Redditor shares 41-year-old letter dad wrote to maternal grandfather asking for marriage blessings; netizens melt with awe and respect

Time of India

4 days ago

In an era where
DMs and emojis
often replace emotions, a
Reddit
user recently brought the internet to a standstill by sharing a heartwarming gem from the past — a
handwritten love letter
from 1984. The letter wasn't just any confession of love; it was a respectful plea from a young man to his would-be father-in-law, asking for his daughter's hand in marriage. Forty-one years later, the romance, humility, and emotional sincerity in that letter have resonated with people across generations.
From Delhi to Raipur, with Love
The Redditor, posting in r/indiasocial under the title
'Found 41-year-old letter written by my dad to my maternal grandfather seeking his permission for a love marriage🤣'
, revealed that their parents had met during their university days in Delhi. The father, a Delhiite, was then a government employee. The mother hailed from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, and their love had quietly blossomed through student years.
But what truly elevated the father's commitment was his decision to learn Chhattisgarhi — his beloved's mother tongue — just to write a letter to her father. A powerful gesture that set the tone for the
respectful courtship
to follow.
'Jai Johar, Sadar Pranam…'
The letter opens with a traditional tribal greeting — 'Jai Johar' — and quickly transitions into a heartfelt confession of love. 'I know that reading this letter might bring you anger and a lot of questions,' the young man begins, showing remarkable emotional intelligence. He then goes on to lay out his credentials — an honest man from a respectable family with a steady government job — before making a solemn promise: 'If your daughter lives with me, she will never have to face any trouble or sorrow.'
There's no dramatic flourish, no poetic metaphors, just a plain, honest plea — a mark of integrity that netizens couldn't help but admire. 'Your answer will decide the direction of my life,' he signs off, in a line that reads almost like the climax of a love story that was patiently waiting to unfold.
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Found 41-year-old letter written by my dad to my maternal grandfather seeking his permission for a love marriage🤣
by
u/Rich-Arrival-1427
in
indiasocial
A Love Worth Waiting For
It took six years of being in a relationship and three more of convincing their families, but the couple eventually tied the knot — the man at 30, the woman at 25. This year, they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. The letter, yellowed and frayed with age, surfaced like a love fossil — proof that persistence, respect, and a little bit of Chhattisgarhi can go a long way.
Internet Reacts: 'Mad Respect', 'So Touching'
The post quickly went viral, with Redditors reacting with a mix of awe, amusement, and nostalgia. 'Mad respect to your father,' one user wrote, while another joked, 'I think the deal was sealed at 'Government job'.' Yet another user confessed, 'So sad I'll never be loved with this intensity.'
Some were floored by the thoughtful cultural nod in the salutation: 'I love that your father starts the letter with 'Jai Johar'. Love the tribal pride.' Others shared their own family anecdotes — letters for movie money, college rants, and the lost art of writing to be understood, not just seen.
The Redditor confirmed that the letter had indeed worked: 'Grandpa got convinced to talk to my paternal grandparents and my dad. Next year, they got married.'
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In an age of swipes, speed dates, and viral trends, this letter stands as a testament to a different kind of romance — the kind that bows before parents, writes in unfamiliar tongues, and waits years to be accepted. It's not just a love letter; it's a cultural artifact reminding us that some stories — no matter how old — still have the power to melt hearts.