Issued by India

Issued on Jan 28, 2025

Issued for : The Department of Posts is proud to release a commemorative postage stamp remembering the bravehearts of Patharughat rebellion, honouring their heroic acts that played a key role in India’s freedom struggle.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Ms. Kanika

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 302800

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The 1894 revolt of Patharughat is one of the most significant event in the history of Indian nationalism. This revolt resulted from peasants’ protest against the enhancement of land tax.
• By the end of the 19^th century, the British Government succeeded in establishing a plantation economy in Assam to a great extent. A tax policy was framed with a dual strategy to increase the public revenue resources as well as to squeeze the peasantry so much that they would be forced to give up their traditional occupation and join the labour market. Between 1826 and 1893, the land revenue rates were enhanced several times, crippling the peasant economy. Thus, socio-economic changes brought about during the colonial rule led to the complete breakdown of the backbone of peasant economy.
• The peasants began expressing their anger. During 1893-94, thousands participated in demonstrations and rallies for several days, particularly in Kamrup and Darrang Districts. At the same time, the peasants of Patharughat and neighbouring areas under Sipajhar tahsil of Darrang district united under the banner of Raijmel (Peoples’ assembly) to challenge the enhancement of tax.
• The news about holding of regular mels at Patharughat invited the attention of JD Anderson, the Deputy Commissioner of Darrang District. To prevent such a meeting, Anderson took District Superintendent of Police JR Berington and his force to Patharughat on 27 January 1894.
• The next morning, Anderson sent Berington and his men with the tahsildar for attaching the property of a ryot who had been served a notice to pay tax. Berington returned in an hour and reported that he was accosted by some aggrieved peasants while doing his job, and that he fired his revolver into the ground to keep them from coming close.
• Shortly afterwards, a large number of ryots approached the rest-house where Anderson was camping. As they were unarmed, he met them in an open space within the rest-house complex and read out the orders of the government. He also told them holding mels was illegal and punishable. But the ryots refused to move unless their demands were met. Thereupon, Berington had pushed them to an open field nearby where a huge crowd was waiting. The crowd started hurling sticks, bamboos and clods of earth at the sepoys. Under orders of the DC, Berington and his men fired continuously on the assembled ryots.
• The official reports said 15 persons died and 37 were wounded, but the actual figures were much higher. As narrated in the Dolipuran, a ballad composed on the basis of folk memory to commemorate the Patharughat uprising, “Sat kuri raij mori thakil dat chelei pori” (140 peasants died in the revolt).
• The peasants of Patharughat were the makers of their own rebellion. They proved that they were conscious of the reality and capable of challenging the government. The age long village harmony of Assam facilitated the rise of a class of peasants that emerged as a potential threat to colonial government. Hence the collective action of the peasants of Assam was as significant as other peasant struggles of colonial India.
• Text : Referenced from content provided by Rabin Deka, Professor, Department of Sociology, Tezpur University, Assam.

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Issued by India

Issued on Jan 31, 2024

Issued for : Department of Posts is delighted to issue commemorative postage stamp on Bombay Sappers War Memorial and salutes the Group for their prowess in battle and in the development of the nation.

