prayas ; letter writing- lost art

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PrayasThursday Work-out session – 01th May 2014

Presented By – Sukanta Kundu

Letter Writing – A Lost Art!

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Dear Iswarchandra


What is LetterA direct or personal written or printed message addressed to a person or organization – Merriam-Webster

a message that is written down or printed on paper and usually put in an envelope and sent to somebody – Oxford learners Dictionary

A letter is a written message from one party to another containing information. – wikipedia.org


What is Art“The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.”

“Subjects of study primarily concerned with human creativity and social life, such as languages, literature, and history (as contrasted with scientific or technical subjects).”

We work in the dark—we do what we can—we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art. - Henry James The Middle Years

The power to transcend our own self-interest, our self centric zoom-lens on life, and relate to the world and each other with more integrity, more curiosity, more wholeheartedness.


The journey of the art – letter writingThere are several proof of written communication from the age of hieroglyphics which are found in primitive civilization of the world.

Writings on stones, and metals which all were basically scribed in a certain place to provide communication to anonymous. However, these are not actually the forms of letter; yet the journey of communicative writing stated that way.

Prominent example of letters is found (mention) in the Iliad by Homer (lived around 7th or 8th centuries B.C.) and works by both Herodotus and Thucydides.

“Kill the bearer of this.” – the Fatal letter in Iliad


Classifying letters Letters can be classified for their use in different purposes:

• Personal letters • Business letters

• Invitation letters • Application letters


Business Letter

A business letter comprises business deals or even the official communication between/among business house, office, school/college and their corresponding associates.

It means if a student ‘s prayer to principal, even the school clerk writes to publisher or even it can be a letter written by a charitable trust to school.


A Scathing Letter


A short letter of referral rejection


Invitation letterIt is a letter for inviting anybody personally or in group to join any ceremony or may be

seminar or general gathering.

In our daily life we get so many invitations. Sometimes a

group of students are invited to attend convocation or family invited to wedding/ hose warming party.


Official Invitation


A Wedding Invitation


Application letterAn application letter is simply a pleading to anybody or an authority for any particular

purpose. It is a request with polite manner for

granting approval.

In our short life every now and then we need to apply for

various purposes – application for leave in school days or it can be a cover letter describing employability to an employer.


A Cover letter for job application


Personal letterA personal letter is a private communication like

one between family members, friends or

with a person who is not even a friend but in near future is going to be in relation.

Some examples can be students abroad writing parents, servicemen & their expectants,

soldiers from the warfronts, or from anywhere in a long journey by vessel.


Personal lettersLetter for personal communication like between the family members, friends or a person who is not even a friend or a family member but related as being part of the humanity.

Romantic letters, everybody ever in love must have written in his or her life. Even in 10 to 15 years back young people used to make/express love to through letters as Android phones were not available like present times. Remember killing mosquitoes to supply your blood.

The soldier’s letter had a typical position here as if their family members used to send them the latest or present picture of home and it can be a soldier defying the orders or acing rebellious against the warmongers.


Gandhi to Hitler


Gandhi to an Inmate of Asram


The Art in letter writingSending a letter is the next best thing to showing up personally at someone’s door –The only means of communication has to be made a representation of one’s self and thought.

A letter is not collection of words on paper – it is sketch of a scenario, atmosphere and obviously the mind of the sender – and this makes language artistic – so naturally narrative in its appearance.

The approach has to be subjective to maintain the feel or the emotion that touches heart.

It is not about formats but a typical presence of self at the receiver’s door; rather bedroom or comfort zone.


The feel of art A poor mother refusing to receive a letter seeing the marks (signifying well-being of his son) on the envelop;

the salutations like “My love” or ‘Priyatama’ – all denote the art of touching hearts with words that not only speak but act for the mind.

It is the sweet(tormenting, turbulent in reality) lies of a soldier of his well-being (knowing death breaths on his shoulder ) need to be emotional to make the receiver believe.


Some letters worth mentioning

Marilyn Monroe to Joe DiMaggio (1954 married just 9 month)

Dear Joe, I know I was wrong! I acted the way I did and said the things I did because I was hurt — not because I meant them — and it was stupid of me to be hurt because actually there wasn't enough reason — in fact no reason at all. Please accept my apology and don't, don't, don't, don't be angry with your baby — she loves you. Lovingly, your wife (for life), Mrs. J.P. DiMaggio.


Open letter that changed the worldMartin Luther King wrote his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail against racial segregation and economic injustice in USA (1963)Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds. ...


A soldier defying ordersAimile Zola to French President (1898) – an open accusation

Here then, Mr. President, are the facts which explain how a miscarriage of justice could be made; and the moral evidence, the financial circumstances of Dreyfus, the absence of reason, his continual cry of innocence, completes its demonstration as a victim of the extraordinary imaginations of commander Du Paty de Clam, of the clerical medium in which it was found, of the hunting for the "dirty Jews", which dishonours our time.

I accuse finally the first council of war to have violated the right, by condemning an defendant on a part remained secret, and I show the second council of war to have covered this illegality, by order, by committing in his turn the legal crime to discharge a culprit knowingly. ...


Napoleon Bonaparte to Joséphine de Beauharnais:

I am going to bed with my heart full of your adorable image… I cannot wait to give you proofs of my ardent love… How happy I would be if I could assist you at your undressing, the little firm white breast, the adorable face, the hair tied up in a scarf a la creole. You know that I will never forget the little visits, you know, the little black forest… I kiss it a thousand times and wait impatiently for the moment I will be in it. To live within Josephine is to live in the Elysian fields. Kisses on your mouth, your eyes, your breast, everywhere, everywhere.


The killers


Latest Trend of message


Why the art is “LOST”

1 ) Time factor (fast paced life)

2) Easy and fast electronic communication (telegraph to social networking site)

3) Impact of modern lifestyle (commercial mind setup)


To preserve MemorabiliaIn the days of cell phones, email, and text messages, it’s an art worth bringing back - not because of some misplaced sense of nostalgia!

The writing and reception of letters will always offer a unique experience that modern technology cannot touch.

When it is writing a letter it is sharing one’s true thoughts, sincere sympathies, ardent love, and deepest gratitude, words traveling along an invisible superhighway will never suffice.

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prayas ; letter writing- lost art

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