It would be most remiss of me if I did not thank Rudy Otter for giving me five minutes of fame (AV 27 May) and bringing my achievements into the limelight! One correction though, I have to date written 355 letters and not just 290 as he says. I aspire to make the magical figure of 500 before I finally put my feet up.
As for the award ceremony, unlike other similar weeklies, ABPL is well known for recognising and rewarding talent. It organises many award ceremonies viz the Asian Achievers Award, Asian Charities awards etc (Perhaps the editorial board would elaborate on this here). So what is wrong in having a get together of writers in order that we can put a face to the names that we are so familiar with?
While we are at this social occasion, I feel, and other writers including the ABPL Board, agree with me that we can make this a unique occasion by rewarding talent. I have made this get together my fait accompli. Some of the frequent letter writers, having written books, poems and been editors of other magazines, have other feathers in their caps too! Alas! Someone like Mr Otter, having written only a letter and a half, would not be eligible for an award from the publisher/ editor Mr C B Patel. Sour grapes! Mr Kapadia will also be excluded as having nothing original of his own to say, he latches onto my ideas!
Dinesh Sheth
Newbury Park, Ilford
