Commemorative Postage Stamp release on Engineers India Limited (EIL)

Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications & IT has brought out a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Engineers India Limited (EIL). Commemorative Postage stamp on Engineers India Limited (EIL) has been released by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi during the Urja Sangam- 2015 organized by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 27.03.2015. Engineers India Limited (EIL) is celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2015. Established in 1965, EIL has been providing engineering consultancy and services principally focused on the oil and gas and petrochemical industries. In 50 years of its existence, EIL has contributed immensely to the cause of nation building. Department of Posts is happy to release a postage stamp to commemorate the milestone achieved by Engineers India Limited (EIL) which stands tall as one of the monuments of modern India.

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Snap Shots of Stamp release function on Indian Ocean and Rajendra Chola 1

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23 March: Saheed Divas (Martyrs’ day); Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev attained Martyrdom

"One should not interpret the word “Revolution” in its literal sense. Various meanings and significances are attributed to this word, according to the interests of those who use or misuse it. For the established agencies of exploitation it conjures up a feeling of blood stained horror. To the revolutionaries it is a sacred phrase." - Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh (b. 28 September 1907 – d. 23 March 1931) was an Indian socialist considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement. He is often referred to as "Shaheed Bhagat Singh", the word "Shaheed" meaning "martyr" in a number of Indian languages. Born into a Sikh family which had earlier been involved in revolutionary activities against the British Raj, as a teenager Singh studied European revolutionary movements and was attracted to anarchist and Marxist ideologies. He became involved in numerous revolutionary organisations, and quickly rose through the ranks of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) to become one of its main leaders, eventually changing its name to the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928.

Shivaram Hari Rajguru (b. August 24, 1908 – d. March 23, 1931) was an Indian revolutionist from Maharashtra. Rajguru was born at Khed near Pune now known as Rajgurunagar. He was a colleague of Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev, and took part in the murder of a British police officer, J.P. Saunders, (at Lahore) in 1928. The reason behind the murder was to revenge the death of veteran leader Lala Lajpat Rai who died due to injuries sustained during excessive police beating.

Sukhdev Thapar (b. 15th May 1907 - d. 23rd March 1931) was a Bharatiya revolutionary from Punjab. He was an active member of the HSRA, being one of its senior most leaders. He is known to have started study circles at the National College (Lahore), in order to delve into Bharat's past as well as to scrutinise the finer aspects of the world’s revolutionary literature. Along with Bhagat Singh and others he started the ‘Naujawan Bharat Sabha’ at Lahore. The main aims of this organisation were to activate the youth for the freedom struggle, inculcate a rational scientific attitude, fight communalism and end the practice of untouchability.

All three were convicted of the crime and hanged on 23rd March, 1931. They were cremated at Hussainiwala at the banks of the Sutlej river in Ferozepur district of Punjab.

So far Commemorative Stamp has not been issued on Sukhdev Thapar. Sukhdev Thapar Memorial Trust has submitted memorandum seeking the release of commemorative stamp on Sukhdev Thapar to the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, during the stamp release function of commemorative stamp issued on Shivaram Hari Rajguru issued on 22nd March 2013.

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India Post released Commemorative Postage Stamp on Indian Ocean and Rajendra Chola I

The three days International Conference titled “India & the Indian Ocean: Renewing the Maritime Trade & Civilisational Linkages”, was inaugurated by Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs along with Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik and Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, the chief patron of the conference and Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas on 20th March 2015 at Bhubaneshwar.

On the occasion an exhibition 'Indian Ocean - The Seafaring Legacy' was also organized that touched upon all the points of civilization linkages and marks the celebration of 1000 years of coronation of Rajendra Chola I. The exhibition was inaugurated by Shri Ashok Chandra Panda, Hon’ble Minister, Tourism and Culture, Government of Odisha and Sri Arindam Mukherjee, Secretary, ISCS.

Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs and Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik jointly released the commemorative stamp on ‘Indian Ocean and Rajendra Chola I’ during the inauguration function on 20th March 2015 at Bhubaneshwar. The stamp is priced at Rs. 5 and depicts the ocean and a statue of the king who was extremely powerful and reigned most of South East Asia in the early 11th century. The stamp also commemorates the 1000th anniversary of the coronation of ancient Tamil King Rajendra Chola I.

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia on the north, on the west by Africa, on the east by Australia, and on the south by the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, by Antarctica). Although generally assumed to be named for India, early European writers referred to the "East Indian" Ocean, the East Indies being the name given by European travelers collectively to India, South East Asia and the Indonesian archipelago.

Rajendra Chola I (Rajendra Chola the Great) was the son of Rajaraja Chola I and considered one of the greatest rulers and military leaders of the Indian Tamil Chola Empire. He succeeded his father in 1014 CE as the Chola emperor. During his reign, he extended the influences of the already vast Chola Empire up to the banks of the river Ganges in north India and across the ocean. Rajendra’s territories extended, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and he successfully invaded the territories of Srivijaya in Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Indonesia in South East Asia with his fleet of ships. Inscriptions and historical sources assert that the Medieval Chola king Rajendra Chola I sent a naval expedition to Indochina, the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia in 1025 in order to subdue Srivijaya

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Postage Stamp, spl cover for Nabakalebara of Lord Jagannath

In view of Nabakalebara of Jagannath in Puri in July, the India Post will release a special stamp and first-day cover, featuring images of the reigning deities.

The culture department will provide Rs 5 lakh to the Postal Department for publishing one lakh postage stamps.

The department said it would promote Jagannath culture across the country.

"We should not leave any stone unturned to popularize the mega event, which will be observed after 1996. The state government will release Rs five lakh from the Odisha State Council of Culture for publication of the special postage stamps," said culture minister Ashok Panda.

The decision to release a special postal stamp was taken following a demand from different quarters.

"The Centre has started the process of releasing stamp and postal cover on the occasion," said a culture department officer. Recently, the postal department wrote a letter to the culture department, seeking funds to bring out the dedicated postage stamps.

Last week, the Union tourism department sanctioned Rs 50 crore for promotion of Nabakalebara festival and related infrastructure development activities in Puri. The department would bring out special coins and postage stamps on Lord Jagannath, said union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan following a meeting with Union tourism minister Mahesh Sharma in New Delhi on Friday. The two ministers are scheduled to visit Odisha on March 20 to review Nabakalebara preparations.

To promote the festival, the state tourism department is also busy preparing a documentary on Nabakalebara. The movie is being directed by noted filmmaker Nilamadhab Panda.

Source:-The Time of India

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11 March: Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III birth anniversary

"The people must rise superior to their circumstances and realize that more knowledge is their greatest need, their greatest want. They must be brought up to love books, not simply attractive bindings or pretty pictures, but their contents. They must be taught to regard books as part of their lives. Libraries will not then appear a luxury, but a necessity of existence." - Sayajirao Gaekwad III

Sayajirao Gaekwad III (born Shrimant Gopalrao Gaekwad, 11 March 1863 – d. 6 February 1939) was the Maharaja of Baroda State, and is notably remembered for reforming much of his state during his rule. Crowned in 1875, Sayajirao is widely regarded as one of the greatest statesmen and educator of pre-independent India. He was an avant-garde ruler who initiated several educational, economic, cultural and societal reforms during his lifetime.

The Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad, is undoubtedly the father of the Library Movement in India. He was a great patron of learning. He decided to establish library as an experiment in one of the towns of a taluka and in order to implement his idea in 1906. He brought to Baroda an American library expert Mr. Borden who started a system of public libraries in the state.

At the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the Shree Jayasinhrao Library of Baroda, 16th December 1937, Sayajirao spoke - “Partly successful in my efforts to promote the welfare of my people. We do not all get equal opportunities in life, nor do we get sufficient scope or encouragement for what we wish to do. I have done the best I could within my limitations and I am happy to say that I have been able to provide a network of libraries for my people, bringing about a healthy change in their outlook, culture and general knowledge.”