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

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 302350

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The Bombay Engineer Group, popularly known as ‘The Bombay Sappers’, is one of the three Groups of the Corps of Engineers. The origin of the Group can be traced back to a company of Pioneer Lascars raised in Bombay in 1777 as a part of the Bombay Presidency. However, according to the officially accepted records, the history of the Bombay Engineer Group dates back to 1820, when the Pioneer Lascars were re-organized into Sappers and Miners. Recognizing the services rendered by the Group during the First World War, the title ‘Royal’ was awarded to it in 1921.
• The Bombay Sappers and Miners earned their first Battle Honour, Beni-Boo-Ali, in Arabia in 1821 i.e. within a year of reorganizing. Since then, the Group has given an excellent account of itself with 34 Battle Honours and 25 Theatre Honours during the pre-independence era and three Battle Honours and six Theatre Honours, 10 COAS Unit Citations, two COAS Certificate of Appreciation, two VCOAS Unit Appreciation 50 GOC-in-C Unit Citations and one GOC-in-C Certificate of Appreciation after independence, besides six Governor Citations which are a testimony to the devotion and dedication of the gallant soldiers of the Group.
• The Group is accredited with the Victoria Cross awarded to 2Lt (later Lt Gen) PS Bhagat for the most conspicuous gallantry in the Middle East in World War II, the Param Vir Chakra awarded to 2Lt (later Maj) RR Rane for clearing of mine fields and road blocks in Rajouri sector during 1948 Indo-Pak War and the Ashok Chakra awarded to Nb Sub Gurnam Singh posthumously on 23 Sep 1973 for saving the lives of men under his command during a demonstration for visiting staff and student officers of the Defence Services Staff College. Thus, the Group has the distinction of winning the three highest awards for individual bravery – this is something unique in the annals of the Indian Army.
• The Bombay Sappers joined the club of a select few, when they received the Regimental Colours from Shri R Venkataraman, the then President of India, on 21 Feb 1990.
• Over the past two centuries, the Bombay Sappers have carved a special niche for themselves in the chronicles of the Indian Army. They have not only proved their prowess in battle, but have also utilised their military and technical skills in the development of the nation.
• The Bombay Sappers War Memorial proudly adorns the entrance to the Parade Ground in remembrance of the officers and men who laid down their lives during the First World War. The foundation was laid on 17^th Feb 1923 by Col BB Russel, DSO, RE, who was Commandant of the Centre from 1905-1909 and who had come specifically for this event.
• Unveiled by the Governor of Bombay on 10 Sep 1924, the Memorial was built entirely by men of the Corps and comprises a stone cenotaph with inscriptions in English, Urdu, Gurmukhi and Marathi.
• In Aug 1979, the base has been extended and stone satellites adorn four corners, each satellite is having four faces of marble on which new inscriptions can be etched, as it had long been desired to periodically update the inscription on the War Memorial so as to cover subsequent operation also. These four satellites have been ceremoniously fenced with an opening on each side to enable memorial services to be conducted.
• In 2023, ascending walls adorned with the names of the Bravehearts have been added, to pay tribute to the fallen comrades and commemorate a century of existence of this iconic memorial.
• The Bombay Sappers War Memorial is completing 100 years of its existence in 2024 and is a place of reverence over the years. Since 1984, the War Memorial is also used as a logo/symbol of the Bombay Sappers replacing the British Crown adopted during the raising.
• An inseparable part of The Bombay Sappers History and Legacy, the Memorial is central to all ceremonial and commemoration parades with a solemn memorial service preceding all other events and activities.
• Text : Referenced from content provided by Proponent.

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Issued by Bangladesh

Issued on Feb 12, 2023

Designer : Mr. Sumanto Kumar

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

No. of Stamp : 01 (One) Pcs

Color : Multicolour

Denomination of Stamp : Tk. 50/- (Fifty)

Size of Stamp : 50 mm x 30 mm

Perforation of Stamp : 12.5

Qnt of Stamps : 2,00,000 (Two Lacs) pcs

Process of Printing : Offset

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

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Issued by India

Issued on Aug 15, 2020

Issued for : Department of Posts is glad to issue a set of five Commemorative Postage Stamps and a Miniature Sheet on UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India-III. The stamps have been designed based on the photographs of the prize-winning entries.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure : Smt. Nenu Gupta. Based on the photographs of the prize-winning entries
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise (5)

