Lucknow: Alok Chantiya has been writing letters to his mother for 30 years. In today’s world, it is not uncommon to hear news where children distance themselves from their own parents and send them away to live in old age homes. Alok’s devotion to his mother serves as a guiding example for the younger generation.

He writes these letters diligently to his mother every single day, regardless of whether he lives abroad or in India. One might wonder, what prompts him to write these letters in the age of social media where messages can be sent and received instantly. Here is the story of a son’s admiration and devotion to his mother. 

Who is Alok Chantiya?

Alok is a resident of Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh. He holds MA, PhD in Anthropology, PhD in Sociology, and LLB degrees from Lucknow University. He earned LLM degree from Karnataka and a diploma in Homeopathy from Tamil Nadu. He became a teacher of anthropology and was employed at SJNPG College (KKC) as an assistant professor. Presently, he is associated with All India Adhikar Sangh Organization where he provides homeopathy treatment to people for free. 

It all began on 31 December 1991

Alok shares that back in the nineties, there was no proper education system for girls in his district. To ensure that his sisters received best education, he planned to send his sisters to Delhi to pursue higher studies. Their mother accompanied the daughters to Lucknow’s Charbagh Railway Station. When the train departed, Alok’s mother became emotional and expressed that now she would feel the weight of loneliness without her daughters. That was the day of 31 December 1991 when Alok promised his mother that he would write her letters every day. 

Limca book of records

Alok Chantiya's remarkable commitment to writing daily letters to his mother led to a unique recognition. He made a promise to his mother that he would write to her daily and be there for her whenever she needed him, even if it meant leaving his job. Initially, his mother assumed that he was saying this to console her. However, Alok Chantiya began writing these heartfelt letters daily. 

In 2013, his dedication caught the attention of some people who said that it was worthy of global recognition. Alok Chantiya then reached out to the Limca Book of Records and discovered that no one had previously registered such a record of continuously writing letters to their parents for so many years. Consequently, his name was registered in the Limca Book of Records for this unique achievement.

What are the letters about?

Alok’s mother studied from Gorakhpur University. She had always urged her children to pursue what was best for them. Alok would write about his academic accomplishments in his letters. He had also taken a promise from his mother that he would continue to write letters, but she would never write him back. Alok has been following the same practice for over 30 years now. It has become more of a ritual for him. He lives away from his family but despite that distance, he never feels that he is miles away from his mother. 

Fulfilling the promise

Life has become convenient, but Alok continues to write letters to stay connected with his mother to maintain that special bond with her. He never misses attending any family gatherings or wedding ceremonies. Alok shares that when he was living in Gujarat, he had to cross a river to reach the post office. He would carry the letters in his briefcase and would return to his abode after having them posted. He did not discontinue with the practice even when he was living in China.