PICTURE POSTCARDS

          I treasure the picture post cards sent to me from all over by friends & relatives. They radiate a feeling of affection that the sender remembers you, wishes that you also were with them and cares for you. The cards bring to you visions of places that you visited and life associated with it. They also prompt you to make plans to journeys to lands far-off. You could browse through these cards, revive memories.

A whole industry of photographers who photographed the scenic places, printers who turned out B&W or coloured cards on glossy paper; manufacturing and distributing these post cards was flourishing. You went on holidays; you carefully selected post cards, took time out to write a few words, addressed it, searched for a post office to stamp and post it, or had a helpful hotel desk to do the needful.

                           

  

The receiver was happy to get them. Children were overjoyed, wondering whether it was actually photographed by the uncle who sent it. “It’s from abroad” they would exclaim as they eyed the postage stamps for their collection.

                     

Cards were proudly displayed on mantelpieces (alas mantelpieces are no more a fixture in houses now), a shelf, book case or pinned up somewhere.

            

They were conversation topics when visitors dropped in, bringing back fond memories.

                 

                               

No More.

Smart phones have totally destroyed this chain of bonding, memories and joy. People just take snaps from their smart phones, send them immediately (if having data) or on return to hotel by hotel Wi-Fi to a host of recipients. Photographs by the dozen land in your phone. Several shots of a monument or place with different persons standing before it. The strangest part would be that it shall be a photo of the historic monument totally blocked from view by them standing there. You would be searching for the lovely beach between the crowds of revelers on it.

                   

The receiving party gives a glance and moves on to the next Whatsapp message . Its most likely to be deleted few hours later to make space in the phone. “What to do yaar, my phone is full, not able to save anything”.

No more display on shelf, book case or browsing of memories on a rainy evening. You try to show these photographs to visitors through the phone, but there are about a hundred and visitor gets pissed off. Also you can show them to only one guest at at a time asking them to sit next to you. It loses charm after a few attempts.

A curious observation, people from outside India sometimes do send these postcards;  but people within India seem to have forsaken them. What are your views ?

Progress and Technology has made everyone a standalone. No bonding. No family. No memories.

I am not ready to say Bye Bye to Picture Postcards yet. It would be a good idea to  keep a dozen postage stamps in stock whenever you go on holidays - to avoid searching for a post office to buy them. And of course your address book to whoever you want to send them. Street vendors in all such places are ready with lovely cards !!