In an era of instant messages and emails, where communication is often digital and fleeting, Indian Postal Service officer, Disha Pannu, is spearheading a unique initiative to rekindle the lost art of letter writing. As the Director of Indian Post, Ms. Pannu is leading a bike rally across South India, encouraging people to rediscover the tangible warmth of letters. With a 14-member team of women riders, she is reaching out to schools, communities, and individuals, spreading the message of meaningful, heartfelt connections through the simple act of writing. Her journey isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s about inspiring a new generation to connect beyond screens.
REKINDLING A FORGOTTEN ART
For Disha Pannu, the journey is deeply personal. A 2010-batch Indian Postal Service officer, Ms. Pannu’s love for letter writing dates back to her childhood. “I belong to a generation where we’ve written letters and felt the love, the empathy, and the emotions connected with human beings through letters,” she shared with Indian Masterminds. Ms. Pannu recalls writing to her family while she was away at a hostel in the ninth grade—memories that still evoke a deep sense of connection. The experience of re-reading those letters years later revealed something profound: she had often written to her father, inadvertently overlooking her mother. This revelation became a transformative moment, reminding her of the unique emotional impact that letters can carry.
Reflecting on the rally, Ms. Pannu adds, “This isn’t about telling people to abandon technology; it’s about showing that the simple act of writing has a depth and intimacy that technology often lacks.” The goal, she explains, is not to replace digital mediums but to remind people that there’s still beauty and power in handwritten words.
ENGAGING YOUTH THROUGH DHAI AKHAR
As part of the rally, Ms. Pannu and her team are promoting Dhai Akhar, a national letter-writing competition that aims to encourage young people to experience the joy of putting pen to paper. Starting on September 14 and continuing until December 14, the competition invites students from various states to participate, offering state-level prizes and a national prize to fuel their interest in writing. This campaign reaches students who may never have written a letter before, showing them the magic of capturing thoughts, dreams, and emotions in writing.
“The younger generation hasn’t experienced the joy of letters,” Ms. Pannu observes. “Through this initiative, we hope to capture their attention and help them understand that writing a letter to someone is a unique, personal connection.” The team’s arrival in schools and colleges along the route has already sparked curiosity among students, many of whom are hearing about letter writing for the first time.
A NEW MEDIUM FOR A NEW GENERATION
A bike rally may not be the traditional way to promote letter writing, but Ms. Pannu believes it’s the perfect vehicle to reach the younger audience. “The younger generation relates to bikes; they find it exciting. We thought, why not combine this excitement with our message?” she explains. The journey, which began in Bangalore on November 9, has already taken the team through Pondicherry and Rameshwaram, where they engaged with hundreds of students and children from diverse backgrounds.
In Rameshwaram, the group spent time with economically underprivileged children and orphaned students, inspiring them with stories and encouraging them to dream big. Ms. Pannu fondly recalls a moment when children expressed aspirations to become like Dr. Abdul Kalam, the former president of India. “It was incredibly inspiring,” she says. “They even wrote thank-you notes to the Prime Minister.”
HONORING TRADITION AND MODERN HEROES
The rally also includes three campaigns to connect people with national leaders. Participants are invited to write postcards addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Minister of State for Communications, Devusinh Chauhan.
The postal department has also issued a special set of picture postcards dedicated to the rally, which Ms. Pannu’s team distributes along the way. These cards are used by participants to pen heartfelt messages, creating a chain of connection that extends beyond the rally itself.
CHALLENGES ON THE ROAD
As a seasoned rider, Ms. Pannu finds the physical challenges of the rally exhilarating rather than daunting. A national-level athlete and a passionate motorcyclist, she sees the journey as a way to live her dream. “As a sports person, I feel the kind of energy that comes from living this dream is unmatched,” she shares. While navigating rough weather and long hours can be physically demanding, Ms. Pannu remains unfazed. “I feel a sense of huge gratitude every second I spend on the bike. No matter the challenges, the joy I feel on the road outweighs everything.”
This journey also holds a special place in her heart because of her upbringing. Growing up as the youngest of three daughters, Ms. Pannu never felt confined by traditional gender expectations. “I was always brought up with a sense of empowerment. For us, there was no concept of something being ‘only for boys,’” she reflects. Even as she juggles a demanding career, Ms. Pannu carves out time for weekend bike rides with her riding group, a commitment that surprises even her family.
A TEAM BOUND BY PURPOSE AND PASSION
Ms. Pannu’s team of 14 riders, all women from diverse professional backgrounds, share her enthusiasm for both biking and letter writing. The group includes a former DRDO scientist, a gynecologist, a child psychologist, and an IT professional, all united by a love for the open road and the mission of rekindling human connection. Their stories are as varied as their professions, each member bringing a unique perspective to the journey.
Together, the riders have shared personal anecdotes and written letters themselves. “One of our team members, a mother of four, wrote a beautiful postcard from Rameshwaram to her daughter with the message: “Be fearless, be unstoppable, and be yourself,” Ms. Pannu recounts.
RIDING FORWARD WITH A VISION
For Ms. Pannu, this journey is just the beginning. She envisions a future where people, especially the younger generation, see letter writing as a meaningful alternative to digital communication. “I genuinely believe that if we make an effort to write beautiful letters, even if it’s only occasionally, the emotion in those words reaches people in a way that no instant message can,” she said while concluding.
