Issued by India

Issued on Apr 20, 2024

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue Commemorative Postage Stamp on Mahatma Hansraj and appreciates his contribution in building up a new era of education and in enlightening the path for many disciples.

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

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 301600

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Lala Hansraj

Born on 19 Apr, 1864 at Bajwara, Hoshiarpur district, Punjab, India

Died on 15 Nov, 1938 at Lahore, Punjab, British India [now in Pakistan]

About : 

• The DAV College Trust & Management Society, formed by a group of socially oriented people of Lahore, to raise a memorial in honor of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the path maker of Indian Renaissance in the 19^th century, established its first institution – DAV School, on 1^st June, 1886.
• Lala Hansraj, a young boy of 22 years, who had just graduated his degree in Arts, standing 2^nd in the Panjab University, came forward to take up the responsibility of Head Master of DAV School in the honorary capacity for his whole life.
• Born on 19^th April, 1864, in a respectable family of a modest means at a small sleepy old town, Bajwara near Hoshiarpur (Punjab), Hansraj had his early education at a school in Bajwara and later on at Hoshiarpur. He joined his elder brother, Shri Mulkh Raj, who was working in the post office at Lahore. Hansraj passed his Entrance Examination of Calcutta University and obtained B.A. degree from Panjab University College, Lahore, standing 2^nd in the University. This achievement brought a ray of hope, as Lala Hansraj could now earn his fortune, in the adverse pecuniary circumstances of his family, while working on any coveted position as a government servant.
• The Arya Samaj, Lahore, was under immense pressure to start a DAV School in the memory of Swami Dayanand Saraswati. The founding fathers were searching for an Indian who could take up the responsibility of working as Head Master of the School.
• Lala Hansraj by this time had started attending the meetings of Arya Samaj, Lahore and was deeply impressed by the life and work of Swami Dayanand Saraswati. He was convinced with the idea of indigenous effort of educating the youth as envisaged in the draft resolution of DAV Society. He understood the difficulty of the Arya Samaj in finding out an Indian to head the proposed DAV School. He deliberated upon and came out with an unflinching resolution of offering his life-time honorary services as head of DAV School. In 1889, when the 1^st College was opened, he became the 1^st Principal of the DAV College, Lahore.
• This decision of Lala Hansraj created a history in the then educational scenario, though, at the cost of hardships to him and his family. The DAV owes its present status of 1000 vibrant educational campuses to the solemn resolve of sacrificing all conveniences of his life, taken so firmly by Lala Hansraj for the cause of education. He professed and practiced the idea of education wedded to morality. For his selfless service to the society and to the relentless attitude of sacrificing all conveniences of life for the larger good of the society, he was lovingly referred as Mahatma.
• Mahatma Hansraj, an ardent champion of his religion and a public-spirited person, was rightly identified with the social and moral revival of India besides his contribution in the field of education. Mahatma Hansraj played a pivotal role in the eradication of social evils like casteism, child marriage, female infanticide, perpetual widowhood, sati pratha. He also played a rich role in the struggle for national freedom, doing invaluable service to the nation in the times of earthquakes, famines, floods, epidemics, communal riots etc.
• He was elected as the President of DAV College Managing Committee for 7 years and also as the President of Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha for 45 years.
• Mahatma Hansraj was a prolific writer, profound scholar, a symbol of simplicity, honesty, sacrifice and dedication. Having served his nation for more than half a century, Mahatma ji breathed his last on 15 November, 1938 leaving behind a message of unflinching faith in Arya Samaj and vaidik principles, nationalism, self-help and self-sacrifice.
• Text : Referenced from content provided by Proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Mar 9, 2019

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Kubernath Ray.

Credits :
Stamp/First Day Cover/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 3.0 lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Kuber Nath Ray

Born on Mar 26, 1933 at Matsa village, Dildarnagar Kamsar, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, British India

Died on Jun 5, 1996 at —

About : 

