Carrier of Words Class 9- Summary & NCERT Solutions

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At a Glance

Genre	Prose (human-interest, journalistic narrative)
Setting	Somarad Branch Post Office and the surrounding Thar desert, Barmer district, Rajasthan, close to the Indo-Pakistan border
Central Figure	Khetaram, a Gramin Dak Sewak (GDS) with 15 years of service
Central Theme	The vital, often unrecognised role of rural postal workers in connecting isolated communities to the wider world
Key Organisation	India Post, through its Gramin Dak Sewak (GDS) scheme
Message	Ordinary individuals performing difficult, essential work with quiet dedication deserve recognition and respect

NCERT Solutions

Reflect and Respond

I. Look at the pictures given below of persons engaged in the same profession.

1. Which profession do they belong to?

Answer: The pictures show people from the postal profession — postmen who deliver mail, shown here through stamps and pictures from different time periods.

2. Do they face any difficulties while doing their duty?

Answer: Yes, postmen often face difficulties such as travelling long distances in bad weather and carrying heavy mailbags to reach people in far-off places.

3. How does their profession affect the people they meet?

Answer: Their work affects people deeply, as postmen are often the only link connecting families who live far apart, bringing news of both happy and sad events.

II. Discuss in groups.

1. How can ‘words’ be ‘carried’?

Answer: Words can be carried through letters, postcards and parcels that travel from one place to another, or through any person who passes on a message.

2. Who could be a carrier of words?

Answer: A postman, a messenger, or even modern means like a telephone or the internet can all act as carriers of words.

3. What are the means for people to stay connected?

Answer: People stay connected through letters, telephones, mobile phones and the internet, and in remote areas, sometimes through travellers who carry news between villages.

III. Read the words given in the box below and place them in their appropriate context in the following passage.

Answer: 1. signals, 2. dunes, 3. hamlets, 4. defying, 5. slumped, 6. devoid.

Check Your Understanding — Part I

I. Khetaram needs to submit information about himself for getting an identity card. Fill up the following information sheet for Khetaram.

Answer:

 Position: Gramin Dak Sewak (postman).

Employer: India Post, Somarad Branch Post Office.

Official address: Somarad Branch Post Office, Barmer district, Rajasthan, near the Indo-Pakistan border.

Mode of transport used: On foot.

Key responsibilities:

• collecting mail handed over from the mail train and bus
• delivering mail to far-off hamlets within 24 hours
• reading letters aloud and writing replies for villagers
• delivering money orders that families depend on.

II. Discuss with your teacher.

1. Why do you think Khetaram has taken up this challenging job?

Answer: Khetaram most likely took up this job because of poverty and famine in his region. One crop of bajra could not feed his family of five, so he needed the steady income this job gave him.

2. How do you think Khetaram would feel about taking up this challenging task every day?

Answer: Khetaram would probably feel tired but proud. Even though the desert heat makes his work exhausting, he seems grateful for the job and takes pride in the trust his village places in him.

Check Your Understanding — Part II

I. Complete the table given below with the situations given in Column 1 and the reasons in Column 2.

Column 1: Situation	Column 2: Reason
When the temperature is recorded as 50 degrees Celsius and above, a state holiday has to be declared.	Therefore, even when the temperature crossed 50°C, it was sometimes recorded as 49.9°C so that deliveries could continue.
Khetaram can dwell on any threshold.	The villagers trust him and feel comfortable asking him to read their letters and write replies.
BSF always gave Khetaram a lift.	The BSF personnel were kind to him, and he delivered their dak.

II. Why was a piece of jaggery offered in the village when he brought news of a birth or weddings?

Answer: A piece of jaggery was offered because the villagers could not afford expensive gifts, but still wanted to show their happiness and gratitude for the good news he brought.

III. How would phone lines help Khetaram in his job?

Answer: Phone lines would let Khetaram become a Gramin Sanchar Sewak, carrying a mobile phone along with the post. This would make communication faster and easier for the villagers.

Critical Reflection

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions.

