Issued by India

Issued on Dec 31, 2025

Issued for : Department of Posts is delighted to release a Miniature Sheet consisting two stamps on 100 years of electrification in Indian Railways and appreciates its contribution in economic development and steadfast commitment in transforming transportation in India.

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

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 1000 Paise (2)

Miniature Sheets Printed : 215000

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The Indian Railways, a symbol of national integration and economic development, has played a pivotal role in transforming transportation in India. Among its many achievements, the adoption of electric traction stands as a testament to its forward-thinking approach and commitment to sustainability.
• The history of electric traction in India dates back to 1925 when the first electric train ran on the Harbour Line between Bombay V.T. (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) and Kurla. This marked the advent of a new era with cleaner and more efficient electric traction. The initial electrification was done using 1.5 kV DC system, demonstrating a leap in technology and modernization for the time.
• Following its initial success, the Indian Railways embarked on expanding its electrified network. Post-independence, the focus shifted towards standardizing the system to 25 kV AC, which became the preferred choice for electrification worldwide due to its economical and operational benefits. By the 1960s, this transition was in full swing, laying the foundation for widespread railway electrification across the country.
• Electric traction has been a cornerstone of India’s industrial and economic development. By enhancing the efficiency of rail transport, electric traction has facilitated the seamless movement of goods across the country, promoting industrial growth and improving connectivity between urban and rural regions.
• By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, electric traction has made a significant contribution to environmental sustainability. With the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and the integration of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, Indian Railways has become a frontrunner in eco-friendly transportation, helping to minimise the nation’s carbon footprint.
• In the last decade, Indian Railways has witnessed exponential growth in railway electrification. This growth aligns with the government’s vision to enhance energy efficiency, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Under accelerated electrification programs, Indian Railways has electrified over 44,000 route kilometers in the past 10 years, including more than 30,000 route kilometers in the last five years, and is progressing toward achieving 100% electrification of its broad-gauge network by 2025.
• As Indian Railways celebrates 100 years of electric traction, it also acknowledges the legacy of innovation and progress that has propelled it forward. The exponential growth of railway electrification is a reflection of India‘s ambition to modernize infrastructure and embrace sustainable practices.
• This milestone is not just a celebration of the past but also a vision for the future, where Indian Railways continues to lead the way in green transportation and nation-building.
• Text : Based on the content provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Feb 27, 2024

Issued for : AIRF is completing 100 years of its formation on 24.04.2024, and its General Council has decided to celebrate the Centenary Year in a befitting manner at New Delhi. The Department of Posts is delighted to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Centenary Year All India Railwaymen’s Federation.

