Latest News

Why letter-writing still holds relevance in this day and age
Friday, November 23, 2018 IST
Why letter-writing still holds relevance in this day and age

Two new books, one by former Indian minister K Natwar Singh, and the other by prize-winning international bestselling author Simon Sebag Montefiore, rekindle the joy of writing letters.

 
 

We live in an age when technology drives most of what we do in our day-to-day lives. And blessed as we are with tech boons such as smartphones and instant messaging applications, the subtle art of writing letter may seem outdated. But when it comes to giving expression to your deepest thoughts, words pulsing through electronic cables seem inadequate -- which is perhaps why letters retain their relevance and may never go out of fashion.
 
And two timely offerings -- one by former Indian minister, diplomat and parliamentarian K. Natwar Singh, and the other by prize-winning international bestselling author Simon Sebag Montefiore -- rekindle the joy of writing letters and bring to fore the nostalgia associated with this timeless practice.
 
In Treasured Epistles, which released in late September, Singh, a man of many distinctions, states that his life has been enriched immensely by his gift for friendship and personal relations.
 
The letters also convey more than they were actually meant to. For instance, the letters written by Indira Gandhi, whose image in public memory today is largely based on the Emergency, reflect the kindness with which she addressed Singh.
 
Singh mentions briefly that he does not want to give the impression that she was soft or unaware of what was happening around her. “She was alert, vigilant, tough -- a state that could make one shiver. Her displeasure had a near paralysing effect on those who attempted to (double) cross her,” he writes, acknowledging that life at the top can be lonely and describing Gandhi as one who enjoyed close friendships.
 
But there is a greater worry that Singh is preoccupied with. “As a people, we are not given to preserving letters. Our indifference to history is one of the reasons for this shortcoming,” he maintains.
 
His book features letters written to him by E.M. Forster, C. Rajagopalachari, Lord Mountbatten, Jawaharlal Nehru’s two sisters -- Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and Krishna Hutheesing -- R.K. Narayan, Nirad C. Chaudhury, Mulk Raj Anand and Han Suyin.
 
On a witty note, the former External Affairs Minister in Manmohan Singh’s cabinet, shares that for some strange reason, he got along “exceptionally well” with older women.
 
“Not that the younger ones were neglected. Far from it. This is not, however, the place to elaborate on my love life,” he states in the Preface.
 
“Written in History: Letters that Changed the World”, on the other hand, opens with one of the most famous love letters of all times.
 
 

 
 

“My mistress and friend: I and my heart put ourselves in your hands, begging you to have them suitors for your favour, and that your affection for them should not grow less through absence. For it would be a great pity to increase their sorrow since absence does it sufficiently, and more than ever I could have thought possible reminding us of a point in astronomy, which is, that the longer the days are the farther off is the sun, and yet the more fierce,” Henry VIII wrote to Anne Boleyn in May 1528.
 
By 1528, Henry was in love with Anne, 11 years younger than him. Although their affair had not yet been consummated, he was utterly enraptured by her, which is evident in his words.
 
Montefiore, the author, has been published in 48 languages, and in this volume celebrates the great letters of world history, creative culture and personal life. He has selected letters from ancient times to the 21st century and the writers vary from Elizabeth I, Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela to unknown people in extraordinary circumstances.
 
In his note to the readers, Montefiore maintains that nothing beats the immediacy and authenticity of a letter and says that letters are “the literary antidote to the ephemerality of life”.
 
All in all, both of these volumes are precious collectibles. Every letter has a context, but when looked at many years later, they can actually stand for more than the purpose they were originally written to fulfill. As is said often, sending a letter is the next best thing to showing up personally at someone’s door, and reading these offerings may inspire a reader or two to actually write one to a friend or beloved.
 
Treasured Epistles is published by Rupa, and is priced at Rs 500. Written in History is published by Hachette India, and is priced at Rs 599. They are available both online and in bookstores.

 
 
 
 
 

Related Topics

 
 
 

Trending News & Articles

 Article
Nostradamus prediction : India will produce the immortal ruler

Quatrain 75, Century X Long awaited, he will not take birth in Europe,  India will produce the immorta...

Recently posted . 18K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
Dark side of Alauddin Khilji's sexuality and Baccha Bazi that led to his brutal death!

Secret's of Alauddin Khilji's sexuality Several historians argue that the roots of ancient Indian history, especially linked to ...

Recently posted . 7K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
A newborn kangaroo is about as long as a paperclip

The kangaroo is a marsupial. A distinctive characteristic common to marsupials is that, with most, the young are carried around in a pouch. They are mainly found in...

Recently posted . 4K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Untold Truth Behind Rani Padmavati & Alauddin Khilji That You Need To Know

There are various challenging stories about Rani Padmavati otherwise known as Padmini. While from one viewpoint, the Rajputs keep up the holiness of everything iden...

Recently posted . 4K views . 1 min read
 

 
 

More in History & Classics

 Article
86 Years After Bhagat Singh’s Death Sentence, A Pakistani Lawyer Is Trying To Prove His Innocence

He was just 23 years old when he sacrificed his life for the country. One of the foremost revolutionary leaders in India's struggle for independence, Bhagat Sin...

Recently posted. 896 views . 3 min read
 

 Article
The woman who cut off her breasts to protest a tax

The story of a lower caste woman who cut her breasts to protest against a discriminatory "breast tax" in British ruled India is being revived by an artist...

Recently posted. 2K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Google honours Nobel Laureate Har Gobind Khorana with a doodle

Noted scientists Har Gobind Khorana is known for his work in the field of DNA and for constructing the first artificial gene. Today's google doodle honours the ...

Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read
 

 Video
TOP 10 Most Powerful HINDU GODS



Recently posted . 1K views
 

 Article
Unknown facts of Akbars life revealed by Rahims dohe

As a person who loves to read and research about history, King Akbar is one of my favourite characters to research. Maybe it is because he was so spiritual...

Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Was Mahatma Gandhi India’s first nutritionist and diet guru?

Tip for brahmacharis. Raw food. Vegan-ism. Gandhi’s experiments with food are worth taking a look at.  

Recently posted. 1K views . 0 min read
 

 
 
 

   Prashnavali

  Thought of the Day

“Either you run the day or the day runs you”
Jim Rohn

Be the first one to comment on this story

Close
Post Comment
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


ads
Back To Top