1. “Akaal or famine is a way of life here. In a good year, I get one crop of bajra. That cannot feed my family of five. We would starve without this job,” he says. And for each family which resides in this arid land, survival is partly dependent on money orders remitted by a relative.

(i) Complete the sentence given below with an appropriate reason: One crop of bajra makes a little difference for people like Khetaram because ____.

Answer: one crop of bajra is not enough to feed a family of five for the whole year.

(ii) Why did Khetaram term famine as ‘a way of life’?

Answer: Khetaram called famine ‘a way of life’ because poor harvests keep happening again and again in this dry region, so people have learnt to live with this hardship.

(iii) Give one reason why Khetaram had to take up a job to help his family to survive.

Answer: Khetaram had to take up a job because farming alone, giving only one crop of bajra even in a good year, could not feed his family.

(iv) Complete the analogy given below with a word from the extract: Other families: Money orders:: Khetaram: ____.

Answer: Khetaram: his GDS job (salary)

 (just as other families depend on money orders sent by relatives, Khetaram’s family depends on his salary.)

(v) What would ‘a good year’ signify?

Answer: A ‘good year’ would mean enough rainfall for at least one successful crop of bajra to grow.

2.“There is one letter delivery he dreads. The envelope with the right corner torn off, which signifies that the missive bears news of death. ‘Ashubh Samachar cannot be carried into the house,’ says Khetaram. So, he stands outside, reads out the letter twice, then tears it to bits. ‘Bad news must be destroyed,’ he mutters philosophically.”

(i) Choose the correct option:

 Who could have torn the right corner of the envelope?

A. Khetaram

B. Sender of the letter

 C. Receiver of the letter

D. The postmaster.

Answer: (B) Sender of the letter, since the sender tears the corner to warn of sad news even before the letter is opened.

(ii) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason: The most likely reason for Khetaram reading the letter twice is because ____.

Answer: he wants to make sure the family clearly understands the sad news before he destroys the letter.

(iii) What was Khetaram’s philosophy regarding bad news, and how did he act upon it?

Answer: Khetaram believed that ‘Ashubh Samachar’ (bad news) should not enter the house. He acted on this by reading such letters aloud outside the home, and then tearing them up once the message was delivered.

(iv) State whether the following sentence is true or false: Khetaram’s action of tearing the letter differed from his beliefs.

Answer: False.

(Tearing the letter matched his belief that bad news must be destroyed.)

(v) Mention any one aspect of Khetaram’s temperament which is revealed through this extract.

Answer: This extract shows Khetaram’s sensitivity and care for the families he serves, as he handles sad news gently and respectfully.

II. Answer the following questions.

1. Justify the statement made by Postmaster-General, Rajasthan Western Region stating that the role of GDS is ‘invaluable’.

Answer: The GDS role is invaluable because these workers deliver post to remote areas that cannot be reached by any means except on foot, connecting isolated villages to the rest of the country.

2. How was the purpose of India Post different from that of the British postal system?

Answer: The British postal system mainly served to link government offices to each other. After independence, India Post’s aim changed to reach every citizen, including those in remote villages.

3. People trusted Gramin Dak Sewaks. Support this statement with any two instances from the text.

Answer: Firstly, villagers ask Khetaram to read and write their letters, trusting him with personal matters. Secondly, he is warmly welcomed in every home and offered small gifts like tea or jaggery.

4. Infer the most likely reason that Khetaram was grateful to continue as GDS, even after the age of 60.

Answer: Khetaram was likely grateful because, in a region hit by frequent famine, being able to keep earning a salary even after 60 gave his family much-needed financial security.

5. Explain why the author pays tribute to people like Khetaram.

Answer: The author pays tribute to Khetaram because people like him do extremely hard, often unnoticed work, yet quietly keep remote communities connected to the rest of the world.

