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BAHRAIN-BASED poet and author Nivedita Roy has been honoured for her literary prowess along with other writers from around the world in this year’s Independence Day Literary Awards.
As part of India’s 75th Independence Day celebrations, Motivational Strips – known as the world’s most active writer’s forum – and Gujarat Sahitya Academy honoured 440 poets and writers from 82 nations.
“I am overwhelmed,” said the Al Raja School teacher who lives in Adliya.
“It came as a pleasant surprise to me. I thank and praise God for these blessings. I am grateful to my parents who instilled the love of reading and writing in me.
“In the literary journey, it is the most satisfying moment when a writer, author or poet is recognised for his or her writing. The cherry on the icing is being recognised as the ONLY one from Bahrain, a country which has been my home for 18 years.”
Nivedita was awarded for her poetry and other literary works over the years; she has authored a book of her English poems and co-authored six anthologies in the last one-and-a-half years.
“Nivedita’s poems take you to unexplored zones covering philosophical, rational and practical themes,” said Motivational Strips founder Shiju H Pallithazheth.
“Her poems guarantee amusement and rational awakening in the readers.”
While Gujarat Sahitya Academy chairman Dr Vishnu Pandya said: “Nivedita’s dedication to poetry is vibrant and evident in her literary works.”
That stands true as writing gave her the therapy to heal after the tragic loss of her father, the late reverend Dr Komal Masih, and younger brother, Vinay Kant Komal, a few years back.
“Losing them had left me numbed,” said the mother-of-two.
“There is a deep-rooted pain and it was bottled up inside me as losing two strong pillars of my life was killing me within. I found solace in writing. Many of my poems are dedicated to both.”
She began to scribble her thoughts in diaries and then during lockdown, her scribbles flew straight from her heart and found shelter in a newly-created Facebook page. She then started her blog N-expressions11 on Facebook and Instagram in May 2020.
“Since then, there has been no looking back,” added the former radio jockey for an FM in the kingdom.
“I want to keep writing and I do want to try my hand at short story writing. Another thing that’s on my mind is a story book for children based on the values of life. I want my writing, my words to bring peace to distressed minds, reach across borders and be an instrument in global peace and harmony.”
Her first book, Gallery de’ Heart, features a collection of 35 English poems and was released last year on December 15.
“Each poem has been like a painting hanging in a frame in my heart’s gallery,” she said.
“Emotions have a direct connection with the heart and my poems touch the heart. These poems are brimming with human emotions.
“Parental love, romance, love for life, melancholy and inherent hope are a part of these poems. These are partially based on my life and mostly my observations of human behaviour, nature and life. Every age group can relate to my poems.
Also, it’s my tribute to my late father. I feel close to him when I write.”
Her second poetry collection in Hindi, Komal Ehsaas, which means gentle feelings or perceptions, is on its way to get published in India soon.
Nivedita thanks her husband Allen, daughter Aanya and son Alex for all their support and calls them her strength. She also is grateful to the GDN for publishing her poetry over the years.
“That has been a real encouragement in my journey,” she added.
“The fact that you are now recognising my achievement is a great moment. I am proud to represent India and Bahrain in the world.”
For details, follow @nexpressions11 on Instagram.
