THE DYING HABIT OF WRITING

I had my early education in Shrine Vailankanni School in T. Nagar, Chennai, one of the prestigious CBSE Schools during those days.  While at school, we are asked to write a lot, apart from our load of Homework.  Our Teacher advised us to write atleast one page a day during Holidays to improve our handwriting and to get into the habit of Writing. 

Writing became an integral part of my upbringing.  The teacher was right, even after passing out of the University, the habit of writing continued.  It entered my work space.  It controlled my personal life and It became my character now.

At the age of 21, I got an opportunity to work in Saudi Arabia in 1989, as a Programmer of a Foam Manufacturing Unit.  Since I was living in a Industrial City, Access to Telephones was difficult and the rates were expensive as well.  Letter writing was the only viable mode of communication.  It used to take around 2 to 3 weeks for the letters to reach either way.  So, the waiting game began.  Every day, I used to wait for that magical call from the Administrator asking me to come and collect my letter.

The latest letter would be something that was written 2-3 weeks ago.  But I was still happy to receive it.  I used to read most of the letters several times.  I have cried, felt happy and even got motivated by reading some letters as the hand-written letters carried emotions. I could visualize the sender talking to me with those written words.  I could see the care and love of my dear ones in those words.  

Whenever some close colleague was to travel to Chennai, I became very busy, writing.  This gives me opportunity to write more and to many people and give him the letters to post from India.  I remember on one such occasion, I have written for 6 hours, non-stop, just to meet the deadline.

Till date, I write.  I jot down things to do, working notes, calculations, ideas, meeting points, etc daily.  With so much of writing, I can vouch that writing makes me remember things easily.  It helps me in thinking, both vertically and horizontally.  It has allowed me to gain respect for being disciplined at work.  It has completed my professional outfit.  I still write many hand-written notes and then scan them to store it digitally.  I don’t retype them in a Word Document because I can relate to things and situations easily when I go through my hand-written notes.  That is the power of writing.

Now, to see the lack of Writing by the present generation of people, both at work and otherwise is simply disappointing and sad.  Most of them have just stopped writing no sooner they finished all their career examinations.  These days, they prefer to type in a computer rather than writing. 

I had an interesting conversation with one of the new generation staff few years back.  He justified typing in word document because he can revise and correct immediately and submit a properly worded letter or document.  For me, this clearly indicates that they go through the process of thinking and Jotting as two separate activity.  I replied to him stating that our thoughts and hands are in synch and we are used to thinking and writing at the same time.  Hence, our response and drafting are genuine. 

Writing is an important part of life.  The Handwriting can reveal so much and carry so much of emotions and even character.  I always connect to the words and the emotions it carried.  Hand-written letters or documents makes you feel that the person is in front of you.  Typed ones does not bring that feeling or emotion. 

What are you waiting for, get back into the habit of writing.

(The above article was written for publication in Dec. 2018 issue of PRINCE'S VOICE - my Community eMagazine.)