"A Letter to God"
🟩 Chapter 1 – A Letter to God
By G.L. Fuentes
(Summary, Paragraph wise English and Hindi Translation, Short and Long Answer type Questions and Answers, MCQ and Answers)
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📝 Summary in English
The story “A Letter to God” by G.L. Fuentes is about a poor farmer named Lencho who has deep faith in God. He lives on a hill with his family and depends on his crops for survival. Lencho hopes for rain to water his fields, and soon, the rain begins. But suddenly, the weather changes, and a terrible hailstorm destroys all his crops. Lencho becomes very sad but does not lose hope. He firmly believes that God will help him. He writes a letter to God asking for 100 pesos to sow his field again. The postmaster reads the letter and feels touched by Lencho’s faith. He collects money from his employees and sends it to Lencho in an envelope signed “God.” When Lencho receives it, he becomes angry to find only 70 pesos inside. He thinks the post office employees have stolen the rest and writes another letter to God, asking not to send the money through “those thieves.” The story shows Lencho’s innocence and unshakable faith in God, and also the kindness of the postmaster who secretly helped him.
🪶 सारांश हिन्दी में
जी. एल. फ्युएंटेस की कहानी "A Letter to God" एक गरीब किसान लेन्चो की कहानी है, जो भगवान पर बहुत गहरा विश्वास रखता है। वह एक पहाड़ी पर अपने परिवार के साथ रहता है और खेती पर निर्भर है। उसे अपनी फसलों के लिए बारिश की जरूरत होती है। थोड़ी देर बाद बारिश होती है, लेकिन अचानक ओलावृष्टि शुरू हो जाती है जिससे उसकी सारी फसल नष्ट हो जाती है। लेन्चो बहुत दुखी होता है, पर उसका विश्वास भगवान पर बना रहता है। वह भगवान को एक पत्र लिखता है और 100 पेसो माँगता है ताकि वह फिर से बीज बो सके। डाकघर का पोस्टमास्टर यह पत्र पढ़ता है और लेन्चो की आस्था से प्रभावित होकर अपने कर्मचारियों से पैसे इकट्ठे करता है और लेन्चो को “God” के नाम से भेज देता है। जब लेन्चो को केवल 70 पेसो मिलते हैं, तो उसे गुस्सा आता है। वह सोचता है कि बाकी पैसे डाक कर्मचारियों ने चुरा लिए। वह फिर एक पत्र लिखकर भगवान से कहता है कि अगली बार पैसे इन “चोरों” के जरिए न भेजें। यह कहानी विश्वास, सरलता और मानवता का सुंदर उदाहरण है।
🌿 Paragraph 1 English:
The house – the only one in the entire valley – sat on the crest of a low hill. From this height one could see the river and the field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers that always promised a good harvest. The only thing the earth needed was a downpour or at least a shower. Throughout the morning Lencho — who knew his fields intimately — had done nothing else but see the sky towards the north-east.
Difficult Words:
| Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Crest | Top or highest part | शिखर, ऊपरी हिस्सा |
| Valley | Low area between hills | घाटी |
| Ripe | Fully grown and ready | पका हुआ |
| Downpour | Heavy rain | मूसलाधार बारिश |
| Shower | Light rain | हल्की बारिश |
| Intimately | Closely, personally | गहराई से |
Hindi Translation:
यह घर — जो पूरी घाटी में अकेला था — एक नीची पहाड़ी की चोटी पर स्थित था। इस ऊँचाई से नदी और पके हुए मक्के के खेत दिखते थे, जिनमें फूल खिले थे जो हमेशा अच्छी फसल का वादा करते थे। धरती को केवल एक चीज़ की ज़रूरत थी — एक तेज़ बारिश या कम से कम हल्की फुहार की। सुबह भर, लेंचो — जो अपने खेतों को भलीभांति जानता था — उत्तर-पूर्व दिशा में आसमान को देखता रहा।
🌿 Paragraph 2
English:
“Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.” The woman, who was preparing supper, replied, “Yes, God willing.” The older boys were working in the field, while the smaller ones were playing near the house until the woman called them all for dinner. During the meal, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall.
Difficult Words:
| Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Supper | Evening meal | रात का खाना |
| Predicted | Said before, forecasted | भविष्यवाणी की |
Hindi Translation:
"अब हमें सच में पानी मिलने वाला है, स्त्री," लेंचो ने कहा। स्त्री, जो रात का खाना तैयार कर रही थी, बोली, "हाँ, अगर भगवान ने चाहा तो।" बड़े लड़के खेत में काम कर रहे थे जबकि छोटे बच्चे घर के पास खेल रहे थे, जब तक कि स्त्री ने सबको खाने के लिए नहीं बुलाया। भोजन के दौरान, ठीक वैसे ही जैसे लेंचो ने कहा था, बड़े-बड़े बारिश के कतरे गिरने लगे।
🌿 Paragraph 3
English:
In the north-east huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body, and when he returned he exclaimed, “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten-cent pieces and the little ones are fives.”
