Issued by India

Issued on Mar 2, 2006

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : Malayapuram Singaravelu Chettiar

Born on Feb 18, 1860 at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Died on Feb 11, 1946 at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

About : 

• Shri M. Singaravelar was a freedom fighter, a lawyer, labour union leader and the first member of the Corporation of Madras.
• He was born in a wealthy family, the third son of Venkatachalam Chetty and Valliammai on 18^th February 1860. He had his schooling from Hindu High School at Triplicane and graduated from the Presidency College. He then took a degree in law and practiced as a lawyer at the Madras High Court. It was the time when he met the great poet Bharathiar, V. Sakkarai Chettiar, V.O. Chidambaram Pillai as well as some revolutionary Congress leaders. Inspired by the news of the Russian Revolution of 1905 and the working class struggle in Bombay in 1908, he was drawn to the nationalist movement and fought for the betterment of the conditions of the Indian working class. He worked tirelessly for the unity and welfare of the working class.
• Singaravelar was instrumental in spreading the communist movement in India. Although he worked as a member of the Congress Party, after 1921 he dedicated himself to the establishment of the communist movement. Along with Vi. Kalyanasundaranar, a veteran trade unionist and congressman, he actively associated in the formation of Madras Labour Union.

The post M. Singaravelar appeared first on iStampGallery.

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.

The post Narayan Meghaji Lokhande appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Mar 23, 2000

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue this stamp to honour the memory of Sri Basawon Sinha.

Credits :
FDC : Based on material supplied by sponsors.
Stamp : Sankha Samanta
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 300 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.90 cms.

Printing size : 2.55 x 3.55 cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

Name : Basawon Singh

Born on Mar 23, 1909 at Jamalpur (Subhai), Hajipur, Bihar, India

Died on Apr 7, 1989

About : 

• Basawon Sinha (1909-1989) worked in the forefront of the freedom movement in Bihar and after India attained Independence, he continued to work for the emancipation and upliftment of weaker section of society.
  
• Born in Jamalpur near Vaishali, he came under the influence of revolutionary organisations like the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army at an early age. His name figured in the major operations of the Revolutionary movement. He had to go underground after the Lahore conspiracy case, and was co-accused in the Bhusawal, Kakori, Teerhat and Deluaha cases. His contemporary revolutionaries included Yogendra Shukla, Chandrasekhar Azad and Kesav Chandra Chakravarty. He spent a total of more than 16 years behind bars, on different occasions and for different charges.
  
• In 1936, he joined the Congress Socialist Party and started trade union work. He succeeded in organising workers in coal fields, sugar mills, mica-mines, railways of Bihar and cotton and jute mills. Later these unions affiliated to Hind Mazdoor Sabha. At the time of the Second World War, he was the first to be arrested in Bihar under the Defence of India Ordinance in 1940, and was released after 18 months. He was active in the Quit India Movement also, operating from underground. He mobilised support for the movement from Afghanistan and brought fire arms and ammunition from that country.
  
• In Independent India he was one of the architects of the Socialist Party, after its break with the Congress. He also founded the Hind Mazdoor Sabha. He was the leader of the Opposition during 1952-62 in Bihar and later, in 1967, became the Minister of Labour, Planning and Industry. He was a prominent leader of the Janata Party and also a known sympathiser of the Nepali Congress Movement. He passed away on 7^th April 1989.
  
• Text : Based on material supplied by sponsors.

The post Basawon Sinha appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Feb 17, 2000

Issued for : The Department of Posts issues this set of three commemorative postage stamps to pay homage to outstanding contributions in the socio-political arena by some great leaders : Shri Balwantrai Mehta, Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab and Arun Kumar Chanda whose birth centenary celebrations are being observed.

Credits :
Stamp design : Based on materials furnished by sponsors.
FDC : Sankha Samanta
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 300 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.90 Cms.

Printing size : 2.55 x 3.60 Cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

Name : Arun Kumar Chanda

Born on Feb 17, 1899 at Silchar, Assam, India

Died on 1947

About : 

• Arun Kumar Chanda (1899-1947), born at Silchar on 17.2.1899 played a major role in the National Movement attracting the masses into the struggle for freedom. He made profound contribution in the area of social reform and education. He was instrumental in the founding of the Guru Charan College of Silchar in 1935, of the which he became the Honorary Principal. He worked for enhancing the social status of the weaker sections of the society. He was also involved in trade union activities and gave leadership to the Postal and Railway Mail Service Union, both at the district and national levels. He was elected the first President of the Provincial Trade Union Congress. He was elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly in 1937 as well to the Indian Legislative Assembly in 1945. He was also an accomplished writer, formulating public opinion through the Bengali Weekly Saptak.
• Text : Based on Dictionary of National Biography edited by S.P. Sen and materials furnished by sponsors.

