THIS IS MY 63rd HUB ON POST-INDEPENDENT INDIA

STAMP SERIES.THIS COVERS THE STAMPS RELEASED

IN 1997.This is the second part of the year.This contains the stamps released in April to August end.

 

Stamp Issue Date : 01/05/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 2.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1712Postal Stamp Name : MADHU LIMAYEStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language :

English

Madhu Limaye was an Indian Socialist essayist and activist, particularly active in the 1970s. A follower of Ram Manohar Lohia and a fellow-traveller of George Fernandes, he was active in the Janata coalition that gained power at the Centre following the Emergency; he, with Krishan Kant and Raj Narain was also responsible for the collapse of the Morarji Desai government installed by that coalition, by insisting that no member of the Janata party could simulataneously be a member of an alternative social or political organisation. This attack on dual membership was directed specifically at members of the Janata party who had been members of the Jan Sangh, and continued to be members of the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the Jan Sangh's ideological parent. The issue led to fall of Morarji Desai government in 1979, and the destruction of the Janata coalition

In retirement, through the 1980s, he continued to write; he was especially caustic on Constitutional issues, where he set himself the task of defending the Constitution in the media against those who would seek to modify it to centralise power, or to replace the Westminster system with a Presidential one, fearing a 'slow slide to despotism.

He showed less antipathy to the memory of Mrs. Gandhi than could have been expected, reserving his anger for Jawaharlal Nehru, who he seemed to think "could have set a standard beyond reproach, but did not."

He was responsible for personally grooming many of the names that dominate Bihar politics today, including Laloo Prasad Yadav and Sharad Yadav.

Stamp Issue Date : 06/06/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 2.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1713Postal Stamp Name : RUINS OF NALANDAStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language :

English

Stamp Issue Date : 06/06/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 6.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1714Postal Stamp Name : BODHI TREEStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language :

English

Stamp Issue Date : 06/06/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 10.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1715Postal Stamp Name : STUPA&PILLAR VAISHALIStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language :

English

The World Philatelic Exhibition - INDEPEX '97 will be held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 15th December to 22nd December, 1997. It is being organised by the Department of Posts, Government of India, in cooperation with the Philatelic Congres of India (PCI) under the patronage of Federation Internationale de Philatelic (FIP).

The exhibition coincides with the Golden Jubilee of India's Independence and is a tribute, India Post, pays to the nation on this auspicious occasion. Hence, the Exhibition is named INDEPEX-97 - the first four letters 'INDE' stand for India, 'P' for Philately and 'EX' for Exhibition.

The logo of the Exhibition is a caparisoned elephant, a unique symbol of traditional ceremonial welcome in India. The elephant is considered auspicious, a loving and friendly creature in the Indian tradition. It signifies peace, prosperity and good will. The carpet on which the elephant stands has the semblance of a postage stamp. It symbolizes the journey of the stamp around the world as a country's little ambassador.

The objective in organizing Indepex '97 is to promote and disseminate information about Philately. Stamps, symbolising one's culture and tradition carry thematic messages to the people. The importance of Philately, therefore, as a medium of education is very significant. Different Postal Administrations and individual participants from India and the world will be displaying their wide range of precious collections in the exhibition. The exhibits will be displayed in over 3,500 frames. In addition, prestigious and invaluable exhibits will be displayed in the "Court of Honour Class".

Over 2,800 frames have been alloted in the "Competition Class" of which about 84 per cent are from abroad. Entry forms and other details can be had from the National Commissioners or directly from the Indepex Secretariat. The stamps will be judged by a panel of jury and experts from different countries.

Art works, colour proofs, trials, progressives of postage stamps etc. printed in India after Independence are banned from being exhibited.

A series of stamps have been brought out to commemorate the event.

The second set of four stamps on centres of culture and tourism related to Lord Buddha was released on 6th June, 1997 in San Francisco and in India. The stamps depict the ruins of Nalanda University; believed to be the oldest university in the world where Lord Buddha himself is said to have preached, the giant Bodhi Tree at Bodhgaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment, the pillar and the stupa of Vaishali erected by emperor Ashoka to mark the spot of the last prayer meeting of Buddha and the stupa at Kushinagar where Buddha breathed his last and attained Mahaparinirvana.

