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Asides

Meghdhoot, is like, so over !

By: Runa :+: Under: Asides, Culture, Desi Ishtyle, It Happens Only in India
On: ⋅ December 27, 2007 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment
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G.P.Sawant represents a dying breed in India .For over 25 years, he has earned a living as a professional letter writer in a post office in Mumbai. He estimates that he has written over 10,000 letters for poor migrant workers who are illiterate and need to send money and news to their families in villages. With the advent of technology like cell phones, however, communicating with those back in the village is easy and Mr.Sawant ’s services are no longer required ( link)

What struck me as most poignant is this:

“There were some letters Mr. Sawant would not write. He refused, for example, to trade in romantic love. Love is fickle and dangerous, he said. Lovers lie; they cheat; they offer their love and rescind it. He refused to engage in chicanery on other people’s behalf.”

I agree!

Its all good however: the same technologies that make Mr.Sawant’s services obsolete now provide a good living for his four children - one is a computer engineer , one is a civil engineer, one is a banker and the other a student of computers.

The demise of the written epistle is something I mourn. After all a love letter in a sealed envelope is infinitely preferable to an email, however fancy the font may be !

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