'As I looked through the post, I found this letter. As I read it I felt rather irritated. This was what it said:
With blessings and felicitations,
My child, we are all well here. I have not had news from you for a very long time. I have to let you know that the two rupees and eleven annas you send each month for the daily worship at your house has always arrived on time. But at the moment everything is very expensive. A seer of good rice costs eight to ten annas at the Makhomhati market and a ripe banana sells at a paisa per piece. All things considered, it is impossible to do anything for less than six rupees a month. Do send six rupees from the following month. Our uncle Ramdhan Chakravarti has recently hurt his foot and is suffering greatly. Do convey our blessings to the daughters-in-law.
With blessings
Sri Harisadhan Devsharman
Village Bahirgachi
Zilla Bardhaman
*
After a while I heard my elder brother's footsteps as he came back from his walk. I said to the clerk, 'Call my brother. I think he is in the office.
My brother came and asked - What is it?
- Look Hari Bhatchaj has written from the village that if we do not send six rupees per month from now he will not do the pujas.
My brother read the letter and frowned - Oh! Black marketing in the name of religion! We are giving the money out of compassion. The family home is there only in name, we never go there; relatives enjoy the use of the house. Fine, if he does not want to do the pujas he does not have to! Stop sending the money completely from the following month. Why have a griha devata if there is no griha?
That is what I did. No money was sent for two months; not even a letter.
After two months there was another letter from the village. I opened the envelope to read:
With blessings and felicitations,
This letter informs you that all is well. I have to write that it is not clear why the two rupees and eleven annas you send for the family pujas has been discontinued for the past two months. We are your family's priests. We are now reduced to poverty. The money you sent was necessary not only for the idol but also for our sustenance. Please do not delay sending the money any further. Our uncle is now better. Please send a money order as soon as you receive this letter. Give my blessings to the daughters-in-law.
With blessings
Sri Harisadhan Devsharman
Village Bahirgachi
Zilla Bardhaman
*
I read this letter out to my elder brother who said - Send the money. They have been taught a lesson. Black marketing in the name of religion!
Later that day, my nephew Subhendu came from the city. I saw his expensive clothes and asked - Where did you get this? How much did you have to pay?
Subhendu was studying at Presidency College. He was the eldest son and a rather vain young man. He smiled and asked me - Uncle, how much do you think I paid for it?
How should I know? We are old people. These used to sell for five to six rupees.
Each one is now thirty rupees. That too I had to buy secretly after dark from a shop. Not everyone sells these. Look at the gold thread worked border -
My brother too came and had a look. We were both pleased with Subhendu's nose for a great buy.'
With blessings and felicitations,
My child, we are all well here. I have not had news from you for a very long time. I have to let you know that the two rupees and eleven annas you send each month for the daily worship at your house has always arrived on time. But at the moment everything is very expensive. A seer of good rice costs eight to ten annas at the Makhomhati market and a ripe banana sells at a paisa per piece. All things considered, it is impossible to do anything for less than six rupees a month. Do send six rupees from the following month. Our uncle Ramdhan Chakravarti has recently hurt his foot and is suffering greatly. Do convey our blessings to the daughters-in-law.
With blessings
Sri Harisadhan Devsharman
Village Bahirgachi
Zilla Bardhaman
*
After a while I heard my elder brother's footsteps as he came back from his walk. I said to the clerk, 'Call my brother. I think he is in the office.
My brother came and asked - What is it?
- Look Hari Bhatchaj has written from the village that if we do not send six rupees per month from now he will not do the pujas.
My brother read the letter and frowned - Oh! Black marketing in the name of religion! We are giving the money out of compassion. The family home is there only in name, we never go there; relatives enjoy the use of the house. Fine, if he does not want to do the pujas he does not have to! Stop sending the money completely from the following month. Why have a griha devata if there is no griha?
That is what I did. No money was sent for two months; not even a letter.
After two months there was another letter from the village. I opened the envelope to read:
With blessings and felicitations,
This letter informs you that all is well. I have to write that it is not clear why the two rupees and eleven annas you send for the family pujas has been discontinued for the past two months. We are your family's priests. We are now reduced to poverty. The money you sent was necessary not only for the idol but also for our sustenance. Please do not delay sending the money any further. Our uncle is now better. Please send a money order as soon as you receive this letter. Give my blessings to the daughters-in-law.
With blessings
Sri Harisadhan Devsharman
Village Bahirgachi
Zilla Bardhaman
*
I read this letter out to my elder brother who said - Send the money. They have been taught a lesson. Black marketing in the name of religion!
Later that day, my nephew Subhendu came from the city. I saw his expensive clothes and asked - Where did you get this? How much did you have to pay?
Subhendu was studying at Presidency College. He was the eldest son and a rather vain young man. He smiled and asked me - Uncle, how much do you think I paid for it?
How should I know? We are old people. These used to sell for five to six rupees.
Each one is now thirty rupees. That too I had to buy secretly after dark from a shop. Not everyone sells these. Look at the gold thread worked border -
My brother too came and had a look. We were both pleased with Subhendu's nose for a great buy.'
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