The Post Office

¶ … Post Office -- an Allegory of Hindu Righteousness and the Relationship of All Things

"The Post Office" is a deceptively simply play that reflects the author Rabindranath Tagore's Hindu belief that that God can be found in all things and that all of humanity and divinity are essentially united. This is embodied in the life of the ailing main protagonist Amal, who finds spiritual awakening by seeking vicarious solace in the lives of others. Ultimately, Amal's example of personal purity and service to others provides an example to the great Raja or leader of how all individuals should live their lives, in a state of awareness of how they are connected to others. Amal's personal tale of sickness, healing and awakening comes to illustrate the progress of all human spirits in the tale of Amal. Amal's individuality is washed clean by his holiness of mind and spirit, despite the apparent limits of his body, and he comes to represent all beings. The central metaphor of the post office comes to show the connection between humanity and the divine, not just the presence of an earthly post office. The examples of life the boy sees from his sickbed show him the variety and the oneness of the human experience and he identifies with all he sees.

The progress of the human soul, thus, as first chronicled in the ancient Hindu scriptures of the Upanishads are paralleled in the play's essential plot. The central character, a young and ailing boy, distinguishes himself in his bravery and strength of spirit, ultimately bringing the entire world into awareness because of his righteousness and spiritual, if not physical triumph over his illness. At the end of the play, even the powerful Raja is humbled by the boy's spiritual power. The boy overcomes his physical sickness and becomes one with the Raja and the world, as he is spiritually the great communicator and deliverer of the Royal Post Office to all beings. Amal's openness to communicate elevates him spiritually into a state of oneness with the Raja.

Thus, according to karmic law, Amal's strength of spirit and piety are rewarded, and the Raja grants the boy's wish to have the post office located near Amal's home, as all holy individuals are rewarded, after the boy has been cleansed and purified by illness. The idea of purity and being scourged and washed away of illness through righteousness is referenced early on in the play:"Auntie that I'm going to go to the stream some time and eat chhatu ... [Auntie] said, 'Get well first, then I myself will take you to the stream and feed you with chhatu.' (21) Amal does not get physically well enough to go to the stream, but his spiritual wellness makes his wish of purification in Hindu terms come true.

The central metaphor of the Raja's post office further reflects the nature of communication between the earthly and heavenly realms. Amal, first dreams that the Raja has built the new, royal post office outside of his window because Amal yearns to communicate with other beings in the world. (47) At the end of the play, the Raja himself visits the boy and the boy's fantasy of communication with higher beings is rewarded in actuality. The boy asks to be made in charge of the post office, of bringing messages to all persons on earth. (49) The post office is adorned with a regal golden flag, symbolizing how Amal has brought the power of the king to him. (26) Once Amal dreams of receiving a letter every day from the great Raja, as the Raja embodies the heavenly realms and the post office manifests presence of communication through the written word of letters or scriptures to the child. At the end of the play, both Amal and the Raja seem as virtual equals, as Amal's open spirit has united him with the Raja.