Vocabulary and Structures in Context

I. Study the phrases given in Column 1 and match them with their meanings in Column 2.

Phrase	Meaning
1. crumbles into sand	(iii) disappears in the desert
2. give a new lease of life	(i) get a chance to continue living
3. turn into a trickle before drying out	(iv) lessen gradually and then finally stop
4. bearing words across this desolate geography	(ii) carrying letters to less populated areas

Now, use the phrases from Column 1 in sentences of your own.

Answer:

1. The narrow path crumbles into sand near the top of the hill.

2. Winning the match gave the team a new lease of life after a bad season.

3. The stream turned into a trickle before drying out completely in summer.

4. The volunteers spent the week bearing words across the desolate geography of the flood-hit villages.

II. Identify examples of alliteration and metaphor in the extract given below:

‘Khetaram’s khaki turban and uniform are his only protection against the desert’s furies, the scorching summer winds and swirling sandstorms which turn him into a walking sandman.’

Answer: Alliteration: ‘scorching summer’ and ‘swirling sandstorms’ repeat the ‘s’ sound.

 Metaphor: ‘walking sandman’ directly compares Khetaram to a sandman, showing he becomes completely covered in sand.

III. Match the words in Column 1 to what they suggest in Column 2 in the context of the chapter.

Word	Meaning (in context of the chapter)
1. arid	(iii) farmland without much yield
2. concessional	(i) interest rate for the farmers
3. gaunt	(v) farmer waiting for the rains
4. remote	(ii) corner of the world
5. desolate	(iv) desert stretching far and wide

Now, use the words from Column 1 in sentences of your own.

Answer: 1. Little grows on this arid stretch of land.

2. Farmers were offered a concessional loan after the poor harvest.

3. The gaunt farmer waited for the rains.

4. Their village lies in such a remote corner that the nearest town is a full day away.

 5. The desolate landscape stretched for miles with no settlement in sight.

IV. Read the underlined verbs in the sentences given in Column 1 and their functions in Column 2.

Sentence	Function
1. She has found her book.	(i) finished action (past event — present result)
2. I have just eaten a mango.	(ii) recently completed action
3. Have you ever seen a play before?	(iii) life experiences
4. I have finished my project.	(iv) accomplishment
5. Ajay has become a good bowler in five years.	(v) changes over time
6. I have seen this book in the library many times.	(vi) multiple actions at different times
7. I have studied in this school for six years.	(vii) action completed in the past but has its impact in the present

Now, fill in the blanks by using the present perfect form of the verbs given in the brackets to complete the paragraph.

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.

V. Study the sentences given below (active and passive voice).

3. Complete the paragraph about the advice given by Khetaram.

To begin with, a lot of stamina will be needed for this job.’

Answer:

 A. will be required. B. you will be expected to read out the letters by some of the villagers. C. Words will need to be written neatly. D. you will be asked to draft replies by some villagers. E. Full-sleeved shirts and trousers will be needed to protect yourself from the heat.

Listen and Respond

I. Fill in the blank

The speaker conducted her talk with a request.

II. Choose the correct option

1. What was the occasion that the speaker was talking about?
Answer: (iii) Indian Postal Day

2. India Post is famous for having the most extensive ________.
Answer: (ii) in the world

3. Letter writing is being revived as this art form has been ________.
Answer: (iii) forgotten

4. Which of the following will be a part of the letter writing carnival?
Answer: (i) calligraphy and graphology

5. What will the postal department add to the event?
Answer: (i) interactive demonstrations

Speaking Activity

I. The postcard, inland letter, envelope, and money order form were engaged in a discussion on who the most important one was. Reason with each other logically using the points for discussion.

Answer: The postcard wins on cost, since it needs no envelope and is the cheapest to send, though it gives no privacy. The inland letter offers more space to write along with some privacy, as it is folded and sealed. The envelope offers the most privacy and allows enclosures like photographs. The money order form is the most useful of all in cases like Khetaram’s, since it can directly save a family from starving, making its utility more important than privacy or space.

Writing Task

I. Khetaram saw a letter with a torn corner. It had news about Bhawar Singh’s uncle passing away. On behalf of your parents, draft an imaginary condolence message for your aunt on the recent passing away of her father.

