I quote below, with thanks to the publishers, some excerpts from the book: "DON BRADMAN...FAREWELL TO CRICKET...AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY" published by Rupa & Co, 1979; Copyright Donald Bradman:
"One of the most remarkable happenings in regard to correspondence was the receipt by me of a letter from Amsterdam.
I have taken a photograph of the envelope which is reproduced here (sic)..
[gps: The photo of the address page of the envelope (see below) has just a picture of a head with a cricketing cap below which are two eyes, two ears, one nose and a couple of cheeks...that's all]
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Bradman (contd):
"The letter was delivered to me at Lord's without delay-----a tribute to English postal authorities.
What chance has one of dodging recognition when his eyes are a sufficient address in a population of 50 million people."
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Bradman (contd):
"One thing always intrigued me. That was the characteristic handwriting or means of expression which instantly gave a clue to the writer's nationality.
There is a marked difference between the handwriting of English and Australian people. It not only applies to children but also to the adults.
if you ever get a chance to compare a set of signatures---say an English team and an Australian team---take notice. Without doubt, the writing portrays many of the personal qualities of the people.
I received the following letter. It was to thank me for an autograph.
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......'Dear Don Bradman,
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind reply.
Oh, how nice of you. How my heart is leaping for joy. Words refuse to come and I must needs stop here.
I thank you once again. Many thanks---truly thanks. I beg to remain dear Don,
................................A lingering memory at last'.......
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No Australian or English boy could possibly have written that letter.
You don't need to see his signature---it is quite obvious he was from India...."
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gps: Well, well, well Donjee! We agree we are an emotional lot....and the word 'heart' is rather cheap in our country.
Once upon a time we used to check our weights at the platform of KGP on a newly installed vending machine which used to emit 'platform-type-tickets' with your weight under the picture of a cinema star on one side, and on its reverse, a couple of lines about your 'personality'. By a random access study of the thing, we concluded that every fifth ticket had this blurb about you:
"You are a person with intense emotions and a lot of heart"
So, there you are: Even the Eastern Scales Pvt Limited had lots of 'hearts' on their tickets.
But what about this Boston Brahmin at MIT who wrote to me in his very third letter dated November 23, 1988:
"Dear Professor Sastry:
Thank you very much for your treatment 'Ray Surfaces in moving media and the Cherenkov effect,' which I received. You have certainly taken advantage of a program that was intended to represent reality but without a thought of the reality you have milked out of it.
My heartfelt gratitude and congratulations!....."
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And this morning I got this mail from an Indian King of Hearts:
Dear Sir,
"Ishani's parrot" was really too nice! Thank you so much for such a nice blog!
My son happened to have curiously read few pages from one of the Feynman's bestsellers from my bookshelf. Of course, he may not have understood any details, but it appears he sensed the essence of it, because after I showed your blog to him, he commented - "Papa, isn't your professor like Feynman!" I said- "no, even better than Feynman!" Because, Feynman needed to have this special "personal touch" to qualify as GPS kind of prolific teacher!!
Best regards,
?????
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