Chapter 7: Carrier of Words

Suggested Answer:
1. They belong to the postal profession. They are postmen, postal workers, or mail carriers.
2. Yes, they may face difficulties such as heat, rain, long walking distances, difficult roads, remote locations, heavy mailbags and responsibility for delivering important messages on time.
3. Their profession affects people deeply because they carry letters, money orders, official documents and personal news. In remote areas, they become a trusted link between families and the outside world.

Suggested Answer:
1. Words can be carried through letters, postcards, messages, emails, phone calls, books, newspapers and spoken communication.
2. A postman, writer, messenger, teacher, speaker, journalist, storyteller or any person who communicates a message can be a carrier of words.
3. People stay connected through letters, telephones, mobile phones, emails, social media, video calls, newspapers, postal services and personal visits.

Answer:
We stepped out of the vehicle at the end of the road. Immediately, our body sent 1. signals that our decision to visit the sand 2. dunes in the afternoon was insane. We had passed a few 3. hamlets on our way to the desert. We could not find even a single soul outdoors, 4. defying the blazing sun. Even the camels were 5. slumped in the little shade offered by the khejri trees. In this remote place people relied on Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to connect to the world as the area was 6. devoid of any other network service.

Answer:

Answer: Khetaram has taken up this challenging job because it gives him an assured income in an arid region where farming is unreliable. A single crop of bajra cannot feed his family of five. The job also gives him dignity and allows him to serve people in remote desert villages.

Answer: Khetaram would feel tired because his job involves walking long distances through extreme heat and sandstorms. However, he would also feel proud, useful and grateful because his work connects people with their families and helps him support his own family.

Answer:

Answer: A piece of jaggery was offered as a simple gesture of happiness and gratitude when Khetaram brought good news of a birth or wedding. In the village, jaggery symbolised sweetness and celebration, even if people could not offer anything expensive.

Answer: Phone lines would help Khetaram become a Gramin Sanchar Sewak. He would then carry a cell phone along with the post and help people communicate faster from home to home. This would make his service more useful and efficient.

Answer:

(i) One crop of bajra makes a little difference for people like Khetaram because it cannot feed a family of five for the whole year.

(ii) Khetaram termed famine as “a way of life” because drought and shortage of food are common in the arid desert region where he lives.

(iii) Khetaram had to take up a job because farming alone could not support his family. His GDS job gave him regular income.

(iv) Other families: Money orders :: Khetaram: job / GDS salary.

(v) “A good year” would signify a year with enough rainfall to grow one crop of bajra.

Answer:

(i) The right corner of the envelope was most likely torn by B. Sender of the letter.

(ii) The most likely reason for Khetaram reading the letter twice is because he wanted to make sure that the message of death was clearly understood by the receiver.

(iii) Khetaram’s philosophy was that bad news should not be carried into the house and must be destroyed. He acted on this belief by standing outside, reading the letter twice and then tearing it to pieces.

(iv) False. Khetaram’s action of tearing the letter did not differ from his beliefs; it matched his belief that bad news must be destroyed.

(v) This extract reveals that Khetaram is sensitive, compassionate and philosophical.

1. Justify the statement made by the Postmaster-General, Rajasthan Western Region stating that the role of GDS is “invaluable”.
The role of Gramin Dak Sewaks is invaluable because they deliver mail in remote and interior areas where other means of communication and transport are difficult. In regions like the Thar desert, Khetaram walks long distances through heat, sand and rough terrain to connect people with their families. He delivers letters, money orders and important news, making him a vital link for isolated communities.

2. How was the purpose of India Post different from that of the British postal system?
The British postal system in India was mainly set up to relay company dak between administrative centres. After Independence, the purpose of India Post became more people-centred. Its aim was to bring the entire population, including remote villages and border areas, within the mailing system.

3. People trusted Gramin Dak Sewaks. Support this statement with any two instances from the text.
People trusted Gramin Dak Sewaks because they asked Khetaram to read their letters aloud and draft replies for them. They also trusted the post office with their monthly savings and operational accounts. These examples show that the postal system and its workers had deep social trust.