Difficult Words:
| Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Approaching | Coming near | पास आना |
| Exclaimed | Said loudly | उत्साह से कहा |
| Coins | Metal money | सिक्के |
Hindi Translation:
उत्तर-पूर्व दिशा में बादलों के बड़े-बड़े पहाड़ आते हुए दिखाई दे रहे थे। हवा ताज़ी और सुगंधित थी। वह आदमी (लेंचो) बाहर सिर्फ इसलिए गया ताकि अपने शरीर पर बारिश की बूंदों का सुख महसूस कर सके। लौटते हुए वह बोला, “ये तो आसमान से गिरती बारिश नहीं है, बल्कि नए सिक्के हैं। बड़ी बूंदें दस पैसे के सिक्के हैं और छोटी बूंदें पाँच पैसे की।”
🌿 Paragraph 4
English:
With a satisfied expression he regarded the field of ripe corn with its flowers, draped in a curtain of rain. But suddenly a strong wind began to blow and along with the rain very large hailstones began to fall. These truly did resemble new silver coins. The boys, exposing themselves to the rain, ran out to collect the frozen pearls.
Difficult Words:
| Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Satisfied | Happy, content | संतुष्ट |
| Draped | Covered | ढका हुआ |
| Hailstones | Frozen balls of ice | ओले |
| Resemble | Look like | जैसा दिखना |
| Frozen pearls | Metaphor for hailstones | जमी हुई मोतियों जैसी ओले |
Hindi Translation:
संतोष के भाव से उसने पके हुए मक्के के खेत को देखा जो बारिश की चादर में लिपटा हुआ था। लेकिन अचानक एक तेज़ हवा चलने लगी और बारिश के साथ-साथ बड़े-बड़े ओले गिरने लगे। ये वाकई नए चाँदी के सिक्कों जैसे लग रहे थे। बच्चे बारिश में भीगते हुए बाहर दौड़े ताकि इन जमे हुए मोतियों (ओलों) को इकट्ठा कर सकें।
🌿 Paragraph 5
English:
“It’s really getting bad now,” exclaimed the man. “I hope it passes quickly.” It did not pass quickly. For an hour the hail rained on the house, the garden, the hillside, the cornfield, and the whole valley. The field was white, as if covered with salt. Not a leaf remained on the trees. The flowers were gone from the plants. The corn was totally destroyed.
Difficult Words:
| Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Hail | Frozen rain | ओले |
| Destroyed | Ruined completely | नष्ट हो गया |
Hindi Translation:
“अब तो बहुत बुरा हो रहा है,” आदमी चिल्लाया। “उम्मीद है यह जल्दी रुक जाएगा।” लेकिन यह जल्दी नहीं रुका। एक घंटे तक ओले घर, बगीचे, पहाड़ी ढलान, मक्के के खेत और पूरी घाटी पर गिरते रहे। पूरा खेत सफेद हो गया था, जैसे उस पर नमक बिछा दिया गया हो। पेड़ों पर एक भी पत्ता नहीं बचा था। पौधों से सारे फूल झड़ गए थे। मक्के की फसल पूरी तरह नष्ट हो गई थी।
🌿 Paragraph 6
English:
The next morning the field of corn — full of flowers the day before — was a scene of desolation: the hail had left nothing. This year we will have no corn — that night was a sorrowful one. “All our work, for nothing.” “There’s no one who can help us.” “We’ll all go hungry this year.”
Difficult Words:
| Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Desolation | State of emptiness, destruction | वीरानी, विनाश |
| Sorrowful | Full of sadness | दुखद |
| Hungry | Without food | भूखा |
Hindi Translation:
अगली सुबह, मक्के का वह खेत — जो पिछले दिन फूलों से भरा था — अब उजाड़ बन चुका था। ओलों ने कुछ भी नहीं छोड़ा था। “इस साल हमें मक्का नहीं मिलेगा,” लेंचो ने दुखी होकर कहा। वह रात बहुत दुखद थी। “हमारी सारी मेहनत व्यर्थ गई।” “अब कोई हमारी मदद नहीं कर सकता।” “हम सब इस साल भूखे रह जाएंगे।”
🌿 Paragraph 7
English:
But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single hope: help from God. “Don’t be so upset, even though this seems like a total loss. Remember, no one dies of hunger.” “That’s what they say: no one dies of hunger.” All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience.
