Issued by India

Issued on Jul 9, 2025

Issued for : The Department of Posts is proud to release a commemorative postage stamp on 125^th Birth Anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, a visionary leader, educationist, and nationalist whose ideals continue to guide and influence India’s journey. This stamp is a tribute to his lasting contributions to India’s political and educational landscape, his commitment to national unity, and his belief in inclusive development rooted in Indian values.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 202800

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Shyama Prasad Mukherjee

Born on 6 Jul, 1901 at Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Died on 23 Jun, 1953 at Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

About : 

• Syama Prasad Mookerjee was born on 6 July 1901 in Calcutta (now Kolkata) into a distinguished Bengali family. His father, Sir Ashutosh Mookerjee, was a renowned educationist and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was academically gifted and completed his education at the prestigious Presidency College, Calcutta. He studied law at the University of Calcutta and, in 1926, joined Lincoln’s Inn in London, becoming a member of the English Bar in 1927.
• As a young student, Syama Prasad Mookerjee was inspired by the growing freedom movement led by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, which motivated him to dedicate himself to India’s independence. In the 1920s, he joined the Indian National Congress and became an active member of its youth wing. However, his vision for India, especially regarding the role of princely states and the structure of the Indian Union, was distinct. From 1943 to 1946, he served as the President of the All India Hindu Mahasabha. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was elected to the Constituent Assembly from West Bengal. He actively participated in debates on minority rights, regional languages, and other key issues.
• On 21 October 1951, Syama Prasad Mookerjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in Delhi. He strongly opposed the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and advocated its abrogation. During a visit to Jammu in August 1952, addressing a massive gathering, he famously said, “I will either get you the Indian Constitution or sacrifice my life for it.” His slogan “One Nation, One Constitution,” reflected his belief in equal rights for all Indian citizens, regardless of their state. Syama Prasad Mookerjee maintained a strong connection with South India through his contributions to the fields of education, industry, and linguistic inclusivity. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta from 1934 to 1938 and was a member of the Council of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, in 1935. As an educationist, he emphasised the importance of learning one’s mother tongue while appreciating other languages. He advocated for the inclusion of regional languages like Tamil and Telugu in university curricula.
• As a Minister for Industry and Supply, he worked to support small-scale industries, including taking concrete steps to aid handmade matchstick producers in Tamil Nadu – such as tax relief and ensuring access to raw materials and transport. He also encouraged the Madras Government to organise these workers into cooperatives for long-term sustainability. These interventions highlight his commitment to inclusive national development and his engagement with concerns of the southern states. Integral Humanism, later shaped by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, advocated a development model based on India’s cultural and civilisational values – balancing material progress with spiritual and cultural well-being. While the term became popular after Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s time, his ideas and speeches reflected this philosophy. He consistently emphasised that India’s progress should not blindly imitate the West but be rooted in its own cultural and moral foundations. Speaking at the 1936 convocation of Nagpur University, he stated: “Generally speaking, an Indian university must regard itself as one of the living organs of national reconstruction. It must discover the best means of blending together both the spiritual and the material aspects of life.”
• Antyodaya, or the upliftment of the last person in society, was central to the social vision of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and later Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. While Syama Prasad Mookerjee did not use the term directly, his political and educational work emphasised justice, equality, and inclusion, particularly for the underprivileged. At the 1940 convocation of Agra University, he clearly articulated this thought: “Political and social justice requires, not the disintegration of a country and destruction or humiliation of a class which shows initiative, intelligence and drive, but equality of opportunity for all, genuine freedom for self-fulfilment, in which all men irrespective of caste or creed may share.” Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s luminous journey came to an untimely end on 23 June 1953, marking a solemn moment in India’s history.
• Text : Referenced from content provided by Proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on May 1, 2025

Issued for : Department of Posts is proud to release Miniature Sheet to celebrate the birth centenary of these legends of Indian cinema.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Sh. Suresh Kumar

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Miniature Sheet Printed : 211200

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Salil Chowdhury

Born on 19 Nov, 1925 at Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India

Died on 5 Sep, 1995 at Calcutta, West Bengal, India

About : 

• India is celebrating birth centenary of five iconic figures who shaped the golden era of Indian cinema, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is set to pay an enduring tribute to their rich legacy. This momentous occasion will be marked at the first edition of the World Audio Video & Entertainment Summit (WAVES-2025), scheduled from 01^st to 04^th May 2025 in Mumbai — the heartland of India’s entertainment industry.
• The Summit, envisioned as a global confluence of creators, storytellers, policy makers, and innovators from the world of audio-visual and entertainment arts, opens on 01^st May 2025 with a grand inaugural ceremony. As a centerpiece of the inaugural event, the Government of India releases Commemorative Postage Stamp honoring five legendary figures of Indian cinema — Shri Guru Dutt, Shri Ritwik Ghatak, Shri Salil Chowdhury, Shri Raj Khosla, and Ms. P. Bhanumathi — on the occasion of their birth centenaries.
• This rare tribute underscores the nation’s deep appreciation for these iconic personalities whose timeless contributions have left an indelible mark on Indian and global cinematic traditions.
  • Salil Chowdhury: A multifaceted genius, Salil Chowdhury was one of India’s most innovative music composers, lyricists, and poets. With an uncanny ability to blend Indian classical and folk traditions with Western orchestration, he created melodies that were deeply rooted in cultural ethos and emotions. His music transcended linguistic boundaries, with iconic compositions in Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, and more. Films like Madhumati, Do Bigha Zamin, and Anand showcased his musical brilliance and commitment to socially relevant themes. A staunch believer in art as a vehicle for justice and change, Salilda—as he was fondly known—remains a towering figure in Indian film music, whose compositions continue to resonate with emotion, depth, and harmony.
• Text : Referenced from content provided by Proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on May 1, 2025

