Warmth, reassurance: soldiers on what sandesh from home means

VIDEO EDITOR: Kunal Mehra REPORTER: Bilal Jaleel CAMERAPERSON: Sanjoy Deb > “The feeling of getting a letter was like meeting a loved one > after a long time.” Ravinder Singh, BSF Ever

wondered what a _sandesh_ means to a soldier away from home? If we were to guess, it would be the feelings of warmth, comfort, and reassurance of their loved ones being well. While most

soldiers now keep in touch with their families via phones, they reminisced about the joy of receiving letters written with love, _ghar_ se, to THE QUINT. > “It used to take a month for 

the letter to deliver. I’d look at > the same letter again till the next one. That feeling was something > else.” Ravinder Singh, BSF He added that the feeling of getting a letter was

like meeting a loved one after a long time. While communication has certainly become more immediate in the times of mobile phones, soldiers tell us how they used to wait for long periods to

receive letters from home. > “The letters used to take 15 to 20 days to deliver. I used to > count how many minutes and seconds are left till the next letter.” Shivaji Rao But, when

the chance arose, what did soldiers say in their letters to their families? And how did their families respond? > “I wrote home three or four times in a week. The letters from home > 

had details about family weddings etc. It was the only way I could > be informed.” Ravinder Singh, BSF Vikram Singh said, > “I used to send a letter to my family informing them I am 

fine, > and I used to ask if they are okay. After I got married, I used to > write letters to my family.” What would you say to a soldier you may never have met or even seen? On the

occasion of Independence Day, THE QUINT is asking you to write and record your _sandes_h to a soldier – a tribute and a token of appreciation for the soldiers who stand guard and fight

valiantly for us. _(All 'My Report' branded stories are submitted by citizen journalists to __THE QUINT__. Though __THE QUINT__ inquires into the claims/allegations from all

parties before publishing, the report and the views expressed above are the citizen journalist's own. __THE QUINT__ neither endorses, nor is responsible for the same.)_ Published: 13

Aug 2019, 4:07 PM IST