Issued by India

Issued on May 3, 2013

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation : Nenu Gupta

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paisa

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Nitin Bose

Born on Apr 26, 1897 at Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India [now Kolkata]

Died on Apr 14, 1986 at Calcutta, West Bengal, India

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 11, 2006

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on the legendary photographer Lala Deen Dayal.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Sankha Samanta
Cancellation : Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : Lala Deen Dayal

Born on 1844 at Sardhana, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

Died on Jul 5, 1910 at Mumbai, India

About : 

• The pioneer of photography in India, Lala Deen Dayal left a brilliant visual record of the lifestyle, events and monuments of late nineteenth century, displaying ingenuity and artistry, so that his photography were seen as expressions of fine arts, competing with traditional paintings and even replacing many other forms of printing art.
• Lala Deen Dayal was born at Sardhana near Meerut in 1844. After studying at Thomson’s Civil Engineering College at Roorkee, he became an estimator and draughtsman in the Department of Works in the Secretariat in Indore in 1866. Soon, he developed a keen interest in photography. He was encouraged by Sir Henry Daly, the Agent to the Governor General for Central India, who assigned him the task of photographing the royal visit of the Prince of Wales in 1875. Impressed by his talent, Sir Henry took Deen Dayal along with him on his tour of Bundelkhand. In 1882-83 Deen Dayal again toured Bundelkhand with Sir Lepel Griffin who was the Agent at that time. Eighty nine of his photographs of palaces, forts and temples in Gwalior, Khajuraho, Rewa and Sanchi were splendidly reproduced by the Autotype carbon process in Sir Lepel Griffin’s “Famous Monuments of Central India”. Lala Deen Dayal had the opportunity to photograph the Viceroy, Lord Dufferin and Lady Dufferin, and he was appointed as a photographer to His Excellency the Viceroy. Soon he resigned from Government service and became a full time photographer.
• Gradually his reputation grew, and the Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan appointed him as his court photographer and also conferred upon him the title of ‘Raja Musavir Jung’. In 1897, Lala Deen Dayal was granted the Royal Warrant appointing him Photographer to Her Imperial Majesty Queen Victoria.
• He set up studios in Indore, Secunderabad and Bombay. In 1893 his display of views of India received a special award at the World Colombian Exposition in Chicago. Subsequently he received several awards at photographic exhibitions held in Jaipur, Calcutta, London and Poona.
• He travelled far and wide in India, visited all the important places of interest and took more than 6000 photographs, which is supposed to be the largest collection ever held by any single photographer, amateur or professional in those times.
• He expired in Bombay on 5^th July 1905 at the age of 61.
• The true-to-life quality of Lala Deen Dayal’s photographs provide a rare pictorial glimpse into a bygone era, the picturesque opulence, genteel grandeur and gracious charm of 19^th century India, with whiskered nobility, hookah bearers, royal palaces, royal hunts, and parades, elephant carriages; golden moments’ captured on silver plates for posterity.
• Major part of his work now rests with the IGNCA, New Delhi.
• Text : Based on the material provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on May 3, 2005

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Narayan Meghaji Lokhande.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Sankha Samanta
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 500 Paisa

Print Quantity : 0.6 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : Narayan Meghaji Lokhande

Born on 1848 at Thane, Maharashtra, India

Died on 1897 at Mumbai, India

About : 