Stamps Printed : 500000 each

Miniature sheets printed : 110000

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Department of Posts has been conducting Stamp Design competitions since 2015 to commemorate Independence Day, Republic Day and Children’s Day at the National level. Based on the prize-winning entries, stamps are designed and released to mark the occasion. This year too, Department of Posts conducted a nationwide Photography contest for Stamp Design, on the theme UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (Cultural). The first three winners are Ms Sanya Khandale, Ms Madhu Tripathi and Ms Poonam Amol Bhosale. Five consolation prize winners are Sr Jousse, Mr Saksham Saxena, Mr Hardik Kansara, Ms Arishna Kamran and Mr Atul Padia. There are 38 World Heritage Sites located in India. These include 30 Cultural sites, 7 Natural sites and 1 Mixed site.
• One of the prominent landmarks of the Historic City of Ahmadabad a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Sarkhej Roza is known for its rich history and reverence. The architecture of the complex is credited to Azam and Muazzam Khan; two Persian brothers who are buried in the tomb near Vasna, Ahmedabad. Like many monuments built during that period, the Sarkhej Roza fused both non-Indian and Indian principles of architecture. In its architecture, Sarkhej Roza is an example of the early Islamic architectural culture of the region, which fused Islamic stylistic influences from Persia with Indian Hindu and Jain features to form a composite Indo-Saracenic architectural site.
• The Church of Bom Jesus is a Roman Catholic basilica located in Goa, and is part of the Churches and Convents of Goa UNESCO World Heritage Site. The basilica holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. ‘Bom Jesus’ (literally, ‘Good (or Holy) Jesus’) is the name used for the Ecce Homo in the countries of Portuguese colonization. Construction work on the church began in 1594. The church was consecrated in May 1605 by the archbishop, Dom Fr. Aleixo de Menezes. This is one of the oldest churches in Goa and in India. The floor is of marble inlaid with precious stones. Apart from the elaborate gilded altars, the interior of the church is simple.
• The Qutb Minar, is a victory tower that forms part of the Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Qutubuddin Aibak, at that time a deputy of Muhammad of Ghor, but after his death, founder of the Delhi Sultanate, started construction of the Qutb Minar’s first storey in 1199. It has a height of 72.5 meters, making it the tallest minaret built of bricks in the world. The surface is elaborately decorated with inscriptions and geometric patterns. The tower has five superposed storeys. The lower three comprise fluted cylindrical shafts or columns of pale red sandstones, separated by flanges and by storied balconies. The fourth column is of marble, and is relatively plain. The fifth is of marble and sandstone. The whole tower contains a spiral staircase of 379 steps.
• Located in Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a famous UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for a group of Hindu and Jain temples, well known for their Nagara style symbolism. The Javari temple is one of the most prominent of all of these temples in the Khajuraho complex. It was built between 975 and 1100 A.D. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Vishnu. It has well-proportioned architecture, with a sanctum, vestibule, mandapa and portico, but without pradakshinapatha. It has Makara Torana (Capricorn Arch) and shikhara (top). It has three bands of carved sculptures on the outer wall. The entrance gate of sanctum has sculptures depicting nava-graha on the top. Along with nava-graha sculptures, sculpture of the Hindu deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva can also be seen.
• Group of Monuments at Pattadakal is a complex of 7^th and 8^th century AD Hindu and Jain temples in northern Karnataka. Located on the west bank of the Malaprabha River in Bagalakote district, this UNESCO World Heritage site is 14 miles (23 km) from Badami and about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Aihole, both of which are historically significant centres of Chalukya monuments. The Hindu temples are generally dedicated to Shiva, but elements of Vaishnavism and Shaktism theology and legends are also featured. The friezes in the Hindu temples display various Vedic and Puranic concepts, depict stories from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata Purana, as well as elements of older Hindu texts, such as the Panchatantra and the Kirātārjunīya. The Jain temple is only dedicated to a single Jina. A number of inscriptions in the old Kannada language have been found at the complex.
• Text : Shri Pallab Bose

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Issued by India

Issued on Aug 20, 2019

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a set of four Miniature Sheets on the theme “Indians in First World War” to commemorate the contribution of “Indians in the First World War”.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheets/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Shri Brahm Prakash (Based on the designs provided by Imperial War Museum, UK and USI, CAFHR, New Delhi)

Type : Miniature Sheets, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise (8), 1000 Paise (3), 1500 Paise (3) and 2500 Paise (1)