The post Arun Kumar Chanda appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Jul 16, 1998

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative stamp on Aruna Asaf Ali.

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

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Single Colour

Denomination : 300 Paise

Overall Size : 3.91 x 2.90 Cms.

Printing Size : 3.91 x 2.90 Cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated stamp Paper in sheets 50.8 x 53.5 cms.

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : Aruna Ganguly

Born on Jul 16, 1909 at Kalka, Punjab, British India

Died on Jul 29, 1996 at New Delhi, India

About : 

• Aruna Asaf Ali was born in 1909 at Kalka in Haryana, in a Bengali family of distinguished Brahmo-samaj lineage. She married Asaf Ali, a prominent lawyer of Delhi against convention. Very active in the National struggle for independence, she participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930’s and went to jail. In 1941, when Gandhiji started individual satyagraha against British war effort, she courted arrest.
• The Quit India Movement, 1942, was a turning point in her life. Following the arrest of all prominent Congress leaders, Aruna went underground and sought to build up an underground centre to guide the movement. She toured Calcutta, Bombay and Delhi evading police and made heroic efforts to re-group the forces after the collapse of the movement in 1943. During this period she became a symbol of spirit of the youth of the country. She remained underground till 1946, when the warrant of arrest against her was withdrawn.
• Aruna was elected President of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee in 1947. However, in 1948 she joined the Socialist group and took an active interest in the trade union movement. In 1955 this group merged with Communist Party of India and she became a member of its Central Committee and a Vice President of the All India Trade Union Congress. In 1958 she left the Communist Party of India and was elected Delhi‘s first Mayor. She re-joined the Congress party in 1964 but ceased to play any active part in politics.
• Aruna Asaf Ali, selfless, sensitive and emotional, charming in her manners, radical in her views, belonged to the heroic age of India’s freedom movement. She could not adjust herself with political realities when that heroic age was over and finally chose to live in retirement in New Delhi, till her death on 29^th July, 1996. She was awarded the Lenin prize for peace in 1975 and the Jawahar Lal Nehru award for International understanding for 1991.

The post Aruna Asaf Ali appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Jul 11, 1997

Issued for : Department of Posts is issuing this commemorative postage stamp to mark the birth centenary of Shri Sibnath Banerjee.

Credits :
Stamp, F.D.C. : Based on material furnished by Sibnath Banerjee Centenary Committee.

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Two

Denomination : 200 Paise

Overall size : 3.90 x 2.90 Cms.

Printing size : 3.50 x 2.40 Cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo–offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd., Kanpur

Name : Sibnath Banerjee

Born on Jul 11, 1897 at Brahman Rangdia, Khulna district, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Bangladesh]

Died on Feb 16, 1932

About : 

• Sibnath Banerjee, a doyen of Trade Union movement in India, committed himself whole-heartedly to the service of the nation and the Indian people. Born on 11 July, 1897 in the village Brahman Rangdia in Khulna District now in Bangladesh, he first got involved in anti-partition movement in Bengal at the age of eight. He directly joined the non-cooperation movement in 1920 while still a student of M.Sc. in Calcutta University. In 1921, he moved to Indore to serve as a teacher in a high school but gave up the profession, again to participate in the political movement.
• In 1922 he became a Minister of the free Government of India in Afghanistan led by Raja Mahendra Pratap. Between 1925 and 1929 he organised trade Union workers in different industries to voice their demands and after the successful culmination of Railwaymen’s strike in 1929, he was imprisoned in Dacca jail and implicated in Meerut Conspiracy case. In 1932, he was elected General Secretary of AITUC and five years later he was elected President of AITUC. He was elected to the Bengal Assembly from the labour constituency of Howrah in 1937 and remained a Member till 1952.
• He suffered imprisonment on a number of occasions during the Quit India movement and more than a decade of life was spent behind bars as a consequence of his participation in the national movement.
• Besides his leadership of the trade union movement he pioneered workers cooperative and led the demand for rehabilitation of leprosy patients and organised other useful social services like eye donation campaign. His wide ranging social activities and specially the leadership of the industrial workers endeared Sibnath Banerjee to many national leaders including Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Dr. B. C. Roy, Dilip Roy & Dr. Suniti Kr. Chatterjee. Politically he was close to Jayaprakash Narayan, Narendra Dev, Achut Patwardhan & Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia.
• Shri Sibnath Banerjee was the founder of many movements and organisations like Congress Socialist Party, AITUC, Hind Mazdoor Sabha. In 1978, he participated in the Marichjhapi movement in South 24 Parganas for the settlement of refugees displaced from Dandakaranya. After retiring from trade Union activities he devoted himself to social reconstruction programmes and he founded Workers Education Trust. The cause of the working class and interest of the under privileged remained dear to Sibnath Banerjee throughout his life. He passed away on 16 February, 1932.
• Text : Based on material furnished by Sibnath Banerjee Centenary Committee.