• A socially committed person who toiled ceaselessly to ameliorate the grievances of the industrial labour and downtrodden people was Shri Narayan Meghaji Lokhande. The facilities and amenities, which are enjoyed by the workers today, are all because of his sacrifice, devotion and hard work.
• Shri Narayan Meghaji Lokhande was born in Thane in 1848. Due to financial constraints, he was forced to work after completing his matriculation from Thane. He started his career in Railways and Postal Department before finally joining the Mandavi Textile Mill as a Store Keeper. Life was very tough in the mills in those days. Due to congested atmosphere and lack of cleanliness the workers were not capable of working for long hours and suffered ill-health. He campaigned for ensuring basic rights to the workers by visiting various mills and united them for fight against all forms of exploitation. His tireless efforts resulted into the establishment of the first labour union ‘Mill Hands Association’ in 1884. A Factory Labour Commission was established in 1890 and Narayan Meghaji Lokhande was appointed in this Commission under the Chairmanship of Mr. Leth Bridge. Due to his efforts the Factory Act of 1891 came into force from January 1892.
• Shri Narayan Meghaji Lokhande was a follower of Jyotirao Phule, the founder of ‘Satyashodhak Samaj’ in 1873. The philosophy and teachings of Jyotirao Phule made a lasting impact on Shri Lokhande and he pledged to devote his life for fighting the social ills and to improve the status of women and downtrodden.
• In fact, the ideals of social justice, equality of men and women and eradication of casteism always remained dear to him. He was also a supporter of cooperative education.
• As a Chief Editor of ‘Deenbandhu‘ he continued, his campaign on the issues dear to him. During the communal riots in Bombay in 1893, he exhorted the people to restore communal harmony and peace. He worked to ensure an atmosphere of positive dialogue between Hindus and Muslims. He also urged through the newspaper to maintain peace and amity. The British Government honoured him by conferring the title of ‘Rao Bahadur‘ for his outstanding efforts.
• In 1896, the epidemic of plague had created havoc in Bombay and its suburbans. Shri Narayan Meghaji Lokhande started Maratha Hospital at Byculla to provide medical aid to the poor and underprivileged. He continued to work fearlessly in the epidemic effected area. However, he got affected by plague and succumbed to it on 9^th February 1897 at age of 49.
• Shri Narayan Meghaji Lokhande was a dedicated social worker who left a lasting imprint on the Indian industrial labour scenario through his selfless and tireless works. He is rightly known as the Father of Indian Labour Movement.
• Text : Based on material given by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Jan 15, 1995

Issued for : The performing arts and its institutions have been an important subject for stamps. The Department of Posts is privileged to bring out a commemorative postage stamp on the fifty years of Prithvi Theatre.

Credits :
Stamp Design : S.E. Pawar
F.D.C. : Dinesh Banduni
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 200 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Indigenous Un W/M adhesive Gravure Coated Stamp Paper in Sheets 50.8 x 53.5 cms.

Number of stamps Printed : 1 Million

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press

About : 

• This is the Golden Jubilee year of the founding of Prithvi Theatres, the theatre company of Shri Prithviraj Kapoor.
• For sixteen years until 1960 Shri Prithviraj Kapoor, the doyen of Hindi theatre, accompanied by his troupe of about 150 actors, writers, stage craftsmen, musicians and technicians travelled to the farthest corners of India spreading the conviction he had in the power of theatre. It was his dream to build a small theatre of his own to encourage and nurture raw talent. A few years after his demise, the Shri Prithviraj Kapoor Memorial Trust was set up to continue the philanthropic work and development of theatre. In 1978, a theatre was built and inaugurated in memory of a lifetime dedicated by Shri Prithviraj Kapoor to the performing arts.
• Today, the Prithvi Theatre can claim to have built up an audience, a theatre movement and a reputation for itself. In celebration of fifty years of Prithvi Theatres, the Shri Prithviraj Kapoor Memorial Trust will be hosting and initiating several projects. Having already initiated the Children’s Theatre Workshops on an annual basis, Platform Performances every weekend, Actors Workshops once a week and recently having opened the Prithvi Gallery, a unique exhibition space for fine art, the Trust further plans to conduct long-term workshops, monthly seminars, film shows on theatre, open a Library and annual theatre festivals for children.

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Issued by India

Issued on Oct 26, 1989

Description of Designs : The stamp depicts the personality with the original building of Sharada Sadan in the background, designed at India Security Press, Nashik. The First Day Cover designed by Shri Sankha Samantha, shows the building of Sharada Sadan in its present form. The cancellation has been designed by Ms. Nenu Gupta.

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Single colour

Denomination : 60 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Indigenous un W/M P. G. Coated gummed stamp paper

Number Printed : 10,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed : India Security Press

Name : Ramabai Dongre

Born on Apr 23, 1858 at Canara district, Madras Presidency, British India [now in Karnataka]

Died on Apr 5, 1922 at Bombay Presidency, British India

About : 

• Pandita Ramabai, the youngest daughter of Anant Shastri, was a social reformer, a champion for the emancipation of women, and a pioneer in education. Left totally alone by the time she was 23, Ramabai acquired a great reputation as a Sanskrit scholar.
  