Stamps Printed : 500000 each

Miniature sheets printed (4 types) : 1.10 lakh each

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The First World War (1914-1918) was a watershed event in modern world history. The events of that conflict changed the social and political map of the world. Though a colony at the time, India actively supported the war effort in its bid to gain Dominion status and contributed immensely in terms of men and material. Indian soldiers served with credit and honour in numerous battlefields around the globe. By the end of the war nearly 14,00,000 Indians had served overseas at the cost of approximately 74,000 dead. They earned over 9,200 decorations for gallantry including 11 Victoria Crosses. These figures include the contribution of over 26,000 Imperial Service troops who were a part of the armies of the semi-autonomous Princely States or Indian States Forces as they were commonly known.
• MAJOR BATTLE THEATRES
  • Mesopotamia – In Mesopotamia, after initial setbacks to the designated Indian Expeditionary Force ‘D’, the series of operations which culminated in the capture of Baghdad completely transformed the military situation and produced political effects of far reaching significance. India’s share in the achievement of this important success consisted in providing over three-quarters of the force employed, over three-quarters of the river craft and the entire railway material and personnel, without which the operations would have been impossible. Of the 86 battalions composing the force at the time of the capture of Baghdad, India had contributed 73, and all but two of the 43 squadrons of cavalry. Three Indian soldiers were awarded the Victoria Cross for acts of supreme gallantry in Mesopotamia.
  • France and Belgium – Designated Indian Expeditionary Force ‘A’, the Indian Corps that served in France and Belgium from Sep 1914 consisted of two infantry and two cavalry divisions. 85,000 Indian soldiers under 1,500 officers, supported by 26,000 Indian non-combatants, served in the Indian Corps. Indian soldiers fought at the battles of Ypres, Festubert, Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle, Second Ypres, Cambrai and Loos, suffering some 34,252 casualties in the process.
  • Gallipoli – The object of the Gallipoli Campaign, from start to finish was to force the passage of the Dardanelles and get a fleet of British and French warships to Constantinople; hoping thereby to force the surrender of Turkey and bring about a speedy conclusion of the war in the Middle East. The Indian Expeditionary Force ‘G’ that served in the Dardanelles was not very large in number; yet it had a significant impact upon the course of the operations and no account of the campaign can ignore the contribution of the 14^th Sikhs in the Third Battle of Krithia or the 1/6th Gurkhas in the climactic Battle of Sari Bair.
• AIR WARRIORS
  • Lieutenant Indra Lal Roy was credited with shooting down eight German fighter aircraft in aerial combat; he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He is the only Indian pilot to get the decoration during World War I. He was killed in action in a dogfight against German Fokker D. VIIs aircraft over France on 22 July 1918. He was 19 years old.
  • Lieutenant Hardit Singh Malik was the first Indian to be commissioned as an officer into a combatant arm. He flew in No. 28 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (RFC), in France and served with distinction, ending the war with a German bullet in his leg, which he carried till the end. He became India’s Ambassador to France after independence.
  • Lieutenant SG Wellingkar volunteered and joined the Royal Flying Corps and got his wings in April/May 1917 after which he flew a number of combat sorties over France to blunt the German offensives in the summer of 1918. On 27 June, 1918 he was shot down over France and died on 30 June, 1918.
  • Lieutenant Erroll Suvo Chunder Sen was an Indian pilot who served in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War and was among the first Indian military aviators. His grandfather was the philosopher and social reformer Keshab Chandra Sen. He was assigned to No. 70 Squadron RFC, based at Poperinge in West Flanders, Belgium and equipped with the Sopwith Camel. While taking part in an offensive patrol, Sen crash-landed behind enemy lines and became a PoW. He was eventually repatriated to the U.K. on 14 December, 1918.
• INDIAN WAR MEMORIALS
  • India Gate – New Delhi. The foundation of India Gate was laid on 10 February 1921. Designed by Edwin Lutyens, the memorial was inaugurated on 12 February 1931, by Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy. Both sides of the arch are inscribed with INDIA, flanked by the dates MCMXIV (1914) and MCMXIX (1919). Below the word INDIA, is inscribed, in capital letters: ‘To the dead of the Indian Armies who fell honoured in France and Flanders, Mesopotamia and Persia, East Africa, Gallipoli and elsewhere in the Near and the Far-East …………’. Since the installation of the Amar Jawan Jyoti, in 1972, it has served as a national memorial to India’s fallen soldiers.
  • Teen Murti / Haifa Memorial – New Delhi. It is a memorial to honour the fallen of the Indian State Forces during World War One. The three lancers represent the constituent regiments of the 15^th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, viz., the Hyderabad, Mysore and Jodhpur Lancers, who won renown during the Palestine campaign. The charge of the Jodhpur Lancers at Haifa lives on its history as the only known instance of the capture of a fortified town by a cavalry action. This memorial has since been designated as the Indian Cavalry Memorial. In January, 2018 its name was changed from Teen Murti Memorial to Teen Murti Haifa Memorial to commemorate the capture of Haifa (now in Israel) by the Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers on 23 September, 1918.
  • Neuve Chapelle Memorial – France. The Memorial is dedicated to the memory of those Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in France and Belgium in the First World War and who have no known grave. It was inaugurated on 7 October 1927.
  • Chattri Memorial – Brighton, UK. – During the War many Indian soldiers wounded on the Western Front were hospitalised in towns along the south coast of England. One of the sites used was the Brighton Pavilion, which was converted into a temporary military hospital. 74 Indian soldiers died in Brighton’s military hospitals. The Chattri memorial was built by the people of Brighton to honour the Indian dead of the First World War and was unveiled in 1921.
  • Menin Gate Memorial – Ieper (Ypres), Belgium. Units of the Indian Army played a crucial role in the defence of the Ypres salient during the First and Second Battles of Ypres in October 1914 and April 1915. The memorial commemorates more than 400 Indian Servicemen who died here during the war.
  • The Indian Great War Military Memorial at Villers Guislain, France was unveiled by the Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Venkaiah Naidu on 10 November 2018. It commemorates the men of the Indian Armed Forces who fell on the Western Front during WW1. It is located near the battlefield where Lance Dafadar Gobind Singh won his Victoria Cross for his death defying valour on 1 December, 1917.
• SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES, 1919
  • Indian plenipotentiaries signed the peace treaties alongside representatives of other sovereign states on the basis of legal equality of status. Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner can be seen in the centre standing beside the right-hand pillar. For its contribution to the war effort, India gained independent representation at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, which established India’s presence in the international arena with far reaching consequences. As a signatory of the Treaty of Versailles, India was granted automatic entry to the League of Nations on its formation in 1920 and later became one of the founding member-states of the United Nations in 1945.
• Text : Based on the information provided by USI, CAFHR (United Service Institution of India, Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, New Delhi).

