Podcast
On Being with Krista Tippett
This short story, later adapted into a classic Bengali film by Satyajit Ray, tells the tale of a young postmaster's interactions with a young servant girl he teaches to read and write. The postmaster's departure leaves the girl devastated.
And there's one little short story of his, which was later filmed by Satya Jitri and became a great classic of Bengali cinema. Actually one of the lovely films you could see, it's called the Postmaste...
— Episode: [Unedited] Anita Desai with Krista Tippe...
Episode: [Unedited] Anita Desai with Krista Tippett
This short story, later adapted into a classic Bengali film by Satyajit Ray, tells the tale of a young postmaster's interactions with a young servant girl he teaches to read and write. The postmaster's departure leaves the girl devastated.
And there's one little short story of his, which was later filmed by Satya Jitri and became a great classic of Bengali cinema. Actually one of the lovely films you could see, it's called the Postmaster.
The name was Ratan. He falls ill with malaria, she nurses him, but when he recovers he decides he can't stand this life anymore. And he packs up and leaves for the city.
And the little girl is devastated. She feels utterly abandoned. He just started teaching her to read and write it meant so much to her.
Episode: [Unedited] Anita Desai with Krista Tippett
This short story, later adapted into a classic Bengali film by Satyajit Ray, details a young postmaster's experiences in a village and his impact on a young girl. The speaker discussed the postmaster's boredom, his interactions with Ratan, and his eventual departure, leaving Ratan devastated.
And it was inspired by a real postmaster who used to come and visit to go and bore him between long-tell stories.
The name was Ratan. He falls ill with malaria, she nurses him, but when he recovers he decides he can't stand this life anymore. And he packs up and leaves for the city.
And the little girl is devastated. She feels utterly abandoned. He just started teaching her to read and write it meant so much to her.
And then he just walks away. And although he does feel a bang of guilt, perhaps things of being a money she refuses to take it. And he gets on to this boat and sails away and thinks, oh life is so full of parties full of death.
And the girl writes, no such philosophy arose in Ratan's mind. A wash with tears she wandered round and round the post of his head. Perhaps her dad a bubble would return, a last for the foolish human heart.
Episode: [Unedited] Anita Desai with Krista Tippett
This short story, later adapted into a film by Satyajit Ray, was discussed extensively. The story follows a young postmaster's experiences in a village and his relationship with a young girl he tutors.
And it was inspired by a real postmaster who used to come and visit to go and bore him between long-tell stories.
The name was Ratan. He falls ill with malaria, she nurses him, but when he recovers he decides he can't stand this life anymore. And he packs up and leaves for the city.
And the little girl is devastated. She feels utterly abandoned. He just started teaching her to read and write it meant so much to her.
And then he just walks away. And although he does feel a bang of guilt, perhaps things of being a money she refuses to take it. And he gets on to this boat and sails away and thinks, oh life is so full of parties full of death.
So what is the point of retracing one's steps? And the girl writes, no such philosophy arose in Ratan's mind. A wash with tears she wandered round and round the post of his head. Perhaps her dad a bubble would return, a last for the foolish human heart.
Episode: [Unedited] Anita Desai with Krista Tippett
It was discussed as a short story that was later made into a classic Bengali film by Satyajit Ray. The story follows a young man from Calcutta who is bored in a small village and begins teaching a young servant girl.
And it was inspired by a real postmaster who used to come and visit to go and bore him between long-tell stories.
The name was Ratan. He falls ill with malaria, she nurses him, but when he recovers he decides he can't stand this life anymore. And he packs up and leaves for the city.
And the little girl is devastated. She feels utterly abandoned. He just started teaching her to read and write it meant so much to her.
And then he just walks away. And although he does feel a bang of guilt, perhaps things of being a money she refuses to take it. And he gets on to this boat and sails away and thinks, oh life is so full of parties full of death.
So what is the point of retracing one's steps? And the girl writes, no such philosophy arose in Ratan's mind. A wash with tears she wandered round and round the post of his head. Perhaps her dad a bubble would return, a last for the foolish human heart.