Difficult Words:
| Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Solitary | Alone, single | अकेला |
| Total loss | Complete ruin | पूरी तरह नुकसान |
| Conscience | Inner sense of right and wrong | अंतरात्मा |
Hindi Translation:
लेकिन उस घाटी के बीच स्थित उस अकेले घर में रहने वाले सभी लोगों के दिल में एक ही आशा थी — भगवान से मदद।
“इतना निराश मत हो, भले ही यह पूरी तरह नुकसान जैसा लगे। याद रखो, कोई भूख से नहीं मरता।”
“हाँ, लोग कहते हैं — कोई भूख से नहीं मरता।”
पूरी रात लेंचो के मन में सिर्फ एक ही बात घूमती रही — भगवान की मदद। उसे सिखाया गया था कि भगवान सब कुछ देखते हैं, यहाँ तक कि इंसान के मन की गहराइयों को भी।
🌿 Paragraph 8
English:
“God,” he wrote, “if you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year. I need a hundred pesos in order to sow my field again and to live until the crop comes, because the hailstorm...” He wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope, put the letter inside and still troubled, went to town. At the post-office, he placed a stamp on the letter and dropped it into the mailbox.
Difficult Words:
| Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Sow | Plant seeds | बीज बोना |
| Pesos | Currency (Mexican money) | मुद्रा (मेक्सिको की करेंसी) |
| Envelope | Paper cover for a letter | लिफ़ाफ़ा |
| Stamp | Postal mark | टिकट |
Hindi Translation:
“भगवान,” उसने लिखा, “अगर आप मेरी मदद नहीं करेंगे, तो मेरा परिवार और मैं इस साल भूखे मर जाएंगे। मुझे सौ पेसो चाहिए ताकि मैं अपने खेत में दोबारा बीज बो सकूँ और तब तक जी सकूँ जब तक फसल तैयार न हो जाए, क्योंकि ओलों ने सब कुछ नष्ट कर दिया है…”
उसने लिफ़ाफे पर “To God” लिखा, पत्र उसमें रखा और परेशान मन से शहर चला गया। डाकघर में उसने टिकट चिपकाई और पत्र को डाकबक्से में डाल दिया।
🌿 Paragraph 9
English:
One of the employees, who was a postman and also helped at the post office, went to his boss laughing heartily and showed him the letter to God. Never in his career as a postman had he known that address. The postmaster — a fat, amiable fellow — also broke out laughing, but almost immediately he turned serious and, tapping the letter on his desk, commented, “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. Starting up a correspondence with God!”
Difficult Words:
| Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Amiable | Friendly, kind | मिलनसार |
| Correspondence | Communication by letters | पत्राचार |
| Faith | Belief, trust | विश्वास |
Hindi Translation:
डाक विभाग के एक कर्मचारी, जो डाकिया भी था, ज़ोर-ज़ोर से हँसते हुए अपने अफ़सर के पास गया और उसे वह पत्र दिखाया जो भगवान के नाम लिखा था। अपनी नौकरी के दौरान उसने ऐसा पता कभी नहीं देखा था।
पोस्टमास्टर — जो मोटा और मिलनसार आदमी था — भी ज़ोर से हँस पड़ा, लेकिन तुरंत गंभीर हो गया और पत्र को मेज़ पर थपथपाते हुए बोला, “क्या अद्भुत आस्था है! काश मेरे अंदर भी इस व्यक्ति जैसा विश्वास होता — जो सीधे भगवान से पत्राचार कर रहा है!”
🌿 Paragraph 10
English:
So, in order not to shake the writer’s faith in God, the postmaster came up with an idea: answer the letter. But when he opened it, it was evident that to answer it he needed something more than goodwill, ink and paper. But he stuck to his resolution: he would give something to charity and asked his employees to help so that he could send the money to the man who had written the letter.
Difficult Words:
| Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Shake faith | Break belief | विश्वास डगमगाना |
| Evident | Clear, obvious | स्पष्ट |
| Resolution | Firm decision | दृढ़ निश्चय |
Hindi Translation:
इसलिए, उस आदमी का भगवान पर विश्वास न डगमगाए, इसके लिए पोस्टमास्टर के मन में एक विचार आया — “क्यों न मैं इस पत्र का उत्तर दूँ।”
लेकिन जब उसने पत्र खोला, तो स्पष्ट हो गया कि सिर्फ स्याही, कागज और शुभ भावनाओं से उत्तर नहीं दिया जा सकता। लेकिन उसने ठान लिया — वह कुछ दान करेगा और अपने कर्मचारियों से मदद मांगेगा ताकि वह उस आदमी को पैसे भेज सके जिसने यह पत्र लिखा था।
🌿 Paragraph 11
English:
He himself gave part of his salary and several friends of his had to give something “for an act of charity.” It was impossible for him to gather the hundred pesos, so he was able to send the farmer only a little more than half. He put the money in an envelope addressed to Lencho and with a letter containing only a single word as a signature: God.