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Issued by India

Issued on Apr 13, 2019

Issued for : A memorial designed by architect Benjamin Polk was built at Jallianwala Bagh in the memory of the martyrs of this tragedy. At the centre of the memorial is a giant flame symbolising the sacrifice of the martyrs, as well as the freedom struggle that emerged from it. India Post salutes the martyrs and pays homage to them by bringing out a set of two commemorative postage stamps in this centenary year.

Credits :
Stamps/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Shri Kamleshwar Singh

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 & 2500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 500000 each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 110000

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• 13^th April, 2019 marks the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, when over one thousand innocent men, women and children were killed by Brigadier General Reginald Dyer, during a peaceful meeting at the Bagh. The horrific attack was the spark that lit the flame of the freedom struggle and united those determined to wrest India’s freedom from colonial rule.
• On 13^th April, 100 years ago (the day also marks the Punjabi harvest festival of Baisakhi) residents of Amritsar had gathered at the Bagh to convey their unhappiness against the arrest of Mahatma Gandhi, as well as that of local leaders, including Dr. Saif–ud–Din Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal. The leaders had been arrested for organising the very successful Satyagraha movement against the Rowlatt Act. There were other causes of unhappiness in Punjab, especially against the regime of intimidation unleashed by Sir Michael O’Dwyer, the Punjab Lieutenant Governor, who ruled with an iron hand. Inflation was high, an influenza epidemic had taken hundreds of lives and the forced recruitment of soldiers to fight in the World War, added to the miseries of the people.
• It was a Sunday and people had converged at the Jallianwala Bagh in large numbers. The Bagh was a barren, undulating piece of land of around 6.5 acres, very close to the Golden Temple. There was only one exit from the Bagh. Since it was Baisakhi, some visitors had also come from other districts for the festival, which also celebrates the establishment of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh.
• However, even though the meeting of thousands of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims together was peaceful, the British were unnerved by the numbers. There had already been violence in the city that year on the 10^th of April, when at least thirty Indians had been shot and killed by the British troops in Amritsar. Five Europeans had also died. On the morning of 13^th April, General Dyer had banned public meetings through cursory proclamations, but none of the announcements were made near the Bagh, nor, were people prevented by the police from gathering there. An aeroplane flew past to inform General Dyer when sufficient people had gathered, after which he marched in with his troops comprising of Baluchis and Gurkhas. He was careful not to take any British soldiers with him. He ordered firing on the crowd as soon as he entered and people were not given any warning nor was there any announcement asking them to disperse.
• Hundreds of Indians present died on the spot – and others when they tried to escape were unable to do so as General Dyer had blocked the only exit and had also placed armoured vehicles outside the Bagh with machine guns in case anyone managed to escape.
• Those who were trapped in the Bagh lay down to escape the bullets and others ran to try to scale the walls on the periphery of the Bagh. A large number of corpses piled up near the walls. People were shot even as they tried to flee. A number of people fell into the well, which did not have a wall encircling it, while trying to escape the bullets. Under his instructions, Dyer’s troops fired for ten minutes, a total of 1650 rounds. Many of the injured had multiple wounds – and as curfew set in shortly afterwards, hundreds slowly and agonisingly bled to death through the night. Those who managed to escape were denied medical help from the government and cruelly turned away from the civil hospital. Relatives were forced to take the corpses away either at night – or to collect them for mass burials or cremation the next day. A count of the casualties was not immediately done by the British: as a result the numbers officially recorded months later are lower than what the death toll may have actually been.
• Even a compilation of the data available today indicates that there would have been more than 500 dead, but is also known that many died later, often in secrecy so as not to attract retribution on their families by the British. Eyewitness accounts say that around thousand died and perhaps twice the number were injured.
• Despite the deaths and injuries of so many, the repressive regime under Sir Michael O’Dwyer did not cease the intimidation of the people. Perhaps the rulers realised that the people were subdued – but not subjugated. Martial Law was imposed all over Amritsar and in some other districts in Punjab, ensuring that the media could not report in detail any of the atrocities taking place. The people were not given any legal help either. The Martial Law orders, such as the infamous “crawling order” (where men were forced to crawl on their stomachs through a particular street in Amritsar) were meant to humiliate and demean the non-White population of Punjab still further.
• Ultimately, when the Martial Law was lifted, many leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore condemned the situation in Punjab and the massacre. It gave a rallying point to the fledging freedom struggle. Freedom fighters such as Udham Singh vowed to take revenge for the atrocities committed in 1919. Udham Singh shot and killed Sir Michael O’Dwyer at Caxton Hall in London on 13^th March 1940.
• Text : Based on information received from Ministry of Culture.

