letter – Haniel's Blog

” Those were the days…”, my father fondly reminisces the days he would wait for a letter from a friend or a relative. Though he uses all kinds of modern communication platforms today, I can see the excitement and happiness when he talks about those letters from of his friends or family. “What is so special about a letter?”, I used to think. Little did I think about the drama that would take place between two consecutive letters. My dad still treasures his letters. I had the chance to go through some of it. With my dad’s permission, I am sharing one of the letters that I found interesting. This is a letter from my grandmother to my grandfather, who was working away from home. My father and his siblings have chipped in to add more details to the letter.

To,
Mr. D.M.A. Moni D’chas G, Rowziz,
Sanitary Offficer,
Tiruvarur Muncipality,
Tiruvarur P.O
Tanjore Dist.

From,
A. Retna Bai Moni

5-12-1969

My Dear father,

I am fine here. I hope that you too are doing well there. These days, I am attending tutorial regularly. I am studying part – III there. Part – I, I am studying from home. My fever has completely come down. I just have cold now.

I have started studying seriously from this week. I sleep by 9.00 or 9.30 at night. But, I wake up around 4:30 in the morning, brush my teeth, drink two cups of water and start to study. I won’t sleep after that, so I study well now. I am having a very few number of shirts. Please buy 2 or 3 shirts, 2 dhotis and 2 vests when you come.

Hoping for your long and fruitful life.

your son,
M.S.R Babu Daniel

To my Dearest husband,

All of us are doing well here. I am happy to know that you are doing well. Got 100 rupees and your letter. I am happy to know that you are coming soon. We have given 20 rupees in advance to Ponnupillai. There is nothing of great importance happening, so I end my letter here.

Hoping for our long and prosperous life in God.

Your loving wife,
A. Retna Bai Moni

My Dear father,

I am fine. I have come to know that you are doing well. We are going to embroidery classes regularly. I use the machine very well now.We need carlon paper and tracing paper to preserve the drawings we do for embroidering flowers. If we have a lot of tracing paper, we can make a book to preserve my drawings. I need a lot of white papers for note binding. If you have money buy these for me. We can talk about the other things when you come home.

yours loving daughter,
M.J.M Emiy Bai

4-12-1969
Authiviai

My Dear and affectionate father,

I am well. You are also well. I am very happy that you are doing well. Now I am studying well. I am studying well. I am studying well. I am studying Psalm Chapter – 119 .

Your affectionate and loving son,
M.S.K. Daniel Raja

Dear Papa,

We are doing good. We believe that you too are doing good in God’s name. It will be good if you can bring all the bottles, tins and bags when you come for X’mas holidays. I have started to learn my lessons. You should buy oil and cardamom if it is available there. Nothing more to say.

Your loving daughter,
Bai