Explain why the author pays tribute to people like Khetaram.
The author pays tribute to people like Khetaram because they are a part and parcel of our social fabric and provide great support to society. They perform an invaluable and challenging job of bearing words across desolate geography, delivering mail even in extreme conditions like 50 degrees Celsius.
Moreover, they are warmly received and deeply trusted by the villagers. They connect remote villages by delivering news and also help by reading out letters and writing replies for the people. Their immense dedication and vital role in keeping communication alive make them deserving of this tribute.
Explanation
The answer is derived directly from the textbook context which states that people like Khetaram are 'a part and parcel of our social fabric, and are a great support'. It also highlights their 'invaluable' role in 'bearing words across this desolate geography' and the 'trust' and warm reception they receive from villagers, which allows them to 'dwell on any threshold, read out letters and write replies'. These points justify the author's salute to them.