An email from a dear one makes our day. Isn’t it? It brings a smile to our faces. But there is something else that gives me equal joy, i.e., getting a handwritten letter from my loved ones. I like writing letters. I still write letters to my parents. It gives me inner satisfaction. Do I sound like an old-fashioned person? I do write emails, but once in a while, I write letters as well. I know, I know. Some of you might be thinking she can take a printout of the emails and then read it, but no, I want it in a proper handwritten form. So, you can see why and how much I respect and admire the art of letter writing. Yes, I called it Art. But today, this art of letter writing is fading or dying and almost losing its presence. As I sat down to write today’s post, this topic clicked first to me. Today, I have two reasons to put my thoughts into words. The other day, I talked to one of my friends and realized that we hadn’t exchanged letters for quite some time. She is one of my MBA friends. After finishing up studies, she went back to her place, but we were in touch through letters. I was lucky to find a like-minded friend who has the same interest in letter writing as I do. Yes, letter- a handwritten letter. The second reason is recent, I heard a video talk given by Lakshmi Pratury, the co-host of TEDIndia 2009, host and curator of The INK Conference, and founder of Ixoraa Media on letter writing. While listening to the video talk, I felt some connection to it. So, here I am with today’s post, “Is Letter Writing a fading Art?”

I give all the credit for my interest in letter writing to my Grand Father. Growing up, I had always seen him writing letters regularly to his friends and relatives. Those letters were written in neat handwriting. It always surprised me how come he can fit all the matter in that small postcard? He moved to Kanpur from Mumbai. He knew the art of dealing with people and, more important to maintain friendship. I would say letter writing was the key behind his friendships and keeping in touch with all the relatives.  Since computers weren’t there in those days, if you want to meet someone, you have to go and meet in person, or the other way was letter writing.

Former is not always possible. Even after the computer came into the picture, he would still write letters. Whenever we had to send a greeting card to any relative or friend, he would always say, “when you are sending an Rs.20 card (today Rs.20 card sounds like a joke), why not write few lines with the card? Anybody can send a card. Adding a few lines in your handwriting makes the card somewhat special than being JUST a greeting card’. That time we would think, why is he stressing so much on the writing aspect when the card already has enough matter. But he was trying to tell us that when we write, first, we think about the person, then we pick our words and frame the sentences—just three steps. When your card is in the hands of that person who is not expecting that s(he) will get to see something in your handwriting, something you have written just for that person makes his/her day unique and not the greeting card. 

When you write a letter or a short note and attach it to any gift you are sending through, say FedEx/ Postal service, you create a bond; you create memories that will last longer. Just think, your friend sends you a beautiful bouquet with a cake. You get it in time, arrange the flowers in a vase and enjoy the cake. After 2-3 days, the flowers start shedding their petals. Now what? But if you get a small handwritten note with the flowers and cake. Now rewind everything explained in the above lines but add one thing: you are having the cake holding the note from your friend. The cake is finished, flowers have started losing their fragrance, but that small note stays with you. And that’s what I am talking about when I say ‘you create memories that will last longer.

I can only validate this by suggesting you try it & seeing the immense pleasure that you and the receiver of this priced letter experience. This will be threefold process-the happiness experienced by the sender-the receiver and the anticipation of sharing the feedback of this unique bond.

Now, my daughter is in 1st grade, which means she can write pretty well. I ask her to write few lines on the card that we send to our relatives in India. For them, seeing the message in her handwriting is more valuable than the card. In one of the old posts, “Learning to write Hindi” I have also mentioned that letter writing or encouraging your kids to write few lines in the cards you send to their grandparents is an effective way to practice comprehension, language, and language word usage.

So, are you ready for this? Don’t let this art die. Try it – you’ll like it, and so will your loved ones when they receive it. And who knows, maybe they’ll write you back. Won’t you feel special then