Difficult Words:
| Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Charity | Help given to poor | दान, परोपकार |
| Gather | Collect | इकट्ठा करना |
Hindi Translation:
उसने अपनी तनख्वाह का कुछ हिस्सा दिया और अपने कई दोस्तों से भी कहा कि वे “दान” के रूप में कुछ योगदान करें।
फिर भी, वह सौ पेसो पूरे नहीं जुटा सका — लेकिन आधे से थोड़ा अधिक इकट्ठा कर पाया। उसने वह पैसे एक लिफ़ाफे में रखे, जिस पर लिखा था “Lencho”, और उसमें एक पत्र रखा जिसमें सिर्फ एक शब्द लिखा था — God।
🌿 Paragraph 12 (Last)
English:
The following Sunday, at daybreak, after having convinced himself that there is a God and that He sees everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience, Lencho went to the post-office. He asked for the letter. The postman himself handed the letter to Lencho while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment of a man who has done a good deed, looked on from his office.
Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence. But when he counted the money, he became angry.
“God could not have made a mistake, nor could He have denied Lencho what he had requested.”
Immediately, Lencho went up to the window to ask for paper and ink. On the public writing-table, he started to write, with much wrinkling of his brow, caused by the effort he had to make to express his ideas. When he finished, he went to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the envelope with a blow of his fist.
The moment the letter fell into the mailbox, the postmaster went to open it.
It said:
“God: Of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very much. But don’t send it to me through the post office because the post office employees are a bunch of crooks.”
Difficult Words:
| Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Conscience | Inner moral sense | अंतरात्मा |
| Contentment | Satisfaction | संतोष |
| Denied | Refused | इंकार किया |
| Wrinkling | Folding skin | माथे पर शिकन डालना |
| Crooks | Dishonest people | बेईमान लोग |
Hindi Translation:
अगले रविवार की सुबह, जब लेंचो को पूरा विश्वास हो चुका था कि भगवान सब कुछ देखते हैं — यहाँ तक कि अंतरात्मा की गहराई भी — वह डाकघर गया।
उसने अपने नाम का पत्र मांगा। डाकिया ने खुद वह पत्र उसे दिया जबकि पोस्टमास्टर अपनी ऑफिस से गर्व भरी नज़रों से देख रहा था।
लेंचो को पैसे देखकर कोई आश्चर्य नहीं हुआ, इतना मजबूत था उसका विश्वास।
लेकिन जब उसने पैसे गिने — वह गुस्से से भर गया।
उसने सोचा, “भगवान गलती नहीं कर सकते, न ही उन्होंने मेरी माँगी हुई रकम देने से इंकार किया होगा।”
वह तुरंत खिड़की पर गया और कागज़ व स्याही मांगी। उसने माथे पर शिकन डालते हुए एक नया पत्र लिखा।
पत्र पूरा करने के बाद उसने टिकट खरीदी, उसे चाटा और मुक्के से लिफ़ाफे पर चिपका दिया।
जैसे ही पत्र डाकबक्से में गिरा, पोस्टमास्टर दौड़कर उसे पढ़ने गया।
उसमें लिखा था:
“भगवान, मैंने जितने पैसे मांगे थे उनमें से सिर्फ़ सत्तर पेसो ही मिले। बाक़ी मुझे ज़रूरी हैं, कृपया भेज दीजिए, लेकिन डाकघर के ज़रिए मत भेजिए क्योंकि यहाँ के सभी कर्मचारी बेईमान हैं।”
with some money.
Hindi Explanation:
पोस्टमास्टर Lencho के भगवान पर गहरे विश्वास को देखकर हैरान था। वह उसका विश्वास तोड़ना नहीं चाहता था, इसलिए उसने पत्र का उत्तर देने और आर्थिक मदद करने का निश्चय किया।
Q3. What does the story “A Letter to God” tell us about human faith and kindness?
Answer:
The story shows that true faith can move hearts. Lencho’s belief in God was so strong that even the postmaster and his employees were inspired to help him. It also shows that humanity and kindness still exist in the world.
Hindi Explanation:
कहानी यह सिखाती है कि सच्चा विश्वास लोगों के दिलों को बदल सकता है। Lencho की आस्था देखकर पोस्टमास्टर और उसके कर्मचारी मदद करने के लिए प्रेरित हुए। यह दर्शाता है कि मानवता और दया आज भी दुनिया में जीवित हैं।
Q4. Why did Lencho write a second letter to God?
Answer:
Lencho wrote a second letter to God because he received only 70 pesos instead of 100. He thought the post office employees had stolen the rest of the money.
Hindi Explanation:
Lencho ने दूसरा पत्र इसलिए लिखा क्योंकि उसे 100 की जगह केवल 70 पेसो मिले। उसे लगा कि डाकघर के कर्मचारियों ने बाकी पैसे चुरा लिए।
Q5. What moral lesson do you learn from the story “A Letter to God”?
Answer:
The moral of the story is that we should have faith, but it should be combined with understanding. Also, it teaches that kindness and generosity make the world a better place.
Hindi Explanation:
इस कहानी से यह सीख मिलती है कि हमें विश्वास रखना चाहिए, लेकिन समझदारी के साथ। साथ ही, दया और उदारता से दुनिया बेहतर बनती है।
Q6. How did Lencho react on seeing the money?