Issued for : Department of Posts is proud to release Miniature Sheet to celebrate the birth centenary of these legends of Indian cinema.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Sh. Suresh Kumar

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Miniature Sheet Printed : 211200

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Ritwik Kumar Ghatak

Born on 4 Nov, 1925 at Rajshahi, Bengal Presidency, British India [now Rajshahi, Bangladesh]

Died on 6 Feb, 1976 at Calcutta, West Bengal, India

About : 

• India is celebrating birth centenary of five iconic figures who shaped the golden era of Indian cinema, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is set to pay an enduring tribute to their rich legacy. This momentous occasion will be marked at the first edition of the World Audio Video & Entertainment Summit (WAVES-2025), scheduled from 01^st to 04^th May 2025 in Mumbai — the heartland of India’s entertainment industry.
• The Summit, envisioned as a global confluence of creators, storytellers, policy makers, and innovators from the world of audio-visual and entertainment arts, opens on 01^st May 2025 with a grand inaugural ceremony. As a centerpiece of the inaugural event, the Government of India releases Commemorative Postage Stamp honoring five legendary figures of Indian cinema — Shri Guru Dutt, Shri Ritwik Ghatak, Shri Salil Chowdhury, Shri Raj Khosla, and Ms. P. Bhanumathi — on the occasion of their birth centenaries.
• This rare tribute underscores the nation’s deep appreciation for these iconic personalities whose timeless contributions have left an indelible mark on Indian and global cinematic traditions.
  • Ritwik Ghatak: A pillar of Indian parallel cinema, Ritwik Ghatak was a Bengali filmmaker whose powerful narratives reshaped the language of Indian filmmaking. His deeply personal and socially conscious films—such as Meghe Dhaka Tara, Subarnarekha, and Komal Gandhar — delved into the trauma of the Partition, themes of displacement, cultural identity, and the resilience of the human spirit. Known for his stylized yet emotionally resonant storytelling, Ghatak was a master of fusing folklore and mythology with the harsh realities of modern life. Though his work received limited acclaim during his lifetime, today he is celebrated as a cinematic icon whose influence is felt not just in India but globally among serious filmmakers and scholars.
• Text : Referenced from content provided by Proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on May 22, 2023

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue Commemorative Postage Stamp on 250^th Birth Anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy who fought against the caste system, untouchability, superstitions, social evils and for the pride of the country.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Mr. Sankha Samanta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 201600

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Ram Mohan Roy

Born on 22 May, 1772 at Radhanagar, Bengal Presidency, Company Raj [now in Arambagh, Hooghly, West Bengal, India]

Died on 27 Sep, 1833 at Stapleton, Bristol, England

About : 

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born on 22 May 1772 in Radhanagar, Hooghly district of West Bengal. He was one of the founders of the Brahmo Sabha in 1828. His influence was apparent in the fields of politics, public administration, education and religion. He was known for his efforts to abolish the practices of sati and child marriage and is considered to be the “Father of the Bengal Renaissance” by many historians.
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s impact on modern Indian history was on account of efforts for revival of the pure and ethical principles of the Vedanta school of philosophy, as found in the Upanishads. He preached the unity of God, made early translations of Vedic scriptures into English, co-founded the Calcutta Unitarian Society and founded the Brahmo Samaj.
• The Brahmo Samaj played a major role in reforming and modernizing the Indian society. He successfully campaigned against sati, the practice of burning widows. He endeavored to integrate Western culture with the best features of his own country’s traditions. He established a number of schools to popularize a modern system (effectively replacing Sanskrit based education with English based education) of education in India. He promoted a rational, ethical, non-authoritarian, this-worldly, and social reform Hinduism.
• His writings also sparked interest among British and American Unitarians. During early rule of the East India Company, Ram Mohan Roy acted as a political agitator whilst employed by the East India Company.
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Atmiya Sabha and the Unitarian Community to fight the social evils, and to propagate social and educational reforms in India. He was the man who fought against superstitions, a pioneer in Indian education and a trend setter in Bengali prose and Indian press. He crusaded against Hindu customs such as sati, polygamy, child marriage and the caste system, demanded property inheritance rights for women.
• Roy’s political background and Devandra’s Christian influence influenced his social and religious views regarding reforms of Hinduism. He believed education to be an important tool for social reform. He also founded a number of educational institutions. He supported induction of western learning into Indian education. His most popular journal was the Sambad Kaumadi. It covered topics like freedom of the press, induction of Indians into high ranks of service and separation of the executive and judiciary. He died on 27 September 1833 at the age of 61 years.
• Text : Based on information received from the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 13, 2022

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on 150^th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo and salutes his contribution to the spiritual upliftment of millions in India and abroad.

