here's my letter

As I said in a post earlier, ( I've said many things in my previous posts) here's my letter which I had written for the international letter writing contest. It might be less interesting, but do read it for my sake. awaiting your comments. It's bigger than usual because the word limit is 1000 words. my entry has 980 words.

Dear readers,

You might now hold me in your hand and examine me like a new specimen. I may be new to you, but I’m one of the main reasons for connecting people globally. If you get a chance, show me to your parents or grandparents, and they will tell you who I am. As you are living in a world which always keeps you busy, I feel like introducing myself. I am a letter. I am usually written by someone to someone to convey a message. I think now you can recall little. You might have learnt how to write me in your schools. To make it simple, I’m the forefather of your modern day message, mail and chat. So got a thought that I won’t be boring? I’ll assure my history won’t be too.

Unofficially, I was born in 2400BC in Egypt. Scientists have discovered some corps of royal couriers related to my DNA in the Egypt during the rule of Pharaoh. Some mounted courier service centers seem to be more ancient. There was a similar practice of letter writing during the 2^nd BC under the Mauryans in India and the Han dynasty in China. Credits for well developed postal service in ancient history go to Augustus, who made me a somewhat prominent figure in the Roman civilization. But before that, it was actually Cyrus the Great who had first implemented postal service in his Achaemenid Empire.

There’s more! It was only in 1665 when the Princely house of Thurn and Taxis initiated a regular mail service in Brussels. In India, mail service came into existence in 712 A.D. Thereafter, every nizam and king who ruled India had his own uniqueness in the system of mailing. During the late 17^th century, when the East India Company had gained importance, they started creating solidified mailing system for the whole nation. This permanent mailing system was also influenced by the Dutch, French, Danish and Scottish missionaries. The first ever post office in India was set up in 1668 at Bombay. So my dear friends, there's an awesome thing to notice that I grew up with all those samosas and chat! When you have time for those, why don't you have time for me? In Chennai, the GPO was opened in now called mount road in the year 1884. The first GPO was decided to be located in Chennai by the EIC then Governor General Thomas Lewin in the fort St. George in 1764. Then after many changes in the general post and other officials, at last, it was opened at the Mount Road on 1^st March.

There’s one more thing that your history book might have left out when you were reading about the Acts passed by the East India Company. The Post Office Act XVII of 1837 provided that the Governor-General of India in Council had the exclusive right of conveying letters by post for hire within the territories of the East India Company.

Now, as an epilogue to my history, let me tell you about my evolution in independent India. India has been divided into 22 postal circles, each headed by a chief post master general. The very first Indian stamp was issued on 24^th November, 1947, possessing the national flag of India and the slogan “Jai Hind.”  Then, as a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, a stamp was released on the first anniversary of Independence. Following that, the next few years’ stamps were dedicated to different cultures such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism and Jainism. This was then followed by maps of India. In the mid- 20^th century, I was given more importance because I was the only means of communication. In India, I was a prominent figure till the last years of 20^th century. By that time, things were slowly changing.

When e- mails were introduced, the act of writing letters started decreasing. SMS and phones led to my further depreciation. And in the recent years, when this stupid whatsapp was introduced, I was totally forgotten! No one knows how it feels when a prominent mean of communication is being totally forgotten. And today, you children are very much suffering if you are asked to write me.

I’m not expressing that modern means of communication should be banned. I only mean that you could write letters to your friend instead of texting your friend. Writing letters would also improve your vocabulary and writing skills. In order to raise awareness on my existence, the Government of India started e- post office on 9^th March 2011. Also, it opened the National Philatelic Museum was opened in order to preserve my history. And today, an international competition is being held to raise letter writing practices.

I am glad that you have read me patiently. I am sure you will share about me to your friends, not through whatsapp but through letters.  By reading this, you have not only credited me but you have also credited the girl who wrote me.

Thank you for reading the tale of a letter which has come all over the time to tell you its adventures.

Yours lovingly,

R. Bharathi.