• Deeply impressed by her prowess, the Sanskrit scholars of Calcutta University conferred on her the titles of “Saraswati” and “Pandita“. She rebelled against the caste system and married a shudra advocate, but was widowed at 23, having a baby girl. In 1882, she established the Arya Mahila Samaj for the cause of women’s education in Pune and different parts of Western India. This led to the formation of the Sharda Sadan in 1889 – which school completes a hundred years this year – a school which blossomed into an umbrella organisation called Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission, 40 miles outside Pune.
  
• In 1896, during a severe famine Ramabai toured to villages of Maharashtra with a caravan of bullock carts and rescued thousands of out-caste children, child widows, orphans and other destitute women and brought them to the shelter of Mukti and Sharada Sadan. A learned women knowing seven languages, she also translated the Bible into her mother tongue – Marathi – from the original Hebrew and Greek. Her work continues today, a memorial to her life and path.
  
• Text : Courtesy Shri M.K. Williams, Principal of Mount Carmel School.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 23, 1978

Issued for : The Posts and Telegraphs Department feels privileged to issue a commemorative stamp on the 75^th year of First Powered Flight.

Design : The stamp depicts Wright Brothers with their aeroplane. The design is based on photographs by courtesy of International Communication Agency, New Delhi.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Buff and Bright Purple

Denomination : 100 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 X 13

Watermark : A. P. watermark

Number printed : 20,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing process : Photogravure

Designed and printed at : India Security Press

About : 

• On a cold and windy day 75 years ago, one of man’s oldest and boldest dreams – to be able to fly like a bird – became a reality.
• On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright flew their heavier-than-air flying machine from a desolate spit of land jutting out in the Atlantic Ocean, a place called Kitty Hawk, in North Carolina. The dream of centuries was realized when their flimsy plane, made of silk and wood, with Orville at the controls rose from the sandy ground and was airborne. The flight lasted exactly 12 seconds.
• This was the first time that a machine carrying a man raised itself by its own power into the air in full flight and sailed forward without reduction in speed.
• That day the two brothers flew their plane three more times, alternating piloting the flights. On that notable day, Wilbur had the fourth turn and made the longest distance. He flew for 59 seconds and covered 852 feet.
• In 1904 the Wright brothers rebuilt their machine with modifications and 105 landings were made. In 1905 they concentrated on improvements and refinements, not on radical changes. By 1907 the new Wright engine gave 50 per cent more power than the 1905 engine; its power was sufficient to carry two men, fuel, and a load of 100 pounds. The brothers continued to make and fly planes for many years and Wilbur established a world record for flight in September 1908 in France when he flew 52 miles and remained aloft one hour, 31 minutes and 25 seconds.
• The Wright brothers were two of five children of a bishop. The other three attended college while Wilbur (born 1867) and Orville (born 1871) preferred to tinker with bicycles and printing presses. It was not long before they were interested in the study of flying.
• And their success was not achieved overnight or by chance, nor was it a surprise to those few who knew of their careful preparation. In their work they had been helped beyond measure by the prior efforts of hundreds of other men. For example, the theory of aeronautics was an old one by 1896 when the Wright brothers first began to study it.
• In 1912, just as the airplane was beginning to make great advances, Wilbur died of typhoid. Orville worked on alone, and in 1913 won the Collier Trophy for a device to balance airplanes automatically. He died in 1948.

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Issued by India

Issued on Aug 22, 1977

Issued for : The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department feels proud to bring out a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of the birth centenary of this colourful personality.

Description of Design : The design of the stamp depicts the profile of Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy. Alongside is shown the dancing Shiva, the subject of a well-known study by Coomaraswamy.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 25 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Printed on unwatermarked adhesive stamp paper

Number printed : 30,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing process : Photogravure

Designed and printed at : India Security Press

Name : Ananda Kentish Muthu Coomaraswamy

Born on Aug 22, 1877 at Colombo, Sri Lanka

Died on Sep 9, 1947 at Needham, Massachusetts, United States

About : 

• Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy was born on August 22, 1877 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Sir Muthu Coomaraswamy and Elizabeth Clay Beeby. Ananda lost his father when he was only two years old and was brought up by his mother in England. In 1900 he graduated with first-class and honours from the London University. Later he was awarded a Doctorate of Science degree in Geology by the same University.
• Ananda Coomaraswamy worked as Director of Mineralogical Survey of Sri Lanka from 1903 to 1906. Discovery of thorianite, a cubical mineral of high specific gravity is a major contribution of Coomaraswamy during this period.
• Coomaraswamy‘s interests were not, however, confined to science. He was in particular inspired by the history and culture of India and travelled extensively in this country collecting some of the finest specimens of Indian paintings and drawings.
• In 1917, Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy joined the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, U.S.A. as Keeper for Indian Art and continued there till 1947.
• Coomaraswamy was a many-sided personality – a linguist, philosopher, art historian and critic. A man of unbounded energy, Coomaraswamy did pioneering work in discovering and documenting thousands of works of art. Among his major works are ‘Medieval Sinhalese Art‘, ‘The Arts and Crafts of India and Ceylon‘, ‘Essays in National Idealism‘, ‘The Dance of Shiva‘, ‘A New Approach to the Vedas‘ and ‘Catalogue of Indian Collections in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston‘ to mention only a few.
• Coomaraswamy died at Needham, Boston in U.S.A. on September 9, 1947.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 12, 1974

Issued for : The Indian P & T Department deems it a great privilege to bring out a commemorative stamp in honour of this great Italian scientist whose epoch-making invention has revolutionised the world of communications.

Description of Design : The design of the stamp is vertical and depicts the portrait of Marconi.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Grey

Denomination : Rs.2

Overall Size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing Size : 3.56 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Unwatermarked paper

Number Printed : 20,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Designed and Printed at : India Security Press

Name : Guglielmo Giovanni Maria Marconi

Born on Apr 25, 1874 at Palazzo Marescalchi, Bologna, Italy

Died on Jul 20, 1937 at Rome, Italy

About : 

• Guglielmo Marconi was born in the Italian town of Bologna on April 25, 1874. He had his early schooling in Bologna and Florence. Later he went to the technical school of Leghorn, where he studied Physics under Vincenzo Rosa and had the opportunity of investigating electromagnetic (or Hertzian) waves, following the earlier mathematical work of Maxwell and the experimental work of Hertz, Lodge and others.
• After conceiving the idea of using electro-magnetic waves for telegraphy, he carried out various experiments and finally in 1895 succeeded in transmitting signals over a distance of a few metres. Later, he was able to transmit Morse signals over distances of more than three kilo-metres. The following year he went to England to file his first patent in Wireless Telegraphy. A letter of introduction to William Preece, Engineer-in-Chief of the General Post Office, led to a series of demonstrations culminating in 1897 in a record transmission across 14 Kms. of the Bristol Channel.
• By the end of the century wireless communication had been adopted by the British and Italian Navies. Its value as a life saver was also quickly recognised by the merchant navy. Thanks to wireless, a number of lives were saved during the “Titanic” disaster in 1912.
• The year 1901 was a landmark in Marconi‘s life. Apart from the establishment of a wireless school (today’s Marconi College) and communicating over a distance of 319 Kms. between Isle of Wight and Lizard, he succeeded in his famous trans-Atlantic experiments conducted with the assistance of such noted persons as Dr. Fleming (inventor of the radio valve), George Kemp, P.W. Paget and others. He was able to receive signals sent from Poldhu Cornwall, across the Atlantic Ocean at St. John’s, New Foundland.
• Wireless soon became popular and was adapted to aeroplanes during the First World War. A further stride in wireless communications was made in 1919, when a Marconi engineer made the first east to west transatlantic telephony transmission, and the concept of broadcasting took shape at Marconi‘s Works in Chelmsford. In 1922, the British Broadcasting Company (which later became the British Broadcasting Corporation) was formed by Marconi‘s Works and five other manufacturers. In 1924, the British Government awarded a contract to Marconi for the formation of a wireless telecommunication network connecting countries in the British Empire, using shortwave directional transmission developed by him.
• In 1929, Marconi returned to Italy because of ill-health, but continued his work, as a result of which he installed the first microwave telephone link in 1932 and also demonstrated the principles of Radar in 1935. The Marconi EMI Ltd., in England had, in the meantime, introduced the world’s first high definition television service.
• The Nobel Prize for Physics awarded to Marconi in 1909 was one of the many honours he received during his life time. After the First World War during which he served in the Italian Army, he did intensive diplomatic work as a plenipotentiary delegate to the Paris Peace Conference. The great pioneer and inventor died in Rome on July 20, 1937. A fitting tribute was paid to him when wireless transmission all over the world was stopped for two minutes.