Credits :
Souvenir Sheet/FDC/Brochure : Sh. Suresh Kumar
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 15000 Paise

Stamps Printed : 1.11 lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Aurobindo Ghose

Born on Aug 15, 1872 at Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Died on Dec 5, 1950 at Pondicherry, French India [now Puducherry City, Puducherry, India]

About : 

• In India, spirituality and religion are part of people’s everyday life. Since ancient times, the Rishis & Munis of India preferred to attain spiritual pursuits rather than materialistic pursuits of life. Hence, spiritual wisdom gained an upper hand over materialistic prosperity. Since ages, spiritual seekers from India have shown the world, the higher path of living.
• Sri Aurobindo was born in Calcutta on 15^th August 1872. At the age of seven he was sent to England for education. There he studied at St. Paul’s School, London, and at King’s College, Cambridge. After return to India in 1893, he worked for the next thirteen years in the Princely State of Baroda in the service of the Maharaja and as a professor in Baroda College. During this period, he also joined a revolutionary society and took a leading role in secret preparations for an uprising against the British Government in India.
• In 1906, soon after the Partition of Bengal, Sri Aurobindo quit his post in Baroda and went to Calcutta, where he soon became one of the leaders of the Nationalist movement. He was the first political leader in India to openly put forward, in his newspaper Bande Mataram, the idea of complete Independence for the country. Prosecuted twice for sedition and once for conspiracy, he was released each time for lack of evidence.
• Sri Aurobindo had begun the practice of Yoga in 1905 in Baroda. In 1910 he withdrew from politics and went to Pondicherry in order to devote himself entirely to his inner spiritual life and work. During his forty years in Pondicherry he evolved a new method of spiritual practice, which he called the Integral Yoga. According to Sri Aurobindo, spiritual realization not only liberates man’s consciousness but also transforms his nature. In 1926, with the help of his spiritual collaborator, the Mother, he founded the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Among his many writings are The Life Divine, The Synthesis of Yoga and Savitri. Sri Aurobindo left for heavenly abode on 5^th December 1950.
• After the death of Sri Aurobindo, Sri Aurobindo Society was started by the Mother on 19^th September 1960. She was not only the founder and the Executive President but also remains its guiding force. From a very small beginning, over the years, the Society has grown into an international organization working in diverse fields of life, like integral education, Indian culture, emergency response management and sustainable development.
• Sri Aurobindo has been a scholar, a literary critic, a philosopher, a revolutionary, a poet, a yogi and a rishi. He was all these and much more and has touched the souls of millions in India and abroad. Sri Aurobindo has been an inspiration to all those who wants to make this world a better place by making improvements in their inner world.
• India in its 75^th Years of its Independence and as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations is commemorating the life of spiritual masters whose work and values resonates with the soul of India. Government of India has decided to commemorate 150^th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo in befitting manner at national and international level during the period from 15 August 2022 to 15 August 2023.
• Text : Referenced from the contents provided by the proponent.

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Issued by Bangladesh

Issued on May 2, 2021

Issued for : Bangladesh Post has issued 01 (One) Commemorative stamp of Tk. 10 (ten), 01 (one) First Day Cover of Tk. 10 (ten), a Data card of Tk. 5 (five) and a Special Canceller on this issue.

Designer  : Mr. Sumanto Kumar

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

No. of Stamp : 01 (One) Pcs

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination of Stamp : Tk. 10/- (Ten)

Size of Stamp : 32 mm x 48 mm

Perforation of Stamps : 12.5

Qnt of Stamps : 1,00,000 (One Lac) pcs

Process of Printing : Offset

Printer : The Security Printing Corporation (Bangladesh) Ltd., Gazipur-1703

Name : Satyajit Ray (Manik)

Born on May 2, 1921 at Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in West Bengal, India]

Died on Apr 23, 1992 at Calcutta, West Bengal, India

About : 