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Decide on plea to issue stamp on Ghadar martyrs: HC to Union ministry

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday asked the Union ministry of communications to take a decision on representations demanding issuance of commemorative postal stamp to mark the centenary celebrations of martyrdom of 11 Ghadar movement martyrs, including Kartar Singh Sarabha.

A division bench headed by Justice S K Mittal passed these directions while hearing a petition filed by advocate H C Arora who had submitted a representation to the communications ministry for the issuance of postal stamp in public interest.

In his representation submitted on December 25, 2014, Arora had requested the Centre that a commemorative postage stamp be issued during 2015 in the honour of 11 martyrs of Ghadar, including the tallest amongst them - Kartar Singh Sarabha - who sacrificed their lives for securing Independence of the country.

However, Arora received a letter from assistant director general (philately), department of posts (philately section) asking him to send a proposal for which he has to undertake to purchase at least one lakh commemorative postage stamps and send a proposal two years in advance for his request.

Arora sent another representation on February 18 to the communications ministry, requesting that the proposal submitted by him be considered in public interest as martyrs belong to the entire nation and to relax all pre-conditions of purchasing one lakh postal commemorative stamps or submitting proposal two years in advance. After receiving no response from the ministry, Arora had moved the HC.

Source:-The Times of India

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Commemorative Stamp on Project Rukmani – 14th February 2015.

GSAT-7, the multi-band communication satellite named Rukmani (Rukmini) is the first satellite developed by ISRO and the sixth among the stack of seven INSAT-4 series communication satellites which was designed, developed and fabricated by India. 

It carries the payloads in UHF, C-band and Ku band. The 2,650 kilograms GSAT-7 is the last of ISRO’s seven fourth-generation satellites. The multiple-band spacecraft will be used exclusively by the Navy to shore up secure, real-time communications among its warships, submarines, aircraft and land systems. GSAT-7 / INSAT-4F is said to significantly improve the country’s maritime security and intelligence gathering in a wide swathe on the eastern and western flanks of the Indian Ocean region. The satellite was launched early on 30 August 2013 atop an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from Kourou, French Guiana.

Rukmini will provide networking capabilities with various Indian Naval assets. During Theater-level Readiness and Operational Exercise (Tropex-2015) in the Bay of Bengal in 2014, Rukmini was able to network about 60 ships and 75 aircraft seamlessly. The intention of the Indian Navy is to use this geostationary naval communication and surveillance satellite to cover activities up to the Malacca Straits in the east and the Hormuz Strait to the west. Rukmini has a nearly 2,000 nautical mile 'footprint' over the Indian Ocean Region.

The Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar released a stamp commemorating the indigenous Naval communication satellite Rukmani, which is a dedicated Naval satellite, taking the Navy to the step in achieving complete digitisation of communications. The Stamp Release took place on board the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya on the occasion of two days’ of Theatre Readiness Operational Level Exercise (TROPEX-2015), off the coast of Goa in the Arabian Sea

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Special postal cover on Eknath Ranade

Anjali Devasher (second from left), Chairperson, Investment Board and Postal Service Board, releasing a special postal cover on Eknath Ranade to mark his centenary celebrations at a function in Vivekananda Kendra in Kanyakumari on Friday.

A special postal cover brought out by the Department of Posts to mark the centenary celebrations of Ekanath Ranade, founder of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Vivekananda Kendra, was released here on Friday. 

Anjali Devasher, Chairperson, Investment Board and Postal Service Board, released the special cover at a function held in Vivekananda Kendra Auditorium. 

Ms. Anjali Devasher said that the special postal cover on Eknath Ranade was released to honour a great leader by the Department of Posts. 

My Stamp was released by T. Murthy, Chief Postmaster General, Tamil Nadu Circle. 

D. Bhanudas, general secretary, Vivekananda Kendra, received the special postal cover and My Stamp. A. Balakrishnan, vice-president, Vivekananda Kendra, presided. J. Charukesi, Postmaster General, South Zone, and office-bearers of Vivekananda Kendra attended the function. 

