In Lucknow too many queue up to send the last telegram
LUCKNOW: It appeared that the love for telegram always existed in the hearts of people and it only became visible when the service was taking its last breath. Youngsters, students, oldies and housewives---the GPO’s telegram counter welcomed them all on Sunday. They all bid adieu to the telegram machine, which rested in peace at 10 pm.
“It appeared as if the golden days were back again. We had never realised that people would be so attached to the service. There was a long queue since morning as people came to see the machine. But frankly speaking, we are equally sad. It is as if something really close to us is leaving us,” said Brij Nandan, a staff at the counter, who has spent years with the wire service.
“After the advent of mobile services, this was the first time that such a large number of people visited GPO to take a look at the telegram machine. I have never seen this large a crowd in the past 15 years. Despite carrying smartphones and tablets, enthusiastic people made use of telegram services for one last time to send messages to their loved ones,” he said.
Several young enthusiasts captured pictures of the telegram machine, the office, the forms and the staff who worked there. It was an emotional moment, said a young woman, a resident of Rajajipuram. She said, “I came to Hazratganj for some work and decided to visit GPO to catch a last glimpse of the machine,” she said.
While the bookings have been in full swing in the last few days, there is also a suspicion among those who have booked their telegrams. “I booked a telegram from GPO on Friday for Bhopal. But the telegram failed to reach the destination till Sunday evening. I am worried if it would be delivered at all as the service has ended,” said an applicant.
“A staff of 30 was involved in the telegram section. About a crore was spent on their annual salary. The department earned a total revenue of R1 lakh per month, as about 3000 telegrams were booked in a month,” said principal general manager of BSNL AK Jain.