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

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 304100

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Soon after the evolution of the Trade Union Movement in the world, several small unions started coming up in the Indian Railways during the British Regime. The basic reason behind formation of such unions was serious racial discrimination being meted out to the Indian Railway Workers by the Britishers in respect of pay-scales and other service conditions as Indian Workers were being granted lower pay-scales than the pay scales for the Europeans and Anglo-Indians for doing the same work.
• It was, therefore, felt necessary by the National leaders that, a National Trade Union Centre needs to be established to coordinate with different Railway Unions in the Indian Railways, which was in different shape during the British Era. Consequent upon this, the process of formation of an All India Body of the Railwaymen started from the year 1922, and finally “All India Railwaymen’s Federation” was established on 24.04.1924 as a National Centre of the Railway Unions functioning in different Railways in India.
• Railways being a strategic industry, it was very important for the freedom struggle to involve the Railwaymen in the agitations against the British Imperialism. Owing to several agitations and struggles by the Indian Railwaymen under the umbrella of AIRF, Railway Board started negotiations with AIRF from the year 1928, and half-yearly meetings were held between AIRF and Railway Board, which was then headed by the Chief Commissioner of Railways. As a result of these negotiations, there had been several achievements to the credit of AIRF and its affiliated unions to improve service conditions of the Railwaymen.
• During the Second World War, the inflation highly eroded real wages of the workers, as such AIRF agitated this issue, and consequently Dearness Allowance was introduced and paid to the employees for the first time.
• AIRF was bitterly opposed to racial discrimination by the Britishers and opposed the lower pay-scales being granted to the Indian Workers than the pay-scales of the Europeans and Anglo-Indians for doing the same job. It was the outcome of AIRF’s strong agitations and opposition that the First Pay Commission was formed by the British Government in the year 1946, which submitted its report in May 1947 and removed the said discrimination between the pay-scales of the Indian Workers and Anglo-Indians.
• AIRF was led by various Veteran National Leaders, like Late Shri Rai Sahib Chandrika Prasad as President AIRF (from 17.02.1925 to 18.12.1928), Late Shri Mukund Lal Sarkar as General Secretary AIRF (from 16.02.1925 to 25.11.1927), Late Shri V.V. Giri as General Secretary AIRF (from 26.11.1927 to 04.07.1937) and also as President AIRF (from 25.11.1944 to 05.05.1946), Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narain as President AIRF (from 07.06.1947 to 27.06.1953), Late Shri Priya Gupta as General Secretary AIRF (from 23.08.1968 to 29.05.1975) and also as President AIRF (from 07.07.1976 to 12.08.1979), Late Shri George Fernandes as President AIRF (from 20.10.1973 to 06.07.1976), Late Shri J.P. Chaubey as General Secretary AIRF (from 30.05.1975 to 03.09.2008), Late Shri Umraomal Purohit as President AIRF (from 31.08.1980 to 27.02.2014). Until 1947 AIRF was able to unify the entire Railway Trade Union Movement into one union on each Railway and one Federation for whole of the Indian Railways. It was after 1947 that the Congress Party floated its own Central Trade Union – Indian National Trade Union Congress and formed its Federation in the Indian Railways in the name of National Federation of Indian Railwaymen in the year 1948.
• During post-Independence era also, AIRF, being the largest organization of the Indian Railways, continued its sustained struggle for socio-economic upliftment of the Railwaymen by way of improvement in the Wages, Perks Allowance and Promotional Prospects etc., thereby improving service conditions of various categories of workers.
• AIRF has spearheaded three National Strikes of 1960, 1968 and 1974 (earlier two strikes – 1960 and 1968 of the Central Government Employees, and 1974 of the Railwaymen). Fortunately, all the three strikes were supported by the Great Statesman – Late Shri Atal Bihari Bajpayee. 1974 strike, headed by Shri George Fernandes, brought down the mighty Government of that time. So, AIRF has a history of struggles.
• The First Railway Workers Classification Tribunal was formed by the Ministry of Railways in the year 1979, that paved the way for upgradation of various categories of Technical Staff in Indian Railways from Unskilled to Semi-Skilled and Semi-Skilled to Skilled Workers. Subsequently, Cadre Restructuring Committees were formed in the years 1984, 1993, 2003 and 2013. These Cadre Restructuring Committees resulted in improvement in promotional avenues for almost all the categories of the Railwaymen, and AIRF has all along been a Member of these Cadre Restructuring Committees.
• For improvement in Minimum Wage and Pay-Scales and also to secure Minimum Wage, as per 15^th ILO Convention, Successive Pay Commissions were also formed by the Government, on the demand of AIRF, in the years 1946, 1957, 1970, 1983, 1994, 2006 and 2016.
• Text : Referenced from content provided by Proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Jul 26, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is proud to release a set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps between India and South Africa on the theme “125^th Year of Mahatma Gandhi’s Pietermaritzburg Station Incident & Birth Centenary of Nelson Mandela” depicting images of “Mahatma Gandhi” from India and “Nelson Mandela” from South Africa on these stamps.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet : Thea Clemons and Alan Ainslie from South African Post Office and Nenu Gupta from India Post.
First Day Cover/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Nenu Gupta