• May 02, 2021 is the birth centenary of the Oscar winning Indian world famous filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Satyajit Ray was an Indian film director, script writer, art director, documentary filmmaker, author, book cover designer, lyricist, magazine editor, publisher, calligrapher and music composer and music director. He was also graphics designer, writer and film critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest film makers in film history.
• Satyajit Ray was born on May 02, 1921 in an intellectual and affluent family in the then Calcutta, Bengal Presidency in British India [Now Kolkata, West Bengal, India]. He was son of the famous author Sukumar Ray who might still be considered one of the best authors in Bengali literature who before Tagore received the Nobel Prize in 1913, gave a talk at the East and West society in London about Tagore’s songs, by reading the essay – ‘The Spirit of Rabindranath’. His mother was visionary Kalinarayan Gupta’s granddaughter Suprabha Das. His grandfather Upendra Kishore Ray was a distinguished artist, Musician, Music composer and Printing pioneer.
• Satyajit Ray studied at the University in Calcutta and later came to Shantiniketon in 1940 and joined Vishva Bharati university of Rabindranath Tagore to study art. He began his career as a commercial artist. He founded Calcutta’s first film society in 1947. Bijoya Ray was the wife of Satyajit Ray. Bijoya and Satyajit were first cousins. After long courtship, they were married in 1949.
• Satyajit Ray made his first film Pather Panchali (1955, Song of the Little Road) while working at an advertising agency. On August 26, 1955, Pather Panchali was finally released in Calcutta where one of its billboards designed by Satyajit Ray portrayed Apu and Durga running in a Vast landscape of dark monsoon clouds which gave the film an exquisite illusionary allusion as if a visual manifestation of any wonderful epic episode of any unprecedented and remarkable legend displayed in a billboard!
• There was a screening of Pather Panchali for Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India who was on a visit to Calcutta. Nehru was moved by the film and ensured that Pather Panchali was entered in the Cannes Films Festival, 1956. The film won the special jury prize for “The Best Human Document”. Pather Panchali went on to win a dozen odd prizes at home and film festivals abroad, including Best Actress for Chunibala for her role as Indir Thakrun at Manila.
• Pather Panchali with his Aparajito (1956, The Unvanquished) and Apur Sansar (1959, The World of Apu) are known as ‘Apu Trilogy’. His later films include Jalsaghar (1958, The Music Room), Kanchenjunga (1962), Charulata (1964, The Lonely Wife), Ashani Sanket (1973, Distant Thunder), The Chess Players (1977), (1984, The Home and the World), Ganashatru (1990, Public Enemy) and Agantuk (1991, The Stranger). The success of Pather Panchali gave Satyajit Ray total control over his Subsequent films.
• Apart from being an incredible filmmaker Satyajit Ray wrote numerous books for children and even illustrated some of his characters. ‘Feluda’ and ‘Professor Shonku’ are his remarkable creations in Bengali literature. His books have also been translated in English, German, Polish, French, Spanish, Italian and other Indian languages.
• Satyajit Ray received many noticeable awards and gained a prestigious position over his life time. In 1978, he was awarded an honorary degree by Oxford University. He received Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1985. He was awarded the legion d’honneur (Legion of Honour) by the President of France in 1987. The Government of India honoured him with the Bharat Ratna, its highest civilian award in 1992. Satyajit Ray received Academy Honorary Award in 1992, becoming the first Indian to receive an Honorary Oscars. He received the Award for Life time Achievement.
• Satyajit Ray died in Calcutta (Now Kolkata), West Bengal on 23 April 1992 (aged 70). His wife Bijoya Ray died in Calcutta (Now Kolkata), West Bengal on 02 June 2015 (aged 97). Their only son Sandip Ray is also a celebrated film director.
• Satyajit Ray was a humanist and poetic naturalist artist filmmaker. The influences of the Ajanta and Ellora style of paintings are seen in his arts and works. Satyajit Ray the legendary Indian filmmaker and among the dozen or so great master of world cinema, is known for his humanistic approach to cinema. Satyajit Ray’s life in Shantiniketon and its Surroundings where he experienced the rural life of Bengal that reflected in his films like Pather Panchali (1955, Song of the Little Road) and Apur Sansar (1959, The world of Apu).
• Satyajit Ray the towering figure in the world cinema and remarkable filmmaker left behind an eternal legacy of a perpetual inspiration of inquisitiveness, cultivation of science, love, respect, kindness and humanity. His artistic legacy will live on forever through his classical cinema’s calligraphies, illustrations, book covers, books, arts and literary works.
• Narrator: Shafiee Billah Jabber
  Son of Martyred Intellectual Abdul Jabber of Bangladesh Liberation War and
  Author of the Trust: Martyred Intellectuals Memorial Trust, Bangladesh.
  Editor and Publisher: The Daily Asian Express and Fortnightly City of Joy.
  

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Issued by Bangladesh

Issued on Feb 21, 2021

Issued for : To commemorate this event, Bangladesh Post has issued 1 (one) Commemorative Postage Stamp of tk. 10/-, a First Day Cover of tk. 10/- (Ten), a Data Card of tk. 5/- (Five) and a Special Canceller.