Answer:
Lencho was not surprised to see the money because he had full faith in God. But when he found less money, he became angry and thought that post office people had taken the rest.
Hindi Explanation:
पैसे देखकर Lencho को कोई आश्चर्य नहीं हुआ क्योंकि उसे भगवान पर पूरा भरोसा था। लेकिन जब उसने पैसे कम देखे तो वह नाराज़ हो गया और समझा कि डाकघर वालों ने बाकी पैसे रख लिए।
Q7. What type of person was Lencho?
Answer:
Lencho was a simple, hardworking, and innocent farmer. He had deep faith in God and believed that God helps honest people.
Hindi Explanation:
Lencho एक सीधा-सादा, मेहनती और भोला किसान था। उसे भगवान पर गहरा विश्वास था और वह मानता था कि भगवान ईमानदार लोगों की मदद करते हैं।
Q8. Describe the irony in the story “A Letter to God.”
Answer:
The irony is that Lencho thought the post office employees were crooks, while they were the ones who helped him by collecting the money.
Hindi Explanation:
विडंबना यह है कि Lencho ने डाकघर के कर्मचारियों को धोखेबाज़ कहा, जबकि वही लोग उसकी मदद के लिए पैसे इकट्ठा करते हैं।
Q9. How did the rain change into hailstones? What was its effect on the field?
Answer:
The rain suddenly changed into hailstones with strong wind. The small white hailstones fell like pearls and completely destroyed Lencho’s corn fields. Nothing was left to eat.
Hindi Explanation:
बारिश अचानक तेज़ हवा के साथ ओलों में बदल गई। छोटे-छोटे सफेद ओले मोतियों की तरह गिरने लगे और Lencho की मकई की फसल पूरी तरह से नष्ट हो गई। खाने के लिए कुछ नहीं बचा।
Q10. Why did Lencho think that the post office employees were ‘a bunch of crooks’?
Answer:
Lencho believed that God could not make a mistake or deny his request. So, when he found 30 pesos short, he thought that the post office employees had stolen the rest.
Hindi Explanation:
Lencho को विश्वास था कि भगवान गलती नहीं करते और उसकी प्रार्थना अस्वीकार नहीं करेंगे। इसलिए जब उसे 30 पेसो कम मिले तो उसने समझा कि डाकघर के कर्मचारियों ने बाकी पैसे चुरा लिए।
Q11. What did Lencho do after his crops were destroyed?
Answer:
After his crops were destroyed, Lencho did not lose faith in God. He wrote a letter to God asking for 100 pesos to sow his field again and feed his family.
Hindi Explanation:
फसल नष्ट होने के बाद भी Lencho ने भगवान पर विश्वास नहीं खोया। उसने भगवान को एक पत्र लिखा जिसमें 100 पेसो मांगे ताकि वह खेत दोबारा बो सके और अपने परिवार का पेट भर सके।
Q12. What did the postmaster and his employees do to help Lencho?
Answer:
The postmaster and his employees collected money from their salaries and contributions. They sent the money to Lencho in an envelope signed “God” to keep his faith alive.
Hindi Explanation:
पोस्टमास्टर और उसके कर्मचारियों ने अपने वेतन से पैसे इकट्ठा किए और उसे “God” के नाम से लिफाफे में भेज दिया ताकि Lencho का विश्वास बना रहे।
Q13. What did Lencho’s family do during the rain?
Answer:
Lencho’s family was happy and excited to see the rain. They hoped for a good harvest. But their happiness soon turned into sadness when the rain changed into hail.
Hindi Explanation:
Lencho का परिवार बारिश देखकर बहुत खुश था क्योंकि उन्हें अच्छी फसल की उम्मीद थी। लेकिन जब बारिश ओलों में बदल गई, तो उनकी खुशी दुख में बदल गई।
📖 A Letter to God – Long Answer Type Questions (UP + CBSE Board)
Q1. Write the character sketch of Lencho.
Answer:
Lencho was a simple, hardworking, and honest farmer. He lived on the top of a hill with his family. He was deeply religious and had unshakable faith in God. When hail destroyed his crops, he did not lose hope. He believed that God would help him, so he wrote a letter to God asking for money. His faith was so strong that he did not doubt God even for a moment. However, he was also innocent and unaware of reality. He thought that the post office employees had stolen his money, which shows his simplicity.
In short, Lencho represents the common man who has blind faith in God and lives with honesty and hard work.
Hindi Explanation:
Lencho एक सीधा-सादा, मेहनती और ईमानदार किसान था। वह अपने परिवार के साथ पहाड़ी पर रहता था। उसमें भगवान पर अटूट विश्वास था। जब ओलों ने उसकी फसल नष्ट कर दी, तब भी उसने उम्मीद नहीं छोड़ी। उसने भगवान को पत्र लिखकर पैसे मांगे। उसका विश्वास इतना गहरा था कि उसने भगवान पर एक पल के लिए भी शक नहीं किया। लेकिन उसकी सादगी के कारण वह यह सोच बैठा कि डाकघर के कर्मचारियों ने पैसे चुरा लिए। इससे उसकी भोली प्रकृति झलकती है।
Q2. How does the story “A Letter to God” show the power of faith and kindness?
