February 20, 2011

To Scholastic

Below is a letter written ten years ago, a copy of which I recently came across.

***

[Home address]

The General Maneger [sic]
Scholastic India
[Address]

26-DEC-2K.

DEAR SIR.

SUBJECT: TO ORDER TWO OF YOUR BOOKS.

I would like to buy 2 of your books - CRY WOLF & MOON BRIDGE, Which I saw at your Exhibition at RAJGHAT BESANT SCHOOL, VARANASI. Kindly send to me by VPP at the address give above. Please endure [sic] your bill.

THANKS.

YOURS SINCERELY

[name]

***

Question: Why do you think I have posted this letter here for you to read? This is a serious question with a serious answer.

***

The answer: This is a letter written by one of Binayak Sen's daughters. It was on the computer Chhattisgarh police seized from their home after he was arrested in 2007. It was presented in court to support their case against Sen.

I am not making this up.

Just how it supports the case I have no idea. What the police found incriminating or suspicious in this letter, I have no idea.

There is plenty more like this.

5 comments:

nisha said...

Show the love of reading? To find out the publisher's commitment to promote reading - VPP could mean payment upon delivery ... Or the author of this letter has turned into a 'figure' now?

Anonymous said...

Something bad happened to the writer who was a poor young child and you want to highlight this injustice.

Unknown said...

cool article, thanks for sharing!
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Anonymous said...

Dcubed - Please integrate facebook and twitter. I really need to share this on facebook to my friends.

Baby V

Anonymous said...

I don't think the father should be punished for his daughter's typo of "ensure" as "endure" (pun intended?) But I think that's the only folly of this letter.

Also VPP! camon!

BV