The post Sibnath Banerjee appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Oct 30, 1995

Credits :
Stamp : ISP Nasik
FDC : Sankha Samant
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Single Colour

Denomination : 100 Paise

Overall size : 4.06 x 2.73 Cms.

Printing size : 3.71 x 2.38 Cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Harrison & Sons un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated Stamp Paper in reels 47 cms. width

Number of Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

Name : Pasumpon Ukkirapandi Muthuramalinga Thevar

Born on Oct 30, 1908 at Pasumpon, Ramanathapuram district, Madras Presidency, British India [now in Tamil Nadu, India]

Died on Oct 30, 1963 at Tirumangalam, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India

About : 

• Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar was born in Pasumpon Village, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu on 30.10.1908. His parents were Ukkirapandia Thevar and Indirani. Thevar studied upto Secondary School. He loved horse riding, shooting and martial arts.
• Known for his integrity, scholarship and eloquence at his maiden speech in 1933 at the Vivekananda Library at Sayalgudi, Thevar spoke for three hours before a spellbound audience.
• In 1934, the British Government promulgated the Criminal Tribe Act, thereby branding ‘Mukkulathor‘ as a Criminal Tribe. Thevar opposed this and because of his relentless efforts the C.T. Act was abolished in May, 1948.
• In the General Elections held in 1937 Thevar contested on a Congress ticket against the Rajah of Ramanathapuram representing the Justice Party, and won.
• To mitigate the plight and the sufferings of the peasants, Thevar established the “Agriculturist Association” and through it he fought to abolish the Zamindari System. A Committee was formed as a result of his efforts under the Chairmanship of Sri Prakasam, and culminated in the ‘Zamindari Abolition Act’.
• A devout follower of Gandhiji, Thevar worked for Gandhian ideals of using Khadi and promoted prohibition and removal of untouchability. Thevar led the historic entry of Harijans into the Meenakshi Temple, Madurai.
• Thevar got elected unopposed from Muthukulathoor Constituency in the Legislative Assembly elections held in 1946. His association with Netaji Subash Chandra Bose brought down the wrath of the British Government on him. When Netaji formed the Forward Bloc in Congress Party he joined him to found the Forward Bloc in Tamil Nadu. In 1952, Thevar contested successfully both from Madras Legislative Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies.
• Thevar devoted his entire life to the upliftment of the downtrodden, be they peasants, industrial workers or untouchables. His career was marked by his nationalism, spiritual discipline, courage and compassion. He died at Madurai on 30^th October, 1963.

The post P.M. Thevar appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on May 1, 1995

Issued for : The Department of Posts is privileged to issue a postage stamp in memory of R.S. Ruikar.

Credits :
Stamp : India Security Press, Nasik
FDC : Ruikar Birth Centenary Celebration Committee, Nagpur
Cancellation : Smt. Alka Sharma, Artist, Dept. of Posts.

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Single Colour

Denomination : 100 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 47 cms.

Number of Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press

Name : Ramchandra Sakharam Ruikar

Born on Jan 8, 1895 at Rui, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India

Died on 

About : 

• Ramchandra Sakharam Ruikar, one of the pioneers of the labour movement in India, was born on 8 January, 1895 in the village of Rui, District Kolhapur, Maharashtra.
• Having received the benefit of traditional instruction in his family during the early years of his childhood he completed school in Kolhapur and college from Pune and Nagpur, specializing in history and economics for his Masters degree. With an eye on the legal profession he took his LLB from Allahabad University in 1920. But the political ferment in the country against foreign rule had already begun to make a deep impression upon his mind. He chose Nagpur for his legal practice and political work.
• Although a nationalist, Ruikar found in the Trade Union movement not only ample scope for his legal acumen but also the fulfilment of his aspirations in the fight for the upliftment of the downtrodden workers. In 1927 he established the Nagpur Textile Union which was the first to be registered under the Trade Unions Act, 1926 in the then Central Provinces and Berar. He went on to form the textile workers federation and represent them in various committees formed by the Government, established the union of coal mine workers in Chhindwara and Chandrapur districts and the union of manganese mine workers in Mansar and Kandri in Ramtek Tehsil as well as organised many other bodies of workers who received their just rights owing to his perseverance and inspired leadership. He was twice elected the President of All India Trade Union Congress, the only central labour organisation at that time.
• In the course of long and dedicated struggle for emancipation of the workers and participation in the freedom struggle, Ruikar was imprisoned on several occasions, notably after his arrest in connection with the strike of GIP Railways employees in 1930, Model Mill workers strike at Nagpur in 1932, after the fiery speech delivered in the conference of All India Trade Union Congress at Calcutta in 1933 supporting the resolution on freedom for the country, and for his role in the Non-Cooperation and Quit India Movements.
• A powerful orator and a man of indomitable spirit, Ruikar also made his mark in the political field. With the Congress till 1938, he later joined the Forward Bloc under the leadership of Netaji and rose to be its President. In 1946 he was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly in the then Central Provinces and Berar, and was instrumental in the enactment of labour legislation of far reaching import.
• Text : Ruikar Birth Centenary Celebration Committee & Dictionary of National Biography.

