Class – X

1. Class – X THE LETTER

2. CharactersAliLakshmi Das The Postmaster Miriam GokulBhai & other officials

3. Ali Past Present and successful Co hmcanskilled hunter kind sharp – eyes a true picture of boundless faith and love cruel indefinite patients no value for relationship determined life changed after daughter’s coming to post office marriage regularly for five years hopeful silently bore the taunts died unsung and unfulfilled

4. Postmaster Past Present haughty loving arrogant caring unfeeling official understands Ali’s feelings inexpressive face tortured by doubt and remorse short tempered no longer ill – tempered called Ali ‘a pest’ called Ali ‘a brother’Laskshmi Das:-clerk at post office by profession fear of God fulfilled promise decent fellow relived from burden

5. Miriam:-Ali’s daughter married to a soldier into his regiment in the panjab no contact with Ali from last five years her seperation changed Ali’s life totallyGokulBhai and other officials:-unfeeling person called Ali ‘a mad’ unconcerned with Ali’s feelings lacked humanity made fun of Ali

6. ` Postmaster Lakshmi Das clerk Ali daughter clerk GokalBhai and other officials Miriam

7. Phases TAli was going to post office The clerks and other officials made fun of him Post of Ali (hunter in a jungle) Miriam’s marriage – turning point of life Postmaster’s rude attitude and calling Ali ‘a pest’ Ali’s last visit (Lakshmi Das gold guinea Post master’s ajony Ali’s appearance as a ghost Post master and Lakshmi Das placing letter on Ali’s grave

8. SummaryOld Coachman Ali could be seen going along the road early in the morning. On such chilly mornings people would be lying asleep wrapped in silence. Pulling his tattered clothes and shivering in cold, he walked tiredly supporting himself on his old stick. After sometime, he reached the building of post office for others, it had become a place of pilgrimage for Ali. He would arrive there early in the morning everyday and occupy a particular seat in a particular corner of the Varandah. He had been waiting there anxiously for a letter from his employees made fun of him. Even though there was no letter for him, they would call out his name for the fun of seeing him jump up and come to the door. But with boundless faith and infinite pafience, he came everyday and went away empty – handed. In his youth, Ali had been a clever hunter. He had became very skilled in and habitual of hunting. He was a fine pointman also. No sooner did he see a bird or animal than it would be as good as in his bag. But now the evening of his life was drawing in. He had left his old ways.

9. Ali’s only child Miriam had married and left him. For the least five years. Ali had no news of his daughter for whom he had been living then. He could no longer enjoy the old pleasure of his hunting days. He came to know that grief of separation was unavoidable from that day he used to come around five every morning to the post-office to receive a letter from Miriam. One day the post master asked his colleagues if that man was mad. A clerk replied that he had been coming there everyday but he hadn’t got any letter. The postmaster was convinced that the man was really mad. For several days Ali did not come to the post office. No one tried to guess the reason. At last he came again and could not breathe properly. He asked postman about Miriam’s letter. The postmaster lost his temper and called Ali ‘a pest’ and asked him to go away. Ali came out but eyes had exhausted.Ali gave five golden guineas to a clerk Lakshmi Das and requested him to deliver his daughter’s letter at his grave after his death. Ali told him that it was his last day on earth. Ali was never seen again.One day, trouble come to the postmaster. His daughter lay ill in another town. He was anxiously waiting for news of her but there was no letter seeing the mail, he found one letter addressed to Ali was shocked. He called the clerk Lakshmi Das and told him to search for Ali and give him that letter.

10. The postmaster remained worried all night for his daughter news. He got up at 3 at night and went to sit in the post-office. Then he understand Ali’s feelings. As the stroke of five, he heard a soft knock on the door and found Ali bent double with age. But he seemed unearthly. The postmaster shrank back in fear and astonishment. Soon he disappeared. In the meantime Lakshmi Das came and told him that the old Ali had died three years ago. He was surprised as Miriam’s letter was lying near the desk. Then Lakshmi Das narrated the last into.Now a change came in his attitude. That evening both the Postmaster and Lakshmi Das went to Ali’s grave. They laid the letter on it and turned back. The postmaster now realised and understood Ali’s anxiety. He was tortured by doubt and remorse. He sat in his chair to wait for the news of his daughter. Key Words:-Cheerless existence - dull lifeBewildered terror - terrifying fearMake a game of him - made fun ofPest - an annoying personHaughty temper - proud naturePrecious relic - a valuable object, custom or belief surviving from an earlier lame a game of him - making fun of a person (Ali)Tortured by remorse - troubled by regret