A Letter To God

G L Fuentes

Introduction

This is an inspiring story of a hard-working farmer. His name is Lencho. He has firm faith in god. He needs pelting for his crops. But the heavy hailstone ruins his crops completely. Finding no way out he writes a letter to god. He requested four hundred hundred pesos otherwise his family would die of hunger. The postmaster opens the letter in order not to shake his faith in god. He collects money he sends it by signing as a god but Lencho feels angry. He writes again to god to send the remaining money, not through the mail

👉  Chapter 1:- A Letter To God NCERT Textbook PDF 

Summary

Characters and places

Lencho- hard-working farmer

2.   Family of Lencho- his wife and sons

3.   A low hill in the valley

Lencho keenly waited for rain - Lencho was a hardworking farmer. His house was situated at a low hill in the valley. From the cliff, he could see the crops and the river. He believed that he would have a good harvest but his crops needed a shower. In the morning Lencho was looking at the sky.

 

Falling of hailstone- during the meal, drops of rain began to fall. The air was fresh and sweet. He came outside to feel the rain on his body. He was happy. He called them new coins. Very soon his feet were full of rain. But suddenly the rain turned into a large hailstone. Ii it hailed for an hour. It was a garden, house, the hillside, the field had heavy hauling. It looked as if it were covered with salt. Hardly there was a leaf on the tree. His corn was totally ruined Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness he spoke that they would all go hungry.

 

Lencho's only hope- eventual was deeply troubled at heart. He uttered that there was none to help them. The help from God was the only hope for the residents. Lencho believed that God sees everything. He would not let them die of hunger.

 

Letter to god- the following Sunday Lencho went to the post office. Lencho write a letter to almighty that he requires 100 pesos to sow his field again and to live until the crop grows. 

 

Receiving the letter- a postman got this letter and laughed heartily on seeing the address he showed it to the postmaster. The postmaster was a very friendly man on seeing the letter he became serious he remarked about the writer’s great faith in the god in order not to shake the writers with the postmaster decided to answer the letter he collected money from his employees and friends he gave some part of his salary but he could not get the hundred pesos. We addressed Lencho, a little more than half money in an envelope. He put the signature god.

 

Lencho's reaction- the next Sunday lunch you reached the post office somewhat earlier he asked for his letter the postman give him the letter the postmaster was watching everything Lencho was very much confident of god's help immediately he opens the letter and found the money but he became angry about finding less money he remarked that god could not make such a mistake of sending in less money.

 

Post office employees and a bunch of crooks- immediately Lencho went up to the window, he wrote a letter, fixed a stamp and put it into the mailbox. The postmaster went to open it. He read the letter and it said god only 70 pesos have reached and dispatch the rest not through the mail services because post office employees are a bunch of crooks.

हिंदी सारांश

 

1.       लैंचो- एक मेहनत कश किसान

2.      लैंचो का परिवार- उसकी पत्नी और बच्चे

3.      घाटी में एक नीची पहाड़ी 

वर्षा के लिए लैंचोकी तीव्र प्रतिक्षा:- लैंचो एक मेहनत कस किसान था उसका घर एक घाटी में एक नीचे पहाड़ी पर स्थित था ऊंचाई से अपनी फसलों और बहती हुई नदी को देख सकता था उसे एक अच्छी फसल की आशा थी परंतु धरती को वर्षा की आवश्यकता थी सुबह से ही लैंचो आसमान की ओर देख रहा था दोपहर के भोजन के समय उसने अपनी पत्नी को कहा था आज वर्षा होगी|

ओलो का गिरना भोजन खाते समय, वर्षा की भारी भारी बूंदें गिरने लगी हवा ताजी और मधुर थी लैंचो अपने शरीर पर वर्षा का अनुभव करने बाहर आया वह खुश था उसने वर्षा को नए सिक्के कहकर पुकारा बहुत शीघ्र ही उसका खेत जल से भर गया परंतु अचानक बरसात बड़े-बड़े ओलों में परिवर्तित हो गई 1 घंटे लगातार ओले गिरे उस का बगीचा, घर, पहाड़ी, खेत पर भारी मात्रा में ओले गिरे | ऐसा लगा मानो यह सभी कुछ नमक से आच्छादित है | पेड़ों पर कोई एक पत्ता भी नहीं रहा| फसल पूर्णतया बर्बाद हो गई| लैंचो की आत्मा में उदासी छा गई उसने कहा कि वे सभी भूखे रहेंगे |

 