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 2500, 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 5.0 Lakh each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 1.2 Lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

Born on 18 Jul, 1918 at Mvezo, South Africa

Died on 5 Dec, 2013 at Houghton Estate, 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. Since then India–South Africa relations have been growing from strength to strength. A number of bilateral agreements have been concluded between the two countries since 1993 in several areas including economic and commercial cooperation, defence, culture, health, human settlements, public administration, science and technology and education. The year 2018 marks 25 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and South Africa, the 125^th year of the Pietermaritzburg railway station incident involving Mahatma Gandhi and the birth centenary of Nelson Mandela.
• Under the IBSA & BRICS initiatives, both countries interact regularly at all levels. 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. 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. The year 2014 marked 100 years of Gandhiji’s final departure to India from South Africa which date is commemorated annually as Pravasi Bhartiya Divas.
• Birth Centenary of Nelson Mandela:
  • Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18 July, 1918 in Mvezo, a village near Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He was an anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader and philanthropist, who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country’s first black Head of State and the first elected President in a fully representative democratic election. He served as the President of the African National Congress (ANC) party from 1991 to 1997.
  • In 1962, Mandela was arrested for conspiring to overthrow the state and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial. After serving 27 years of prison, he was released on 11 February, 1990, nine days after the unbanning of the ANC. He immersed himself in official talks to end white minority rule and in 1991, was elected ANC President. In 1993, Nelson Mandela and President F.W. de Klerk jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize. On 10 May, 1994 he was inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratically elected President.
  • Mandela stepped down in 1999 after one term as President. He continued to work with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund he set up in 1995 and established the Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Mandela Rhodes Foundation. He died at his home in Johannesburg on 5 December, 2013.
  • Nelson Mandela first visited India in 1990 when he was honoured with the “Bharat Ratna” soon after his release from imprisonment. In March 1997, Nelson Mandela and Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda signed the Red Fort Declaration on the India–South Africa Strategic Partnership during Mandela’s official visit to India. Nelson Mandela received the International Gandhi Peace Prize for social, economic and political transformation from Indian President K. R. Narayanan in 2001.
• Text : Based on the information received from Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

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Issued by India

Issued on Jul 26, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is proud to release a set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps between India and South Africa on the theme “125^th Year of Mahatma Gandhi’s Pietermaritzburg Station Incident & Birth Centenary of Nelson Mandela” depicting images of “Mahatma Gandhi” from India and “Nelson Mandela” from South Africa on these stamps.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet : Thea Clemons and Alan Ainslie from South African Post Office and Nenu Gupta from India Post.
First Day Cover/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Nenu Gupta

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 2500, 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 5.0 Lakh each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 1.2 Lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Born on 2 Oct, 1869 at Porbandar, Gujarat, India