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Stamp Issue Date : 06/06/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 11.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1716Postal Stamp Name : STUPA KUSHINAGARStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language :English

Nalanda

Nalanda, where ruins of the great ancient university have been excavated, is situated at a distance of 90 km. in the south east of Patna by road. The ruins extend over a large area and represent only a part of the extensive establishment. There are many versions of what the term Nalanda means. One is that Nalam means Lotus and Da means to give. Both combined together, Nalanda means Giver of Lotus. Since Lotus is supposed to represent knowledge, Nalanda means Giver of Knowledge.

The Bodhi Tree ("Tree of Awakening," also known as the Bo Tree) in Bodhgaya is a direct descendent of the tree under which Siddharta Gautama is attained enlightenment.

After 49 days of meditation, it was here that Siddharta Guatama became the Buddha, the "Enlightened One."

Ashokan Pillar
There is a Lion Pillar at Kolhua, which was built by Emperor Ashoka. The pillar has been chiseled out of a highly polished single piece of red sandstone. An 18.3 m high structure, it stands surmounted by a bell shaped capital. A life-size figure of a lion is adorns the top of the pillar. This pillar beside a brick stupa at Kolhua commemorates Buddha's last sermon.

Budha Stupa-I
This stupa enshrines one-eighth of the sacred ashes of the Lord Buddha, in a stone casket.

Budha Stupa-II
Another casket containing the ashes of the Lord Budha was found here, during the excavation carried out in 1958.

Ramabhar Stupa, Kushinagar is the place where Lord Buddha was cremated and he attained salvation or Mahaparnirvana. According to the facts, Lord Buddha had many discourses in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh. Tourists from all over visit the Ramabhar Stupa, Kushinagar which has carefully treasured the remnants of history

 

Stamp Issue Date : 24/06/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 2.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1717Postal Stamp Name : PANDIT OMKARNATH THAKURStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language : English

After listening to Pandit Omkarnath Thakur's music once, Mahatma Gandhi is said to have remarked : "Pandit Omkarnathji can achieve through a single song of his, what I cannot achieve through several speeches."

Such was the impact of Omkarnath Thakur's personality and his music on listeners. Besides being a successful musician, he was also endowed with an impressive personality who combined in himself many wonderful qualities of head and heart. The story of his early boyhood years is really a moving one, filled as it was, with struggles, privations, and poverty. But instead of being crushed under all this suffering, the boy's strong character, his inborn talents, and his fine qualities emerged with a rare brilliance out of the purifying fires of suffering. Omkarnathji's life-story proves how one who is destined to achieve greatness in life, will emerge triumphant, however adverse the circumstances might be. Such real-life stories strengthen one's belief in the Hindu theory of Samskara the accumulated knowledge, goodness, culture etc. that one has earned through previous births.

Omkarnath was born on 24th June 1897 in village Jahaaj, in District Bhadaran (Cambay now).

Stamp Issue Date : 02/07/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 2.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1718Postal Stamp Name : RAM SEWAK YADAVStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language : English

 

Honesty, dedication and service to people became synonyms of Ram Sewak Yadav. He was instrumental in spreading the Socialistic think across the length and bredth of the nation. Ram Sewak Yadav was born in the family of Ram Gulam Yadav his father, on 2nd July 1926 in village Taala of Tehsil Haidergarh. After completing his eduction upto Intermediate in Barabanki, he moved on to Lucknow University for his higher education, where he completed his B.A. in 1949. He did his degree in Law from Lucknow University in 1951. He practiced Law, but left it in 1956. He entered into active politics by joining Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, whom he considered as his Guru. In 1956, he became a legislator for the first time by winning the Ram Nagar assembly seat byelection. He earned his recognition as a leader with fighting qualities and was Member in 1957, 1962 and 1967 Loksabhas.
With his hard work and dedication to the party and nation, he not only hoisted the flag of Socialism in the district, State but the whole nation. He was the national Secretary General of the All India Socialist Party. He travelled abroad several times with Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia to spread the socialist movement. He lost the 1974 Loksabha election, but took it in his strides, and worked hard for the party and enriched its movement. Ram Sewak Yadav was again elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1974 from the Rudauli Assembly seat. This great son of this land who lit the flame of socialism in the country died on 22nd November 1974 leaving all stunned and shocked.

