The story “The Postmaster” is written by Rabindranath Tagore, a great Indian writer and Nobel Prize winner. This story is about a young postmaster who comes to work in a small village. He meets a little village girl named Ratan who becomes his friend.
The postmaster is the main character in this story. Let us now learn more about his personality, behavior, and nature.
👨💼 1. Young and Educated
The postmaster is a young man who comes from the city of Calcutta (now Kolkata). He is educated and speaks in good Bengali. He is not used to living in a village. When he gets a job in a small village named Ulapur, he feels lonely and bored.
This shows that he is not a bad person, but he is new to village life and finds it hard to adjust.
😓 2. Feels Lonely in the Village
In the village, the postmaster does not have any friends. The people are simple, and he does not have much in common with them. He misses the busy life of the city. He tries to write poetry, cook his own food, and teach Ratan (a little girl who helps him). This shows that he is trying to pass his time and keep himself busy.
But inside, he is very lonely and sad.
👧 3. Kind but Distant
The postmaster is kind-hearted. He lets Ratan, the poor village girl, come to his house. She helps him in cooking and cleaning. He even teaches her to read and write. This shows that he has a good nature.
But still, he keeps a distance. He never shares his true feelings with her. He does not think of her as family or a close friend. He is kind, but not emotionally attached.
🧳 4. Self-Centered and Practical
When the postmaster falls sick, Ratan takes great care of him. But when he becomes healthy again, he decides to leave the village and return to the city. Ratan asks him if she can come with him, but he laughs and says no.
This moment shows that he is self-centered. He only thinks about his own life and comfort. He does not care how hurt Ratan feels. He is a practical man, not emotional.
😞 5. Feels Guilty but Moves On
Before leaving, the postmaster sees that Ratan is very sad and heartbroken. For a moment, he feels guilty. He thinks about staying for her. But then, he controls his feelings and leaves the village.
This shows that he has some feelings inside, but he is not strong enough to act on them. He chooses to forget Ratan and go back to his old life. He does not realize how deeply Ratan loved and cared for him.
🧠 6. Represents Real Life People
The postmaster is a character that shows the reality of many people in the world. Many times, people are good and kind, but they are not ready to take responsibility for others. They enjoy help and company, but when it’s time to give love or support back, they walk away.
The postmaster is like such a person. He is not bad, but he is not brave enough to understand or accept real emotions.
💡 What We Learn from the Postmaster’s Character
- Kindness is not enough. We should also be responsible for people who love us.
- City people may not always understand the simple love of villagers.
- Emotions should not be ignored just because we want to be practical.
- True friendship needs care, respect, and support.
✅ Conclusion
The postmaster is a young, kind, but selfish man. He is friendly to Ratan but does not care about her feelings in the end. He leaves her heartbroken and goes back to the city. His character teaches us an important lesson — don’t use someone’s love and care if you are not ready to return it.
He is not a villain, but he is weak and selfish. He shows how people sometimes choose comfort over kindness, and loneliness over love.