Designer : Mr. Sanjiv Kanti Das

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

No. of Stamp : 01 (One) Piece

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination of Stamp : Tk. 10/- (Ten)

Size of Stamp : 32 mm x 48 mm

Perforation of Stamps : 12.5

Qnt of Stamps : 50,000 (Fifty Thousand) pcs

Process of Printing : Offset

Printer : The Security Printing Corporation (Bangladesh) Ltd., Gazipur-1703

About : 

• The Language Movement is a glorious chapter in the history of Bangalee (Bengali) nation. East Pakistan Muslim Student League formed under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on January 4, 1948. The role of this organization is Specially Memorable in the history of the Language Movement. Among the demands of the Students League, the demand for state language was one of the important points. When Dhirendra Nath Datta’s Proposal in the Pakistan constituent Assembly Session on 23 February, 1948 for recognition of Bengali (Bangla) language as a language of Assembly with Urdu and English was repudiated, the agitated student community brought up strike on February 26, 1948 in Dhaka under the order of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other student leaders. The students of Dhaka University and other educational institutions actively participated in the general strike of March 11, 1948 realizing the right of state language Bengali (Bangla) called under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with other leaders: Shamsul Haque, Oli Ahad, Mohammad Toaha, Abul Kashem, Romesh Das Gupta and Ajit Guha and others.
• In fact the demand for establishing Bengali (Bangla) language as one of the state languages of Pakistan got momentum on March 21, 1948 when Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan made inane declaration at the public meeting held at the then Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Uddan) that Urdu and Urdu alone would be the state language of Pakistan. This declaration of Mr. Jinnah did not go unchallenged and an instant response of “no” came from few students of Dhaka University.
• The Urdu-Bengali (Bangla) controversy was reignited when Jinnah’s successor governor-general Khawaja Nazimuddin staunchly defended the “Urdu-only” policy in a speech on 27 January, 1952. On 31 January, 1952 the Shorbodolio Kendrio Rashtro Bhasha Kormi Porishod (All Party Central Language Action Committee) was formed in a meeting at Dhaka chaired by Maulana Bhashani. The Action Committee called for an all out protest on 21 February, including strikes and rallies.
• In an attempt to prevent the demonstration, the government imposed section 144 in Dhaka by banning any gathering there. The students of Dhaka University and other political activists defied the law and organized a protest movement on 21 February, 1952. The movement reached its climax when police killed student demonstrators on that day. Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Sofiur Rahman, Abul Barkat and Abdul Jabbar were killed in this incident. The killing provoked widespread civil unrest. After years of conflict, the Central Government relented and granted official status to the Bengali (Bangla) Language in 1956.
• Shaheed Minar is the name of the eternal monument built in memory of the Language Martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Language Movement on 21 February 1952. Shaheed Minar stands as a universal symbol of linguistic struggle of the Bengali (Bangalee) people of Bangladesh. In 1999, UNESCO declared “21^st February” as International Mother Language Day, in tribute to the Language Martyrs, Language Movement and Ethno-Linguistic right of people around the world. In its resolution the UNESCO said – “21^st February” be proclaimed International Mother Language Day throughout the world to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on this very day in 1952. Since then 21 February is observed as International Mother Language Day around the world.
• Narrator:
  Shafiee Billah Jabber
  Son of Martyred Intellectual Abdul Jabbar of Bangladesh Liberation War and
  Author of the Trust: Shaheed Buddhijibi (Martyred Intellectuals) Memorial Trust, Bangladesh.
  Editor and Publisher: The Daily Asian Express and Fortnightly City of Joy.
  

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Issued by India

Issued on Jan 23, 2021

Issued for : The Government of India will commemorate the 125^th Birth Anniversary of Netaji on 23 January 2022. Department of Posts is pleased to issue a commemorative postage stamp on 125^th Birth Anniversary Year of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to begin the year long celebrations.

Credits :
Stamps, FDC and Brochure : Sh. Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 2500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 504000

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Subhas Chandra Bose

Born on Jan 23, 1897 at Cuttack, Orissa Division, Bengal Province, British India [now in Cuttack district, Odisha, India]

Died on Aug 18, 1945 at Army Hospital Nanmon Branch, Taihoku, Japanese Taiwan [now Taipei City Hospital Heping Fuyou Branch, Taipei, Taiwan]

About : 