Prior to the release of special postal cover and stamp, a short film on Eknath Ranade was screened at the auditorium.

P. Krishnaswami, Administrative Officer, welcomed the gathering and M. Hanumantarao, treasurer, proposed a vote of thanks.

 Source : http://www.thehindu.com/

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Set of three stamps on Swachh Bharat is released by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon’ble MOC&IT on 30.1.2015

The Union Minister for Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu along with the Union Minister for Communications & Information Technology, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad and the Union Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh releasing the Postal Stamp on ‘Swachh Bharat’, in New Delhi on January 30, 2015.

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India Post honours Mumbai's dabbawala

Mahesh Zagade, Transport Commissioner, Maharashtra, releases the Special Cover on “Mumbai's Dabbawalas” in the presence of Raghunath Medge, President , Mumbai Dabbawala Association at the GPO Mumbai on Friday. Dr. V. Vinodkumar, DPS (HQ) o/o CPMG Mumbai is also seen in picture (extreme left)

RELEASES A COMMEMORATIVE SPECIAL COVER ON THEM

Maharashtra Postal Circle (India Post) released a special cover on Mumbai’s dabbawalas on Friday in recognition of their service — delivering fresh, home-cooked food to office-goers across Maximum City with precision. 

Maharashtra Transport Commissioner Shri Mahesh Zagade released the special cover at the Mumbai General Post Office here during a three-day philately exhibition, Mumbaipex 2015, which showcases shared heritage and culture.

Nearly 5,000 dabbawalas operate across Mumbai, delivering food to their customers on time using a unique identity code to sort the nearly two lakh lunchboxes.

Shri Zagade commended the dabbawalas for their service to society, and said the logistics of their operation was so sophisticated that it had become part of management studies in reputable institutions. The accurate delivery system was a case study at the Indian Institute of Management and Harvard Business School.

Shri Raghunath Medge, President, Mumbai Dabbawala Association, said the unique identification code developed by the dabbawalas was inspired by the pin code. Mumbaipex 2015 showcases rare collections of 25 philatelists.

 

The three-day Mumbaipex 2015 showcases rare stamp collections of 25 philatelists, covering varied themes. While on the first day they will release a cover on the dabbawalas, the second day would be dedicated to Dr. Bhauji Lad Mumbai City Museum, and on Sunday a special cover would be released on Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan, where Gandhiji had given the call for Quit India in 1941.

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Commemorative Stamp on Beti Bachao Beti Padhao - 22nd January 2015

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save Girl Child, Educate Girl Child) is a Government of India scheme that aims to generate awareness and improving the efficiency of delivery of welfare services meant for women.

Main Objectives of this Programme are to prevent gender biased sex selective elimination, to ensure survival & protection of the Girl Child, to ensure education of the Girl Child, to improve the Nutrition Status of Girl Child and to promote a protective environment for Girl Child. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' programme on 22nd January, 2015 from Panipat, Haryana.

India Post released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the launch of 'Beti Bachao - Beti Padhao' scheme, a flagship initiative to address issues that affect women, and also reverse the trend of an adverse and declining Child Sex Ratio. The stamp was released by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the function organized to launch the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon'ble Minister for Communications & IT, Smt. Menaka Gandhi, Hon'ble Minister for Women and Child Development, Shri K.P. Solanki, H.E. Governor of Haryana and Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, Hon'ble CM of Haryana and Film Actress Madhuri Dixit, who has been made the Brand Ambassador of the campaign were present at the function.

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The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India released Commemorative Postage Stamp on 100 Years of Mahatma Gandhi’s Return on 8th January,2015

The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India released Commemorative Postage Stamp on 100 Years of Mahatma Gandhi’s Return on 8th January,2015

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Commemorative Postage Stamp on 100 Years of Mahatma Gandhi’s Return

A set of two Commemorative Postage stamps on 100 YEARS OF MAHATMA GANDHI’S RETURN was released by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations (today) on 8th January, 2015 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

2. Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology has brought out this set of two stamps and a miniature sheet on 100 YEARS OF MAHATMA GANDHI’S RETURN from South Africa to commemorate an important milestone not only in the life of Mahatma Gandhi, but also in the history of India. 

