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A man found a 41-year-old letter his father wrote to his future father-in-law, seeking permission for love marriage, revealing an emotional, hidden side he’d never seen before
A Reddit user shared a letter written by his father in 1984, addressed to the man who would later become his father-in-law. (Reddit/ Rich-Arrival-1427)
Some stories resurface decades later and offer a quiet reminder: the people who seem most composed today once lived lives full of longing, risk, and vulnerability.
That’s exactly what a recently discovered letter on Reddit revealed—a deeply personal note written 41 years ago by a man asking his future father-in-law for permission to marry the woman he loved. The letter, filled with respect, emotion, and cultural nuance, has struck a chord online, offering a glimpse into a generation often seen as reserved or unromantic.
A 41-Year-Old Love Letter Goes Viral
Shared on the subreddit r/indiasocial by user u/Rich-Arrival-1427, the letter dates back to 1984. It was written by the user’s father, then a 30-year-old government employee, to his future father-in-law. At the time, he had been in a relationship with his college classmate for six years. It took another three years of navigating family expectations before the couple finally married.
Today, the father lives in Delhi and is 70 years old. The mother, now 65, lives in Raipur. The couple recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
The letter begins with ‘Jai Johar’, a traditional greeting used by tribal communities in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha. In a striking gesture of respect, the letter was written in the mother’s native language—one the father had learned for her. He expresses his love for her and explains that he is now financially stable with a government job, hoping to gain the father’s approval for their marriage.
A Rare Glimpse Into a Different Era
The post quickly gained traction, amassing over 5,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments. Many praised the letter’s emotional depth and the respectful tone in which it was written. “I now have immense respect for your dad,” one user commented. Another simply called it “adorable.” Several joked that the mention of a secure government job might have helped win over the grandfather.
When asked how the letter was received, the poster said the grandfather was open to the conversation—an unexpectedly progressive reaction at a time when love marriages were far from common.
In a digital age filled with fleeting trends, this quiet, handwritten note offered something enduring: proof that love, when expressed with sincerity and respect, still resonates—no matter how many years have passed.
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