A Letter to God

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Lesson-1   

Title: A Letter to God
Author: G.L. Fuentes

Plot Summary:
Lencho, a poor farmer living in a solitary house in a valley, eagerly awaits rain to nourish his cornfield. When rain finally arrives, it turns into a devastating hailstorm, destroying all his crops. Heartbroken but deeply faithful, Lencho writes a letter to God, requesting 100 pesos to replant his field and survive until the next harvest. He mails the letter addressed to “God.”

At the post office, the postman and postmaster are amused by Lencho’s letter. However, the postmaster, moved by Lencho’s unwavering faith, decides to help. He collects money from colleagues and friends, managing to gather 70 pesos, which he sends to Lencho under God’s name.

When Lencho receives the money, he is not surprised (due to his faith) but becomes furious, believing the post office employees stole the remaining 30 pesos. He writes another letter to God, accusing the postal workers of being “crooks” and requesting the rest of the money to be sent through another means.

Key Themes:

  • Faith vs. Human Nature: Lencho’s blind faith contrasts with the postmaster’s kindness.
  • Irony: The post office employees help Lencho but are labeled as thieves.
  • Conflict: Human struggle against nature (hailstorm) and societal distrust (Lencho’s suspicion).

हिंदी अनुवाद (Hindi Translation)

शीर्षक: ईश्वर को पत्र
लेखक: जी.एल. फ्यूएंटेस

कहानी सारांश:
लेन्चो, एक गरीब किसान, घाटी में अकेले रहता है और अपनी फसल के लिए बारिश का इंतज़ार करता है। बारिश तो आती है, लेकिन वह भयानक ओलावृष्टि में बदल जाती है, जो उसकी पूरी फसल नष्ट कर देती है। निराश लेन्चो, अपने गहरे विश्वास के कारण, ईश्वर को 100 पेसो माँगने वाला पत्र लिखता है ताकि वह दोबारा खेती कर सके। वह पत्र “ईश्वर” के नाम पोस्ट कर देता है।

पोस्ट ऑफिस में कर्मचारी इस पत्र को देखकर हँसते हैं, लेकिन पोस्टमास्टर लेन्चो की आस्था से प्रभावित होकर उसकी मदद करने का फैसला करता है। वह अपने सहकर्मियों और दोस्तों से पैसे इकट्ठा करके 70 पेसो भेजता है और हस्ताक्षर “ईश्वर” करता है।

जब लेन्चो को पैसे मिलते हैं, तो वह आश्चर्यचकित नहीं होता (अपने विश्वास के कारण), लेकिन गुस्सा हो जाता है। उसे लगता है कि पोस्ट ऑफिस के कर्मचारियों ने बाकी 30 पेसो चुरा लिए। वह ईश्वर को दूसरा पत्र लिखता है, जिसमें पोस्ट वालों को “बदमाश” बताता है और बचे हुए पैसे किसी और तरीके से भेजने की विनती करता है।

मुख्य संदेश:

  • आस्था बनाम मानवता: लेन्चो का अंधविश्वास पोस्टमास्टर की दयालुता के विपरीत है।
  • विडंबना: पोस्ट कर्मचारी मदद करते हैं, लेकिन चोर कहलाते हैं।
  • संघर्ष: प्रकृति (ओलावृष्टि) और समाज (अविश्वास) के खिलाफ मानव का संघर्ष।

Chapter Questions & Answers

Oral Comprehension Check

  1. Question: What did Lencho hope for?
    Answer: Lencho hoped for rain to nourish his ripe cornfield and ensure a good harvest.
  2. Question: Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?
    Answer: Lencho compared raindrops to “new coins” because rain meant a prosperous harvest, which would bring him money (like coins).
  3. Question: How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields?
    Answer: The rain turned into a destructive hailstorm. The hailstones destroyed Lencho’s entire cornfield, leaving nothing but barren land.
  4. Question: What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped?
    Answer: Lencho felt deep sorrow and despair. He lamented, “This year we will have no corn,” but clung to his faith in God’s help.

Thinking about the Text

  1. Question: Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentences in the story tell you this?
    Answer: Lencho has complete faith in God. Evidence:

    • “Don’t be so upset… help from God.”
    • “God could not have made a mistake.”
  2. Question: Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?
    Answer: The postmaster sends money to preserve Lencho’s faith in God. He signs as “God” to make the act believable and maintain Lencho’s trust.
  3. Question: Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Why not?
    Answer: No, Lencho never questioned the source. He believed only God could send the money, showing his unquestioning faith.
  4. Question: Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the situation?
    Answer: Lencho accuses the post office employees of stealing the money. Irony: The employees were kind helpers, yet Lencho labels them “crooks.”
  5. Question: Are there people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of a person would you say he is?
    Answer: Yes, people like Lencho exist. He is naive (trusts blindly) and unquestioning (does not doubt God’s actions).
  6. Question: How are the conflicts between humans vs. nature and humans vs. humans illustrated?
    Answer:

    • Human vs. Nature: The hailstorm destroys Lencho’s crops.
    • Human vs. Human: Lencho distrusts the post office staff despite their help.

Thinking about Language

I. Storm Names:

  1. Cyclone
  2. Gale
  3. Typhoon
  4. Tornado
  5. Hurricane
  6. Whirlwind

II. Match ‘Hope’ Meanings:

  1. – wanting something to happen
  2. – polite concern
  3. – feeling something good will happen
  4. – wishing despite unlikeliness
  5. – chance for something
  6. – stopped believing

III. Relative Clauses:

  1. I often go to Mumbai, which is the commercial capital of India.
  2. My mother, who cooks very well, is going to host a TV show.
  3. These sportspersons, whose performance has been excellent, will meet the President.
  4. Lencho prayed to God, whose eyes see into our minds.
  5. This man, whom I trusted, cheated me.

IV. Negative Sentences for Emphasis:

  1. Not a leaf remained on the trees.
  2. Never in his career had he known that address.
  3. The letter was addressed to God himself.. Remove star and give proper formatting without changing word

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