Stamp Issue Date : 11/07/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 2.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1719Postal Stamp Name : SIBNATH BANERJEEStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language : English

 

In 1929, the Government of India being apprehensive of Communist activities throughout India, framed the Meerut Conspiracy Case and arrested a number of labour leaders, including some British' communists. CTWU Secretary, Sibnath Banerjee was among those arrested. On 21st April, 1929, the meeting of the CTWU, under the presidentship of an e^irly communist, Bankim Mukherjee, condemned the Meerut Conspiracy Case and expressed sympathy for the arrested leaders.8q Despite poor attendance at the meeting, it was a demonstration of working class solidarity and the tramwaymen's growing political maturity

 

Stamp Issue Date : 06/08/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 2.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1720Postal Stamp Name : THIRUMATHI RUKMINI LAKSHMIPATHIStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language : English

A stamp to mark the centenary of Rukmini Lakshmipathy, who was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly and took office as Minister of Health in 1946, will be brought out by the Department of Posts. Ms Lakshmipathy continued to be an MLA till her death in 1941. The stamp will be priced at Rs 2. A First Day Cover with a special cancellation will also be made available on August 6.

 

Stamp Issue Date : 08/08/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 2.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1721Postal Stamp Name : SRI BASAVESWARAStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language : English

 

Sri Basaveswara is one of the most outstanding personalities in the religious history of India. His life and teachings have been a source of inspiration to countless people in South India, particularly in Karnataka and indeed, the impact of his work was so great that it is felt to this day, nearly nine centuries later.

Just as Gautama Buddha and Sri Ramanuja were the products of the times in which they lived, so too Sri Basaveswara’s emergence as a saint, teacher and reformer was dictated by the condition of the society of his era. A tyrannical system of hierarchy of castes, creeds and rituals had swayed the Hindu society to such a state of decadence that it permitted a small selfish segment of the society to exploit the masses. The climate was ripe for an avatara purusha to correct the injustices meted out to the downtrodden and that avatar was none other than Sri Basaveswara.

Issued August 8, 1997 to commemorate the death of Sri Basaveswara Sri Basaveswara was born in the year 1131 in a Shaiva Brahmin family which enjoyed all the benefits and advantages of high society of the time. His parents were staunch devotees of Nandiswara of Bagewadi; his brother was a saintly person and his sister was spiritually evolved As soon as Sri Basaveswara was born, a great saiva saint known as Jatavedamuni came to bless the child and initiated him to Siva or Ishta Linga worship.

Stamp Issue Date : 11/08/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 2.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1722Postal Stamp Name : BEACHES OF INDIA: INDEPEX 97,-GOPALPURStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language :English

Stamp Issue Date : 11/08/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 6.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1723Postal Stamp Name : BEACHES OF INDIA: INDEPEX 97, KOVALAMStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language : English

Stamp Issue Date : 11/08/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 10.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1724Postal Stamp Name : BEACHES OF INDIA: INDEPEX 97, ANJUNAStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language : English

Stamp Issue Date : 11/08/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 11.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1725Postal Stamp Name : BEACHES OF INDIA: INDEPEX 97, BOGMALOStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language :English

The World Philatelic Exhibition - INDEPEX '97 will be held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 15th December to 22nd December, 1997. It is being organised by the Department of Posts, Government of India, in cooperation with the Philatelic Congres of India (PCI) under the patronage of Federation Internationale de Philatelic (FIP).

The exhibition coincides with the Golden Jubilee of India's Independence and is a tribute, India Post, pays to the nation on this auspicious occasion. Hence, the Exhibition is named INDEPEX-97 - the first four letters 'INDE' stand for India, 'P' for Philately and 'EX' for Exhibition.

The logo of the Exhibition is a caparisoned elephant, a unique symbol of traditional ceremonial welcome in India. The elephant is considered auspicious, a loving and friendly creature in the Indian tradition. It signifies peace, prosperity and good will. The carpet on which the elephant stands has the semblance of a postage stamp. It symbolizes the journey of the stamp around the world as a country's little ambassador.

The objective in organizing Indepex '97 is to promote and disseminate information about Philately. Stamps, symbolising one's culture and tradition carry thematic messages to the people. The importance of Philately, therefore, as a medium of education is very significant. Different Postal Administrations and individual participants from India and the world will be displaying their wide range of precious collections in the exhibition. The exhibits will be displayed in over 3,500 frames. In addition, prestigious and invaluable exhibits will be displayed in the "Court of Honour Class".