• An eminent scholar of Hindi and English and a great thinker, Shri Kubarnath Ray particularly distinguished himself in the field of writing essay in Hindi. He was born on 26^th March 1933 in village Matsa of Zamania Tehsil in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. He was the son of Smt. Lakshmi Devi and Shri Baikuntha Rai. His mother would say that children in general are born with their fists closed while her son was born with folded hands as if in prayer. He completed his primary, middle and high school education at Ghazipur. He did his Intermediate from Queen’s College, Varanasi and Graduation from Banaras Hindu University with English, Philosophy and Mathematics as his subjects. He went on to do his post-graduation from Kolkata University in English Literature.
• Kubernath Ray’s creative writing primarily deals with general public life in Aryan and non-Aryan India, Gandhian philosophy, stories of Lord Rama and modern contemporary thinking. Personal essays are a fundamental feature of his writing. All the modes of literary writing such as poetry, story, novel, play, etc. may be discovered in his writings. About his literary compositions, he used to say that they were an expression of his inner voice and promptings which were not forced or laboured. He would say that English was the language for his earning needs, Hindi was his natural language for prayer and devotion.
• He served as a Lecturer and Head of English Department in Nalbari College, Nalbari & Guwahati University, Assam from 1959-1986. Later, he was the Principal of Swami Sahajanand P.G. College, Ghazipur (UP) during 1986-1995 from where he retired on 30^th June 1995.
• Some of his works are Priya Nilkanthi (published in 1969), Ras Aakhetak (1971), Gandhmaadan (1972), Nishad Bansuri (1973), Vishad Yoga (1974), Pam Mukut (1978), Mahakavi ki Tarjani (1979), Patr: Maniputul Ke Naam (1980), Man Pawan ki Nauka (1982), Kirat Nadi Me Chandramadhu (1979), Drishti Abhisar (1985), Treta ke Brihatsam (1986), Kaamdhenu (1990), Maraal (1993), Uttarkuru (1993), Cinmaya Bharata (1996), Kanthamani (Kavita) (1998), Vani ka Sheersagar (1998), Andhakar me Agnishikna (2008), Ramayana Mahatirtham (2008), Agam Ki Nav (2013), Kuber Nath Ray Ki Drishti Me Swami Sahajanand (2014) were works published after his death. Twenty research scholars have been awarded Ph.D. for their works on his books.
• Kubernath Ray is known to have avoided stage garlanding, public meetings and specifically public speaking. He used to say that it affected his creative writing. Several words like Nishad, Kirat and some words taken from languages spoken in Southern States of India have been amalgamated by him into Sanskrit and Hindi vocabulary and these are found in his compositions as well.
• Reacting to some criticism for use of difficult words in his writings, Ray responded by saying that every creative writer is a teacher, his duty is to enlarge the reader’s range of knowledge. He believed that a true and keen reader would try to find out the meaning of unfamiliar words. Through his knowledge of English language, Ray became acquainted with the literature of several languages of the world. In addition to Hindi, which was his mother tongue, he knew Urdu, Arabic and Persian. He has a good command of Bengali language and was familiar with Greek and Roman languages and their literature also. He was well versed in Sanskrit, which is considered to be the mother of all Indian languages. He died on 5^th June 1996.
• Text : Based on information received from the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Mar 6, 2019

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Ram Chand Paul.

Credits :
Stamps/FDC/Brochure : Ms. Gulistaan
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 402380

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Ram Chand Paul

Born on Oct 20, 1919 at Shakargarh, Narowal district, Punjab, British India [now in Pakistan]

Died on 2002 at —

About : 