The post Ramchandra Sakharam Ruikar appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Jun 5, 1980

Issued for : The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is privileged to commemorate the father of the Trade Union movement in India by issuing a special postage stamp.

Description of Designs : The stamp and the first day cover depict the portrait of the Shri N. M. Joshi.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Carmine

Denomination : 30 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Printed on water–marked adhesive stamp paper

Number printed : 20,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing process : Photogravure

Designed and Printed at : India Security Press

Name : Narayan Malhar Joshi

Born on Jun 5, 1879 at Goregaon, Kolaba district, Maharashtra, India

Died on May 30, 1955 at Bombay, Maharashtra, India

About : 

• Narayan Malhar Joshi was born on 5 June 1879 at Goregaon in the Kolaba district of Maharashtra. The family originally belonged to Rayari village in Pune district but had migrated to Goregaon (Kolaba). After his primary education in Goregaon and secondary education in Pune, Narayan Joshi graduated from the Deccan College, Pune in 1901. After his graduation, he worked as a teacher in the schools at Ahmednagar, Bombay, Pune and Ratnagiri till about 1909.
• His zeal for public work led him to join the Servants of India Society in 1909. In 1911, he started the Social Service League and was intimately associated with its working till 1955. Gradually he started taking interest in labour problems and started a number of welfare centres, night schools, medical centres and industrial classes in labour areas. He started the All India Trade Union Congress in 1921 and worked as its Secretary till 1929. Disenchanted with the strikes in Bombay in 1928-29, promoted by the certain elements in the AITUC, he left the organisation and started the Trade Union Federation.
• From 1921 to 1947, he was an elected member of the Central Legislative Assembly. He was the prime mover behind several enactments on labour welfare; successive amendments of the Factory Act of 1881, Workmen’s Compensation Act (1924), Indian Trade Union Act (1926), Payment of Wages Act (1936), Employment of Children Act (1938), etc. He represented Indian Labour, at the behest of the Government of India, at the first International Labour Conference at Washington in 1919. He was a member of the Royal Commission on Indian Labour (1929-30). Between 1922 and 1948, he frequently represented Indian Labour at at the International Labour Organisation Conferences. He was Chairman of the Labour Sub-Committee of the Indian National Planning Commission (1937) headed by Jawaharlal Nehru. He was the President of the Railwaymen’s Federation in 1929. He was a prolific writer and journalist. He managed the Dnanaprakash, the Marathi daily of the Servants of India Society. In 1921 he started a Marathi weekly, the Kamgar Samachar. He passed away on 30 May 1955.

The post Narayan Malhar Joshi appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by United States of America

Issued on Jan 7, 1950

The Historic Stamp :
The 3¢ stamp was issued on the centennial of Samuel Gomper’s birth. It honors the famed labor leader who devoted nearly 60 years to the union movement in America. During that time, he tirelessly promoted workers’ interests and helped them become a powerful force in the nation’s economy. He was one of the principal architects of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and served as its president for 37 years.

V. S. McCloskey, Jr. designed the stamp, part of the Famous Americans Series. It features a portrait of Gompers in a Colonial style frame, with laurel leaves over the lower left portion.

The Samuel Gompers Stamp was printed in red violet by steel engraving. It was first placed on sale in Washington, D.C.

Type : Stamp, Mint condition

Denomination : 3 cents

Colour : Red Violet

Name : Samuel Gompers

Born on Jan 27, 1850 at London, England

Died on Dec 13, 1924 at San Antonio, Texas, United States

The Subject of the Stamp : 

• Samuel Gompers (1850-1924) believed that every wage earner should be a trade union member. He joined the Cigar Makers’ International, a union within the Knights of Labor, at the age of 14 and soon rose to a position of leadership. At his urging, the organization established an investment fund and provided sickness, accident, and unemployment benefits for its members.
• In 1886, Gompers led the Cigar Makers out of the Knights of Labor to form the AFL. As the new national union’s president, he addressed many problems of the workplace and advocated written, binding contracts with management.
• President Wilson appointed Gompers to the Advisory Commission on National Defense during World War I. He also served on other commissions studying unemployment and disarmament.

The post Samuel Gompers appeared first on iStampGallery.