The Adiga tiger was prowling every newspaper the day I listened to a 21-year-old cub read out two of his short stories to a small audience. It was a clear, original voice. One of the words on the banner behind him caught my eye. "Promise", it said.

The banner belonged to Toto Funds the Arts, an organization that promotes talent in writing and music. On a table below it was a framed photo of a young man with long, curly hair and glasses: Angiras Vellani, pet-name Toto. His parents Sarita and Anmol Vellani started TFA in his memory and instituted an annual music award (Toto was a rock fan) six years ago. They added the writing category the following year. (Contact tfaindia@yahoo.com) TFA has been giving a platform to upcoming Indian poets and authors at monthly readings at the Crossword bookstore on Residency Road. It usually yokes two writers together, one relatively older or more experienced than the other. Last evening it was the turn of 40-year-old Jahnavi Baruua, whose first anthology of short stories will shortly be released by Penguin, and Rupayan Basu, a talented pianist in his final year of engineering.

The banner had others words strewn across it: Readings , Performances, Workshops (they sum up TFA's regular activities), as well as Hope, New Voices, Aspirations, and Awards. The last two words had better not be read together, I think. Aspiring to an award should be the last thing on a budding writer's mind. This is the problem with Bookers and such like. They take up unnecessary mind space in today's world where achievements are measured in terms of money and fame. Visions of publication can cloud or even mar inspiration. Prizes are of no consequence. As they say, writing is its own reward.