For Sushil Sharma, ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’.

Our Letter of the Week winner, Associate Professor Sharma, who is an Associate Professor of Meteorology at Fiji National University, believes that “a pen can provide warring nations with peace.”

He said: “A person can cause people to change their opinions for the entire nation and even for humanity, whereas a sword can only change a person’s opinion by force and then often only results in the person’s death.”

Associate Professor Sharma’s winning letter, ‘Diwali Tears’ was dedicated to his partner and to all others who have separated from their loved ones on Diwali night.

“Whenever I look at a pen the above narrative written by me in favour of the pen, is what drives me daily,” He said.

He lives in Drasa, Lautoka, with his mother. He says he loves to live in a village area.

He has been very active in writing for the past two years but he recalled himself as a writer since school days at Xavier College.

“My message to the nation and especially the poor –go buy a pen for 22 cents or so – that is all you need as an investment and overnight you can become the sensation of Fiji.”

Edited by Maraia Vula