• Subhas Chandra Bose, fondly called Netaji who was born on 23 January 1897, was undoubtedly one of the most prominent Indian nationalist whose defiant patriotism made him a hero in India.
• He became President of the Indian National Congress in 1938. However, soon after being re-elected in 1939, he was ousted from Congress leadership positions following differences with the Congress high command. He was subsequently placed under house arrest by the British before bravely escaping from India in 1940.
• Netaji arrived in Germany in April 1941, where the leadership offered unexpected cold sympathy for the cause of India’s independence. However, he did not divert from his goal which was freedom for India. In November 1941, with German funds, a Free India Centre was set up in Berlin and soon a Free India Radio, on which he would make nightly broadcasts. A 3,000-strong Free India Legion, comprising Indians captured by Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps, was also formed to aid in a possible future German invasion of India. Later the same year, with German help, he was transferred to a Japanese submarine from which he disembarked in Japanese-held Sumatra in May 1943.
• With Japanese support, Netaji revamped the Indian National Army (INA). Before long the Provisional Government of Free India, presided by Netaji, was formed in the Japanese-occupied Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Netaji had great drive and charisma. The INA under Netaji was a model of unity in diversity comprising a splendid mix of ethnicity, religion, and even gender from all regions of India.
• The Japanese also took possession of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 1942 and a year later, the islands were renamed Shaheed (Martyr) and Swaraj (Independence). During Netaji’s only visit to the islands in early 1944, India hoisted its own tri-colour flag for the first time. On the Indian mainland, an Indian Tricolour, modelled after that of the Indian National Congress, was raised for the first time in the town of Moirang, in Manipur, in north-eastern India. On 6 July 1944, in a speech broadcast by the Azad Hind Radio from Singapore. Netaji addressed Mahatma Gandhi as the “Father of the Nation” and asked for his blessings and good wishes for the war he was fighting. This was the first time that Gandhiji was referred to by this honorific title.
• Netaji believed in the Bhagavad Gita as a great source of inspiration for the struggle against the British. Swami Vivekananda’s teachings on universalism, his nationalist thoughts and his emphasis on social service and reform had all inspired Netaji from his very young days. He believed that socialism in India owed its origins to Swami Vivekananda. He had clearly expressed his belief that democracy was the best option for India. The most famous quote of Netaji was “Give me blood and I will give you freedom”. Another famous quote was “Dilli Chalo” (“On to Delhi”). This was the call he used to give the INA armies to motivate them. “Jai Hind” or “Glory to India” was another slogan used by him and later adopted by the Government of India and the Indian Armed Forces. Netaji was considered a patriot even by some of his rivals in the Congress. Gandhi himself wrote that Bose’s “… patriotism is second to none”, and he was moved to proclaim after Netaji’s death that he was a “prince among patriots” – a reference, in particular, to his achievement in integrating women and men from all the regions and religions of India in the Indian National Army. Netaji wanted freedom for India at the earliest opportunity.
• Text : Sh. Pallab Bose.

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Issued by India

Issued on Sep 15, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to release a set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps between India and Serbia on the theme “70 years of Diplomatic Relations between India and Serbia” featuring ‘Swami Vivekananda’ of India and ‘Nikola Tesla’ of Serbia.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure : Ms. Gulistaan
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 2500, 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 500000 each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 1.1 lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Narendranath Datta

Born on 12 Jan, 1863 at Kolkata, India

Died on 4 Jul, 1902 at Belur, Howrah district, West Bengal, India

Name : Nikola Tesla

Born on 27 Oct, 1917 at Smiljan, Austrian Empire [now Croatia]

Died on 7 Jan, 1943 at New York City, United States

About : 

• The year 2018 marks 70 years of the diplomatic relations between India and Serbia (formerly Yugoslavia) which were established on 5 September, 1948. Both the countries have traditionally enjoyed deep friendship as co-founders of the Non-Aligned Movement. Despite the breakup of former Yugoslavia, the tradition of mutual support on issues of core interest continues. The relationship has been energized with high level visits in the recent past.