18 August 20XX

Dear Aunt,

We were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of your father. Please accept our heartfelt condolences at this difficult time. We know how much he meant to you and the whole family.

May you find comfort in the happy memories you shared with him, and may his soul rest in peace. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to support you.

With deepest sympathy,

Your loving brother and family

Short Summary

‘Carrier of Words’ tells the story of Khetaram, a Gramin Dak Sewak (GDS) who works as the only postman of the Somarad Branch Post Office in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. He has been doing this work for many years and walks long distances every day to deliver letters and other postal items to people living in remote areas near the Indo-Pakistan border.

Khetaram’s job is not easy. He has to walk across sandy paths and difficult desert terrain, often in very high temperatures. Sometimes, he covers nearly 20 kilometres for a single delivery. Yet, he continues his work with patience and dedication because people depend on him to stay connected with their families and the outside world.

For the villagers, Khetaram is much more than a postman. Many people trust him to read their letters and write replies for them. He is therefore closely connected with the community and is warmly welcomed in the villages he visits. The chapter shows how important a postman can be in places where modern communication facilities are limited.

The chapter also introduces the Gramin Dak Sewak system and explains how rural postal workers play an important role in India Post. Through Khetaram’s life and work, the chapter highlights the values of dedication, resilience, trust, service and human connection. It reminds us that even work that often goes unnoticed can make a great difference to people’s lives.

Detailed Explanation — Part I

The chapter begins by showing the difference between modern communication and the traditional postal system. Today, messages can reach us within seconds through phones and the internet. In the past, however, letters had to travel long distances with the help of postal workers. In remote areas, this is still true. For people living far from roads, railways and telephone services, workers like Khetaram remain an important link with the outside world.

The writer then introduces Khetaram and shows how difficult his work is. Details such as his ‘slumped’ shoulder suggest the physical strain caused by years of carrying a mailbag. The distances mentioned in the chapter make his task easier to understand. He works 120 km beyond the last railhead, 50 km beyond the last phone and 10 km beyond the road, where the journey continues through sand. Even a bicycle cannot be used easily there, so Khetaram has to cover much of the distance on foot.

The chapter also highlights the extreme heat in the desert. Although temperatures of 50°C and above are supposed to result in a state holiday, the temperature is sometimes recorded as 49.9°C. This detail draws attention to the difficult conditions in which Khetaram continues to work.

The writer then gives some background about the Gramin Dak Sewak (GDS) system and explains how its role has developed over the years. Khetaram’s story is therefore not just about one postman. It also draws attention to the many postal workers who serve people in remote and difficult parts of India.

In short, Part I introduces Khetaram, describes the challenges of his work and shows why rural postal workers are so important in keeping isolated communities connected.

Word Meanings — Part I

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Sole	Only.
Hamlets	Settlements.
Ply	Move (used here of vehicles being able to travel over terrain).
Hefted	Lifted.
Stipulate	Specify.
Mojri	Traditional footwear of Rajasthan.
Operating	Working.
Riverine	Situated on a river bank.
Inaccessible	Unreachable.
Ambit	Range.

Literary Devices & Writing Techniques— Part I

Device / Technique	Explanation and Example
Contrast	The writer contrasts modern digital communication with Khetaram’s traditional work of carrying letters across the desert. This highlights the continuing importance of personal postal services.
Imagery	Descriptions of the desert, scorching heat, sand dunes and Khetaram’s tiring journey help readers form a clear picture of his difficult working conditions.
Direct quotation	The writer uses the actual words of Khetaram and other people to make the account more personal, authentic and engaging.
Factual details	Information about distances, temperatures, years of service and the postal system gives the chapter a realistic and informative quality.
Human-interest approach	Instead of discussing the postal system only through facts, the writer focuses on Khetaram’s life, work and experiences, helping readers understand the human side of the service.
Implied criticism	The reference to temperatures being recorded as 49.9°C rather than 50°C draws attention to how official records may not fully reflect the difficult conditions experienced by workers.