Died on 30 Jan, 1948 at New Delhi, India

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. Since then India–South Africa relations have been growing from strength to strength. A number of bilateral agreements have been concluded between the two countries since 1993 in several areas including economic and commercial cooperation, defence, culture, health, human settlements, public administration, science and technology and education. The year 2018 marks 25 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and South Africa, the 125^th year of the Pietermaritzburg railway station incident involving Mahatma Gandhi and the birth centenary of Nelson Mandela.
• Under the IBSA & BRICS initiatives, both countries interact regularly at all levels. 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. 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. The year 2014 marked 100 years of Gandhiji’s final departure to India from South Africa which date is commemorated annually as Pravasi Bhartiya Divas.
• 125^th Year of Mahatma Gandhi’s Pietermaritzburg Station Incident:
  • Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October, 1869, at Porbandar, a small town in Gujarat, on the sea coast of Western India. He studied initially at an elementary school in Porbandar and then at primary and high schools in Rajkot. He sailed to England on 4 September, 1888 at the age of 18 and was enrolled in The Inner Temple. He passed his examinations and was called to Bar on 10 June, 1891. An offer from Dada Abdulla & Company to go to South Africa to instruct their consul in a lawsuit opened up a new chapter in his life. In South Africa, Gandhiji had a bitter experience of racial discrimination during his journey from Durban to Pretoria, where his presence was required in connection with the lawsuit.
  • On 7 June, 1893, Mahatma Gandhi was on his way to Pretoria sitting in the first class compartment of the train. When the train reached Pietermaritzburg Railway Station late in the evening, a white man objected to Gandhiji’s presence in a first-class carriage because of his colour and he was ordered to move to the van compartment, was unceremoniously turned out of the carriage at Pietermaritzburg Railway Station. It was a bitterly cold night as he went to an unlit waiting-room of the Station and pondered over what had happened and whether he should return to India or protest for his rights.
  • As fallout of the incident, Gandhiji made the momentous decision to stay on in South Africa and fight the racial discrimination against Indians there. From that hour, he decided that he will not accept injustice. Out of that struggle, emerged his unique version of nonviolent resistance, Satyagraha.
• Text : Based on the information received from Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 26, 2013

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to release a set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps on 150 years of these Railway Workshops.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC : Brahm Prakash
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 & 2000 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.51 million each (0.1 million for the proponent)

Miniature Sheet : 0.31 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About : 

• Railways started in India in 1853. With the widening of the railway network the railway workshops also came into prominence and became an integral part of the railway system.
• Department of Posts is issuing a set of two stamps and a miniature sheet to commemorate 150 years of Railway Workshops of Jamalpur and Kanchrapara.
• Jamalpur Railway Workshop :
  • Established on the 8^th February, 1862, Jamalpur Workshop has enjoyed the distinction of being the largest and the oldest locomotive repair workshop with the most diversified manufacturing activities of the Indian Railways. It has many firsts to its credit such as manufacture of a steam locomotive, a rolling mill among others.
  • With the gradual eclipse of steam traction on Indian Railways, steam locomotive activities, which had peaked to 600 Standard units per month in 1962-63, started declining in the late 60’s and finally the steam activities came to a complete end in August, 1992. The shop kept pace with both, the technology change and technology upgradation on Indian Railways and diversified its activities to the Overhauling and Repair of Diesel Locomotives, Overhauling and Repair of various types of Wagons, Manufacture and Overhauling of Rail mounted Diesel Hydraulic Break Down Cranes of 20T & 140 tonne capacity and Manufacture and Repair of various types of Tower Cars. Jamalpur workshop is also manufacturing various types of wagons for Indian Railways and CONCOR.
  • Considering national and global standards, the workshop obtained its ISO 9001:2000 certification on 28^th May, 2003 which now puts it at par with any other heavy engineering industry in the country dealing with Rolling stock manufacture and POH. To have a good environment and to have control over pollution, the workshop has taken many important steps.
• Kanchrapara Workshop :
  • This workshop was set up by the then Eastern Bengal Railway in the year 1863 at the present Loco Complex site in Kanchrapara.
  • This shop has displayed high level of flexibility by adapting to the changing environment and product-mix from time to time. From serving the Defence Department during World Wars to becoming a base workshop for POH of Electric Loco and EMU stock of Eastern and South Eastern Railways. This workshop also has had the privilege of turning out the first electric locomotive after Periodic Overhauling (POH) in 1965 and the first EMU motor coach was turned out after POH in the very same year.
  • This workshop has been in the forefront of undertaking major developmental works connected to all classes of Rolling Stocks of electric traction. Today it ranks first among Indian Railway Workshops in terms of number of Electric Multiple Unit coaches overhauled and second in terms of number of Electric Locomotives overhauled.
  • The workshop was accredited with ISO-9001:2000 certificate in September, 2005. With upgradation of ISO-9001 certification to the latest 2008 standard recently, the workshop is geared up to meet the ever changing requirements of Indian Railways and serve the nation with high quality output.
• Text : Based on the material furnished by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Aug 16, 2009

Issued for : The four Metro Heritage Stations of India stand as sentinels of history and progress. The Department of Posts is happy to issue a set of four commemorative stamps on Heritage Railway Stations of India.