• Ram Chand Paul (1919-2002) was a distinguished scientist, educationist, administrator, science promoter and author of a large number of research papers and books. He played a pivotal role in the growth of Panjab University where he worked as Professor and Head of Chemistry Department (1959-74), Dean of University Instruction (1965-67) and as Vice-Chancellor (1974-84). He played a seminal role in the development of the University into a first rate academic institution of the country. Due to his dynamic leadership and vision, the Department of Chemistry grew by leaps and bounds and was recognized by University Grants Commission as a Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry. The Department acquired international stature and signed several collaborative programmes with academic institutions in UK, the erstwhile USSR, Hungary and USA. He was conscious of the fact that research facilities for scientists in the university were inadequate and his untiring efforts led to the establishment of the Regional Sophisticated Instrumentation Centre (RSIC) and Central Instrumentation Laboratory (CIL) on the University campus. These facilities provided a quantum jump in the research quality and productivity not only in Panjab University but also in other institutions all over the country.
• Born in Shakargarh (now in Pakistan) on 20 October, 1919, he studied at Central Model School, Lahore, Hindu College, Amritsar and Khalsa College, Amritsar. He graduated from the Honours School in Chemistry of the Punjab University, Lahore in 1939 and obtained M.Sc. (Hons. School) in 1940. He obtained his Ph.D. under the guidance of Dr. S. D. Muzaffar in 1947 at Lahore and earned his second Ph.D. degree in 1954 from Cambridge University. In recognition of his distinguished research work, the University of Cambridge conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Sciences, Sc.D. (Cantab) in 1968.
• Ram Chand Paul laid the foundation of a school called Non-Aqueous Solvent Chemistry leading to pioneering publications in this field. He had a large research group and 80 research scholars submitted their Ph.D. thesis under his guidance. Punjab University at Lahore, at the behest of Professor S. S. Bhatnagar, was the first in the country to start an integrated course in its science departments in the form of Honours School which led to continuation of the undergraduate programme into post graduate degree. The Honours School continued in the university after partition. At one stage a more comprehensive integrated science programme was proposed but could not be adopted by the university due to lack of resources. However, the programme caught the attention of the then Planning Commission of India and was implemented on a grand scale by establishing a number of IISER (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research) in different parts of the country.
• In spite of his deep involvement in research, Professor Paul took keen interest in the development of chemical education at all levels. After strengthening and modernizing teaching in his own department, he turned his attention to school and college level curricula in Chemistry. Under his guidance as the Director of a study group in Chemistry (1966-70), teaching material for classes 6 to 10 including laboratory manuals, textbooks and teachers’ guides were written. These were published by NCERT which was the sponsoring agency of the project. After the completion of this assignment, he turned his attention towards improvement of teaching chemistry in the colleges. The UGC sanctioned College Science Improvement Programme (COSIP) as a part of the University Leadership Project in Chemistry (ULPIC) to Panjab University. This programme was extremely fruitful and led to distinct improvement in the chemistry curricula at the undergraduate level in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Reading material and low cost instruments were developed and distributed to all the colleges in these states.
• Ram Chand Paul earned academic recognition in the country and abroad in his being elected a fellow of all the three National Academies of Sciences apart from the Royal Institute of Chemistry (London). He was a UGC National Lecturer in Chemistry (1970-1971). He was the General Secretary (1971-73) of the Indian Science Congress. He served as Vice-President of the Indian Chemical Society and the National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad in 1976-77.
• Ram Chand Paul served as a member of the Governing Body of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Chemistry and Metallurgy Committee of the Department of Atomic Energy (Government of India) and the Governing Body of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. He took keen interest in sports and was an excellent swimmer. He was instrumental in the construction of a huge indoor gymnasium hall on the campus. He offered the facilities at the Campus to the Indian Hockey Team in 1975. The pre-tournament Camp was very successful and the team won the Hockey World Cup that year.
• After his retirement as Vice-Chancellor of the Panjab University, he accepted the offer of the university as Professor Emeritus. His latest contribution was the publication of a monograph on Fluorine Chemistry and a number of biographical memoirs of celebrated scientists published by INSA, New Delhi. He was decorated with the life time achievement award by the Indian Chemical Society.
• Text : Based on information received from the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Jun 7, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to release a set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps between India and South Africa to mark “20 years of Strategic Partnership between India and South Africa” featuring images of ‘Deendayal Upadhyaya’ from India and ‘Oliver Reginald Tambo’ from South Africa.

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

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 2500, 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 5.0 Lakh each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 1.1 Lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Deendayal Upadhyay

Born on 25 Sep, 1916 at Chandrabhan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India

Died on 11 Feb, 1968 at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

Name : Oliver Reginald Kaizana Tambo

Born on 27 Oct, 1917 at Nkantolo, Bizana, South Africa

Died on 24 Apr, 1993 at Johannesburg, South Africa

About : 

