Raju Korti
Finally, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has decided to write the epitaph of an institution that dates back to well over 150 years. In an era punctuated by up-to-the-minute technological advances, the good old telegram has been cruelly edged out by smartphones, emails and SMS. The old world charm of the telegram that often turned the world of the people topsy turvy will now be consigned to the realms of nostalgia.
The generation born in the late eighties and later will perhaps never be able to appreciate and understand the world of telegraphic communication. An email or an SMS can never carry the depth, punch and feeling of a hand-written letter for which no one has the time and patience these days. In my school days, I distinctly recall a chapter "A letter written by William Hazzlitt to his son" as a chapter in English. Today, it might be "An email sent by Steve Jobs to his son through Whatsapp." Technology is a double-edged weapon that often takes away the soul and emotion out of human life and makes it utterly robotic and bland.
In the times of post cards, envelopes and inland letters, the telegram enjoyed an exclusivity and importance the present-day systems of communication will seldom have for, they can never boast of evoking the same sense of anticipation.
The telegram threw up a spectrum of human innervation -- the joy of having landed a job, the greetings of near and dear ones on festive occasions, the arrival of a new born and the disconsolation of the bereaved. And in good time. You just had to visit a telegraph office to see the postal staff working in the chaotic sounds of the Morse Keys to know how the system worked to ensure that the service delivered many happy and sad news to people spread all over the country. It was a part of one's growing consciousness.
Such was the awe and contemplation of the telegram that unless one had a fair sense of presentiment, one would shiver untill it was opened and read. You were hit with a sledge hammer if it was about someone's death. The few suspense moments before the postman shouted "telegram" or "taar" and you signed the acknowledgement, could be killing. Only a split second stood between relief and torment.
Of course, the telegram wasn't without its comic side too. Often people who sent telegrams about their arrivals back home, ended up receiving them themselves. Telegram will indeed remain the last remnant of the saga of letters. Remember the old Hindi movie scenes where heart attacks were caused by arrival of a telegram.
With a great institution consigned to the dustbins of history, the older generation will have another subject to cud upon and relate to their younger ones. A live wire will remain mired only in archives. The country's ruralside which had steadfastly swore by the telegram has now shifted its loyalties towards the mobile phone under the BSNL's own aegis. And the striking irony is the PSU has moved on with an apologetic "What an Idea Sirji".
The generation born in the late eighties and later will perhaps never be able to appreciate and understand the world of telegraphic communication. An email or an SMS can never carry the depth, punch and feeling of a hand-written letter for which no one has the time and patience these days. In my school days, I distinctly recall a chapter "A letter written by William Hazzlitt to his son" as a chapter in English. Today, it might be "An email sent by Steve Jobs to his son through Whatsapp." Technology is a double-edged weapon that often takes away the soul and emotion out of human life and makes it utterly robotic and bland.
In the times of post cards, envelopes and inland letters, the telegram enjoyed an exclusivity and importance the present-day systems of communication will seldom have for, they can never boast of evoking the same sense of anticipation.
The telegram threw up a spectrum of human innervation -- the joy of having landed a job, the greetings of near and dear ones on festive occasions, the arrival of a new born and the disconsolation of the bereaved. And in good time. You just had to visit a telegraph office to see the postal staff working in the chaotic sounds of the Morse Keys to know how the system worked to ensure that the service delivered many happy and sad news to people spread all over the country. It was a part of one's growing consciousness.
Such was the awe and contemplation of the telegram that unless one had a fair sense of presentiment, one would shiver untill it was opened and read. You were hit with a sledge hammer if it was about someone's death. The few suspense moments before the postman shouted "telegram" or "taar" and you signed the acknowledgement, could be killing. Only a split second stood between relief and torment.
Of course, the telegram wasn't without its comic side too. Often people who sent telegrams about their arrivals back home, ended up receiving them themselves. Telegram will indeed remain the last remnant of the saga of letters. Remember the old Hindi movie scenes where heart attacks were caused by arrival of a telegram.
With a great institution consigned to the dustbins of history, the older generation will have another subject to cud upon and relate to their younger ones. A live wire will remain mired only in archives. The country's ruralside which had steadfastly swore by the telegram has now shifted its loyalties towards the mobile phone under the BSNL's own aegis. And the striking irony is the PSU has moved on with an apologetic "What an Idea Sirji".
My wish to be born in the early eighties moved up a level after reading this
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