Beyond social media trends, handwritten letters are precious

Inside her Mohammadpur apartment, away from the street's noise, Mrs. Salma Begum has kept a corner filled with letters that time has not erased. She has letters from thirty years ago stored in a file. She opens it slowly, and her ageing eyes move over the lines with care. Each letter takes her back a few decades. Yellowed pages, uneven handwriting, and memories of the past rest not only in her cupboard but also in her mind."

I have kept every one of them," she says. "Sometimes I open and read them. I still enjoy doing that."

Letters of Mrs Salma

In our rapidly fast-forward world, for people like Mrs. Begum, these tangible relics are not just old papers. They are priceless chapters of a life lived, loved, and remembered.

In a world that moves quickly with messages and notifications, these papers hold more than words. They carry moments, voices, and connections, as well as proof of a bygone era.

Letters have always meant more than news. They hold love between family members, care between friends, and trust between partners.

For many, letters are kept in boxes or drawers alongside other items from the past, like a treasure. The Bengali word 'chithi' holds a special place in our hearts. It is something people do not throw away.

For loved ones separated by distance, letters served as a bridge. Messages travelled across miles, and the recipient often waited weeks or months to get them. The wait itself became part of the experience, and the feelings it carried pressed into every line.

To sit with a blank page, to hold a pen, and to shape sentences one by one is to share a part of oneself. People wrote about their days, shared their thoughts, or told stories. Each letter was a piece of presence sent across space.

Even with modern technology, some still write letters. Young people send letters to friends, couples write to each other, and children sometimes write to their parents for fun. The practice is no longer as common as it once was, but the emotional depth of letters remains.

International Letter Writing Day is more than just a date on the calendar. It reminds us that, amid quick messages and instant replies, the slow pace of a letter still holds significance. It's an invitation to pause, to take a pen, and to write a message that could one day become a treasured memory.

People can no longer wait for a reply on the Messenger app. Some get angry if their texts are left on 'seen.' People share links to apps on social media that work as a letter. Friends and acquaintances can write their feelings anonymously. The whole thing of letter writing has become a trend.

Whether it's a trend or a way of communication, many still yearn for the letter-writing culture to return. They miss the sound of an envelope being opened, the feel of a page in their hands, and the quiet joy of knowing that someone took the time to write just for them.

As we celebrate International Letter Writing Day, we are reminded that letters are not gone. They are tucked away in cupboards, stored in boxes, and held in memories.

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