“Didi, I Want to Be a Postwoman Too”: Akanksha Gaikwad’s Unexpected Journey from Maths Graduate to Everyday Hero in Khaki
“Didi, I Want to Be a Postwoman Too”: Akanksha Gaikwad’s Unexpected Journey from Maths Graduate to Everyday Hero in Khaki
Akanksha Gaikwad never imagined she’d be knocking on doors, delivering letters, and inspiring young girls along the way. A Mathematics graduate, she had always dreamed of a stable desk job in the government sector, just as her father had advised. So when she applied for a position with India Post, she expected paperwork not postbags.
But life had other plans. “I assumed it would be a desk job. But when the appointment letter came, I was told, ‘You’ll be delivering letters!’” she recalls with a laugh. Wearing the iconic khaki uniform and shouldering a mailbag, Akanksha stepped into a role few women take on. Out of 26 delivery agents at her post office, she was the only woman.
Her parents were skeptical at first. “Maa and Papa were unsure ‘Beti chitthi baantne jaayegi?’” she jokes. Akanksha herself wasn’t certain. “Do people even send letters anymore?” she wondered. But as she walked door to door, her doubts faded. What she found wasn’t just a job it was purpose.
One moment that stayed with her was when an elderly woman invited her in after being pleasantly shocked to see a female postman. It was these personal connections—greetings, smiles, and occasional thanks—that made her fall in love with the work.
In just three years, Akanksha estimates she’s delivered over one lakh letters. Each one, she says, carries not just news but emotion. “Watching someone’s face light up when they receive a letter that joy is priceless.”
Her dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. One evening, a little girl ran up to her and said, “Didi, I want to be a postwoman too!” That small comment was a powerful reminder of the change Akanksha is inspiring by simply being seen.
Today, her once-hesitant parents are proud, and Akanksha has become a symbol of perseverance and quiet strength. Featured recently by Humans of Bombay, her story has resonated nationwide, showing that even in a digital age, the humble postperson can still deliver something truly valuable: human connection.
Source – Humans of Bombay
