The 1889 postcard sent by someone in Goa to Mr Braganza in Ajmer, a British India railway town is being sold on eBay.
Who wrote that postcard and what did it contain? Let’s speculate. While it could be any relative or friend seeking a job in the Railways, assuming Braganza was a man of some substance, let’s confine ourselves to assuming it was his elder brother petitioning Braganza from Goa. Could it have been joyous news that the mangoes and coconuts had come in and he wanted to send some to him. Let’s write off mangoes since Ajmer would have had plenty of nearby Ratlam mangoes. Perhaps it was feni. Was it sad news that the neighbour had died of liver trouble and that they must help the family with some funeral expenses (which please brother, send). Was it a touch for money which elder brothers managing the ancestral house and property always seemed to need from family who had gone elsewhere for employment. Even if they didn’t need it, the prevailing sentiment would have been “let the fellow pay, he’s making enough”. Would the elder brother think it was time for Braganza to divest himself of his legacy portion since he probably wouldn’t return to settle back in Goa and therefore an opportune moment for the elder brother to get sole title. No bothering with sisters, they were given some paltry dowry. Was it a request to be allowed to collect his accumulated jonn and make a false promise to say masses for their parents while in reality that money needed to be paid to the local publican (taverna). Braganza received such postcards and other communications from home with equanimity. He was earning a good salary and he had bought a home in Ajmer for after retirement. He was living in the spacious Railway Quarters now. He felt for his elder brother. He always failed at school and therefore had no job prospects. He was blood and it was his duty to help him. So Braganza took that postcard and added it to the many others he had stacked in an old cigar humidor. Somehow, all the others got misplaced when he moved house and only this remained, finally to land on eBay 125 odd years after his death. But meanwhile Braganza was living and happy and dressed to go to the post office to send off that cash to his elder brother. Roland. Toronto.