Detailed Explanation — Part II

The second part of the chapter moves from the physical difficulties of Khetaram’s work to the trust and relationships he has built with the people he serves. It explains that Gramin Dak Sewaks (GDS) are expected to have another source of livelihood and work for a limited number of hours. This arrangement helps the postal service find workers who are willing to serve in remote and difficult areas. At the same time, Khetaram’s experience shows that even a limited working period can involve considerable effort and responsibility.

The chapter then explains the importance of the post office in rural life. The reference to Mulk Raj Anand’s Story of the Indian Post Office shows how important the postal system has been for people, especially for sending small amounts of money through money orders. This also helps explain why villagers trusted Khetaram so deeply. When there was a suggestion that patwaris could take over some of this work, the villagers rejected the idea because they already had faith in their postman and his service.

The most emotional part of this section describes the different kinds of news Khetaram carries. Sometimes people welcome him with tea, jaggery or other small gestures of kindness. At other times, he has to deliver the sad news of someone’s death. The torn corner of an envelope becomes a sign that the letter contains such news. Khetaram reads the message aloud and handles the situation with care and respect. This shows that his work involves much more than carrying letters. He also carries important moments of people’s lives.

Towards the end, Khetaram expresses his hope of becoming a Gramin Sanchar Sewak when better communication facilities reach the area. The chapter finally moves from Khetaram’s individual story to a wider appreciation of people who perform similar duties in difficult conditions.

In short, Part II shows how Khetaram’s work is built on service, trust and human connection, and why his role is much more meaningful than simply delivering letters.

Word Meanings — Part II

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Access	Opportunity.
Remitted	Sent as a gift/payment.
Scrap	Remove.
Dwell	To stay on for some time.
Threshold	Entrance to a home.
BSF	Border Security Force.
Dreads	Fears.
Missive	Letter.
Entail	Involve.
Striding	Walking with long steps.

Literary Devices & Writing Techniques — Part II

Device / Technique	Explanation and Use
Literary allusion	The reference to Mulk Raj Anand’s Story of the Indian Post Office connects Khetaram’s work with an earlier literary account of the postal service in India.
Symbolism	The torn corner of an envelope carries a deeper meaning in the context of the chapter, suggesting that the letter contains sad or disturbing news even before it is opened.
Juxtaposition	The writer places moments of warmth and kindness, such as villagers offering tea or jaggery, alongside the difficult task of delivering sad news. This shows the different emotional sides of Khetaram’s work.
Direct address	The closing words, ‘Our salute to all the people like Khetaram!’, directly address the readers and express appreciation for people who perform such essential work.
Regional and cultural terms	Words such as ‘akaal’, ‘daak’ and ‘Ashubh Samachar’ retain their cultural context and make the account more authentic and closely connected to the setting.

Character Sketch

Khetaram

• Khetaram is a Gramin Dak Sewak who has served as the sole postman of Somarad Branch Post Office for fifteen years, delivering mail on foot across harsh desert terrain.
• He is remarkably resilient and dedicated, continuing deliveries even in temperatures unofficially above 50°C, sometimes walking 20 km for a single delivery.
• He is deeply trusted by his community, welcomed into homes to read letters aloud and write replies for villagers who cannot do so themselves.
• He shows great sensitivity and emotional maturity, particularly in how carefully he handles letters bearing news of death.
• He is humble and grateful rather than resentful of his hardship, calling the job a ‘new lease of life’ for his family.
• He stays forward-looking, saying ‘Main tayyar hoon’ (I am ready) to take on new duties as a Gramin Sanchar Sewak.

Important Exam Questions (NEP 2020 Aligned)

Section A: Extract-Based Questions

Extract 1

On other days, his khaki turban and uniform are his only protection against the desert’s furies, the scorching summer winds and swirling sandstorms which turn him into a walking sandman. ‘Water is too precious to waste on washing, so I can only wipe my body. When I finish, there is a sand dune at my feet every evening,’ he says.