Credits :
Stamp, FDC : Kamleshwar
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet with above four setenant stamps with thematic border, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise each

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million each

Printing Process : Wet–offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Indian Railways has stood as an emblem of progress spanning over 150 years. In this period, it catalyzed India’s industrialization and has emerged as a lifeline of India’s development. Some railway structures are monumental in nature representing significant developments in architecture and technology. On 15.08.1854 a train ran from Howrah to Panduah. This Heritage Run is commemorated by the release of a set of four stamps representing four Metro Heritage Railway Stations of India. The Miniature Sheet brings alive the old world charm of Railway Stations.
• A plan for railway in India was first put forward in 1832. In 1844, the Governor-General of India allowed private entrepreneurs to set up a rail system. The first train became operational on 22^nd December 1851 in Roorkee. On 16^th April 1853, the first passenger train ran between Bori Bunder, Bombay and Thane, covering 21 miles. The rail network then developed rapidly, radiating from Bombay, Madras, Calcutta and Delhi.
• Railways in India were patrons of a style that combined the prestige and relevance of train travel with imaginative innovations of engineering. They were designed with grandeur and dedicated to the customer for eternity. Also, the four Metro Stations – Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi were monumental in scale, striking architectural creations of the 19^th century, innovatively designed and incorporated local traditions and craftsmanship. They became a focal point of each city. With the coming of the Railways, there came up railway stations, Railway companies vied with each other to build imposing railway station buildings.
• In 1853, India‘s first train should have started from Howrah but the ship bringing the coaches sank in the river Hoogly and the steam locomotive was mis-dispatched to Australia. It opened in 1854 as the first in the East and amongst the first few stations in India, as a temporary tin shed, for just two pairs of trains, a small booking office and one line along a narrow platform. The first train of the East Indian Railway, driven by Joshua Greenbo, ran from Howrah to Hoogly on 15^th August, 1854, a distance of 24 miles. This led to India‘s 1^st commercial railway goods corridor from Howrah to Raniganj. The present day station became a necessity with increasing number of trains and opening of the Bengal Nagpur Railway from Howrah in 1900.
• From humble beginning for just 5 carriages of only one train, Howrah Station now is among the largest railway stations in the world, caters to all major cities in India, handles over a million passengers a day through 23 platforms and over 300 pairs of trains. From within its magnificent archaic structure, huge crowds and the olden day charm of this great monument make this a wonderful destination. It became and still remains a gateway to the entire eastern and northeastern India.
• The first imposing heritage station of the Railways came up with the Victoria Terminus, housing the office of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Company. This building was started in 1878 and it was completed and thrown open to the public on New Year’s day 1888. The ceilings are very high and exude a sense of space and freedom. The magnificent monument was designed by F.W. Stevens. The decorative carved detail was executed by native carvers from models supplied by Mr. Gomez and the students of the Bombay School of Art. The buildings are faced with a light buff coloured Coorla stone with dressings, cornices and moldings in Porbandar and Seoni stones. The total cost of the whole of the building was about Rs. 27 lakhs. All the work was entirely executed by indigenous labour. In quick succession came the large and imposing station buildings at Madras and Howrah. The land mark in Madras Central Station is the Victorian Clock Tower. The Howrah Station has a predominance of arches with a touch of contemporary British architecture and local trappings. Railways came to Delhi with the establishment of the imposing Old Delhi Railway Station constructed in 1867. The building has several Gothic features. The two storey building has deep verandas on both floors and though the original building is in a good condition many modifications and additions have since been done. Semi octagonal turrets rise from the corners of the building.
• Text : Based on text provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on May 12, 2009

