In a unique initiative to revive the declining interest in letter writing, especially among the youth, the Department of Posts under the Union Ministry of Communications has organised a nationwide letter writing competition calling for letters to be written to Mahatma Gandhi.
According to Department, the theme of the contest is, “Dear Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi), you inspire me.” The last date for submission to the competition which is open to all, is August 15. The results will be declared in New Delhi on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2.
Speaking to The Hindu Chief Postmaster General of West Bengal Circle Arundhuti Ghosh said: “We have chosen Mahatma Gandhi as his ideals such as non-violence still have a strong appeal to the younger generation. He is an icon who is recognised not only in India but in the world.”
The competition will be held both at the circle (division of operational areas of the Department of Post which often comprises of more than one State) and at the national level under two age categories of those up to 18 years and those above 18.
State, national prizes
In each group, submissions are allowed in two categories — inland letter card category and the envelope category. The word limit for the letters written on plain A-4 size paper has to be not more than 1,000 and for those written on the inland letter card cannot be longer than 500 words. While at the national level the first, second and third prize winners will get respectively ₹50,000, ₹25,000 and ₹10,000, at the State level the first, second and third prize will receive ₹25,000, ₹10,000 and ₹5,000.