3. Mahatma Gandhi arrived in South Africa at a young age of 24 years as the legal counsel of Indian traders based in the city of Pretoria. He spent more than two decades in South Africa, where he developed the concept of Satyagraha while fighting against the gross injustice, discrimination and racism prevailing there. 

4. Gandhiji returned to India with a formidable reputation to lead the Indian masses struggling for freedom from colonial domination through civil disobedience and non-violence, which proved to be highly effective moral weapon in the India’s struggle for Independence. 

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Govt to issue commemorative coins to honour Jamsetje Tata

Govt to issue commemorative coins to honour Jamsetje Tata

New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) The government will soon issue commemorative coins in honour of Tata Group founder Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata to mark his 175th birth anniversary.

"The Prime Minister's Office will release coins in honour of Jamsetji Nussserwanji Tata on January 6 or 7," a senior government official said.

Jamsetji Tata, considered as the father of modern industry in India, will be the first industrialist to be felicitated by the Indian government in such a manner.

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Commemorative Stamp on Kuka Movement - 24th December 2014.

Union Minister for Communication & IT, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad released a commemorative stamp to highlight heroic deeds of those engaged in Kuka Movement on the occasion of 150 years of Kuka Movement on 24th December 2014 at the function held at New Delhi.

The Kuka Movement marked the first major reaction of the people in the Punjab to the new political order initiated by the British after 1849. The Namdhari Movement, of which the Kuka Movement was the most important phase, aimed at overthrowing the British rule. The Namdharis were also known as “Kukas” because of their trademark style of reciting the “Gurbani” (Sayings/Teachings of the Guru). This style was in a high-pitched voice called “Kook” in Punjabi. Thus, the Namdharis were also called “Kukas”. The Kuka Movement made the people aware of their serfdom and bondage. It evoked the feelings of self respect and sacrifice for the country. Within a few years, the followers of the Kuka Movement increased manifold. They called for boycott of educational institutions of British and laws established by them. They were rigid in their clothing and wore only hand-spun white attire. The Kuka followers actively propagated the civil disobedience.

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Commemorative Postage Stamp on Baba Amte

It has been decided by Department to release commemorative postage stamps and philately stationary items on Baba Amte on 30th December 2014. 

Murlidhar Devidas Amte popularly known as Baba Amte, was an Indian social worker and social activist known particularly for his work for the rehabilitation and empowerment of poor people suffering from leprosy. Baba Amate was born to Mr. Devilal singh and Mrs. Laxmibai Amte in the city of Hinganghat in Wardha District of Maharashtra. It was a wealthy family. His father was a British government official with responsibilities for district administration and revenue collection. Murlidhar had acquired his nickname Baba in his childhood.

He came to be known as Baba not because "he was a saint or any such thing, but because his parents addressed him by that name."

As the eldest son of a wealthy landowner, Murlidhar had an idyllic childhood. By the time he was fourteen, he owned his own gun and hunted boar and deer. He developed a special interest in cinema, wrote reviews for the film magazine the Picturegoer and even corresponded with Greta Garbo and Norma Shearer. Norma Shearer became one of his first foreign donors when he began working with leprosy patients. When he was old enough to drive, he was given a Singer sportscar with cushions covered with panther skin. He never appreciated the restrictions that prevented him from playing with the 'low-caste' servants' children. "There is a certain callousness in families like mine." he use to say. "They put up strong barriers so as not to see the misery in the world outside and I rebelled against it.

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Commemorative Postage stamp on UTI was released by the Minister for Comm & IT, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad on 12.11.14

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Commemorative Postage Stamp on Liver Transplantation in India released at Delhi on 04-11-2014.

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