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Issued by India

Issued on Aug 15, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a miniature sheet and a set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps on Holiday Destinations in India based on the prize-winning entries.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma, based on selected entries received from participants

Type : Stamps, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 1500 Paise (2)

Stamps Printed : 5.0 Lakh each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 1.10 Lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Department of Posts has been conducting stamp design competition or photography competition on various themes since 2015 on the occasion of Republic Day, Independence Day and Children’s Day at national level. Based on the entries received from the participants, stamps are designed and released. Selected participants are given cash awards. This time, a nationwide photography competition on the theme “Holiday Destinations in India” was conducted on the occasion of Independence Day, 2018. Based on the selected entries, Stamps, Miniature Sheets, First Day Covers and Brochures have been designed. The first three winners of Photography Competition are Sh. Sandeep Nema, Sh. Maninder Singh Sodhi and Sh. Pranil Anil Borkar. Five consolation prize winners are Ms. Tina Verma, Sh. Prashant Singhal, Sh. Patel Narayan Dwarkadas, Sh. M. Vinoth Kumar, Sh. Dattaprasad V. Mantri.
• India is one of the most diverse and colorful countries in the world. It is home to numerous attractions, amenities and activities. Starting from the valleys of Kashmir to the tri-colored sea of Kanyakumari, tourist attractions abound. Therefore, people from various countries come to India every year to visit these historic sites and places of pilgrimage. During travel, a tourist must assimilate what nature has to offer, what relics of history teach and what life ultimately seeks to convey. Travelling helps the visitors get acquainted with the culture, customs, language and way of life of the local people. Besides, travel brings the much needed relaxation to our mind, body and soul.
• Based on the prize-winning entries of the instant competition, two stamps and a Miniature Sheet have been designed. The Miniature Sheet is designed with the photograph showing the Thar Desert and its integrated relationship with the local culture. The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. It is the world’s 18^th largest desert, and the world’s 9^th largest subtropical desert. The desert provides recreational value in terms of desert festivals organized every year. Rajasthan desert festivals are celebrated with great zest and zeal. This festival is held once a year during winters. Dressed in brilliantly hued costumes, the people of the desert dance and sing haunting ballads of valor, romance and tragedy. The fair has snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers. Camels play a stellar role in this festival, where the rich and colorful folk culture of Rajasthan comes alive. Desert safaris on camels have become increasingly popular around Jaisalmer. Domestic and international tourists frequent the desert seeking adventure on camels. During the safaris, tourists are able to view the fragile and beautiful ecosystem of the Thar Desert.
• The prize-winning photographs selected in this competition depict the geographical and cultural diversity of the country. One of the stamps is designed based on the winning photograph showing the City Palace of Udaipur, Rajasthan. Often referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’, the city of lakes Udaipur is located around azure water lakes and is hemmed in by lush green hills of Aravallis. Udaipur was founded in 1553 by Maharana Udai Singh II as the new capital of Mewar Kingdom. It is located in the fertile, circular Girwa Valley to the southwest of Nagda, which was the first capital of Mewar. The beautiful City Palace adds to the architectural grandeur of the city. The City Palace towers over Lake Pichola. The balconies, cupolas and towers of the palace give a panoramic view of the lake and the surrounding city. The main part of the palace is now preserved as a museum displaying artifacts.
• The other stamp depicts the Stone Chariot of Hampi of Karnataka which is also one of the most visited tourist destinations in India. Hampi, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in east-central Karnataka, India. It became the capital of the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire in the 14^th century. Hampi’s ruins are spread over 4,100 hectares (16 sq mi) and it has been described by UNESCO as an “austere, grandiose site” of more than 1,600 surviving remains of the last great Hindu kingdom in South India that includes “forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and others”. The “Stone Chariot”, as it is often referred is the flagship tourist attraction of Hampi. This is not a chariot, as the name suggests, rather a shrine built like a chariot. This stone shrine was built with many giant granite blocks. The joints are smartly hidden in the carvings and other decorative features that adorn the Stone Chariot.
• Other prize-winning photographs depicted in First Day Cover and Brochure also display the splendor of tourist destinations in India.
• Text : Based on information available on internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on Mar 9, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a se-tenant Commemorative Postage Stamps on Central Industrial Security Force.