• India’s relations with South Africa date back several centuries. India was the first country to sever trade relations with the apartheid Government in 1946. Diplomatic and consular relations with South Africa were restored in November 1993.
• India–South Africa relations have been growing from strength to strength. 2017 marked 20 years of Strategic Partnership between the two countries (the Red Fort Declaration for Strategic Partnership was signed by the Prime Minister of India Shri Deva Gowda and President of South Africa Nelson Mandela at New Delhi in March, 1997). 2018 marks 25 years of the establishment of relations between India and South Africa and also marks the 125^th year of the Pietermaritzburg railway station ‘incident’ involving Mahatma Gandhi.
• Our bilateral relations have been strengthened and nourished by a regular exchange of visits at the Head of the Government, Head of the State, Ministerial, Parliamentary and official levels. A number of bilateral agreements have been concluded between the two countries since 1993 in areas ranging from economic and commercial cooperation, defence, culture, health, human settlements, public administration, science and technology to education.
• Under the IBSA & BRICS Initiatives, both countries interact regularly at all levels. On the Commercial & Economic front, our bilateral trade was US$ 9379.71 million in 2016-17 and from 01 April, 2017 to 31 January, 2018 it is US$ 8812.22 million. India is the fourth largest trade partner of South Africa. About 150 Indian companies have their presence in South Africa, with an estimated investment of about US$ 10 billion.
• Regular cooperation has been witnessed in the areas of sports. Approximately 1000 South African nationals have been trained under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme since 1993-94. The South African Indian origin community numbers around 1.5 million which constitutes about 3% of South Africa’s total population. South Africans of Indian origin are well-represented in government, business, media, legal and other professions. The year 2010 marked the 150^th anniversary of the first arrival of Indians in South Africa. 2014 marked 100 years of Gandhiji’s final departure to India from South Africa which date is commemorated annually as Pravasi Bhartiya Divas.
• The theme for India–South Africa: Joint Issue is “20 years of Strategic Partnership between India and South Africa” depicting images of “Deendayal Upadhyaya” from India and “Oliver Reginald Tambo” from South Africa on stamps.
• Deendayal Upadhyaya:
  • Deendayal Upadhyaya was born on 25 September, 1916, in the village of Dhankia in Rajasthan. He lost his parents at an early age and was brought up and educated at his maternal grandfather’s place under difficult conditions. Deendayal drew strength from the hardships and sufferings around him and rose above his circumstances through sheer grit and determination. He received primary education at Kota and Rajgarh. He matriculated from Sikar. Deendayal went to Pilani to study for his intermediate. He topped the board examination in 1937 with distinction in all subjects. He graduated with first division from Sanatan Dharma College, Kanpur in 1939 and joined St. John’s College, Agra for pursuing his Master’s Degree in English Literature. He passed the Provincial Services Exam but he did not join as he was not interested in administrative services. His special areas of interest were sociology and philosophy.
  • Deendayal Upadhyaya was an extremely disciplined and devoted person. His devotion to service, humility and modesty earned respect of those around him. While studying for his graduation in Kanpur in 1937, Deendayal came into contact with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and became a life-long pracharak of the Sangh. Subsequently, he became the General Secretary of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh and later its President.
  • Deendayal was a deep and original thinker. In the field of politics and economics, he was pragmatic and down to earth. He visualized for India a decentralized polity and self-reliant economy with the village as its base. He was open to the use of modern technology but wanted it to be adapted to suit Indian requirements. He placed the nation’s interests above everything else. He died on 11 February, 1968.
• Oliver Reginald Tambo:
  • Oliver Reginald Tambo was born on 27 October, 1917 and groomed in a village life with strong morals and values of hard work. An eloquent young man, he was initially a member of the debating society in a different school where love for discussion and debate was kindled. He later enrolled at Holy Cross Mission near Flagstaff where he became one of the star students. He matriculated from St. Peter’s in Johannesburg with top marks and graduated from Fort Hare University with B.Sc. degree in Maths and Science. It was during this time that his talent as a leader came to the fore when he was elected to the Student’s Representative Council of his residence, Beda Hall.
  • He started his career as a teacher in his alma mater St. Peter’s college. While teaching, he became a very active member of the African National Congress (ANC), forming its Youth League (ANCYL) and became its first National Secretary in 1944. He was promoted as president of the Transvaal ANCYL in 1948 and national vice-president in 1949. In 1951, he formed the first black law partnership with Nelson Mandela. In 1953, he became Secretary General of the ANC and in 1958, its Deputy President. In 1960, after the Sharpeville Massacre, the ANC feared increased attacks on their members, Tambo was asked by the ANC to travel abroad and set up the ANC’s international mission. Thereafter, Tambo headed the ANC diplomatic mission to campaign globally and gain support for the anti-Apartheid cause. He also addressed the UN General Assembly of the Special Political Committee, appearing for the freedom of South Africa. In 1963, he gave a passionate plea to the UN for the release of political prisoners in South Africa prisons.
  • In 1967, after the death of ANC President – General Chief Albert Luthuli, Tambo became Acting President until his appointment was approved at the Morogoro conference in 1969. He served as President of the ANC till 1990, when Nelson Mandela was elected President. In 1990, Oliver Tambo and his family returned home after 30 years in exile. He passed the leadership baton to Nelson Mandela. He was elected as a National Chairperson of the ANC. He died on 24 April, 1993 at the age of 75 years.
• Text : Based on the information received from Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 29, 2017

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Dadabhai Naoroji. The stamp also depicts Udvada Atash Behram Fire Temple and Elphinstone College. The Fire temple in Udvada is one of the eight fire temples (holy place of worship) of the Zoroastrian religion in the country and the oldest fire temples in India, dating back to the 8^th century, and represents the historical cultural and religious links with ancient Persia. This temple also symbolizes the contribution of Dadabhai Naoroji in spreading the message of Zoroastrian concepts and promoting social reforms in the Parsi Community. The temple attracts Zoroastrian pilgrims from all parts of India and from around the world.

