New Year Reflections: Nostalgia of Diaries, cards...

New Year was once synonymous with excitement and anticipation.

- Dr AL Sharada, Trustee, PopulationFirst

The joy of receiving New Year greeting cards, diaries, and calendars was unmatched—it was a season of celebration and connection. Recently, while rummaging through old papers, I stumbled upon a bundle of greeting cards from years past. Some were leftovers of cards printed by us to share with family and friends, while others were received from loved ones. Each card involved trips to Archies to select the perfect ones. Later, the RBI provided beautifully printed cards for its employees to send to their professional and personal contacts—a well-appreciated PR exercise that also saved us the expense of buying cards.

All these cards carried heartfelt, personalized messages for family and friends. Writing these messages was a cherished ritual. Receiving a card with just a signature, however, felt like "lazy courtesy" to me. Unlike today's quick emojis, we took the time to write real words and sentiments. Every card received was proudly displayed around the house before being carefully stored, treasured for the personal touch they carried.