लैंचो की केवल एक आशा:- -लैंचो का दिल अति दुखी था उसने कहा कि अब कोई भी सहायता करने वाला नहीं है | घाटी के सभी निवासियों को केवल एक ही आशा थी | यह भगवान की सहायता थी लांचर ने कहा लोग कहते हैं कि कोई भी भूख से नहीं मरता है| सारी रात केवल एक ही आशा भगवान से सहायता ,के विषय में सोचता रहा| वह आश्वस्त था भगवान की आंखें सब कुछ देखती है जो कुछ भी हमारी आत्मा की गहराई में क्यों न छुपा हो वह उन्हें भूखा नहीं मरने देगा |

 

प्रभु को पत्र:-- अगले रविवार लैंचो डाकघर गया| उसने एक पत्र ईश्वर को लिखा उसने लिखा प्रभु अगर आप मेरी सहायता नहीं करेंगे तो मैं और मेरा परिवार इस वर्ष भूखा मर जाएगा | मुझे अपने खेतों में पुनः बीज बोने और अगली फसल के आने तक जिंदा रहने के लिए एक सौ पीसोस चाहिए | उन्होंने सब कुछ बर्बाद कर दिया है | उसने पत्र पर भगवान का पता लिखा एक टिकट लिफाफे पर चिपकाए और लेटर बॉक्स में डाल दिया|

 

पत्र की प्राप्ति:-- यह पत्र डाकिए को प्राप्त हुआ और पत्ते को देखकर खूब जोर से हंसा उसने इस पत्र को डाकपाल को दिखाया| डाकपाल एक अत्यंत ही सहृदय व्यक्ति था | पत्र को देखकर वह कुछ गंभीर हो गया उसने लेखक का भगवान के प्रति गहन विश्वास को देखकर टिप्पणी की| लेखक के भगवान के प्रति आस्था ना डगमगा जाए इसलिए डाकपाल ने पत्र का उत्तर देने का निश्चय किया| उसने धन अपने कर्मचारियों और मित्रों को इकट्ठा किया उसने अपने वेतन का कुछ हिस्सा दिया| परंतु वह एक सौ पीसो इकट्ठा नहीं कर पाया यह धन आधे से कुछ अधिक था अतः उसने धन को लिफाफे में रखा और लेंसों के पते पर भेजा उसने भगवान के हस्ताक्षर कर दिए |

 

लैंचो की प्रतिक्रिया:-- अगले रविवार लैंचो डाकघर कुछ पहले ही पहुंचा| उसने अपने पत्र के विषय में पूछा डाकिया ने पत्र दिया| डाकपाल सब कुछ देख रहा था लैंचो को भगवान की सहायता का अत्यधिक विश्वास था तुरंत ही उसने लिफाफा खोला और धन को पाया | परंतु कम धन पाकर वह नाराज हो गया| उसने कहा कि भगवान इतना कम धन भेजने की गलती नहीं कर सकता है |

 

डाकघर के कर्मचारी ठगों का समूह:-- तुरंत ही लैंचो खिड़की पर पहुंचा| उसने पत्र लिखा, उस पर डाक टिकट चिपकाए और उसे लेटर बॉक्स में डाल दिया| डाकपाल स्वयं उस पत्र को लेने तथा खोलने गया| उसने पत्र को पढ़ा इसमें लिखा था “ प्रभु केवल मेरे पास 70 पीस ओ पहुंची है| से धन भी भेज देना इन्हें डाक से नहीं क्योंकि दा के कर्मचारी तो ठगों का समूह है “|

 

 

Word meaning

 

Move- melt, shake पिघलना, हिलाना | delicately- politely मधुरता से | ruined- destroyed बर्बाद होना | appropriate- correct उचित | acknowledgment- receipt प्राप्ति | entire - complete संपूर्ण | crest- hilltop शिखर | dotted- spotted जगह-जगह बने हुए निशान | harvest- crop फसल | needed- required आवश्यकता होना | downpour- rain वर्षा | throughout- complete संपूर्ण | supper- meal of noon दोपहर का खाना |replied- answered उत्तर दिया | predicted- announced घोषणा की huge- heavy मोटे मोटे विशाल | approaching -coming आना | explained- said with surprise हैरानी से कहना | pieces- टुकड़े | satisfied-contended संतुष्ट | expression- feelings चिन्ह भावनाएं | draped in- covered with आच्छादित होना | exposing -showing outwardlyबाहर निकले हुए | totally - completely पूर्ण रूप से | upset- troubled व्यथितहोना plague of locust- insects that fly in big number and destroy crops टिड्डियों का दल| hailstone- frozen drops of rainwater ओले| instructed- taught सिखाया गया | contentment - satisfaction संतोष | conscience- soul, in most thought आत्मा, अंतः करण | denied- refused मना किया | stuck- fix अडिग ox of a man- hard working कठिन परिश्रमी | daybreak- early in the morning दिन निकलना, भोर| pesos- Latin America currency अमेरिका की मुद्रा | dropped- put डालना | amiable- friendly and pleasant मिलनसार | tapping- beating थपथपाते हुए | commented- remarked टिप्पणी की | correspondence- writing a letter पत्र व्यवहार | resolution - decision निर्णय | containing- having रखना following -next अगले | performed- done किया | slightest - a little थोड़ा सा | confidence- belief विश्वास | proposal suggestion सुझाव | regarded- look that देखा | wrinkling- fold of skin सिलवटें, झुर्रियां |solitary alone अकेली | bunch of crooks- a group of dishonest person धूर्तों की टोली |

 

Questions/answers

 

Oral comprehension check

 Q1. What did Lencho hope for?