Credits :
Stamp/First Day Cover/Brochure : Sh. Sankha Samanta
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.5 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Dadabhai Naoroji

Born on 4 Sep, 1825 at Bombay, British India [now Mumbai, Maharashtra, India]

Died on 30 Jun, 1917 at Bombay, British India

About : 

• Dadabhai Naoroji, known as the Grand Old Man of India was one of the guiding lights in the late nineteenth century who played a cardinal role in shaping India’s destiny. He had the distinction of becoming a Liberal Party Member of Parliament (MP) in the United Kingdom House of Commons between 1892 and 1895, the first Asian to be a British MP. Naoroji is also credited with the founding of the Indian National Congress, along with A. O. Hume and Dinshaw Edulji Wacha. His book “Poverty and Un–British Rule in India” gave a brilliant account of India’s economic exploitation under the colonial rule.
• Dadabhai Naoroji was born on September 4, 1825 in Mumbai in a Parsi family, and was educated at the Elphinstone Institute School. He was patronised by the Maharaja of Baroda, Sayajirao Gaekwad III, and started his public life as the Dewan (Minister) to the Maharaja in 1874. As an Athornan (ordained priest), Naoroji founded the Rahnumae Mazdayasne Sabha (Guides on the Mazdayasne Path) on August 01, 1851 to restore the Zoroastrian religion to its original purity and simplicity. In 1854, he also founded a Gujarati fortnightly publication, the Rast Goftar (or The Truth Teller), to clarify Zoroastrian concepts and promote Parsi social reforms. In 1855, he was appointed Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at the Elphinstone College in Bombay becoming the first Indian to hold such an academic position. He travelled to London in 1855 to become a partner in Cama & Co, opening a Liverpool location for the first Indian company to be established in Britain, but within three years, he resigned on ethical grounds. In 1859, he established his own cotton trading company, Dadabhai Naoroji & Co. Later, he became professor of Gujarati at University College London.
• In 1865, Dadabhai Naoroji directed the launch of London Indian Society, the purpose of which was to discuss Indian political, social and literary subjects. In 1861, Naoroji, alongwith Muncherjee Hormusji Cama, founded the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe. In 1867 Naoroji also helped establish the East India Association, one of the predecessor organisations of the Indian National Congress with the aim of putting across the Indian point of view before the British public. The Association was instrumental in countering the divisive propaganda by some opinionated groups. This Association soon won the support of eminent Englishmen and was able to exercise considerable influence in the British Parliament. In 1874, he became Prime Minister of Baroda and was a member of the Legislative Council of Mumbai (1885-88). He was also a member of the Indian National Association founded by Sir Surendranath Banerjee from Calcutta a few years before the founding of the Indian National Congress in Bombay. The two groups later merged into the Indian National Congress, and Naoroji was elected President of the Congress in 1886.
• Naoroji moved to Britain once again and continued his political involvement. Elected for the Liberal Party in Finsbury Central at the 1892 general election, he was the first British Indian MP. In 1901, he published his book, “Poverty and un-British Rule in India”. In 1906, Naoroji was again elected president of the Indian National Congress, during the phase when opinion in the party was split between the moderates and extremists. Naoroji was a mentor to Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was married to Gulbai at the age of eleven. He died in Bombay on 30 June 1917, at the age of 91. In 2014, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg inaugurated the Dadabhai Naoroji Awards for services to UK-India relations.
• Dadabhai Naoroji’s work focused on highlighting the drain of wealth from India to England during colonial rule. One of the reasons that the Drain theory is attributed to Naoroji is his decision to estimate the net national profit of India, and by extension, the effect that colonisation has on the country. In Naoroji’s book he estimated a 200-300 million pounds loss of India’s revenue to Britain that is not returned.
• He was regarded as one of the most important Indians during the independence movement. Mahatma Gandhi wrote to Naoroji in a letter of 1894 that “The Indians look up to you as children to the father. Such is really the feeling here.”
• Text : Based on the material available on internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on Oct 11, 2017

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to release a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Nanaji Deshmukh.