1. What does this extract reveal about the extent of Khetaram’s physical sacrifice?

Answer: It reveals that Khetaram must give up even basic comforts, such as washing, because water is too scarce in the desert, showing how much he sacrifices daily simply to do his job.

2. What does the image of ‘a sand dune at my feet every evening’ suggest?

Answer: It suggests that Khetaram is completely covered in sand by the end of each day, showing just how harsh and unrelenting the desert environment is.

3. Identify one example of imagery in this extract. (Very Short Answer)

Answer: One example is ‘a sand dune at my feet every evening’, which helps the reader picture how much sand collects on Khetaram by the end of the day.

Extract 2

Regulations stipulate that his load cannot exceed 28 kilos. But in the summers, when the sands sizzle under his mojri-clad feet, Khetaram says, ‘Even a single delivery is tiring, as I have to cover 20 km for it.’

1. What contrast does this extract draw between official rules and reality?

Answer: It contrasts the official 28 kg weight limit, meant to protect workers, with the real hardship Khetaram faces in summer, when even one delivery means walking 20 km in extreme heat.

2. Why might a single delivery covering 20 km be especially tiring in summer?

Answer: It would be especially tiring because summer heat in the desert is extreme, and walking such a long distance under the sun, on soft sand, demands far more effort and endurance than at other times of year.

3. What does ‘mojri-clad feet’ tell us about the setting? (Very Short Answer)

Answer: It tells us that the setting is culturally rooted in Rajasthan, since the mojri is a traditional local form of footwear.

Section B: Short Answer Questions (40–50 words)

1. What were the essential selection criteria for becoming a GDS, and why were these conditions necessary?

Answer: Candidates needed access to another means of livelihood and worked only five hours a day, with service allowed up to age 65. These conditions were necessary to retain workers willing to serve such remote, difficult postings.

2. How has the number of post offices in India changed since 1947, and what does this show?

Answer: In 1947, India had about 25,000 post offices; today there are over a lakh and a half. This huge growth shows India Post’s post-independence aim of reaching every citizen, not just administrative centres.

3. Why does the chapter mention GDS workers in Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and the northeast, apart from Khetaram?

Answer: The chapter mentions these regions to show that Khetaram’s hardship is not unique to Rajasthan, and that GDS workers serve equally difficult terrains all across India, from frozen deserts to river islands.

4. What does the postmaster mean when he says such conditions helped ‘retain a large workforce’?

Answer: The postmaster means that without flexible hours and outside income, few people would agree to take up such a demanding, low-paid job in remote outposts, so these conditions were designed to keep enough workers willing to serve.

5. What does the phrase ‘lone face of the state’ suggest about Khetaram’s position?

Answer: It suggests that Khetaram is often the only representative of the government that villagers in this remote area ever see, making his presence especially significant to them.

6. Why do you think the writer opens the chapter by giving the exact figures of 120 km, 50 km, and 10 km?

Answer: The writer gives these exact figures to show, in clear, measurable terms, just how remote Khetaram’s working area is, with each added distance making the isolation feel more real to the reader.

Section C: Long Answer Questions (120–150 words)

Extrapolation Questions

1. Write a short newspaper feature (120–150 words), in the style of the extract itself, profiling a different Gramin Dak Sewak serving a remote community of your choice, such as Ladakh or Lakshadweep.

Answer:

Beyond the Last Road: A Postman of the Frozen Desert.

 High in the mountains of Ladakh, where roads vanish under snow for months, Tsering Dolma has worked as a Gramin Dak Sewak for over a decade. Each week, she treks across icy passes to deliver letters and pensions to villages cut off from the rest of the country, her woollen shawl her only protection against freezing cold. ‘When the snow comes, some villages see no one but me for weeks,’ she says. Families depend on her not just for mail, but for news of relatives working far away. Like Khetaram in the deserts of Rajasthan, Tsering represents thousands of GDS workers across India’s toughest regions, quietly making sure no village is ever truly cut off. Her hard work, too, deserves our salute.

