On my cleaning spree, I accidentally stumbled upon some old letters carefully stashed away in a folder in some corner of my almirah. I couldn’t resist the urge,sat down and opened them. These were letters from my childhood friend, letters from my brother and few letters in Hindi from my mom. One by one, I went through them. They had all written to me when I first left my hometown to study in a college in Delhi. My best friend had actually written me some 25 letters, each approximately 10 pages, both sides covered, filling me in with all the gossip on our street, her latest crush, school, friends, her family, my family and even about her neighbour’s dog. They were hilarious, I remember writing back to her in the same zeal and ardour and yes no less than 11 pages. My God! We had both told each other how much ‘we missed’ each other and how much ‘we loved’ each other. I am laughing now, but those letters were all written in great honesty. My brother’s letter for the first time told me , how much he loved me and that he always looked upto me and how missed me on rakhi, now that I am not around. And also how we was getting scolded by everyone ,because now I wasn’t there to be blamed anymore for anything ;0)!I guess,must be a tough one on him to let me know of his emotions, a guys thing. My mom of course, in her own sweet way telling me that she trusted me absolutely and had full faith on me even though I was on my own now, that I wouldn’t do anything stupid or morally wrong. How could I? After she showed so much faith. It kind of helped me make some right choices in my life. Reading all these letters again made me go through such a beautiful memory lane. All my letters just stop after 200. I wonder why?
We had all switched to emailing, chatting on Yahoo messenger and it was neat, easy and instant. No more waiting for days to receive the letters. Slowly emailing also faded. I mean after reading and replying to over 100 mails at work, who has the energy to write a personal one to friends and family. Plus where to find so many words, it’s just easier to drop two lines of sms to them and let them know you miss them and all is well. Why not call? Oh, that makes it expensive and that would require you to be answering a lot more questions and you have to be in the right mood and space. Whereas a sms even at 10 in the night when you’re partying with friends ,to say ‘good night!’ to family works well. They won’t bother you after that and feel safe too. So slowly smsing has taken over emailing, like emailing took over letters.
Child education expert Sue Palmer said: ”If children do not write or receive letters they miss out on key developmental benefits. Handwritten letters are much more personal than electronic communication.
”By going to the trouble of physically committing words to paper, the writer shows their investment of time and effort in a relationship. That’s why we tend to hang on to personal letters as keepsakes.”
Is it not true for each of us? Why have we become so impersonal in life? Even the most romantic lines ever said by a lover to his mate was in a letter.
The story of John Keats and Fanny Brawne is one of literary tragedy. Keats was a leading poet of the nineteenth century.
I have been a walk this morning with a book in my
hand, but as usual I have been occupied with
nothing but you: I wish I could say in an
agreeable manner. I am tormented day and night.
They talk of my going to Italy. ‘Tis certain I
shall never recover if I am to be so long separate
from you: yet with all this devotion to you I
cannot persuade myself into any confidence of
you….
You are to me an object intensely desirable — the
air I breathe in a room empty of you in unhealthy.
I am not the same to you — no — you can wait —
you have a thousand activities — you can be happy
without me. Any party, anything to fill up the day
has been enough.
How have you pass’d this month? Who have you
smil’d with? All this may seem savage in me. You
do no feel as I do — you do not know what it is
to love — one day you may — your time is not
come….
I cannot live without you, and not only you but
chaste you; virtuous you. The Sun rises and sets,
the day passes, and you follow the bent of your
inclination to a certain extent — you have no
conception of the quantity of miserable feeling
that passes through me in a day — Be serious!
Love is not a plaything — and again do not write
unless you can do it with a crystal conscience. I
would sooner die for want of you than —
Yours for ever
J. Keats
How have you pass’d this month? Who have you
smil’d with? All this may seem savage in me. You
do no feel as I do — you do not know what it is
to love — one day you may — your time is not
come….
I cannot live without you, and not only you but
chaste you; virtuous you. The Sun rises and sets,
the day passes, and you follow the bent of your
inclination to a certain extent — you have no
conception of the quantity of miserable feeling
that passes through me in a day — Be serious!
Love is not a plaything — and again do not write
unless you can do it with a crystal conscience. I
would sooner die for want of you than —
Yours for ever
J. Keats
Who can ever beat such emotions? Not only romantic but letters can be inspirational too.
Mahatma Gandhi, got his inspiration after reading Dadabhai Naroaji’s letter to join the freedom movement in 1888. Another series of famous letters are Jawahar Lal Nehru’s to his daughter Indira Gandhi .The letters travel from the big bang – the beginning of solar system, to how life slowly developed over millions of years; how man from being the weakest animal became the master of all; the beginning of civilizations, trade, language, currency and politics.So much has been written and achieved in such letters.
How many times have you heard of an email that has inspired anyone? People are scared to even pen down their true emotions in emails. It’s just so easy to communicate with an email,even easier on an sms.
“Hi,honey I will be late” , as against; “Hey,there was a long meeting.I don’t want to but my entire team is sitting down and I can’t bail out. Please don’t wait up for me. Hope to see you and the kids in time to read them a bedtime story.
“I have landed safe.p.s.me”, as against ,”Hey mom,my flight was a bit late but have landed now and don’t worry ,there is an office cab to pick me .The weather here is a bit cold and the overcoat you made me buy at the last minute ,I think will come in handy.Tell dad not to worry,I am a big girl and will keep you guys updated.Love you!”.
In this day, where time is short and it will always be short as we are always trying to overachieve and multitask,we are turning away, shying away from opening up our feelings. We are becoming the non-committal generation!
Question to ask,when did you last write a letter or receive one?
