World’s Last Telegram to be Sent in India on July 14

The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India’s state-run telegram service is ending its operations next month. The once beacon of communication across India has finally given up the fight, having lost much to smartphones and other digital tools of communication. On July 14, the world’s last telegram will be sent from a location in India 144 years after Samuel Morse in Washington sent the first telegram. One telegram devotee said that he would fast Gandhi style in protest of the termination of telegram services.

“Taar”

A doctor and inventor from Britain, William O’Shaughnessy introduced telegraph services in India in 1850. The peak of telegram sending in India was in 1985 when 60 million telegrams were sent in a year. India has a population of 1.24 billion. Majority of the telegrams in India (around 65%) are sent by government officials and personnel.

Telegrams, known in the vernacular as “taar” or wire, played an important role in the political history of India. In 1857, British forces defeated a revolt with telegram exchanges playing a key role. The telegraph service was also used by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in sending news to England that Pakistan has invaded Kashmir.

Telegrams have played an important part in Indian culture. In popular Bollywood films, telegrams are the usual means by which the characters in the movie send and receive news such as the loss of a loved one. The general public also often used the telegraph service to send clandestine messages. Moreover, telegrams have been used by eloping couples and secret lovers in sending messages to each other discreetly.

“Stop.”

The telegram has been the favored form of communication because it indicates a sense of authenticity and urgency to the message. Lately however, the telegraph service in India is no longer commercially viable. After two years of indecision, the BSNL Company finally made the decision to shut down its operations.

At its peak, 60 million telegrams were sent back and forth in between 45,000 offices. In its heyday, 12,5000 were employed in the telegraph industry. These days, there are only 998 people employed in 75 offices.

Not viable anymore

Telegram services were rendered redundant due to Indians switching to smartphones to send messages to each other. BSNL General Manager Shamim Akhtar told the press that yearly losses of $23 million pushed the company toward closure.

Seven year ago, the United States saw the last telegram sent when Western Union closed shop. The US Post Office revealed that there had been a struggle in the telegraph industry due to the increased use of telephones, personal computers, and mobile devices. In March, the US Post Office said that in three months its losses amounted to $1.9 billion.

Protest action

AP Tripathi, a regular telegram sender, threatened that he would go on a fast if the decision to terminate India’s telegraph service is not overturned. He reminded the government via telegram that it remains an important tool in sending information. He also informed them of his intentions to fast in protest of the impending move.

Photo Credit: 20^th century telegram table used in London