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

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.5 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Chandikadas Amritrao Deshmukh

Born on 11 Oct, 1916 at Kadoli, Hingoli district, Maharashtra, India

Died on 27 Feb, 2010 at Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India

About : 

• Nanaji Deshmukh also known as Chandikadas Amritrao Deshmukh was born on 11 October 1916 in Kadoli, a small town in the Hingoli district of Maharashtra to Amritrao Deshmukh and Rajabai Amritrao Deshmukh. At an early age, he lost his parents and was brought up by his maternal uncle. His early life was full of strife and struggle, however, he grew up to become a dedicated social activist and also worked in the fields of education, health and rural self-reliance. He was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.
• Nanaji Deshmukh became inspired by Lokamanya Tilak and his nationalist ideology. He was also in close association with eminent leaders such as Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya who he met for the first time in the year 1940. In 1947, on the launch of two journals, Rashtradharma and Panchjanya, and a newspaper called Swadesh, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was assigned the responsibility of the editor and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya was made the Margdharshak with Nanaji as the managing director.
• Nanaji Deshmukh was given the charge of Bharatiya Jan Sangh in Uttar Pradesh as General Secretary. Deshmukh’s groundwork was a great help in strengthening Bhartiya Jan Sangha (BJS) at the grass roots. By 1957 BJS had established its units at each and every district in Uttar Pradesh and credit for this goes to Nanaji who had extensively travelled all over the state and put in a lot of hard work.
• Nanaji Deshmukh also actively participated in Bhoodan Movement started by Vinoba Bhave. He spent two months with Vinoba, and was greatly inspired by the success and appeal of the movement. Later, when Jayaprakash Narayan gave the call for “Total Revolution”, Nanaji responded by giving total support to this movement. Nanaji Deshmukh was elected in 1977 from Balrampur Lok Sabha constituency of Uttar Pradesh. He was offered a Cabinet portfolio which he declined.
• In 1980, when he turned 60, he opted out of politics, devoting himself completely to social and constructive work, living in ashrams and keeping a low profile. He did pioneering work towards anti-poverty and minimum needs programmes. Other areas of his work were agriculture and cottage industry, rural health and rural education. Nanaji assumed chairmanship of the Deendayal Research Institute (DRI) which he had founded in 1972 to validate the philosophy of Integral Humanism propounded by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Integral Humanism gave a vision for Bharat that with an approach to man and his relationship to society that is integral and complementary could transform India turning it into a self-reliant and compassionate example for the world to follow.
• Nanaji propounded a model for the development of rural areas on the basis of Integral Humanism. After initial experiments in Gonda (U.P.) and Beed (Maharashtra), Nanaji fine-tuned a program that would cover health, hygiene, education, agriculture, income generation, conservation of resources, and social conscience, that is both sustainable and replicable. The vision of the project was ‘Total transformation through total development with people’s initiative and participation’. He was also instrumental in carrying out social restructuring programme in over 500 villages of both Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• He finally settled down at Chitrakoot, a holy place on the borders of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It was in 1969 that Deshmukh had visited Chitrakoot for the first time and was moved to see the condition of the society. He resolved to change the face of Chitrakoot during his lifetime. He established Chitrakoot Gramoday Vishwavidyalaya, India’s first rural University, and served as its Chancellor.
• He was nominated to Rajya Sabha in the year 1999 in recognition of his services to the nation. He was also awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1999. India’s former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam praised Deshmukh for his “single-minded devotion to the uplift of the people”. He died the age of 94, on 27 February 2010 in the premises of Chitrakoot Gramoday Vishwavidyalaya.
• Text : Based on the material available on internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on May 31, 2017

Issued for : To commemorate the spirit and role of Literature in the society, the Department of Posts is bringing out 5 stamps, and one Miniature Sheet on 5 authors.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Sh. Brahm Prakash

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 1000 Paise

Stamps Printed : 301590

Miniature Sheet Printed : 0.1 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa

Born on 29 Dec, 1904 at Hirekodige, Koppa taluk, Chikkamagaluru district, Kingdom of Mysore [now Karnataka, India]

Died on 11 Nov, 1994 at Mysore, Karnataka, India

About : 

