"Post Office" is a

Gujarati Gujarati may refer to: * something of, from, or related to Gujarat, a state of India * Gujarati people, the major ethnic group of Gujarat * Gujarati language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by them * Gujarati languages, the Western Indo-Aryan sub- ...

short story written by Indian writer Dhumketu (1892–1965). It was first published in 1923, and is considered Dhumketu's most famous and frequently anthologised short story. The story is about a father's affection for his daughter, and the apathetic bureaucracy of the local

post office A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...

. It is notable for its description, narrative, and dialogues.

Publication

"Post Office" was first published in the literary journal ''

Sahitya Sahitya literally means literature in Sanskrit. It is also used to refer to the lyrics of a Carnatic music Carnatic music, known as or in the Dravidian languages, South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with South ...

'' in 1923. It was later published in Dhumketu's first short story collection, ''Tankha'' () Vol. 1, in 1926.

Plot

The story takes place during wartime. The protagonist, Ali Coachman, was a legendary hunter in his early life, but he gives up hunting after his daughter Mariyam marries a soldier. Mariyam leaves her father and moves to Punjab with her husband. After that, Ali waits for a letter from Mariam and goes to the local post office every day before sunrise for five years. One day, when he realises that he might die soon, he gives five gold coins to the post office clerk Laxmidas, and asks him to deliver Mariyam's letter to his grave if it comes after his death. The postmaster and his staff make fun of Ali's daily routine. One day Ali stops coming to the post office, and the postmaster starts waiting for his daughter's letter. One day he notices a letter from Mariyam addressed to Ali. He goes to Ali's tomb with Laxmidas and places Mariam's letter on it.

Reception

Considered to be a landmark in Gujarati literature, "Post Office" is notable for its description, narrative and dialogues. It is the most famous and frequently anthologised short story of Dhumketu. The story was first translated into English by Dhumketu himself under the title "The Letter". Another English translation was done by Mira Naik under the title "Miriam's Letter".

References

{{reflist

External links

Post Office
at

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

(from ''Tanakha'', Vol 1)
English translation
by Jenny Bhatt
A poem about 'Post Office'
by Kamal Vora 1923 short stories Gujarati literature Indian short stories Short stories set in India