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Life Line Express.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Wet–offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The Life Line Express, in partnership with Indian Railways, is the world’s first hospital on rails. The Life Line Express, one of the projects of Impact India Federation it comprises two operation theatres, post-operative recovery rooms, laboratory, X-ray facilities, an auditorium for workshops equipped with a TV and LCD projection facilities including a CCTV set-up connected to cameras in the main operation theatre, generators and other ancillary requirements. The coach with the second operation theatre can be detached from the rake and used as a stand-alone operation theatre. This feature is of prime importance for use in disaster management.
• The main function of the Life Line Express is to provide medical and surgical treatment to the disabled in rural and tribal areas.
• Each Life Line Express train project lasts for about 4 weeks in one location, but the work starts many weeks before the train arrives. Using Government’s health machinery, the message of free surgeries in conveyed to an average of one million people. Volunteers from villages are used to spread the message. State-run primary health centres screen around 25,000 people and select patients eligible for surgeries. Nearly 6,000 people are diagnosed on the train; local volunteers play a big role in getting patients to come to the train, and in running the over-all operation of boarding, lodging of the patients and their escorts.
• Between the two operation theatres there are five operating tables, where surgeries of a similar type are conducted simultaneously.
• The innovativeness of the Life Line Express project lies in the fact that “Impact India Foundation” has taken advantage of 75,000 kms of railway track.
• The train has completed 93 five-week, sponsored projects having medically served 450,000 persons in the remote, rural interiors of India where medical facilities are scarce all given totally free of cost with the ‘donated’ services of 75,000 surgeons and medical personnel from all over India and abroad, together with a large number of volunteers from India and abroad. The number of surgeries conducted are approximately 70,000.
• By making available quality surgical facilities of the Life Line Express to the poorest of the poor in the country; it raises the image of medical services for the rural poor.
• Text : As per the material provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 21, 2008

Issued for : India Post is proud to issue a commemorative postage stamp on T.V. Ramasubbaiyer.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Suresh Kumar
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Wet–offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Thazhuvia Ramasubbaiyer

Born on Oct 2, 1908 at Thazhuvia Mahadevar Koil village, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India

Died on Jul 21, 1984

About : 

• Shri T.V. Ramasubbaiyer, popularly known as T.V.R. was a freedom fighter, philanthropist and founder of popular daily newspaper Dinamalar whose impact on Tamil Nadu has been profound. Through his missionary zeal he has been able to bring to the fore the social issues of education, poverty and discrimination and through his principled and sustained effort has been able to bring about remarkable social, educational and policy transmissions. He was a man of indomitable spirit, uncanny sense of purpose and unwavering commitment to a cause.
  
• Born on 2^nd October 1908 at a place called Tazhuvlyamahatevar Kovil, in the erstwhile princely State of Travancore, Ramasubbaiyer even as a young man was a socially enlightened person who worked for the rights and upliftments of socially downtrodden classes and the poor. The present literacy rate of 95% in Kanyakumari is traced to Ramasubbaiyer. A Committee under him managed to construct 50 schools in the area with public and private support at a time when compulsory education was tottering in other areas of Travancore. It was his systematic and sustained campaign that led to the merger of Kanyakumari, a part of erstwhile Travancore State, with Tamil Nadu.
  
• The most significant contribution of T.V. Ramasubbaiyer has been the publication of the famous Tamil Daily Dinamalar which has over the years become the major voice of rural populace in Tamil Nadu. So great was the social commitment of TVR, that following the unconventional wisdom he started Dinamalar which literally means “Daily Flower”. The first edition was printed from Thiruvananthapuram on 6^th September 1951. The found editor TVR was a man of purpose and uncanny sense of direction. Despite warning from no less a person than Rajaji against starting a Daily Newspaper, he followed his instinct and with extreme perseverance, dedication, initial hiccups and financial hardships made it a success. TVR saw to it that his daily hits the stands and reaches the home without fail by 7 a.m. in the morning. His hard work, meticulous planning, native economic wisdom and dedication to the cause saw the rise in popularity of Dinamalar in Tamil Nadu daily life. Today Dinamalar stands as a colossus holding forth the role of an important fourth estate shaping the fortunes of Tamil Nadu.
  