Answer:
The story beautifully shows how faith and kindness go hand in hand. Lencho’s faith in God was so deep that he believed God could directly send him money. When the postmaster read his letter, he was touched by Lencho’s faith. To keep that faith alive, he and his employees collected money and sent it to Lencho. This shows that faith can inspire kindness in others. The story teaches us that both faith and kindness make humanity beautiful and meaningful.
Hindi Explanation:
कहानी यह दिखाती है कि विश्वास और दया एक-दूसरे से जुड़े हुए हैं। Lencho का विश्वास इतना गहरा था कि उसने भगवान से सीधे पैसे की उम्मीद की। पोस्टमास्टर उसकी आस्था देखकर प्रभावित हुआ और मदद के लिए पैसे इकट्ठा किए। यह बताता है कि सच्चा विश्वास दूसरों में दया जगाता है। कहानी सिखाती है कि आस्था और करुणा से ही मानवता सुंदर बनती है।
Q3. How did the postmaster and his employees help Lencho? What does it show about them?
Answer:
When the postmaster read Lencho’s letter to God, he was surprised and touched by the farmer’s faith. He didn’t want Lencho’s belief to break. So, he collected money from his salary and asked his employees to contribute too. They managed to collect 70 pesos and sent it to Lencho in an envelope signed “God.”
This act shows that the postmaster and his staff were kind, generous, and noble-hearted. They wanted to keep Lencho’s innocent faith alive, even though they were not rich.
Hindi Explanation:
पोस्टमास्टर ने जब Lencho का पत्र पढ़ा तो वह उसकी आस्था देखकर प्रभावित हुआ। उसने फैसला किया कि Lencho का विश्वास टूटना नहीं चाहिए। इसलिए उसने और उसके कर्मचारियों ने पैसे इकट्ठा कर “God” के नाम से भेजे।
यह उनके दयालु और उदार स्वभाव को दर्शाता है। वे गरीब होने के बावजूद दूसरों की मदद करना जानते थे।
Q4. Describe the irony in the story “A Letter to God.”
Answer:
The irony in the story lies in the fact that the very people who helped Lencho were accused by him of being crooks. The postmaster and his staff collected money to help Lencho out of kindness. But Lencho thought they had stolen part of the money sent by God. This irony makes the story touching and humorous at the same time. It shows how innocence and blind faith can sometimes misjudge the truth.
Hindi Explanation:
कहानी की विडंबना यह है कि जिन लोगों ने Lencho की मदद की, उन्हीं पर उसने चोरी का आरोप लगाया। पोस्टमास्टर और उसके कर्मचारियों ने दया से पैसे दिए, लेकिन Lencho ने सोचा कि उन्होंने भगवान के भेजे पैसे चुरा लिए। यह घटना कहानी को भावनात्मक और हास्यपूर्ण दोनों बनाती है।
Q5. What lesson do you learn from the story “A Letter to God”?
Answer:
The story teaches us that we should have faith in God, but it should be supported by understanding. It also teaches that goodness and kindness still exist in this world. Lencho’s story reminds us that even a small act of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life. However, blind faith without reason can lead to misunderstanding.
Moral: Have faith, be kind, and never lose hope in humanity.
Hindi Explanation:
यह कहानी सिखाती है कि हमें भगवान पर विश्वास रखना चाहिए, लेकिन समझदारी के साथ। यह भी बताती है कि आज की दुनिया में भी दया और भलाई मौजूद है। Lencho की कहानी हमें यह याद दिलाती है कि छोटी-सी मदद किसी की जिंदगी बदल सकती है। लेकिन अंधविश्वास गलतफहमी पैदा कर सकता है।
Q6. Write the character sketch of the Postmaster.
Answer:
The postmaster in the story “A Letter to God” is a kind, compassionate, and understanding man. When he read Lencho’s letter to God, he was deeply moved by the farmer’s faith. He did not want to disappoint him. Instead of making fun of him, he decided to help. He collected money from his salary and from other employees to send to Lencho. His act shows his generosity and respect for another man’s belief. The postmaster’s character teaches us that true humanity lies in kindness and empathy for others.
Hindi Explanation:
कहानी “A Letter to God” में पोस्टमास्टर दयालु, सहानुभूतिपूर्ण और समझदार व्यक्ति है। जब उसने Lencho का पत्र पढ़ा, तो वह उसकी आस्था देखकर प्रभावित हुआ। उसने उसका मज़ाक उड़ाने के बजाय उसकी मदद करने का निश्चय किया। उसने अपने वेतन और कर्मचारियों से पैसे इकट्ठा करके Lencho को भेजे। यह उसके उदार और संवेदनशील स्वभाव को दर्शाता है। पोस्टमास्टर का चरित्र हमें सिखाता है कि सच्ची मानवता दया और सहानुभूति में है।
Q7. Why did Lencho become angry when he counted the money and what did he do then?
