The postman has always been the most endearing and affable character of our lives – particularly during growing up years. That lovely Kannada poem Ancheyavanu , or that little boy in Tagore’s play Post Office whose imagination builds around the new post office in his village, have been unforgettable part of our lives, heightening our love for the postman. In films of course, the postman’s the do-gooder who keeps the community together in many ways. Rain or shine, to see the postman cycle our streets in his uniform, bag slung over shoulders is reassuring, to say the least.
A.S. Chandrashekara, known as GPO Chandru in friend’s circles, loves his postman job. “People treat us with so much affection and respect,” says Chandru, who delivers letters and speed post parcels to Kasturba Road, Walton Road, Richmond Town, Ulsoor, M.G. Road and other neighbouring localities. There are a lot of foreigners living in these years, particularly Japanese. “They feel so happy when I take stuff for them that comes from their homes. Many of them now know a smattering of Kannada and force me to have juice, or coffee when I go to their homes. If they see me cycling in their locality, ‘ Namasthe postmanavare !’, they greet waving their hands,” he recalls. Chandru, as far as possible, refuses to talk in English or Hindi. “Actually, Kannadigas refuse to speak in Kannada. Others are more willing to learn. In fact, there are a lot of Manipuris in Richmond Town and they love talking to me in Kannada. ‘ Chennagiddeera, oota ayta …?’ (How are you? Have you eaten?) they ask.”
From Anedoddi village in Mandya district, Chandru came to Bangalore in 1994. “It was impossible to go on. My father was a labourer, my mother sold milk… our life was very difficult,” recounts Chandru. His aunt’s son was working in the General Post Office (GPO) canteen and Chandru, after his tenth standard came to work as a watchman at the GPO. After sometime, he got the job of a lift operator in GPO and his cheerful demeanour and enthusiasm to work earned him the goodwill of several officers. “Postmasters Mr. Rajendran and Mr. Manju Pillai told me to apply for the Grameena Dak Sevak post in 1999. I got this job which entailed sealing covers, clearing letter boxes, sorting out speed post… it was a fiver hour job. In 2007, I was asked to take up the exam for postman’s post. I cleared the exam and got the job,” says Chandru with happiness. “It is my punya ,” he adds. Chandru loves being in the service of the public, and feels that it is his good fortune that got him the postman’s job.
Before Chandru became a postman, to make ends meet, he sold tea in the mornings under the tamarind tree in front of the post office. “I would wake up at 4 in the morning, buy milk from Shivajinagar and sell tea from 5.30 a.m. Employees of BSNL, AIR, High Court, Visveswaraya Towers would come to me for their morning tea.” In the evenings, Chandru sold shoe laces on Brigade Road. “I would make upto Rs. 150 a day,” he says, giving complete details of buying price, selling price, profit etc etc. “Bangalore used to be spacious and beautiful. Now it is a stressful place,” he adds.
One evening, in the year 2000, Chandru along with some friends happened to stray into Ravindra Kalakshetra to watch a play with friends. “After watching the Mudukana Maduve , we too wanted to work in a play. We enquired around and someone took us to the late C.G. Krishnaswamy (CGK) who was conducting a theatre workshop at that time.” Chandru got small roles in a couple of plays and gradually became very close to CGK, former chairperson of the Nataka Academy. “He taught me how to be a good organiser and a leader,” says Chandru, who is currently the secretary of Ranganirantara, a 25-year-old theatre group. “I have met poets, writers, film actors, directors…. The best in every field. Theatre, in fact, has helped me do my work better. Being in the cultural field helps you become a better social being. Theatre, in fact, has made me aware of my responsibilities as a citizen,” he explains.
Every evening Chandru spends an hour or two at Kalakshetra after his working hours, watches a play or catches up with friends and only then goes home. In fact, he makes sure that his two kids also get the theatre experience during the weekends.
“I am indeed lucky. I am a postman and a theatre person. The postal department is doing a lot better than before. No courier service can take our place. We are responsible and reliable. And we love people,” says Chandru, getting on to his bicycle. “One more thing, we cycle and are free of health problems!”
I Am is a weekly column that features men and women who make Bangalore what it is.
