Thursday, June 13, 2013

BSNL to stop 160 year old Telegram services .

 
A telegram sent by Government of India to all states
BSNL has decided to stop 160 year old telegram services from July 15 because it is not commercially viable . It is reported  BSNL  suffers a loss of 300-400 crores due to telegram services . A service which was considered the fastest way to communicate until 4 decades ago has been slowly relegated by technological advances like mobile phones,SMS,email and internet . I do not know if there is still demand for this service in remote villages of the country. I have lot of nostalgic memories about telegrams .Way back in 2009 ,I wrote a post in this blog about 'Telegrams' . I read that post again today and it still makes an interesting reading. In our country I am sure some one will challenge government's decision in court soon and the stoppage of the service could be stalled for some more time . It is true telegrams have become redundant these days .Courts and employers do accept telegrams as a tenable evidence . I personally feel telegram services can be restricted to select telegraph offices and made available at a phenomenally high cost,  instead of stopping it atogether . Even in such cases BSNL can rely on internet telegrams and do away with conventional technologies . This will facilitate the sender and the receiver to have legally tenable evidences.

Would you believe when Gandhiji was assassinated ,the government of India had sent telegrams to all the Indian states and Princely states of India.The message read " Government of India  Regret mahatma Gandhi was victim of shooting outrage Gandhiji expired yesterday evening cremation will take place Saturday 4 PM. Prime minister has broadcast Saturday 31st be observed as day of fasting and prayer suggest offices should close entirely and flags half mast from sunrise = Statesind?"

Another telegram sent by Government of India, Secretary Western India to Rajkot Administrator Balasinor- in message it was stated that - "?D/8.7 mourning for mahatma Gandhi XXX government of India observing State mourning for thirteen days from thirtieth January flags will be flown at half mast and there will be no public entertainment during this period.  = Secretary Westindia?"


In the coming days one can find all these telegrams in Postal department's treasure archives .

2 comments:

  1. Dear Sir

    Very good article. Thanks for sharing very valuable information about Telegram system in India.

    Sir on 14th July i am sharing one message in my Heritage of India blog with the title "Vintage Telegrams of India(Farewell to the 163 Year Old Telegraph System)". Sir in this message i am trying to share something about the significance of telegraph system in India by adding some images of vintage telegrams which are in my collection.

    Sir this is the link for this message "Vintage Telegrams of India(Farewell to the 163 Year Old Telegraph System)" which i sahred in my Heritage of India blog.

    http://indian-heritage-and-culture.blogspot.in/2013/07/vintage-telegrams-of-indiafarewell-to.html

    Sir on the same day i.e. on 14th July BBC delhi office staff preparing some articles about telegraph system in India in their hindi website and in one of their message they are using some of my vintage telegram images.

    Sir this is BBC hindi website link where BBC delhi office staff using some of my vintage telegrams images.

    http://indian-heritage-and-culture.blogspot.in/2013/07/vintage-telegrams-of-indiafarewell-to.html

    Sir i request you please look into my message and share your valuable comment about my vintage telegrams collection.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Sir

    Thank you very much for your valuable comment on my telegrams message.

    Sir Happy Diwali wishes to you and your family members and friends.

    sir this is my Diwali message "Lamps of India" which i shared in my Heritage of India blog. Sir please look into Lamps of India message and share your valuable and encouraging comments like your earlier comments to me.

    ReplyDelete