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Issued by India

Issued on Apr 30, 1971

Issued for : The Posts and Telegraphs Department is proud to celebrate the memory of this great sage of cinema by issuing a special commemorative stamp in his honour.

Description of Design : The design of the stamp is horizontal and depicts a portrait of Dadasaheb Phalke on the background of a film strip. A line drawing of cine camera is also shown.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Plum 

Denomination : 20 Paise

Overall Size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing Size : 3.56 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Printed on unwatermarked adhesive stamp paper

Number Printed : 30,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Designed and Printed at : India Security Press

Name : Dhundiraj Govind Phalke 

Born on Apr 30, 1870 at Tryambakeshwar, Bombay Presidency, British India

Died on Feb 16, 1944 at Nashik, Bombay, British India

About : 

• Dadasaheb Phalke has been described as ‘Chitrapat Maharishi‘ – the great sage of cinema. It is not known who conferred on him this honorific term. However, it seems to be most appropriate epithet to describe the great pioneer in film industry.
• Born at Trymbak, 29 kilometers from Nasik on April 30, 1870 and son of Dajishastri Phalke, some time Professor of Sanskrit in the Wilson College, Bombay, Phalke had inherited the best of habits and culture of a typical Hindu joint family of those days. Through tradition, Phalke was already well-versed in the great epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata in his childhood and also had studied Vedas, Upanishadas, Shastras and Puranas, which was the way of life in his family. It was this knowledge and learning – particularly in Puranas – which came handy at the time of his early mythological film productions.
• Phalke had his early education at Trymbak and thence at Bombay. After completing his school education, Phalke joined the J. J. School of Arts, Bombay in 1885.
• Due to certain family circumstances, Phalke had to move over to Baroda with his elder brother to continue his art studies at the famous Kalabhavan, Baroda. Professor Gajjar, the then Principal of Kalabhavan had a knack of spotting talent in his students. Accordingly, it is not surprising that Prof. Gajjar soon spotted Phalke. Prof. Gajjar gave complete charge of Kalabhavan’s photographic studio to Phalke. Phalke utilised the up-to-date library of Kalabhavan to the fullest extent.
• Through force of circumstances, Phalke had to make a living as a portrait photographer and also as a scene-painter for drama companies for some years.
• In 1903, he accepted a job in Government of India‘s Archaeological Department as a draughtsman and Photographer. Moreover, Phalke was interested in starting his halftone block making industry. In fact, he had received a Silver Medal in a Bombay exhibition for a half-tone block made out of Ravi Varma paintings.
• It was when Phalke opened his own business, ‘Phalke Engraving and Printing Works’, that he really came into his own element for the first time. He had received praise and appreciation for his half-tone engraving from such overseas trade journals as American Printer and British Printer. In 1909, he went to Germany to get up-to-date machinery for three-colour process for his fast expanding works.
• The viewing of films every day for analytical study, conducting experiments in film-making with imported miniature camera for long uncertain hours had adversely affected his eye-sight. However, he had a keen desire for establishing a new swadeshi film industry.
• Phalke‘s constant consideration of cinema as an art form can be compared with his European counterpart, the French pioneer, Georges Melies. Though Melies was not Phalke‘s contemporary, both have played the role of ‘Initiator of filmic art’. Moreover, their writings on this subject also do not show much gap of time. Phalke‘s understanding of the medium and its potentialities made it possible for him to handle the same freely for different purposes.
• Moreover, Phalke had a thorough knowledge as cameraman, art director and script writer of his films. He himself edited and processed them with the help of his wife. As regards script writing too, Phalke meticulously distinguished it from any literary form wherein language played an important role.
• It is creditable that no aspect of film culture has escaped Phalke‘s notice including film teaching. He considered the foundation of a film school necessary. In 1917, he mentioned in his writings that institutions imparting training in screenplay writing and action is absolutely necessary for the promotion of film industry.
• Phalke‘s role as “Initiator of the Cinematographic Art” stands unrivalled in the history of Indian cinema and combining in one personality the roles of the first film Director and the Father of the film industry.

