't expect recognition then, and 'highness' of character is in perhaps coaching the less privileged to rise up to the standards, which is all what I expected; hold my hands to write those first cursive letters!!
What Sri O.N.V. did in writing his thoughts was that. In highlighting a few attributes of my writing in the last lines, he simply reinforced what I am good at, than highlighting what my writings are not and killing the aspirations in me. That is the difference between O.N.V and the "happy dracula" as he rightly named himself demonstrating great foresight of his own character.
I am immensely delighted this evening; I held the envelope of Sri O.N.V's letter with my hands shivering, heart skipping a beat or two, and ran through the words in one breath, skipping the words to the next with the curiosity to know what is in the next word, line, para! In a moment I thought, perhaps this is how Gods are made in the minds of men, sinful though the thought may be!!
I remember when my brother got his first boots to play football, he kept them beside his pillow when sleeping that night. If not for the fear of this letter wrinkling in my hands, I would have held them on my chest tonight, while I sleep.
How a small and kind gesture can mean so much - so much more - in someone else's life!!!
Shahir
7 December, 2010
Sri ONV who is busy in his writing world could have easily read the book and put that aside, that too if he chose to read! He chose to honor my work by responding with a personal letter, and their lies his Highness!
I refer this to his 'highness' of character because of one bitter experience I had at the initial stage of compiling my writings, just a few months ago. Through an extremely sweet and good friend of mine, I had a chance to forward a few excerpts to a relatively unknown writer who seem to have published a few books locally, just so that I would get a finger to hold as I take my first writing-steps. With high expectations she herself recommended me that I forward it to him, for he is one who she knew as a writer, and all she wanted was to help me out to get a neutral review! Her friend - "Happy Dracula" as he was known - wrote back saying "these are mere ramblings and do not look like writings that may fly off". I experienced a moment of dejection then, dried throat, wet eyes and heavy chest! I didn't expect recognition then, and 'highness' of character is in perhaps coaching the less privileged to rise up to the standards, which is all what I expected; hold my hands to write those first cursive letters!!
What Sri O.N.V. did in writing his thoughts was that. In highlighting a few attributes of my writing in the last lines, he simply reinforced what I am good at, than highlighting what my writings are not and killing the aspirations in me. That is the difference between O.N.V and the "happy dracula" as he rightly named himself demonstrating great foresight of his own character.
I am immensely delighted this evening; I held the envelope of Sri O.N.V's letter with my hands shivering, heart skipping a beat or two, and ran through the words in one breath, skipping the words to the next with the curiosity to know what is in the next word, line, para! In a moment I thought, perhaps this is how Gods are made in the minds of men, sinful though the thought may be!!
I remember when my brother got his first boots to play football, he kept them beside his pillow when sleeping that night. If not for the fear of this letter wrinkling in my hands, I would have held them on my chest tonight, while I sleep.
How a small and kind gesture can mean so much - so much more - in someone else's life!!!
Shahir
7 December, 2010