• Literature is one of the major contributory factors in the nation building. It acts a cultural binding force and works as an evocative medium to boost up the moral of the people in the times of crises. Literature is the vehicle through which people’s culture is transmitted. Department of Posts is bringing stamps on five such authors who have contributed significantly in this arena.
  • The fourth stamp is on K V Puttappa. Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa (29 December 1904 – 11 November 1994), popularly known by the pen name Kuvempu or by K. V. Puttappa, was born in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. He was a Kannada novelist, poet, playwright, critic and thinker, who penned the State anthem Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate. He is widely regarded as the greatest Kannada poet of the 20^th century. Kuvempu began his literary work in English and later shifted to Kannada. His major work in English is a collection of poems called the Beginner’s Muse. He was the forbearer of the idea that education should be provided in children’s mother tongues and in his pursuit he opened the Institute of Kannada Studies in Mysore University.
  • Kuvempu was actively against the caste system and many of his writings reflected his views. He is considered to be one of the major contributors to the modernist literary movement in Kannada literature. His writings and his contribution to “Universal Humanism” gives him a unique place in modern Indian literature. His major achievement was his extremely different take on the characters of Ramayana written by Valmiki, which fetched him the honor of being the first Kannada writer to be decorated with the prestigious Jnanpith Award. His epic narrative Sri Ramayana Darshanam, is regarded as the revival of the era of Mahakavya (Great Epic poetry) in contemporary form and charm. Besides Jnanpith, Kuvempu has also won the Padma Bhushan, Sahitya Academy Award, Padma Vibhushan and recently the Karnataka Ratna awards.
• Text : Based on the material available on internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on May 31, 2017

Issued for : To commemorate the spirit and role of Literature in the society, the Department of Posts is bringing out 5 stamps, and one Miniature Sheet on 5 authors.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Sh. Brahm Prakash

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 1000 Paise

Stamps Printed : 301590

Miniature Sheet Printed : 0.1 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Balwant Gargi

Born on 4 Dec, 1916 at Bathinda, Punjab, India

Died on 22 Apr, 2003 at Mumbai, India

About : 

• Literature is one of the major contributory factors in the nation building. It acts a cultural binding force and works as an evocative medium to boost up the moral of the people in the times of crises. Literature is the vehicle through which people’s culture is transmitted. Department of Posts is bringing stamps on five such authors who have contributed significantly in this arena.
  • The Department is bringing out stamp on Professor Balwant Gargi. Shri Balwant Gargi, playwright, director, theatre personality, novelist, teacher and chronicler of folk theatre, was among the pioneers of playwriting in Punjabi. He was born on 4 December 1916 in Bhatinda Punjab. He was founder Professor Director of the Department of Indian Theatre which was founded in 1972 by the Punjab University Chandigarh. The establishment of the Department was the culmination of the years of creativity that began from Gargi’s years of study at Government College Lahore. He completed his M.A. (English) and M.A. (Political Science) from FC College in Lahore. He also studied theatre with pioneering theatre personality Norah Richards at her school in Kangra Valley, from which emerged the famous names of Panjabi drama, including Ishwar Chandra Nanda, Gurcharan Singh and Gargi himself. His interaction with Richards gave him an insight into the realistic theatre of Henrik Ibsen as well as the Irish playwright Synge. From studying the work of these two masters, he got an understanding of the inner impulses and motivations to how to create living and palpable characters for the stage.
  • For subject matter Gargi moved freely over social milieu, mythology, history, and folklore. In the composition and performance of his dozen full-length plays and five collections of one-act drama, he traveled from the realistic to the mythopoeic mode. Balwant Gargi taught for two years (1966-67) at the University of Washington, where he met his wife Jeanne Henry. This period was the basis of his autobiography The Naked Triangle. The Naked Triangle brought him to the forefront of cosmopolitan attention. Balwant Gargi was among the pioneers of playwriting in Punjabi and the production and telecast of his plays like Sanjha Chulha on Doordarshan received countrywide appreciation.
  • Gargi was awarded the Sahitya Academy award, the highest Indian literary award, in 1962 for his book Rang Manch. This was followed by the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Punjabi Playwriting. Gargi is one of the few artists to win both the Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi awards. He passed away on 22 April 2003.
• Text : Based on the material available on internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on Mar 27, 2017

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to release a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Yogoda Satsanga Society of India.