4. Infer the most likely reason that Khetaram was grateful to continue as GDS, even after the age of 60.
Khetaram was grateful because the job gave him income, dignity and purpose even after the age of 60. In a famine-prone desert region, this job helped him support his family. It also allowed him to continue serving people who depended on him.

5. Explain why the author pays tribute to people like Khetaram.
The author pays tribute to people like Khetaram because they perform difficult work quietly and sincerely. They carry not just letters, but emotions, family news, financial support and human connection. Their service keeps remote communities connected with the larger world.

Answer:
Sentences:
1. The road seemed to crumble into sand as we entered the desert.
2. The new job gave the farmer a new lease of life.
3. The stream turned into a trickle before drying out in summer.
4. The postman spent his life bearing words across this desolate geography.

Answer:
Alliteration: “Khetaram’s khaki”, “scorching summer”, “swirling sandstorms”.

Metaphor: “desert’s furies” and “walking sandman”. The desert is presented as a powerful force of anger, and Khetaram is compared to a sand-covered figure because of the dust and sandstorms.

Answer:
Sentences:
1. The arid land produced very little crop.
2. Farmers received loans at concessional rates.
3. The gaunt farmer looked tired after months of drought.
4. The remote village had no mobile network.
5. The desolate desert stretched endlessly before us.

Answer:
I have just got a collection of postage stamps from my grandfather. He has collected these stamps over a period of 20 years. I have studied most of the stamps in his collection and loved all of them. I have begun my own collection of postage stamps. Grandfather has truly inspired me.

Answer:
To begin with, a lot of stamina will be needed for this job. Next, reading clearly A. will need to be practised, as you B. will be expected to read out the letters by some of the villagers. Words C. should be written neatly as you D. will be asked to draft replies by some villagers. Full sleeved-shirts and trousers E. should be worn to protect yourself from the heat.

Answer:
1. The speaker concluded her talk with a request.
2. The occasion was (i) Letter writing carnival.
3. India Post is famous for having the most extensive network (ii) in the world.
4. Letter writing is being revived as this art form has been (iii) forgotten.
5. (i) calligraphy and graphology will be a part of the letter writing carnival.
6. The postal department will add (i) interactive demonstrations to the event.

Note: This is an audio-based task. These answers follow the Daakroom and postal-event context given in the chapter.

Sample Discussion:

Postcard: It seems to me that I am the most useful because I am cost effective. People can send short messages through me at a low price.

Inland Letter: I would like to point out that I give more space to write. I also provide better privacy than a postcard because the message is folded inside.

Envelope: Some people say that privacy is most important. I totally agree because I can carry personal letters, official documents and even small enclosures safely.

Money Order Form: That’s one way to look at it, but I would like to say that I helped people send money to families in distant places. For many rural households, this service was a lifeline.

Conclusion: All four are important because each served a different purpose in communication.

Answer:

8 June 2026

Dear Aunt,

We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of your father. Please accept our heartfelt condolences. He was a kind and respected person, and his loss is a moment of great grief for the entire family.

We pray that God gives eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to you and your family to bear this loss with courage. Please know that we are with you in this difficult time.

With deepest sympathy,
Your brother and sister-in-law

Answer:
The Daakroom carnival was conceptualised to re-introduce children and wider audiences to the art of letter writing. It used creative and engaging methods such as competitions, workshops and activities around writing and post. Its aim was to provide a digital detox and revive the habit of writing letters in India.

Suggested Answer:
Board Title: Philately–Upholding Our Heritage.

Suggested Answer:

Condolence Telegram:
DEEPLY SADDENED BY UNCLE’S PASSING STOP HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES STOP PRAYING FOR STRENGTH AND PEACE STOP

Greeting Telegram:
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS STOP PROUD OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENT STOP BEST WISHES FOR FUTURE STOP

Telegrams had to be brief because the cost depended on the number of words.