Today morning I had a dream. I was writing a letter to my cousin thanking him for his help. Well it surprised me, as it has been ages since I wrote a letter. Writing a letter meaning, using an inland or a postcard, using pen, posting it to their physical addresses and all that.
Letter writing used to be an elaborate job. I remember buying the inlands and postcards from the local post office. My father made me write letters- to our relatives asking them about their well being and on occasions like festivals, new year etc wishing them. I was told to write beautifully. A few of my relatives were very particular about this and many times replied that quality of my handwriting is dropping. Getting reply from the day we posted used to take at least 1 week. There is so much life in being slow. Even I used to get many letters which I collected. People treated each other as human beings then. They were concerned about each others well being. They shared their happiness and sorrows. Life was so humane then.
Today, people hardly have a clue of thier own wellbeing, how can they be expected to try to know someone else's. How many times have we called on or wrote a letter or even telephoned a friend or a relative just to know their well-being? I generally get the reply- A bit busy, can we speak later? or Can you be quick, got some work. That later never comes and that some work will never finish. Sometimes I wonder where are we going this hurriedly? Money? Happiness or Grave?
When I write an email to my cousin, he feels I am old fashioned. He reminds me that this is Facebook era. I don't think the happiness that is in letter writing exists in Facebook status or Twitter. And moreover they are ephemeral. Do you even remember Orkut? Even these will die a slow death. Its not just the happiness. But letter writing is personalized. Today even marriage invitations are sent as email attachments or Facebook updates. Now how personalized is that? Your name lost somewhere in 'To' or 'CC' or 'Bcc' list. Letter Writing gives the writer an opportunity to express his feelings in right words, think all over again and come up with better way of presentation. The reader feels so special for having received the letter (the fact that the writer actually bought a letter, wrote it and posted it) and understand the writer's ideas and feelings. How all this can happen with 'Hi... hw r u?' Today it has remained about sharing information. There is no life left in what we do anymore.
I decided to write a letter. You know what I don't know/remember any of friends' or relatives addresses. I have one question- Can I write you a letter? If yes, please share your physical address.
