World Post Day Special: What you didn't know about the postal system

This World Post Day, the Philatelic Society of India gives interesting inputs on posting and philately for those who still have immense faith in the written word.

When was the last time you wrote a letter to a friend or a loved one? Gone are the days when people would stand in long queues outside the post office to get their letters stamped, be it seasonal greetings or just plain letters.

October 9, being widely celebrated as WorldPost Day, we took the opportunity to pay a tribute to the age-old tradition of letter writing. This day marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union(UPU) in 1874 in Switzerland. But it was only in 1969 that it was marked as World Post Day by the UPU Congress, held in Japan.

The renowned Philatelic Society of India located in Mumbai has been around since 1897, founded by a few enthusiastic British philatelists, and with 118 years of experience in global postage. “Philately is basically a hobby of collection of postal stamps, history and records,” says Kapil Gogri, Governing Council Member of the Philatelic Society of India. Currently, the society aims at encouraging people to develop their hobby, and even exhibits the stamp collections of local people.

The loyalists

Alannah Fernandes, who is an ardent fan of writing handwritten letters, has been doing so for the past 15 years. She says, “While letter writing does add a personal touch, I feel it is rather uncommon today, which makes such letters even more special.” However, there are doubts about whether handwritten letters would eventually stop. To this, Fernandes says, “I don’t think that handwritten letters would ever stop because I feel that there would still be individuals who’d prefer writing letters for their own personal reasons and I feel that they should be rightfully catered to.”

Would technology finally conquer?

Battling the notion that the Internet would eventually overpower every medium of communication, we believe that there will still be a select few who will be loyal to the traditional ways. “Technology has tried replacing almost everything but some things like writing letters and anxiously waiting for a reply is a form of nostalgia that can never be replaced by any form of technology,” says Elaine D’Souza, another lover of the written word.

Gogri, however, disagrees. “Of course, it will go extinct. However, email isn’t the only component. The younger generation is far more accustomed to instant social media like Facebook and WhatsApp, than physically written letters.” Moreover, there is a visible decline in the knowledge and ability to appreciate stamps and realise their worth, he says. However, Jonathan Kale, who still prefers to write handwritten letters to his best friend, adds, “Depending on the changing generation, I think there will be a drop in the number of people writing letters. Looking at how things have evolved, and with so many messaging platforms coming up, it seems difficult for letters to sustain their position.”

Celebration galore

In order to celebrate World Post Day this year, a franking system will be used. This includes a machine designed to stamp letters in large numbers, which would prove helpful to people, who need to post several letters. Our Father of the Nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s message of Swachh Bharat will also be imprinted on the stamp.

Facts about forgery

Indian stamps are made in the security press at Hyderabad and Nashik.

Fake stamps are known as phantoms, which are essentially forgeries.

Postal offices registered with UPU provide official stamps. Those who are not registered with UPU make their own stamps, which are not authentic.

Source : http://www.dnaindia.com/