Credits :
Stamp / FDC / Brochure / Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 442000

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• This year marks the Centennial Anniversary of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India – one of the nation’s most distinguished spiritual institutions – personally founded by the great guru Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952), who was a world-renowned pioneer in spearheading India’s ancient science and philosophy of yoga meditation all over the earth.
• Dissemination of scientific techniques for attaining direct personal enlightenment, serving mankind and promotion of cultural and spiritual understanding between East and West are among the objectives of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India.
• It was in 1917 that Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, acknowledged as one of modern India’s greatest saints, and author of the internationally renowned spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi, began his worldwide work with the establishment of a yoga-themed boy’s school in Dihika, West Bengal, marking the birth of Yogoda Satsanga Society. Yogoda, a word coined by Paramahansa Yogananda, is derived from Yoga, union; and da, “that which imparts”; the mission of this “How-to-Live” School was to combine the spiritual ideas of the ancient rishis with modern educational methods. One year later, Sri Yogananda transferred his fast-growing group of students to Ranchi. Thus, the Ranchi Ashram became the nucleus of Yogoda Satsanga Society. The dissemination of the yoga meditation science (in particular, the ancient techniques of Kriya Yoga) begun by Yoganandaji was expanded internationally when he founded Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) in 1920 upon his arrival in the United States as India’s delegate to an International Congress of Religious Liberals held in Boston, USA. He became renowned as an ideal “spiritual ambassador” of India, and established the international headquarters of YSS/SRF in Los Angeles. From there, he spread his teachings on India’s time-honored science of meditation and spirituality to all continents.
• From its humble beginnings, YSS has grown to include four ashrams at Ranchi (Jharkhand), Dakshineswar (West Bengal), Dwarahat (Uttarakhand) and Noida (National Capital Region). The Society has spiritual retreats in Chennai, Coimbatore, Dihika, Igatpuri, Pune, Puri, Serampore, Shimla and Telary, which are open to all those interested in yoga meditation. YSS has more than 200 meditation centres throughout India. (More than 500 temples, ashrams, retreats and meditation centres have been established by its sister organization, Self-Realization Fellowship, in all other parts of the world.)
• Dedicated to carry on the spiritual and humanitarian work of Paramahansa Yogananda, YSS/SRF has focused on teaching an uncomplicated system of specific yoga techniques intended to mark the highest achievements of divine realisation available to all individuals. Thus YSS has distinguished itself as a leading force in the renaissance of the ancient universal spirituality that has been India’s special pride and glory for millennia.
• The charitable activities of YSS include the operation of twenty-three educational institutions, from primary schools to post-graduate colleges. In addition, YSS provides scholarships to deserving students all over the country. In the medical field, YSS operates charitable hospitals, clinics and medical camps. Help is provided to orphanages and leprosy colonies, and relief to those afflicted by natural disasters.
• By faithfully carrying on the legacy that was created 100 years ago by Paramahansa Yoganandaji – and nationwide service to all sectors of the population – YSS/SRF continues to bring much-needed peace and light into the lives of millions struggling with the challenges of the modern-day world.
• Text : Based on the material received from proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 26, 2016

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to release a set of eight Commemorative Postage Stamps on Personality Series: Bihar.

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

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 2.0 Lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Karpoori Thakur

Born on Jan 24, 1924 at Pitaunjhia, Bihar and Orissa Province, British India [now in Bihar]

Died on Feb 17, 1988 at Patna, Bihar, India

About : 

• Karpoori Thakur (1920 – 1988), was born in Samastipur District of Bihar. He was popularly known as Jan Nayak (“the people’s leader”). As a student activist, he left his graduate college to join the Quit India Movement and spent 26 months in prison while participating in the Indian independence movement. In the early days after Independence, Shri Thakur served as a Teacher in the Middle School of his Village. He was interested and involved in various public causes, particularly those relating to upliftment and social equality of weaker sections of the society. He became a member of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha in 1952. He was arrested for leading P & T employees during the general strike of the Central Government employees in 1960. In 1970, he undertook a fast unto death for 28 days to promote the cause of Telco labourers. Shri Thakur served as a minister and as Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, before becoming the Chief Minister of Bihar in 1970. He served as the Chief Minister of Bihar from December 1970 to June 1971, and then from December 1977 to April 1979. He enforced total prohibition of alcohol in Bihar. During his tenure, many schools and colleges were established in his name in the backward areas of Bihar. Shri Thakur was a strong votary of Hindi language. He served as the President of Samyukta Socialist Party. A socialist leader, Shri Karpoori Thakur was known as a champion of the cause of the poor and underprivileged.
• Text : Based on the material available on internet.

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