Answer:
Lencho became angry when he counted the money because he found only seventy pesos instead of one hundred. He had complete faith in God and could not believe that God would send him less money. So, he thought that the post office employees had stolen the rest of the amount.
Lencho immediately wrote another letter to God, complaining about the missing money. In the letter, he requested God not to send the remaining money through the post office, because he believed that the employees there were dishonest.
Hindi Explanation:
जब Lencho ने पैसे गिने तो उसे केवल सत्तर पेसो मिले, जबकि उसने सौ पेसो मांगे थे। उसे पूरा विश्वास था कि भगवान कभी गलती नहीं करते, इसलिए उसे लगा कि डाकघर के कर्मचारियों ने बाकी पैसे चुरा लिए हैं।
Lencho ने तुरंत भगवान को एक और पत्र लिखा जिसमें उसने बाकी पैसे न भेजने की विनती की। उसने लिखा कि डाकघर के कर्मचारी बेईमान हैं और उन्होंने भगवान के भेजे पैसे रख लिए।
Q8. How does the story “A Letter to God” highlight the theme of innocence, faith, and irony?
Answer:
The story “A Letter to God” beautifully combines innocence, faith, and irony. Lencho’s innocence is shown through his blind faith in God. He truly believed that God would send him money to replant his fields. His faith was so strong that even when he received only seventy pesos, he didn’t doubt God but doubted the post office employees.
The irony lies in the fact that the same people whom he accused of theft were the ones who helped him by collecting the money. This makes the story both touching and humorous. The story teaches us that faith is powerful, but blind faith without understanding can lead to misunderstanding.
Hindi Explanation:
कहानी “A Letter to God” मासूमियत, आस्था और विडंबना का सुंदर संगम है। Lencho की मासूमियत उसके भगवान पर अंधविश्वास से झलकती है। उसने सच में विश्वास किया कि भगवान उसकी मदद के लिए पैसे भेजेंगे। जब उसे सत्तर पेसो मिले, तो उसने भगवान पर नहीं बल्कि डाकघर वालों पर शक किया।
विडंबना यह है कि जिन लोगों ने उसकी मदद की, उन्हीं पर उसने चोरी का आरोप लगाया। यह कहानी भावनात्मक होने के साथ-साथ व्यंग्यात्मक भी है। यह सिखाती है कि आस्था जरूरी है, लेकिन समझदारी के बिना आस्था गलत दिशा में जा सकती है।
🧩 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Who is the author of “A Letter to God”?
