The telegram had been an integral part of India’s
communication network till perhaps a few decades back. Now that BSNL is going
to discontinue its telegraphic services from July 15, 2013, yet another popular
service of the yesteryears is going to be buried forever…
It was a bygone era where telegrams were very much in vogue.
A harbinger of urgent information, telegrams normally brought in the news of a
relative’s death or the arrival date of the homecoming of a son who lived far
away. Similarly, illness of a close relative, request to come home for a ‘bride-seeing’
ritual, victory in examinations, birth of a child, etc used to be communicated
to various relatives through the humble telegram.
The sight of the sincere village postman walking frantically
to the address of the recipient followed by a hoard of curious children was a scene
to behold, according to my mother, and quite often, the curious onlookers would
be satisfied only after the recipient opened the pink flap with shaky hands and
perspiring brows to finally react as per the information contained in it. Good
news would be rewarded by a generous tip to the person who delivered it, and news
of a death or serious condition of a relative, it went without saying, would
start off a spate of heartrending wails by the ladies of the house. Very soon,
the whole village would have assembled there to pacify and sympathize with the bereaved
family members.
The present world, with its instant communication services
will certainly not miss the telegram, but reading the news of it being
discontinued, I felt a vague sense of loss… a feeling which was brought about
by the fact that yet another chapter has been relegated to the pages of history…
RIP
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