24th October is a special day for the Telecom. It was on this day 163 years earlier in 1851, that the Telegram Services started in India. The first message was between Calcutta (Telecom Factory) and Diamond Harbour.
Telegraph Services flourished quickly and was the quickest mode of communications till telephones was introduced. For documentary purposes telegram was the best mode still.
It ended its 163 years of grand existence in India on 15th July 2013, on the plea of less telegrams and lack of profitability. We protested and wanted at least that the services continue in the Metros as a token service. But the government was firm to close the shop. The love and affection the people had for the service was shown on the last day when hundreds of people waited at the CTOs in major cities to send the last telegrams. There were very big queues even at 24.00 hours on 15th July still waiting to send telegrams when the service closed for ever.
The Heritage buildings which accommodated the CTOs in Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai will be last monuments of the Telegraph Services.

I am reproducing a post which was published in this blog last year when the Telegram was closed:

On 24th October 1851, the Telegraph Service is introduced in India by the British. The first message went from Calcutta to Diamond Harbour.
Within no time the Telegraph Services grew. From a service for official use, it became an essential service for the people to communicate urgent information. It was utilised by the business in a very large way. Telegraph offices were opened in all parts of the country.
The introduction of telephone services, mobile telephones, fax, internet and latest communication systems dealt a serious blow to the telegraph services. From crores and lakhs of telegraph messages in the country, it was reduced in to thousands and hundreds in a day.Still many people were using it. It would have continued for years more as the Tram Service in Kolkata.

But NO. The government of India and the Management of BSNL wanted to terminate it, to bury it even before it died. And on 15th July 2013, it was unceremoniously buried for ever.

But lakhs of ordinary people like me still remember the days of telegram with nostalgia. Whether it is news of passing in the examination, whether it is a birthday greetings, or even an intimation of death – telegram brought it to your house intimating good and bad news! That is why, on the last few days before 15th July 2013, people came in thousands to the telegraph office to send their last messages. And lo! Many people could not send the messages due to the huge rush.
The next generation will not be able to understand what telegram was to the common people. I still feel a great loss. I still feel guilty that we could not stop the closure of telegraph services, despite the strong protest of the Unions.