Mangalore: City Editor’s Ardent Plea Wins US Poetess Nobel Nomination

By Nina Rai Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
Inputs also from: Codell Rodriguez, The Southern

Mangalore, Sep 20: Joy Rainey King from Herrin, a small town in America, received a letter stating that she is nominated for a Nobel Prize for Literature by the Nobel Academy in Sweden. King though overjoyed at the news, was not all that surprised by this nomination. She already had some inkling, since Dr V S Skanda Prasad had been dropping frequent hints to her that he was going to recommend her name for nomination. She had in fact received the same nomination just three years ago.

Dr Prasad happens to be the editor of ‘Samvedana’ and the president of the Chetana Literary group located at 203, Kent Court, Old Kent Road, Pandeshwar in the city. Dr. Prasad had even sent her a copy of his letter of recommendation addressed to the Nobel Committee for Literature in Stockholm, Sweden, making a strong plea for her nomination. In his letter Dr Prasad admiringly referred to King as "one of the most prominent poets and writers of America."

Speaking exclusively to Daijiworld correspondent, Dr Prasad stated that what he liked best about her is that “she is a humanitarian poetess, who is deeply involved in child welfare” Moreover on a personal note he stated that he has known her for the past two years and stated that he intends to use her poetry in his bulletin ‘Samvedana.’

Giving details about King’s achievements he said that she has published 20 books on poetry for adults and has written six poems for children, for the Love Foundation, New York which is basically meant for chronically and terminally ill children, within St. Jude’s Child Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee’s Valley. These poems according to Dr Prasad are personalized for each child. And all song writers and musicians donate their services free to this foundation, so that there is no cost to the child or child’s family for treatment.

Moreover, King has mostly even been deeply inspired by nature, and also writes on matters of general interest such as natural disasters and calamities. Her verses are full of love for people and her poetry is a wonderful link to world culture, state her admirers.

King’s official biographer is the International Dictionary of Authors, which has translated her ‘Best Poems’ from the International Library of Poetry’ into Russian. In 1998 she won the “International Women of the Year 1998” Award. Her poetry has been translated and published in China, Croatia, Italy, India, Japan, Canada and Belgium, informed Dr Prasad. In 2002 King’s poems has earned her major awards such as the International Peace Prize at the United Cultural Convention in addition to several others worldwide.

King expressing her deep elation and happiness at receiving the nomination declared that if she did win, then she would be on top of the world. She in fact declared hopefully "I've already had so many things handed to me in life I've never expected, so who knows?"