2. Imagine you could interview Khetaram for your school magazine. Write the interview, in about 120–150 words, covering an aspect of his life not described in detail in the chapter, such as his family or a memorable delivery.

Answer:

Interviewer: Khetaram ji, do you remember a delivery that stays with you?

Khetaram: Yes, once I walked through a sandstorm to deliver a money order to a family whose son worked far away in the city. When the mother saw the envelope, she wept with relief — they had been waiting for weeks. Interviewer: What keeps you going on the hardest days?

Khetaram: My family. I have a wife and three children, and this job feeds them when the fields cannot. Interviewer: What do you wish for the future?

Khetaram: I hope my youngest son studies well and does not have to walk twenty kilometres for a living, though I am proud of this work. Interviewer: Thank you, Khetaram ji, for sharing your story with us.

Theme and Character Questions

1. Discuss how the chapter’s opening, contrasting today’s instant digital communication with the older postal system, sets up its central argument.

Answer: The chapter opens by asking the reader to imagine life before the internet, when every message depended on physical effort to travel from sender to receiver. This contrast is important because it prepares the reader to understand that, in areas ‘beyond the last railhead’, this older system has never actually been replaced by anything faster. By starting this way, before Khetaram is even named, the writer makes sure the reader already feels the weight of distance and effort that the rest of the chapter will describe through his individual story. This opening technique turns what might have been a simple profile of one man into a wider argument about an entire, still-essential system that most readers, comfortable with instant messaging, rarely think about.

2. Discuss what the range of GDS territories mentioned in the chapter, desert, mountains, islands, and river banks, suggests about the scale of India Post’s rural network.

Answer: The chapter mentions GDS workers serving the Thar desert, the frozen heights of Ladakh, the islands of Lakshadweep, and the riverine communities of the northeast. This wide range shows that India Post’s rural network is not limited to one type of difficult terrain, but stretches across almost every extreme landscape India has to offer. By listing such different regions together, the writer shows that Khetaram’s story, however specific to Rajasthan, is really just one example of a nationwide effort, involving hundreds of thousands of workers in equally demanding conditions. This breadth helps the reader appreciate the true scale of the GDS scheme, which single-handedly keeps some of India’s most isolated communities connected to the rest of the country.

3. Analyse how the writer combines journalistic fact, such as quotes and statistics, with literary technique, such as imagery and metaphor, to create the chapter’s overall effect.

Answer: The writer blends real facts, such as exact distances, temperatures, and quotations from Khetaram, a village elder, and a postmaster, with literary techniques, such as the metaphor of the ‘walking sandman’ and vivid images like footprints across sand dunes. The factual details give the chapter the credibility of a true report, making the reader trust that Khetaram’s story is real and representative. The literary techniques, meanwhile, help the reader feel the hardship rather than simply know about it, turning dry statistics into a vivid, human experience. Together, this combination allows the chapter to work both as reliable information and as a moving story, which is likely why it succeeds so well as a tribute to workers like Khetaram.

Section D: Case-Based Question (Competency-Based)

Read the following situation and answer the questions that follow.

Meera lives in a small village in a hilly region with no proper road access. Her family depends on a local postal worker, Devi, who walks several kilometres each week to deliver letters, pension payments, and important documents to households in the area.

1. Based on the GDS selection criteria described in the chapter, such as access to another livelihood and limited working hours, suggest what conditions might make Devi’s job sustainable in the long term.

Answer: Devi’s job could be made sustainable by ensuring she, too, has access to another source of income, works only a limited number of hours each day, and receives a guaranteed salary, similar to the conditions designed to retain GDS workers like Khetaram.

2. How does Devi’s situation reflect the same challenge of ‘last-mile’ connectivity described in the chapter?

Answer: Like Khetaram, Devi provides the final, most difficult stretch of a journey that no vehicle or infrastructure can complete, showing that reaching the ‘last mile’ to isolated communities often depends entirely on a single dedicated individual on foot.

