My submission for the Guyana Prize

Sep 25, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
I see the Guyana Prize for Literature has been awarded, which is why I am now writing this letter.
On December 8, 2010 from the Anna Regina Post Office I sent by registered parcel post to the Secretary of the Management Committee of the Guyana Prize for Literature, at the address as published in the newspaper, a parcel containing six copies of my published first novel ‘A Little Hut in Heaven’.
I also submitted the submission form duly filled out, asking that my novel, a work of fiction, be considered for the Guyana Prize. I received no acknowledgement of receipt.
On January 10, 2011, by registered post again I sent a letter to Mr. Al Creighton enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope and a blank sheet of paper asking that Mr. Creighton drop me a line saying whether or not the parcel was received. Both the parcel and that letter seemed to have fallen into a black hole, as onto now there is not the slightest indication that he or anybody else has received or seen them.
I would like to know what happened to my entry. Maybe it is not the type of novel that could win the prize, because admittedly it is for adult reading, and it commenced with a scene out of the Hindu religion, which in Guyana is yet verboten.
Then it is not in the usual Guyanese literary format. It is not about slavery or indentured labor, and there is nothing about jumble or old hige or moongazer or dead Dutchmen in it.
It seeks to tell the story of life in Guyana from the early sixties to the date of death of Dr. Jagan. It is seen through the eyes of two neighboring families, one East Indian, and the other African and their immediate friends. There is a running commentary on the political evolution of the country during that period.
I think there are people who will not like how I painted the characters of the two main leaders. There is sex in it as I tried to show the behavior of women following their liberation, and the jettisoning of the old concept of sexual exclusivity in marriage. I even tried to suggest a new kind of marital behaviour, to ease the growing problem of domestic violence. There are discussions on many topics of
interest, all done by the characters themselves in the novel, and here again some people may not like what they read.
So I know the book could be regarded as controversial. If it is not the kind the judges or Mr. Creighton like they could at least drop me a line saying so and offer some constructive comments that could guide me in my next effort.
Hope one of them sees this letter, or if it is brought to the attention of Mr. Creighton he could now send me a reply.
Kumar Doobay

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My submission for the Guyana Prize

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