The Letter-men Show

Quite by coincidence, I wrote about writing last week as well. But that was about handwriting - the quality and what it tells you about the writer's personality. This time, writing is about long-form. The written word and what it means when expanded as "ink on paper". There was a time when we wrote letters: lovingly, thoughtfully, and then arranged for things such as envelopes and stamps. and then went to the nearest post office to despatch our written word. It would take days, weeks even (especially if the exchange was happening country to country) for the letter to reach the address (which we would have, most probably, written out in BLOCK LETTERS). In some time, it would be our turn to wait for the postman's call. There was something romantic about letters - the personal touch, the little scribbles and doodles, remember? Not like the digitised email format, however much they try to evoke nostalgia by customising fonts. There was no push of a button, there used to be a process. These days, you'd think one would be hard-pressed to find people who are still employing the communication tool of yore: ink on paper, paper that was at times lined, at times blank, at times coloured. But look hard enough, and you'll be able to spot these men (or women) of letters. This week, we get you. the Letter-men!
If you live in this part of the world, Lamya Abedin - the woman behind the couture line Queen of Spades - needs no introduction. Recently, she was featured in a book on 21 Emirati women achievers, and she wears the latest feather in her cap with cool elegance. "This is just the beginning for the UAE," Lamya says. "The number of initiatives to empower women in the region is endless." Get acquainted with this remarkable woman's insights - not just fashion quotient - in this issue's report. Side by side, speak to your conscience. Volunteering has become a clarion call for a lot of us; as Ramadan comes to a close and Eid breaks out festively, what better way to celebrate the spirit of our times than by reading about rising credo of volunteerism and the need to "give something back"? All this and much more.
Enjoy reading wknd. and have a great weekend! 
Sushmita Bose
Editor