Old-world charm of handwritten notes

At the bank, I could hear someone saying, 'It has been many, many years since I've written a letter by hand. Can I send it by email or take a printout and hand it over?' The digital era has changed us in many ways and this is one such change that we are being forced to accept. There are certain books which many of us tend to hold on to carefully for years together. It could be a collection which you rarely read at present, but have read at some point in time and may wish to read in the near or distant future. Tucked away in my bookshelf are many such books that take me on a trip down memory lane. These include notebooks filled with Sanskrit notes written by mother from listening to Sanskrit lectures, notebooks with handwritten music notes of Carnatic songs with raga and tala, with some pointers scribbled on the margin by an aunt who was a prolific singer. I can spot notebooks with 'passed down the generation' recipes in mother's or grandma's hand, with tips on avoiding mistakes that novice cooks make. My collection includes handwritten letters by mother containing advice for running a household for a newly married daughter. Reading it, I can almost hear her caring voice. Alongside is a notebook filled with handwritten horoscopes of the clan, meticulously entered by grandpa, along with handwritten correspondence from parents of prospective grooms for fixing matrimonial alliances. It had a list of birth dates, marriage dates. I can even spot dad's log book where he has noted down in his own hand sundry details such as his daily lung exercise routine as he was on oxygen, when the water pump was last repaired, the gate painted, the depth of the well plus a miniature, old wooden writing pad with pages filled with list of 'things to do for the day' in dad's scrawny hand. A surprise addition was a kolam notebook dating from the 1950s with pages yellowed, with tips to handle a difficult design. Tucked away is a diary with notes about the baby's developmental milestones, the first step she took, the first word she uttered, and feeding schedule. Nestled in between are notebooks with children's drawings, a collection of school exam answer sheets, some written in pencil, which showcase childhood years. Looking at old school notebooks in the shelf reminds me of the emphasis on handwriting practice in schools. Recall the multiple pages we wrote at school and home, in order to acquire that perfectly legible hand. A neat handwriting in the exam paper meant an additional mark or two. Looking through these notes fills me with nostalgic longing for an era when the urge to scroll digitally did not exist, when handmade greeting cards were common, when handwritten letters were eagerly awaited. While digital notes typed on various gadgets like mobile phones, PCs, laptops, tablets are no doubt easy to read, can be done quicker, shared easily and incorporate many features, they lack that personal touch. Looking at the handwritten notes of earlier years brings back memories filled with laughter, tears, of candid conversations filled with pearls of wisdom, the sound of bangles on wrinkled hands. It brings to mind the total personality of the writer, the events/interactions associated with the writer and even takes you back to the era of an earlier generation. Who can forget the handwritten note written in a characteristic style along with signature on the first page of a book gifted by someone dear to you which reads thus: 'Wishing you all success. Svasti Astu (May you be blessed and protected).' Reading that note decades later makes me relive many precious moments. Like family heirlooms, handwritten notes are sending us a silent message that they need to be cherished and preserved, at least for a while, though the ink may fade over time, the paper may get crumbly, and silverfish may run in and out of the pages. When one is feeling low, reading them is sure to bring forth a smile. vidyav123@gmail.com Published- September 06, 2026 05:30 am IST