• The regular high level visits between the two countries have provided the desired impetus for a multi-sectoral partnership. Both sides agree on the need to promote economic cooperation, especially in the fields of food production, agriculture, defence, pharmaceuticals, health and tourism. MoU on Cooperation in the field of IT & Electronics and comprehensive bilateral Agreement on Cooperation in the fields of culture, arts, youth, sports and mass media have been signed between the two countries. Existing agreements include Bilateral Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement (BIPPA), Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC), Trade Agreement (MFN) and Tourism Cooperation Agreement. Air Services Agreement has been revised. MoU on Archival Cooperation was signed in October 2017.
• As per Serbian state statistics, bilateral trade of US$ 198.5 million in 2017 registered an increase of 39% as compared to 2016 with Indian exports worth US$ 187.6 million and imports US$ 10.9 million. The main items of exports from India were pharmaceuticals & chemical products, products of iron & steel, coffee/sesame seeds and food products, textile yarn, garments & footwear, industrial machinery. Main items of export from Serbia were raw silver, PC storage units, industrial machinery, chemicals and tobacco.
• Around 150 Serbian professionals have undergone training in India including in IT, telecommunications, WTO, English language, SMEs, management, finance, textiles, rural development, environment, Yoga, etc.
• Serbia is a culturally vibrant country with high regard for Indian culture and heritage. Indian cultural groups continue to be popular in Serbia. Yoga and Ayurveda are recognized in Serbian law. The national broadcaster Radio & Television of Serbia (RTS) regularly telecasts Indian documentaries. The first India-Serbia joint production ‘Dev Bhoomi’ by renowned Serbian Director Goran Paskaljevic was shot in Uttarakhand with Indian starcast.
• SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
  • Swami Vivekananda, original name Narendranath Datta, was born on 12 January, 1863 was a Hindu spiritual leader and reformer. Born into an aristocratic Bengali family of Calcutta, Vivekananda was inclined towards spirituality. He was influenced by his guru, Ramakrishna, from whom he learnt that all living beings were an embodiment of the divine self; therefore, service to God could be rendered by service to mankind. After Ramakrishna’s death, Vivekananda toured the Indian subcontinent extensively and acquired first-hand knowledge of the conditions prevailing in British India.
  • Swami Vivekananda leapt into fame at the World Parliament of Religions held at Chicago in 1893, at which he represented Hinduism. His vast knowledge of Eastern and Western cultures as well as his deep spiritual insight, fervid eloquence, brilliant conversation and compassion for human kind made an irresistible appeal to the people who came in contact with him. The year 2018 marks the 125^th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s address at the World Parliament of Religions at Chicago.
  • The Swami’s mission was both national and international. A lover of mankind, he strove to promote peace and brotherhood on the spiritual foundation of the Vedantic Oneness of existence. A mystic on the highest order, Vivekananda had a direct and intuitive experience of Reality.
  • He delivered innumerable lectures, wrote inspired letters in his own hand to his many friends and disciples, composed numerous poems, and acted as spiritual guide to the many seekers, who came to him for instruction. He also organized the Ramakrishna Order of monks, which is the most outstanding religious organization of modern India. Swami Vivekananda passed away on 4 July, 1902 near Calcutta.
• NIKOLA TESLA
  • Nikola Tesla (Smiljan, 1856 – New York, 1943), was one of the greatest Serbian scientists in the area of electrical engineering, telecommunications, robotics and physics. He is the author of more than 700 patents and some of his most important inventions are polyphase system, rotating magnetic field, asynchronous motor, synchronous generator and high voltage AC transformer. Tesla also invented a special way for generating high frequency current and gave a significant contribution to the transfer and modulation of radio-signals, as well as in the area of X-rays.
  • Nikola Tesla is the only Serb who gave his name to an international measurement unit. General Conference on Weights and Measures in Paris in 1960 decided that the symbol T and the name “tesla” should be used as a measurement unit for magnetic flux density.
  • Tesla and Vivekananda met in New York during Vivekananda’s series of lectures on Vedic philosophy. According to the testimony of the contemporaries, they met through the famous French actress Sarah Bernhardt. In several letters during 1895, Vivekananda mentioned that he recognised Vedic cosmogony in Tesla’s scientific work.
  • The stamp with the image of Nikola Tesla symbolically represents the connection of his inventions and the Divine source of all scientific ideas.
• Text : Based on the information received from Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Serbia Post and internet sources.