A) Ruskin Bond
B) G.L. Fuentes
C) Guy de Maupassant
D) G.K. Chesterton
✅ Answer: B) G.L. Fuentes
2. What was Lencho’s profession?
A) Teacher
B) Farmer
C) Postman
D) Carpenter
✅ Answer: B) Farmer
3. What did Lencho hope for?
A) A good harvest
B) A lottery win
C) A visit from God
D) A new house
✅ Answer: A) A good harvest
4. What did Lencho’s field need most?
A) Sunlight
B) Rain
C) Fertilizer
D) Seeds
✅ Answer: B) Rain
5. What did Lencho compare the large raindrops to?
A) Pearls
B) Silver coins
C) Diamonds
D) Gold coins
✅ Answer: B) Silver coins
6. What did Lencho compare the small raindrops to?
A) Pearls
B) Gold coins
C) Silver coins
D) Diamonds
✅ Answer: A) Pearls
7. What destroyed Lencho’s crops?
A) A storm
B) Locusts
C) Hailstorm
D) Flood
✅ Answer: C) Hailstorm
8. What was Lencho’s only hope?
A) God’s help
B) Selling his oxen
C) Borrowing money
D) Working in the city
✅ Answer: A) God’s help
9. To whom did Lencho write a letter?
A) His friend
B) The priest
C) God
D) The postmaster
✅ Answer: C) God
10. How much money did Lencho ask from God?
A) 50 pesos
B) 80 pesos
C) 100 pesos
D) 70 pesos
✅ Answer: C) 100 pesos
11. Who read Lencho’s letter first?
A) The postman
B) The postmaster
C) God
D) The village head
✅ Answer: A) The postman
12. What was the postmaster’s reaction to Lencho’s letter?
A) He laughed at it
B) He tore it
C) He was surprised and helped
D) He ignored it
✅ Answer: C) He was surprised and helped
13. How much money did the postmaster collect for Lencho?
A) 50 pesos
B) 70 pesos
C) 80 pesos
D) 100 pesos
✅ Answer: B) 70 pesos
14. How much money did Lencho receive?
A) 70 pesos
B) 100 pesos
C) 90 pesos
D) 50 pesos
✅ Answer: A) 70 pesos
15. How did Lencho feel after receiving less money?
A) Happy
B) Angry
C) Thankful
D) Indifferent
✅ Answer: B) Angry
16. Whom did Lencho think had taken the rest of the money?
A) Thieves
B) Post office employees
C) God
D) His friends
✅ Answer: B) Post office employees
17. What did Lencho call the post office employees?
A) Honest people
B) Helpers of God
C) A bunch of crooks
D) Kind people
✅ Answer: C) A bunch of crooks
18. What was the weather before the hailstorm?
A) Hot
B) Pleasant and cloudy
C) Cold and windy
D) Snowy
✅ Answer: B) Pleasant and cloudy
19. What does the story “A Letter to God” teach us?
A) To believe in hard work only
B) To never trust others
C) To have faith in God
D) To be greedy
✅ Answer: C) To have faith in God
20. What is the main theme of the story?
A) Anger and hatred
B) Faith and innocence
C) Friendship
D) Jealousy
✅ Answer: B) Faith and innocence
QUESTION AND ANSWER BASED ON PARAGRAPH
🌦️ Paragraph 1: Introduction of Lencho and His Field
Lencho was a hardworking farmer. His house was on the top of a hill and his field was full of ripe corn. He expected a good harvest that year. The only thing his field needed was a shower of rain.
❓Questions & Answers
Q1. Who was Lencho?
👉 Lencho was a poor but hardworking farmer who lived on a hill.
Q2. What did Lencho expect from nature?
👉 He expected a good rain for his crops.
Q3. What was Lencho’s house like?
👉 His house was on the top of a hill and it could be seen from far away.
Q4. What was Lencho’s field full of?
👉 His field was full of ripe corn with flowers that promised a good harvest.
☁️ Paragraph 2: The Coming of Rain
Lencho looked at the sky and saw clouds. He became happy because he knew that rain was coming. During the meal, he said to his wife that they would get rain soon. Big drops of rain started falling. Lencho went out to feel them on his body.
❓Questions & Answers
Q1. How did Lencho know that it was going to rain?
👉 He saw dark clouds in the sky which indicated rain.
Q2. How did Lencho feel when the rain started?
👉 He was very happy and excited.
Q3. What did Lencho compare the raindrops to?
👉 He compared the big drops to silver coins and the small ones to pearls.
Q4. Why was Lencho happy to see the rain?
👉 Because the rain meant a good harvest and money for his family.
🌨️ Paragraph 3: The Hailstorm
Suddenly, a strong wind blew and large hailstones began to fall. The rain turned into hail and destroyed Lencho’s field completely. His crops were ruined and there was nothing left.
❓Questions & Answers
Q1. What destroyed Lencho’s crops?
👉 A hailstorm destroyed his crops.
Q2. How did Lencho’s field look after the hailstorm?
👉 The field looked white as if it were covered with salt.
Q3. What was Lencho’s feeling after the hailstorm?
👉 He was filled with sadness and hopelessness.
Q4. What did Lencho say to his sons after the storm?
👉 He said that even a locust swarm would have left something, but the hailstorm left nothing.
🙏 Paragraph 4: Lencho’s Faith in God
After the storm, Lencho had only one hope—help from God. He had deep faith that God would not let him and his family die of hunger. So, he decided to write a letter to God.
❓Questions & Answers
Q1. What was Lencho’s only hope after the destruction?
👉 His only hope was help from God.
Q2. What kind of faith did Lencho have in God?
👉 He had unshakable and simple faith in God.
Q3. What did Lencho decide to do to get help?
👉 He decided to write a letter to God asking for money.
Q4. What does Lencho’s faith show about his character?
👉 It shows that he was innocent, spiritual, and full of faith.
💌 Paragraph 5: The Letter and the Post Office
Lencho wrote a letter to God asking for 100 pesos to sow his field again and survive until the new crop. The postman laughed at the letter, but the postmaster was deeply moved by Lencho’s faith. He decided to help him and collected money from his employees.
❓Questions & Answers
Q1. How much money did Lencho ask from God?
👉 He asked for 100 pesos.
Q2. What did the postman do when he saw the letter?
👉 He laughed and showed it to the postmaster.
Q3. What did the postmaster do?
👉 He decided to collect money to help Lencho.
Q4. How much money could the postmaster collect?
👉 He collected 70 pesos only.
💰 Paragraph 6: Lencho’s Second Letter
Lencho received the money but was angry to find only 70 pesos. He thought that God had sent the full amount, but the post office employees had stolen the rest. He wrote another letter to God asking Him not to send money through the post office next time.
❓Questions & Answers
Q1. How did Lencho feel after receiving less money?
👉 He felt angry and disappointed.
Q2. What did Lencho call the post office employees?
👉 He called them “a bunch of crooks.”
Q3. Why did Lencho think the post office employees took the money?
👉 Because he believed God could not make a mistake.
Q4. What does this incident show about Lencho?
👉 It shows his innocent faith and his misunderstanding of human kindness.
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