The existence of tickets continues, if only in the corners of nostalgia. , Photo Credit: Getty Images
BImmediate messages and emails, communications were tangible. The letters were carefully written, folded, sealed into the envelope, and often smelled of a familiar perfume or pressed flower. The humble postage stamp, although small, works as a passport for these messages, marking their journey. Today, as digital communication prevails, postage stamps remind us of a slow, more meaningful time when sending a letter almost formal.
Stamps are more than proof of payment; They are short artifacts and national symbols. Each design shows a story, leaders, cultural heritage, or historical events. For collectors, there are ticket treasures, while for sender, they act as a token of connections. In India, tickets often feature Mahatma Gandhi, rare birds, or vibrant festivals, which offer a glimpse in the essence of the country. Catching a stamp is like keeping a piece of history.
The children of the earlier generations could wait in the post offices in line, select tickets and carefully stick them into the envelope. Plan and patience to send a letter. When the letter came, the recipients often praised the seal as a message, some also preserve the envelopes for their decorative tickets.
There was also some deep democratic about tickets. Whether the sender was a school student for a pen sail, a soldier was sending a note home, or putting emotions on a lover paper, Stamp made every message equal to his journey. It is a witness to happiness, sorrow, love and longing – sticking to its duty without failure. Wear and tears tolerated it, it reflects feelings that were with it, its edges are often affected by distance and time.
With the rise of digital communication, the use of tickets has declined rapidly. The letters have given way to texts, emoji and voice messages. While the world is now faster and more connected, it seems more fleeting. The messages disappear with a swipe, and memories are stored in the cloud instead of physical places. The joy of obtaining handwritten letters and collecting tickets gradually disappears from our collective memory.
Nevertheless, tickets continue to exist, if only in the corners of nostalgia. Philatelists still gather, cure stories in albums. Some use tickets in some creative projects – transform them into bookmarks, wall art, or funnel. For others, Stamps remind of the time when there was a depth of communication, when people waited for the days, even weeks for weeks, which matched. And for many people, the old letters with tucking tickets in the box are portals for the past, preserving relationships, moments and emotions in their pure form.
In the world with speed, perhaps tickets urge us to slow down to remember that everything does not need to be immediately. Some words are worth traveling slowly, to collect meanings with each mile, and to arrive with a seal of memory. As a remnant of personal history and cultural heritage, tickets will always keep a place in our hearts – even if not on our envelope.
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Published – June 08, 2025 02:39 AM IST