On The Nobel Prize

On The Nobel Prize

Wat a joy, delight to have your fancy, fantasy roaming so daringly even to the utmost impossible, unbelievable imaginations.

A very long time ago have I a cherished thought, that I always would remain the same, not become greater, nor smaller were people to praise or blame me, or awarded or not awarded me the Nobel Prize.

And I thought of all the trouble, agony, the wars of going to Oslo or Stockholm were I granted the Nobel Prize which does not make me a bit greater. A dog would never care for the Nobel Prize but I’m a man who does not want it – why flatter myself? - what if he is “forced” to. Could I have the courage to say no, to war when people,  VIP’s, even the president urge me to go, decline the most prestigious offer and disappoint the Nobel Prize comittee?

I’m so grateful, so lucky, that such a fate would, could never, ever befall me as I never aimed and never would be able to succeed. I’m happy without any granted prize whatever.

Then, how happy am I when unexpectedly to receive a reader’s letter, who thanked me warmly for my published writing. It doesn’t matter if I have no success in earning a lot of money, or never getting a Prize for Literature, but have success in a reader’s heart. That would make me feel like receiving a heavenly boon, gift. This is what I wrote in my Foreword, published in the bahasa Indonesia, 1996.

December 2011