Ans. Lencho hopes to get some rain from the sky.

 

Q2. In what way raindrops are referred to new coins by Lencho?

Ans. The raindrops were like new coins. It was because the raindrops caused a good harvest. He would sell it and receive more money. So he called the raindrops like ‘new coins”

 

Q 3. How did the rain change? what happened to Lencho’s field? 

Ans. Lencho referred to the rain as new coins. It was because the raindrops caused a good harvest. He would sell it and receive more money. So he called the new coins

 

Q 4. What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped?

Ans. When the hail stopped, Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness. He was very much troubled. His corn was totally destroyed. 

 

Oral comprehension check

 Q 1. Who or what did Lencho have belief in? What did he do?

Ans.  Lencho had a belief in god. He trusted that god would help everyone.

 

Q 2. Who read the letter?

Ans. Postmaster read the letter.

 

Q 3. What did the postmaster do then?

Ans. The postmaster burst into laughter on seeing the deep faith of Lencho in god. He collected the money from his employees. He even gave part of his salary.

 

 Oral comprehension check 

 Q 1. Was Lencho astonished to find the money with the letter?

Ans. Lencho was not at all astonished to find the money with the letter.

 

Q 2. What made him angry?

Ans. Lencho was angry about counting the money since it was less than he had asked for. He had a deep faith that God could neither make a mistake nor could deny what was requested.

 

Thinking about the text

 Q1. Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Highlight sentences in the story that tells you this?

Ans. Lencho has complete faith in god. The following sentence tells us this:

 1. Lencho thought only of one hope - the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, what is deep in one's ‘conscience’.

 2. Lencho wrote to god that his family will die of hunger this year. 

 

 Q2. Postmaster sent money to Lencho, why? Why did the postmaster sign the letter by the name of “god”?

Ans. The postmaster was a very generous fellow. In order to shake Lencho’s faith in God, he collected money from his employees. He too contributed his part of his salary because he could not gather a hundred pesos himself. The postmaster signed the letter” god” lest Lencho should not think that money had not been sent by god. 

 

Q3. Did Lencho try to figure out who had sent money to him? Why? Why not?

Ans. Lencho was both a simple and hardworking farmer. He had firm faith in god. So he did not try to find out who had sent the money.

 

Q4. Who has taken the rest of the money according to Lencho? What is the irony in this case?

Ans. Lencho had thought that the rest of the money has been taken by post office employees. He believed that God could not send him less money than he had asked for. The irony here is that the money has been collected and paid by the post office employees. He does not believe in them. He mentions a bunch of crooks.

 

Q5. Do people like Lencho exist in the real world? What is the character of Lencho’s personality? You may select appropriate words from the given below to answer the questions.

Greedy, native, stupid, ungrateful, selfish, comical, unquestioning.

Ans. In India, one can find many people like Lencho in the real world. In the true sense, Lencho is a simple-minded fellow, he is quite ignorant of worldly events. Like and innocent person, he has firm faith in god. He thinks “God sees everything, even what is deep in one conscience”, he is a hardworking person. He lives with his family on a hill. The following words are selected to describe Lencho: - native, comical, unquestioning

 

Q6. Two kinds of conflict occur in the story between nature and humans, also between humans themselves. Illustrate?

Ans. Two kinds of conflict in the story namely: -

 1. Between humans and nature 

2. Between humans themselves. 

Between humans and nature: -- Lencho is a hardworking farmer. He needs a shower for his crop. He waits for the rain to come by chance the rain starts pouring with hailstone. It hailed heavily. His field was covered with ice. the crop was totally destroyed. There was hardly any leaf on the tree. She was totally upset. This is one conflict.

Between humans themselves: -- after complete destruction, Lencho writes a letter to god for money. The postmaster opens the letter addressed to god. In order not to say the writer's faith in God, he collects money from his employees. He sends more than half to Lencho signed as a god. Receiving the money, Lencho gets angry. He writes again to god for the rest of the money. He requested to send him directly and not through the mail. He believes that the post office employees have taken some of his money. This is a conflict between humans themselves. 

 

Moral

The moral of the story is that always believe in God have faith in him. He will always save you from difficult times.