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

Type : Se–tenant set of 2 Stamps, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise (2)

Stamps Printed : 600825, 500000

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• In the security matrix of the country today, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is firmly and significantly entrenched. The elemental qualities of valour, strength and dedication have sculpted the force since its inception and further chiseling over the years have honed it into a multi-faceted and multi-dimensional armed force capable of effortlessly adapting itself to a fluid security scenario. By fully dedicating itself towards guarding and protecting industrial units and critical assets, CISF has contributed in a large measure to the rapid and stable growth of the country.
• From a modest beginning of around 3000 personnel in 1969, the CISF has grown to 1,49,088 personnel, with the Government further raising its ceiling to 1,80,000 in 2017. The pan-India deployment of the Force across 336 units has within its ambit diversified areas like Atomic Energy and Space Installations, Sea-Ports, Steel Plants, Coal Fields, Hydro-Electric and Thermal Power Plants, Defence production units, Fertilizer and Chemical Industries, Note printing Press/Mints, Heritage Monuments/Museums (Taj Mahal & Red Fort etc.). Beside this, CISF presence in 59 International and major airports of the country, Delhi Metro Rail and important Government buildings is a critical security commitment. The Force also provides VIP Security through its elite and specialized Special Security Group (SSG) commandos. The change in the charter of duties and responsibilities in 2009 has also brought private sector establishments under the security cover of CISF.
• The geographical spread of the Force includes sensitive areas, affected by terrorism and left wing extremism, in Jammu & Kashmir, the North East and the States falling within the Red Corridor. Operational preparedness of a high degree has enabled CISF to effectively thwart attacks by inimical forces.
• Cutting edge technology is synonymous with CISF, and the Force continuously adapts itself in myriad ways to take on a rapidly changing security scenario with concomitant challenges. Innovativeness and out-of-box thinking run parallel to dedication and commitment in the Force. Therefore, modernization, in terms of equipment and security gadgets is never lost sight of and a highly specialized R & D cell monitors this 24×7.
• CISF lays great emphasis on training of its officers and men and in line with this commitment, 2017 has been declared as the ‘Year of Training’. In the pursuit of excellence, training methods, ideas and concepts are relentlessly reviewed, de-freezed and set into optimal and benefit-accruing systems and processes. This equips the force with critical security vision as it moves from strength to strength, and enters deeply divergent and challenging areas of responsibility.
• The ”Lost and Found” system has been of immense help to the rightful owners in reclaiming their lost articles at airports and Delhi Metro. During the year, unclaimed property worth Rs. 38.44 crore at airports was recovered. Out of this property worth Rs. 10.26 Crore was handed over to the rightful owners and remaining Rs. 28.18 Crore has been deposited with the airport operators. Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), in collaboration with United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), awarded National Industrial Security Academy (NISA) for “Excellence in Training” for exceptional work in the category of “Trainer/Faculty Development”. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) awarded CISF with “FICCI SMART POLICING AWARD” in the category of other Policing Initiatives for launching “Lost and Found Web Application” on the CISF official website for items and valuables left behind by the commuters at the 59 airports. The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) adjudged CISF “M-Power App” as the Best IT project amongst CAPFs in the category of empowering police with information technology. And for the fifth time, CISF won the “Best Marching Contingent” award in the Republic Day parade, 2017.
• CISF stands tall, strong and proud, protecting the nation and keeping its critical assets secure. The commitment and dedication of the Force remain steadfast. The confidence and trust that the Government has reposed on the Force, always acts as a motivator to achieve great heights of success. CISF will be celebrating its 50^th year i.e. Golden Jubilee from 10^th March, 2018.
• Text : Based on the information received from proponent.

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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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Issued by India

