How love grew before the internet; couples from Madurai in age of letters

How love grew before the internet; couples from Madurai in age of letters

A love story that began in the early 1970s and has endured the test of time. H Anarkali, an associate professor and school principal, met her husband, S Balasubramanian, a school administrator, during college through a mutual friend. What started as a friendship soon grew into a relationship that faced many oppositions.

While recollecting her best moments, she remembers how often they met and found comfort in each other’s company. “I don’t know why I liked him back then,” she laughs. “One day, I decided to share my feelings and propose my love to him. Nowadays, people plan different creative proposals with rings and surprises. Back then, we just spoke from the heart.”

Balasubramanian felt the same way. “We never let our religious differences hold us back because our love goes beyond that.” He explains, “We had a long-distance relationship. I often skipped classes and travelled to Madurai just to see her. Those regular meetings helped our relationship grow. Before video calls, letters were the only way to communicate.”

S Balasubramanian firmly holding his wife H Anarkali’s hand and recalling his 54 years of love life. | Photo Credit: R. ASHOK

Anarkali shares, “Those days, I loved to write more letters for him... The excitement I felt when receiving a letter from the postman was beyond words. Waiting for replies only made that excitement stronger.”

She also recalls the day he told her father about their relationship, even though he wasn’t ready to accept them. “We faced many difficulties after that. Amidst all the struggles, we registered our marriage in 1978, a time when inter-religious marriages faced challenges. Despite the tough times, we supported each other then and continue to do so now.”