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Issued by India

Issued on May 22, 1970

Issued for : Sher Shah Suri’s reign gave new vigour and trend to the Indian Postal system. The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department was happy to issue a special postage stamp honouring the memory of this great and popular ruler and one of the early pioneers of a nationwide postal service.

Description of Design : The design of the stamp is vertical and depicts a portrait of Sher Shah Suri.

Type : Block of 4 Stamps, Mint Condition

Colour : Jade Green

Denomination : 20 Paise

Overall Size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing Size : 3.56 x 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Printed on unwater–marked adhesive stamp paper

Number printed : 30,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Designed and Printed at : India Security Press

Name : Sher Shah Suri

Born on 1486 at Sasaram, Bihar, India 

Died on May 22, 1545 at Kalinjar Fort, Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh, India

About : 

• Sher Shah Suri was one of the few great and benevolent rulers India has seen. His grandfather, Ibrahim Khan Suri and his father Hasan Khan Suri migrated from Afghanistan to India during the reign of Sultan Bahlol Lodi (1451-1489). The exact date and place of birth of Sher Shah Suri is not known. He is believed to have been born at Parganah of Bajwarah about the year 1472 or at Narnaul or Hissar Firoza round about 1486, Farid Khan Suri, as he was called in his younger days lived at Sahasram (Modern Sasaram) in the Shahabad District in Bihar) which was the headquarters of his father’s ‘jagir’ consisting of the parganas of Sahasram and Khwaspur-Tanda.
• Young Farid Khan Suri was sent to Jaunpur to prosecute his studies. Being naturally intelligent and talented, he acquired a good knowledge of both Persian and Arabic languages and literature, and learnt by heart such works as the Gulistan, Bostan and Sikandar-namah.
• When he came to power, he celebrated his coronation in the city of Gaur (Bengal) in 1538 and declared his intention and determination to drive out the Mughals and roll back history. His sagacious politico-military leadership led him finally to the conquest of Delhi. With a grim determination and steadfastness of purpose, he finally defeated the Mughal Emperor, Humayun in 1540 at the battle of the Ganges of Bilgram better known as the Battle of Kanauj. Following this victory, he occupied Delhi and shifted his administrative headquarters there.
• Sher Shah Suri was an outstanding administrator. His tenure was very short barely extending over five years, But in this short period he gave evidence of a tolerant and dynamic personality who introduced several beneficial administrative reforms for his people including revenue reform, reform of the currency and tariff system, reorganisation of the Central and Provincial Governments, strengthening of the postal system and reorganisation of the Army.
• Sher Shah evinced great interest and care in the welfare of the neglected and exploited peasantry. Under his royal instructions, is revenue officers showed a tolerant and liberal outlook at the time of assessment of revenue.
• He introduced the new silver rupee-coin ‘Rupiya‘ based on a ratio of 40 copper-coin pieces (paisa) per rupee. On his earliest Bengal coins, he inscribed his name as ‘Sri Ser Sahi‘ (Shri Sher Shah) in both Devnagari and Persian scripts.
• Sher Shah was a great road-builder. The longest road build on his orders known as the Grand Trunk Road (Shahrah-i-Azim), (now known as National Highway-2) ran from Sonargaon in Bengal through Agra, Delhi and Lahore to the Indus. The other important roads build by him are from Agra to Burhanpur and on up to Mandu, from Agra to Jodhpur and Chitor, and from Lahore to Multan.
• It was during the reign of Sher Shah Suri that the foundation of a well-organised nation-wide postal system was laid. This was facilitated by the excellent improvement in means of communication between different parts of North India by the new trunk roads and the maintenance of a system of horse-posts, the security of which was ensured by a strong and efficient administration.
• Sher Shah Suri died on 22^nd May, 1545 due injuries by the explosion of a gun-powder magazine during his successful Kalinjar expedition. His solemn and magnificent mausoleum stands at Sasaram in the Shahabad District of Bihar. At the time of his death, the territories under his rule extended from Bengal in the East to the Punjab in the North-West and as far as the Vindhya hills in the south and the Karakoram range in the north.

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