"Dear Frau Milena‚ just a few words‚ I will probably write you again tommorrow‚ today I'm writing just for my own sake‚ just to have done something for myself‚ just to dispel a little the impression your letter made on me; otherwise it would weigh on me day and night."‚ Franz Kafka writes to Milena Jesenka in May 1920.
University-going students often tend to romanticize Franz Kafka's 'Letters to Milena'‚ a collection of letters where Kafka writes‚ pushing past all his inhibitions. Philip Boehm remarks‚ “Nowhere else does he (F. Kafka) reveal himself more completely‚ for to no one did he bare his soul so utterly as to Milena Jesenka."
For centuries, letters have been a powerful medium for conveying emotions, thoughts and personal stories. Long before social sites became part of everyday life, people relied on letters. Inside an envelope‚ people express themselves and stay connected across distances. In many ways, writing a letter was a monologue‚ one-sided, yet deeply personal.
"Our generation never really got to experience the era of handwritten letters, though I heard many stories about it from my mother. She used to keep my father’s old letters with great care and would sometimes take them out and read them. Every word carried so much emotion. Holding those letters, she would often drift back into her past and relive those moments."‚ recalls Rubayet Hossain‚ a MCJ student of the 2023-24 session of Comilla University.
Rubayet Says‚ "Today, amid thousands of casual 'hi-hellos' on smartphones, we often forget how much emotion the person on the other side put into their words."
In Jostein Gaarder's 'Sophie’s World', a young girl embarks on a journey after receiving mysterious letters from an unknown sender. The letters introduce her to the history of ancient philosophy, gradually turning her curiosity into a quest to uncover the identity of their anonymous writer. Through this journey, letters become more than mere means of communication. They become a gateway to knowledge, curiosity and discovery.
In Comilla University‚ there is a formal post office at the Admin-building . Along with this‚ there is a corner at the campus named ‘Chithi Chattar’ (Letter Square). It was established in September 2022 on the initiative of 'Britto-CoU' and formally inaugurated on September 27, 2022. The red postbox was gifted by the Comilla Head Post Office to support the initiative to revive the culture of letter writing among students.
Although there was significant interest in the Cithi Chattar in its early days, its colorful walls are gradually losing their vibrancy. Students' interest in the spot has also declined over time. Many freshers are not even aware of the existence of this Cithi Chattar. The era of letter writing came to an end long ago, and with each passing day, this corner on the campus is fading away as well.
Rubayet noted‚ "Our university has a place called 'Chithi Chattar', with a red letterbox that reminds us of that bygone era. Sadly, many new students don’t even know about it. I hope, like the word 'Iti' (closing) at the end of a letter, our culture of letter writing never comes to an end."
Perhaps‚ the Chithi Chattar is not merely a corner of the campus. It is also a reminder of time when words travelled slowly and emotions stayed longer. As socials continue to replace letters‚ this small red postbox stands almost silently like an introvert lover‚ waiting for a letter which may never come.
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