In the days when distance meant more than a click, mothers poured their hearts into handwritten letters, carefully sealing sentiments within the folds of paper. As young people headed off to study in far-off cities, sons and daughters began their college adventures, these letters became vessels of love, carrying the warmth of home.
A guy named Srikrishna Swaminathan, an ex-student of the Indian Institute of Management, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a handwritten letter sent from his mother in 2007 when he was in his first year.
The letter was written in Tamil and it read, “Call home, study, don’t waste time, think of Bhagawan, and Wednesday is Gayathri Japam. Appa is fine. Love, Amma.”
Here’s a look at Srikrishna’s post:
Amma's letter to me when I was at IIM first year.
Call home, Study, Dont waste time, think of Bhagawan and wednesday is Gayathri Japam. Appa is fine.
Love,
Amma pic.twitter.com/PmTODLuiWq— Srikrishna Swaminathan (@swamikrish2001) January 29, 2024
This might seem like a simple letter. But when a young adult is staying away from home, separately from their family and community, a few handwritten words from their loved ones feel like a warm hug on a winter morning. They symbolise an innate desire to stay connected and bridge the gap between two people, however long the distance between them might be.
This post warmed the hearts of several people online who shared similar experiences of receiving letters from their mothers after they left for college. Here’s a look at some of the responses:
Adorable! I also have one such letter from mom when I left home for college the first time ?
— Ritu Ailani (@RituAilani) January 29, 2024
? Mom’s love
— Shashi Bellamkonda (@shashib) January 29, 2024
It is so much like my mother’s letters! Including the handwriting.
— avataram (@avataram) January 29, 2024
I loved the “mangalam” on the top left. I’ve seen postcards from my uncle to my father with “safe” in the same place. Also Ksheymamm in Tamil.
The moment you see such a word, you proceed to read the letter with much ease, that all is well.— Ganeshan?? (@JyAnap_PrApthi) January 30, 2024
Reminds me of my college days from 1984 to 1988 Age of no phone no emails no WhatsApp We used to look at the floor after opening the room door to check if we got a letter
— G.K.RAJU (@GKRAJU1) January 29, 2024
No one can beat moms. ?❤️?
— Ankit Kanodia (@kanodiaankit12) January 29, 2024
Brevity, yet conveys the message. Way better than today’s e-mails.
— Amaruvi Devanathan (@amaruvi) January 29, 2024
A mother’s love is indeed beyond everything else in this world. 🙂