3. If Devi were formally inducted into a scheme like GDS, what specific policy support, based on the text, should she receive?

Answer: Based on the text, Devi should receive a fixed but fair salary, permission to continue any other livelihood she has, and the option to keep working past the usual retirement age, just as GDS workers like Khetaram are allowed to do.

Section E: Higher-Order Thinking Questions (HOTS)

Analytical Thinking

1. Analyse why the chapter blends factual reporting, such as real names and statistics, with literary devices such as metaphor. What effect does this combination create for the reader?

Answer: The chapter blends fact and literary technique so that the reader both trusts the account, because it is backed by real statistics and quotations, and feels its emotional weight, through vivid images such as the ‘walking sandman’. If the chapter had relied on facts alone, it might have read as a dry report; with literary technique alone, it might have felt exaggerated or invented. Combining both allows the chapter to work as a credible yet moving tribute, which is likely far more persuasive than either style could have been alone.

Evaluation-Based Questions

2. Evaluate whether the GDS policy of a limited salary in exchange for flexible hours (5 hours a day, access to other livelihood) is a fair trade-off for workers like Khetaram.

Answer: This policy can be seen as a practical compromise rather than a fully fair arrangement. On one hand, it gives workers like Khetaram flexibility and a guaranteed, if modest, income, which the postmaster explains is necessary to keep such remote posts staffed at all. On the other hand, the chapter shows that Khetaram’s actual daily effort, walking up to 20 km in extreme heat, often goes far beyond what five hours a day suggests, which raises the question of whether the policy fully accounts for the real physical cost of the job. A fairer system might combine the same flexibility with better protection during extreme conditions, such as the very heatwaves the chapter describes.

Application-Based Questions

3. Modern gig-economy and app-based delivery workers face some challenges similar to Khetaram’s. Suggest, based on lessons from the chapter, two ways their working conditions could be improved.

Answer: Based on lessons from the chapter, gig-economy delivery workers could be given a guaranteed minimum income, similar to the assured salary GDS workers receive, so that their earnings do not depend entirely on the number of deliveries completed. They could also be given clear safety protections during extreme weather, addressing the same kind of risk Khetaram faces when official heat readings are kept just below the level that would trigger a break in work.

Assertion-Reason Questions

4. Read the following extract, and then answer the Assertion-Reason question that follows.

“The envelope with the right corner torn off, which signifies that the missive bears news of death. ‘Ashubh Samachar cannot be carried into the house,’ says Khetaram. So, he stands outside, reads out the letter twice, then tears it to bits.”

Assertion (A): The custom of tearing the corner of an envelope carrying news of death gives the receiving family a small, silent warning before the letter is read.

Reason (R): Khetaram reads such letters aloud while standing outside the house rather than handing them directly to the family. Choose the correct option.

 Choose the correct option.

(A) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason correctly explains Assertion.

(B) Both are true, but Reason does not correctly explain Assertion.

(C) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.

 (D) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.

Answer: (B). Both statements are true, but the Reason does not fully explain the Assertion

(the torn corner itself is what silently warns the family in advance, while Khetaram reading aloud outside is a separate custom that happens only after the letter is already known to carry bad news.)

Section F: Language and Literature (Competency-Based)

1. Use the word ‘stipulate’ in a sentence of your own, keeping the same meaning it has in the chapter.

Answer: Sample sentence: The school rules stipulate that students must wear their uniform every day.

2. Rewrite the following sentence in the passive voice: ‘Regulations stipulate a weight limit of 28 kilos.’

Answer: A weight limit of 28 kilos is stipulated by regulations.

3. Identify the word from the chapter that means ‘walking with long steps’, and use it in a sentence of your own.

Answer: The word is ‘striding’. Sample sentence: She left the room striding confidently towards the stage.

4. Complete the following sentence using the present perfect tense of the verb given in brackets: ‘The government ____ (expand) postal services to cover even the most remote regions.’

Answer: The government has expanded postal services to cover even the most remote regions.

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