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Issued by India

Issued on Feb 25, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Auroville International Township – Golden Jubilee 1968-2018.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Sh. Brahm Prakash

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 6.46 lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• For millennia, we have been developing outer means, outer instruments, outer techniques of living, and finally those means and techniques are crushing us. The sign of the new humanity is a reversal in the standpoint, and the understanding that inner knowledge and inner technique can change the world and master it without crushing it.
• Auroville is the place where this new way of living is being worked out, it is a centre of accelerated evolution where man must begin to change his world through the power of the inner spirit. – The Mother
• Inspired by Sri Aurobindo’s vision ideals of human unity, Mirra Alfasa, Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual collaborator and universally revered as ‘The Mother’, founded Auroville as an international cultural township on 28 February 1968. In its physical manifestation as a human settlement, its founders envisioned Auroville as a “living laboratory” for applied researches.
• “Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity”. – The Mother
• The core purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity in diversity, on behalf of humanity as a whole. Today, Auroville is recognised as the first and only internationally endorsed ongoing experiment in human unity and transformation of consciousness, also concerned with – and practically researching into – sustainable living and the future cultural, environmental, social and spiritual needs of mankind.
• A planned town for up to 50,000 people from around the world, Auroville began on a degraded barren plateau in south-east India. Located mostly in the State of Tamil Nadu, close to the Coromandel Coast and some 10 km north of Pondicherry and 150 km south of Chennai. Over the last 50 years an unknown rural area has been transformed into a lush green Conscious City, acting as a magnet for men and women seeking a higher purpose of life.
• In terms of physical development, Auroville aims at becoming a model of ‘the city the earth needs’. It wants to show the world that future realisations in all fields of work will allow us to build beautiful cities where people sincerely look towards a more harmonious future.
• One of the most remarkable concepts of Auroville is its master plan, laid out in form of a Galaxy – a galaxy in which several ‘arms’ or Lines of Force seem to unwind from a central region.
• At the centre of the township lies the Peace Area, comprising the Matrimandir, the ‘soul of Auroville’, a place for individual, silent concentration and its gardens, the amphitheatre with the Urn of Human Unity that contains the soil of 124 nations and 23 Indian states, and the project of a lake to help create an atmosphere of serenity.
• Radiating out beyond the Matrimandir Gardens are four Zones, each focusing on an important aspect of the township’s life:
  • Industrial Zone, a zone for “green” industries, is focused on Auroville’s efforts towards a self-supporting township. It contains small and medium-scale industries, training centres, arts and crafts.
  • Cultural Zone is a site for applied research in education and artistic expression. Facilities for cultural, educational, art and sports activities are located in this zone.
  • Residential Zone is designed to provide a well-adjusted habitat between individual and collective living, with large areas of greenery and smaller built surface, thereby creating an urban density balanced by nature.
  • International Zone hosts the national and cultural pavilions, grouped by continents. Its central focus is to create a living demonstration of human unity in diversity through the expression of the genius and contribution of each nation to humanity.
• Surrounding the city area is a Green Belt consisting of forested areas, farms and sanctuaries. The Green Belt stands as an example of successful transformation of wasteland into a vibrant eco-system, a remarkable demonstration site for soil and water conservation, ground water recharge, and environmental restoration.
• “Greetings from Auroville to all men of goodwill are invited to Auroville all those who thirst for progress and aspire to a truer life” was the message to youth of the world, in 1968. Inspired young men and women came from world over in caravans chasing a dream; a dream which belongs to nobody in particular. A place where youth will never age. A place searching for answers to the struggles of the world.
• Over the years the population has grown and today 2800 permanent residents from 54 countries have made Auroville their home. Many more thousands come for a shorter experience and take the fragrance of Auroville back to the lands they come from. Young minds are attracted to learn from this aspiration for a new way of living and feel inspired to join Auroville.
• Embracing ‘All Life is Yoga’, a message of Sri Aurobindo, Auroville is an answer to humanity’s aspiration for a higher perfection where unity with the Divine is not achieved by withdrawing from but by embracing all the challenges of life, and turning the difficulties of human existence into stepping stones of growth and progress. Auroville is indeed the practical expression of India’s eternal philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakkam”.
• Auroville is a place of unending and lifelong education, a seat for learning and continuation of our age old tradition of Gurukul, where learning is not confined to classrooms but where life is a living laboratory. Experiments in content and methods of a new system of education are undertaken. Emphasis is on developing all aspects of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual growth of a human being. Along with academics, sports, arts, culture are spiritual development consist an important part of learning. Additionally special schools are run for local villages to provide holistic education. Making education a joyful learning experience, Auroville runs more than 20 educational centers and numerous courses and diverse activities to serve the learning needs of all ages.
• The economy of Auroville is based on the fundamental of no ownership of lands and enterprises. All actions are a service and offering to the Divine. Money is not meant to generate money; money should generate an increase in production, an improvement in the conditions of life and a progress in human consciousness.
• The enterprises are run on principle of trusteeship above needs of personal possessions. Beauty in matter is a cherished goal behind creating a wide range of products. Nearly 400 artisanal small enterprises employ more than 6,000 people from local villages. Apart from income from internal units, Auroville receives grants and donations from several well-wishers from all over the world, including the Government of India.
• Encouraging creativity and innovative thinking Auroville has made rapid progress in applied research in areas of health and healing, environmental regeneration, organic farming, water harvesting, solid waste management, electrical mobility and renewable energy. Auroville has become a centre for sustainable architecture and green practices, producing 125% of energy consumed from renewable sources like wind and solar energy.
• Collaboration is the essence of Auroville’s experiment. Transforming local villages around Auroville has been an important aspect of co-development. The developmental footprint of Auroville effort in rural development has had a transformative effect in the bioregion. Through several initiatives of micro finance, micro enterprises and skill development, Auroville has brought improvement in lives of nearly 1,00,000 people in the surrounding villages.
• Art and culture are integral part of life in Auroville. The exuberant vitality is visible with works of several artists and potters who made Auroville their home. Several residents have become well-known artists and writers through their works of arts, music, acting and literature.
• The organization of Auroville is based on principles of equality, inclusiveness, transparency, collaboration, empathy and plasticity. Recognizing the importance of the Auroville experiment, the Government of India created a statutory body by in-acting the Auroville Foundation Act 1988, functioning under the Ministry of Human Resources and development.
• The General Assembly of UNESCO unanimously passed in 1966, 1968, 1970, 1983 and 2017 resolutions of support to Auroville, inviting ‘member states and international non-governmental organisations to participate in the development of Auroville as an international cultural township designed to bring together the values of different cultures and civilisations in a harmonious environment with integrated living standards which correspond to man’s physical and spiritual needs’.
• The footprint of Auroville has spread beyond its geography through several projects of its units and actions of its residents. Transformation of the surrounding villages of Auroville is the most visible impact. Recognizing the wider impact The UNESCO resolution passed by the General Assembly in 2017 for the 50^th year noted, “that Auroville has developed into a centre of expertise in a wide range of fields, benefiting India and noting its success in sharing its experience and helping the development of its neighboring rural population”.
• Over the years Auroville has been recognized by several national and international Awards like ‘Hasan Fathi Award for Architecture in 1992, Best Earth Buildings to Centre for Scientific Research, Award by HUDCO to Auroville Building Centre in 1994, 1995 and 1996, Ashden Award for renewable energy to Aurore (Auroville Renewable Energy) in 2004, Award of Excellence by Ministry of Textiles to Upasana Studio, Low Carbon Award’ of the ‘Green Building Solutions Awards in 2016’ to Auroville Earth Institute, Rush Light Award for 2017-18 to Auroville Consulting.
• Text : Based on the material received from proponent.

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