STAMPED IN TIME: The Lasting Legacy of Goa's Village Post Offices

Why Goa's Village Post Offices Are Still Important in the Age of the Internet? Step into a Goan village, and amid the coconut palms and colourful homes, you'll likely spot an old, familiar sight-the village post office.

- By Gauri Ghadge

You might think, in this digital age where WhatsApp delivers messages in nanoseconds and Amazon brings parcels straight to your doorstep, these humble institutions would be relics of the past. But guess what? They're still standing tall, playing a role far greater than just sending letters and selling stamps.

While most of us now communicate via emails and instant messaging, the village post office in Goa remains the heart of rural life. It's where the elderly come for pensions, farmers receive crucial government subsidies, and sometimes, where the local matchmaker works their magic.

Yes, believe it or not, many love stories have begun over casual conversations at the village post office. It's not just a service centre-it's a living, breathing part of Goa's social fabric.

A Social Network That Predates the Internet

Before there was Facebook, there was the village post office. It's where people gather to share news (and let's be honest, gossip too). It was the original social network, a place where neighbours bumped into each other, friendships were forged, and even political debates flared up now and then.

Unlike the sterile, robotic efficiency of digital communication, the post office offers something truly irreplaceable-human connection. Villagers know their postmaster by name, and in many cases, the postmaster knows every family's history, struggles, and celebrations. They don't just deliver letters; they deliver smiles, familiarity, and trust.