Over 2,800 frames have been alloted in the "Competition Class" of which about 84 per cent are from abroad. Entry forms and other details can be had from the National Commissioners or directly from the Indepex Secretariat. The stamps will be judged by a panel of jury and experts from different countries.

Art works, colour proofs, trials, progressives of postage stamps etc. printed in India after Independence are banned from being exhibited.

A series of stamps have been brought out to commemorate the event.

The third in the series is a set of four stamps portraying the serene beauty of the Beaches of India which were released on the 11th of August, 1997. Depicted on them are the Bogmalo Beach and Anjana Beach in Goa, Kovalam Beach in Kerala and Gopalpur-on-sea in Orissa.

 

Stamp Issue Date : 15/08/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 2.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1726Postal Stamp Name : SWATANTRA BHARATStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language : English

 

Stamp Issue Date : 15/08/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 2.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1727Postal Stamp Name : I.N.A. STALWARTS.Stamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language : English

The Indian National Army (INA) or Azad Hind Fauj (Hindi: आज़ाद हिन्द फ़ौज) was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II.

The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance. Initially composed of Indian prisoners of war captured by Japan in her Malayan campaign and at Singapore, it later drew large numbers of volunteers from Indian expatriate population in Malaya and Burma.

Initially formed in 1942 immediately after the fall of Singapore under Mohan Singh, the first INA collapsed in December that year before it was revived under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose in 1943 and proclaimed the army of Bose's Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind (The Provisional Government of Free India). This second INA fought along with the Imperial Japanese Army against the British and commonwealth forces in the campaigns in Burma, Imphal and Kohima, and later, against the successful Burma Campaign of the allies. The end of the war saw a large number of the troops repatriated to India where some faced trial for treason and became a galvanising point of the Indian Independence movement.

After Indian independence, the ex-INA members, with some exceptions, were refused service in the Indian Army. However, a number of notable members later became involved in public life in India and in South East Asia.

Stamp Issue Date : 20/08/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 2.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1728Postal Stamp Name : SIR RONALD ROSSStamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language : English

 

Ronald Ross was born on May 13, 1857, as the son of Sir C.C.G. Ross, a General in the English army. He commenced the study of medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London in 1875; entered the Indian Medical Service in 1881. He commenced the study of malaria in 1892. In 1894 he determined to make an experimental investigation in India of the hypothesis of Laveran and Manson that mosquitoes are connected with the propagation of the disease. After two and a half years' failure, Ross succeeded in demonstrating the life-cycle of the parasites of malaria in mosquitoes, thus establishing the hypothesis of Laveran and Manson. In 1899 he joined the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine under the direction of Sir Alfred Jones.

He was immediately sent to West Africa to continue his investigations, and there he found the species of mosquitoes which convey the deadly African fever. Since then the School has been unremitting in its efforts to improve health, and especially to reduce the malaria in West Africa. Ross' researches have been confirmed and assisted by many distinguished authorities, especially by Koch, Daniels, Bignami, Celli, Christophers, Stephens, Annett, Austen, Ruge, Ziemann, and many others.

 

Stamp Issue Date : 28/08/1997Postage Stamp Dinomination : 2.00Postal Stamp Serial Number : 1729Postal Stamp Name : FIRAQ GORAKHPURI (1896-1982)Stamp Currency : PStamp Type : COMMEMORATIVEStamp Language : English

Raghupati Sahay 'Firaq' Gorakhpuri (Urdu: فراق گورکھپوری, Hindi: फ़िराक़ गोरखपुरी) (1896-1982) was one of the most noted contemporary Urdu poets from India. He established himself, in an era which boasted stalwarts of Urdu poetry, likes of Sahir, Iqbal, Bhupendra Nath Kaushik "Fikr"|Bhupendra Nath Kaushik, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Kaifi Azmi.

His noted poetry collections include, Rooh-o-Qaayanat, Gul-e-Ra'naa, Nagma-numaa and his magnum opus, Gul-e-Naghma.

Raghupati Sahay, was born in 1896, Gorakhpur in a Kayastha family. He was co-opted into the Provincial Civil Service (PCS), but resigned and joined Allahabad University as a lecturer in English. It was here he wrote most of his Urdu poetry and his magnum opus Gul-e-Naghma which fetched him the Jnanpith Award and also the 1960 Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu, and was later awarded the highest award of the 'Akademi', the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship' in 1970. Of a very sharp intellect, he was also known for his vituperative wit.He died in 1982.