Issued on Oct 26, 2017

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to release a set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps between India and Russia on the theme Folk Dance featuring ‘Bhavai Dance’ of India and ‘Beryozka Dance’ of Russia.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure : Shri Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 2500 & 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.5 million each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 0.1 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Russia has been a longstanding and time-tested partner for India. Development of Indo-Russian relations have been a key pillar of India’s foreign policy. Since the signing of “Declaration on the India–Russia Strategic Partnership” in October 2000, Indo-Russian ties have acquired a qualitatively new character with enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas of the bilateral relationship including political, security, trade and economy, defence, science and technology, and culture. Under the Strategic Partnership, several institutionalized dialogue mechanisms operate at both political and official levels to ensure regular interaction and follow up on cooperation activities. There is regular high-level interaction between the two countries.
• India has longstanding and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia in the field of defence. Indo-Russian military technical cooperation has evolved from a buyer-seller framework to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems. BrahMos Missile System as well as the licensed production in India of SU-30 aircraft and T-90 tanks, are examples of such flagship cooperation. The two countries also hold exchanges and training exercises between their armed forces annually.
• Making the economic partnership a strong pillar of the bilateral partnership like other areas of cooperation between India and Russia is a key priority for both governments. Major items of export from India include pharmaceuticals, tea, coffee and tobacco, machinery and mechanical appliances, organic chemicals, and electrical machinery and equipment. Major items of import from Russia include pearls, precious and semi-precious stones & metals, nuclear power equipment, electrical machinery and equipment, mineral oil & products, iron & steels and optical, precision and surgical equipment. India and Russia are exploring various ways for enhancing bilateral trade.
• Russia is an important partner for India in the area of peaceful use of nuclear energy. It recognizes India as a country with advanced nuclear technology with an impeccable non-proliferation record. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is being built in India with Russian cooperation. Indo-Russian cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of outer space dates back to about four decades. 2015 marked the 40^th anniversary of the launch of India’s first satellite “Aryabhatt” on a Russian (then USSR) launch vehicle ‘C-1 Interkosmos’. In 2017, India and Russia signed a framework agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, including satellite launches, GLONASS navigation system, remote sensing and other special applications of outer space. Both sides are also exploring the possibility of cooperation in manned space flight.
• There is a strong tradition of Indian studies in Russia. Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre at the Embassy of India, Moscow (JNCC) maintains close cooperation with leading Russian institutions. There is a Mahatma Gandhi Chair on Indian Philosophy in the Institute of Philosophy, Moscow. About 20 Russian Institutions, including leading universities and schools, regularly teach Hindi to about 1500 Russian students. Apart from Hindi, languages such as Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Urdu, Sanskrit and Pali are taught in Russian Institutions. There is a strong interest among Russian people in Indian dance, music, yoga and Ayurveda. There are regular cultural initiatives to promote people-to-people contacts between India and Russia, including reciprocal Years of Culture.
• Indian Community in the Russian Federation is estimated at about 30,000. About 500 Indian businessmen reside in Russia out of which around 200 work in Moscow. It is estimated that about 300 registered Indian companies operate in Russia. There are approximately 4,500 Indian students enrolled in medical and technical institutions in the Russian Federation. Hindustani Samaj is the oldest Indian organization in Russia functioning since 1957.
• The Theme for India–Russia: Joint Issue is “Folk Dance”. The folk dance selected for depicting in Indian stamp is Bhavai and the folk dance selected for depicting in Russian stamp is Beryozka. The miniature sheet design has structures of Hawa Mahal from Jaipur, India and Saint Basil’s Cathedral from Moscow, Russia which shows the strong bond between the two great civilizations.
• Bhavai is a genre of folk dance popular in Rajasthan, India. The Dance form consists of veiled women dancers balancing up to seven or nine brass pitchers as they dance nimbly, pirouetting and then swaying with the soles of their feet perched on the top of a glass or on the edge of the sword. There is a sense of cutting edge suspense and nail biting acts in the dance. The accompaniment to the dance provided by the male performers singing melodious songs and playing a number of musical instruments, which include pakhawaj, dholak, jhanjhar, sarangi and harmonium. Traditionally, this genre of dance was performed by the female performers belonging to the Jat, Bhil, Raigar, Meena, Kumhar and Kalbelia communities of Rajasthan. It is assumed that this genre of dance has evolved from the exceptional balancing skills of the females of these communities developed because of carrying a number of pots of water on head over long distances in the desert.
• Beryozka round dance is one of the famous Russian folk dances. This is an ancient round social Slavonic ritual folk dance. Dancers hold hands and the distinctive element of the dance are simple steps in a circle and simultaneous squatting of all dancers on a certain beat of the music. A stage version is based on the folk dance. In this case, women perform it wearing pseudo-Russian stage outfits, styled on the Nizhny Novgorod girls (a jacket, a sarafan, a kokoshnik or a headscarf) their hair is braided. The dancers move in a circle, after each other, in single file, in two lines, rotating around each other or in pairs around common centers in the groups. The steps are short and frequent, creating the impression of slipping (like a swan swimming). The dancers hold handkerchiefs or branches of birch in their hands which symbolize farewell to the spring. The general mood of the dance is melancholic.
• Text : Based on the information received from Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Russia Post.

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