• With creation of Tamil Nadu, he shifted the edition published from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of erstwhile Travancore princely state, to Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu in 1957. Buoyed by the initial success of the paper, he decided to start another edition of the paper from Tiruchirappalli in 1966. Another example of his unconventional wisdom was that most newspapers expanded from larger cities to smaller towns, Dinamalar expanded from small town to big cities. After consolidating the gains, editions from other centres were started like from Chennai in 1970, Madurai 1980, Erode 1984, Pondicherry 1991, Coimbatore 1992, Vellore 1993, Nagercoil 1996, Salem 2000.
  
• It was TVR’s vision to connect India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari by Rail link. His sustained campaign for long number of years through Dinamalar bore fruit finally in 1978 when Kanyakumari was linked by Rail to rest of India. Kanyakumari was brought on the tourist map of India and the economic and social benefits are for all to see.
  
• T.V. Ramasubbaiyer was a visionary, a social reformer, a prolific writer, a campaigner for social causes and a champion of downtrodden. He single-handedly shaped the course of events on large number of issues – be it education or civic facilities or social upliftment of the downtrodden. He was the voice of the voiceless and face of the faceless. He made Dinamalar an instrument for social, political and economic transformation. His contributions will always occupy a place of eminence in Tamil Nadu.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 19, 2005

Issued for : The Department of Posts is pleased to issue a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Integral Coach Factory.

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

Type : Stamp, Mint condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.8 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About : 

• Integral Coach Factory is the largest railway passenger coach manufacturing unit in Asia and India‘s premier coach building factory. Known for its state-of-the-art technology, it was started in Perambur, Chennai in Tamilnadu, in technical collaboration with Swiss Car & Elevator Manufacturing Corporation Ltd., Switzerland. Its construction commenced on March 1952. The first coach was flagged off by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, on 2^nd of October 1955.
• The first in India to produce all-steel, all-welded ‘Integral’ coaches with anti-telescopic end construction, the Integral Coach Factory combines the three major factors of modern passenger transport, viz. speed, comfort and safety.
• Initially, the Integral Coach Factory was designed to produce only Broad Gauge Shells, which were to be furnished by the Zonal Railways. Later, a separate Furnishing Division was set up in view of severe limitations of capacity in the railway workshops and also to take advantage of mass production techniques. Now the entire production is carried out indigenously.
• From modest beginning of just 35 shells in its first year of operation, the Integral Coach Factory is now capable of producing 1000 coaches per year. It manufactures more than 200 different types of coaches. They can be broadly classified into Self Propelled Coaches, Trailor Coaches, AC Coaches, Conventional Coaches and Special Coaches for prestigious trains like Palace on Wheels, Royal Orient Express, Deccan Odyssey etc. The Integral Coach Factory also bagged ISO 9001 for quality system and ISO 14001 for environment system. It has exported variety of coaches to about 13 Afro-Asian countries.
• Apart from introducing new types of coaches, the Integral Coach Factory has introduced many safety features to ensure a comfortable and safe journey for the passengers. Integral Coach Factory has the distinction of manufacturing the first stainless steel coach for Indian Railways. From design and development, to manufacturing and after-sales service of coaches, the Integral Coach Factory has achieved excellence.
• Text : Based on Material supplied by the Integral Coach Factory.

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 9, 2003

Issued for : The Department of Posts commemorates 100 years of the Kalka–Shimla Railway.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Designed by Kamleshwar Singh, based on material provided by proponents & from “Kalka Shimla Railway” by R.R. Bhandari, Secretary, Railway Board.
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Overall size : 2.9 x 3.91 cms.

