The painting of the voice!

“Bhalo achi, bhalo theko

Akaasher thikanay chithi likho”

This song takes many on a nostalgic tour to the postal days when letters subsisted as a part of daily life. In this era of email, social media sites, and other technologies, the notion of letter writing fades away; the love those handwritten letters would bear, the smell, and the waiting are non-existent.

According to surveys, writing letters helps to alleviate anxiety and is incredibly restorative. Voltaire called letters 'the painting of the voice.' They are considerable history keepers too. Historians quench their thirst from the letters famous people wrote from time to time.  

Letters on screen

One might wonder what would've happened if Tina didn’t inscribe those letters to reunite Rahul and Anjali or Bauji didn't receive 'Mitti Ki Khushboo Wali Chiththi' from all along India to tie Simran's knot with Kuljeet? And remember how the cute doggo changed the fate of Nisha and Prem in Hum Apke Hain Kon by delivering the letter to Barey Bhaiya? And remember when Rachel wrote an 18 pages front and back letter to Ross?

Well, it's not about movies only; letters have sweeter real-life stories compared to what we have seen in movies.

Why people love letters?

Umme Habiba Razna, a student of Motijheel Ideal School and College, craves handwritten letters. Quoting her love, she said, "Though messenger is the easiest and most convenient way of communication, I believe they are somehow interpersonal. The whiff, the art and the love these handwritten letters involve are beyond imagination."

Umme Habiba’s letters

"And they are way too precious to destroy where social media messages go in a blackhole after a while," Razna added.

While showing the birthday notes her best friends sent her, she responded to the question of what made them stand out.

"The time, effort, and money they spend for you should always be applauded and appreciated. They take all the hassles just because they care, making me crave letters more."

Maksuda Rahman Luchi, a millennial, is a housewife from Uttara. When asked how she experienced the letter era, she recalled, "It's been so long since I haven't written a letter. Back then, it was my favourite pastime. In our generation, communication wasn't so easy. We had to wait for letters."

Maksuda Rahman’s letters

"After posting a letter, we started looking for a runner to see if we got the letter. See the urge? That is where the emotion lies," she added.

Awaited communication

Nazrul Islam, a boomer and Tongi-based former garment businessman, happily shared his feelings for writing letters. "Being in the harshest era, we had to wait quite a time to get letters delivered and their response."

On a positive note, he continued, "It wasn’t bad, though. You had adequate time to imagine your reply and what you would write further. The butterfly in your stomach feeling was at its best. There was even a time when we got a reply after 3 years, and no, I'm not joking!"

Like people used to prank with missed calls, Mr Nazrul Islam and his friends wrote prank letters. Although his first experience wasn't good as the receiver came searching for the writer, prank letters took him to his destiny!

"Well, I shouldn't be exposing, but that's how I got your granny!''

"I thought the letter-writing cycle would continue, but technology eliminated it. I do not dislike them. I like to video call my near and dear ones. It's like I am experiencing them all,'' the old man smiled.

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