Printing size : 2.9 x 3.91 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported unwatermark stamp paper

Print Quantity : 3 Million

Number of Stamps per sheet : 50

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Eagle Press Pvt. Ltd.

About : 

• 1816 saw the tract of land on which Shimla stands today, transferred to the East India Company under the Nepalese Peace Treaty, in return for the security provided by the Company to Sikkim. The British were quick to realise the potential of the environs as an alternative England in India. The bumpy 43-mile ride on ponies or in jampans (sedan-chairs) was, however, a discomfort to the Governors General who braved the track. Nonetheless, the idea of a railway line, came from a plea in the Delhi Gazette of November, 1847 to make this “the permanent seat of a Government, daily invigorated by a temperature adapted to refresh a European constitution, & keep the mental power in a state of health, beneficial both to rulers & the ruled”.
• The railway surveys of 1884-95 were followed by the signing of a contract in 1898 between the Secretary of State & the Delhi–Umbala Railway Company. On 9^th November, 1903, a 96 km railway line was launched in the limestone & shale rocks of the Shivalik Hills after three years of dedicated labour. Laid on sharp curves, the line passes over 864 bridges and through 102 tunnels using a narrow gauge of 2’6” in deference to hill formation and gradient.
• The journey from Kalka to Shimla is absolutely out of this world. The toy train provides a breath-taking view of the Kushalya river, the moment it enters the foothills. The serpentine splash of mercury keeps disappearing and reappearing with each bend for some time. Passage through the Koti tunnel makes you hunt for a coat and the air jabs you the moment you hit Jabli, 1240m above sea-level.
• Three picturesque loops near Taksal, Gumman and Dharampur provide photo-opportunity to an enthusiast. The ascent is steady. The train winds its way across green meadows, capsicum fields, re-roofed chalets and half-timbered houses. Each coach has chuckle under its wheels. About seven coaches form a train, to accommodate about 200 passengers per trip. The extremities of weather do not dislodge the determination of the 700 horse power B-B type diesel engines. They run to the call of duty in temperatures ranging from 0-45 Celsius and in snow which averages 2 feet during winters, and an annual rainfall of 200-250 cm. The average speed of 25-30 kmph ensures that “hurry” is replaced by a naturalness of demeanour.
• To taste the beauty of nature in exclusivity, travel in the Rail Motor Car which houses only 18. They are four and of them, three date to 1927, while the last dates to 1930. The original White & Pope petrol engines fitted by Drewry Car Company Ltd., London, were replaced during the Second World War as petrol was scarce. Americans supplied the diesel engines to the car, from General Motors, U.S.A.
• Nature unrolls its bounty as you travel. Gurgling brooks flowing down mountains, passing under the stone bridges; greenery & fragrances that live beyond photographs; clouds of mist gingerly touching you. The train meanders through Kumarchatti, then enters the Barog tunnel (1144 metres long) which crosses the Panchmunda ridge about 900 feet below the road. At Barog, it is mealtime on the morning trip. Though the English firm of “Spencers” which built the restaurant at Barog is no longer there, the hospitality continues to live.
• From Barog to Kandaghat the train runs downhill, past beautiful and quaint retreats of Solan and Saloghra. The final climb begins at Kandaghat. Gradually, solemn forests of deodars and pines replace the meadows. At Shogi, a heart-warming view of the Chail Valley brings numerous anecdotes associated with a Prince from Punjab. Banished from England society at Shimla, he built for himself a palace at Chail, a nearby resort.
• Past Taradevi, the railway takes you under Prospect Hill to Jutogh, winding its way like a naughty current of air teasing you, till it pauses at Summer Hill. Finally, under the Inverarm Hill, you emerge like a happy child at Shimla.
• Text : Sandeep Silas, Director (Information & Publicity), Railway Board.

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