Issued by Nepal

Issued on Dec 28, 1970 (corresponding to 2027-9-13)

Issued by : His Majesty’s Government, Postal Services Department, Nepal Philatelic Bureau, Kathmandu

Designer : K. Karmacharya (based on photography by W. R. Ward)

Type : Stamps, Postal Used

Denomination :
(a) Patan Durbar Square – 15 Paisa
(b) Boudhanath Stupa – 25 Paisa
(c) Gauri Shankar Himalaya – 1 Rupee

Colour : Multi colour

Size : 4.30 x 3.00 cms

Perforation : 11 x 11.5

Paper : One sided chalky 900G

Quantity : 10,00,000 each

Sheet : 30

Printing Process : Offset

Printer : The State Printing Works of Security, Warsaw

About : 

• Gauri Shanker (location: Rolwaling Himal) rising up to 23442 feet is one of the best known peaks in country. It has been connected with many Nepali folk songs, semi-pauranic legends and poems.
• Situated in the heart of the city, Durbar Square the palace complex is the main attraction for tourists visiting Patan, which is also known as Lalitpore – literally meaning The Fine City.
• Boudha Nath Stupa, the largest domed Buddhist temple stands a couple of miles outside Kathmandu. With its glittering golden tower, numerous prayer-wheels, brightly coloured sacred flags fluttering on ropes stretching on all sides from the top to the ground, the shrine is a place of immense interest to both Buddhist pilgrims and tourists.

The post Visit Nepal Series 1970 appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Dec 27, 1970

Issued for : The P & T Department compliments the Bharat Scouts and Guides on their excellent work in promoting scouting and guiding in India and are happy to associate themselves with the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the Girl Guide Movement by bringing out a commemorative stamp on the occasion.

Design : The design of the stamp is vertical and depicts a Girl Guide salute against the back-ground of girl guide. On the right hand side the insignia of the World Association of Girl Guides is shown at the top and the emblem of the Bharat Scouts and Guides appears below.

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

About : 

• The aim of guiding is “Character development towards happy citizenship, through natural rather than artificial means“.
• The Girl Guide Movement was founded by Lord Baden Powell in 1910. It was introduced in India at Jabalpur where a company was formed in 1911. During the next few years, several other companies sprang up, but these companies were restricted to Anglo-Indian girls and were controlled by the Headquarters of the Movement in England. By 1915, the movement had spread to Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, etc., and more than 15 companies had been formed, still controlled from London. In the meantime, several independent companies had been formed for Indian girls. The first was 2^nd Poona (Bombay State) started in 1916. It was in October, 1916, that the then Chief Commissioner of Girl Guides in India was authorised to adapt the scheme to Indian conditions and to admit Indian girls. The All-India Girl Guides Association was then formed with a constitution of its own and it became full member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1929.
• This association was amalgamated with the Bharat Scouts and Guides in 1951. The Bharat Scouts and Guides is a unified national organisation – both for boys and girls – and the Guide section is affiliated to the World Association of Girl Guides and Scouts and the Scout Section to the Boy Scouts World Bureau.
• The main purpose of the Guide Movement is to teach girls how to acquire confidence and to develop consideration for others. The technique is to encourage young girls to develop their nature through hobbies and their work.
• The movement is divided into three major branches according to the age groups, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Bulbuls for girls of 7 to 11 years; Guides for girls of 11 to 17 years; Rangers for girls of 17 to 23 years.
• The distinctive feature of Guide training is based on a Voluntary Promise and observance of the Guide Laws. It encourages a child to be compassionate, considerate and to develop fellow feeling for his kind, whether in the country of her birth or elsewhere. And this training is given not by word of mouth, not by simply preaching or moralising, but essentially through common deeds of daily life and an action programme in course of training, based on the Guide way of life.
• A girl on enrolment as a Guide is taught to practise carrying out the ten Laws of the Guide Movement. She is also taught to live up to the promise which she takes at the time of her investiture which runs as follows :
  • “To do my duty to God and my country,
    To help other people at all times; and
    To obey the Guide Law.”
• In the prevailing conditions in our country, with regional and conflicting loyalties, the Scouts and Guides are in a position to play a special role by helping young men and women to grow into responsible citizens who would be prepared to do their duty to the country regardless of caste or creed or the local community to which they may belong. The Scout and Guide movement is a very potent factor in promoting a sense of national integration and unity at an impressionable age in childhood.
  

The post Girl Guide Movement in India appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by Pakistan

Issued on Dec 26, 1970

Issued for : On the occasion of Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers going to be held in the Metropolis of Karachi from 26^th to 28^th December, 1970, the Pakistan Post Office will issue on 26-12-1970, a commemorative postage stamp of 20 Paisa denomination.

Design : The format of the stamp is horizontal. The right side of the stamp shows Al-Aqsa Mosque in burning condition. Adjacent to the illustration is the crest of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in blue colour. The caption “Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, Karachi” in red colour lines below the crest and the illustration. The dates “26^th to 28^th December, 1970” are in blue. The words “Pakistan” in Bengali, Urdu and English on the left side are in black colour. The value “20 Paisa”, the word “Postage” above the illustration on the top right side and the words “Burning of Al-Aqsa Mosque (21.8.69)” are all in black colour.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : 20 Paisa

Colour : Red, Yellow, Blue and Black

Size of stamp : 57.3 x 34 mm

Size of print : 54.3 x 31 mm

Perforation gauge : 13 x 13 (c)

Quantity Printed : 15,00,000

Number of stamps in each sheet : 50

Process of printing : Litho Offset

Printers : The Pakistan Security Printing Corporation Ltd., Karachi

About : 

• Following the burning of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the 21^st August, 1969 and the consequent tremors in the Muslim World, the late President Nasser of the UAR and King Hussain of Jordan met in Cairo on the 24^th August, 1969 and discussed plans to hold a conference of Arab Nations to be followed by an Islamic Summit Conference to consider the grave issues confronting the Muslim World. A seven-member Preparatory Committee consisting of Iran, Malaysia, Morocco, Niger, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Somalia met in Rabat on 8^th and 9^th September, 1969. The agenda of the Summit included mainly the questions relating to sacrilege of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and restoration of the holy city of Jerusalem.
• According to the joint declaration issued at the conclusion of the Conference (September 25, 1969) in which 26 countries had participated, the signatories inter-alia resolved to make concerted efforts for the preservation of world peace in the light of the immortal teachings of Islam and pledged “to settle by peaceful means any dispute which may arise between them in such manner as to contribute to the strengthening of international peace and security in accordance with the alms and principles of the charter of the United Nations”. And finally, the declaration stated, their Governments would reject any solution of the problem of Palestine which would deny Jerusalem the status it had before June 1967.
• The Islamic Summit at Rabat also decided that a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the participating states shall be held at Jeddah in the month of March 1970, with a view to :–
  • i) Examining the results of the common action undertaken in the international field by the participating states regarding the decisions reached at the Rabat Conference.
  • ii) Examining the subjects of laying down the basis for a permanent Islamic Secretariat.
• The Muslim Foreign Ministers Conference was accordingly held in Jeddah from 23^rd to 25^th of March, 1970.
• The joint communique issued at the conclusion of the Jeddah Conference inter-alia decided to establish an Islamic Secretariat with Jeddah as its provisional Headquarters till the liberation of Palestine. It was also decided that the first Secretary General of the Secretariat would be a Malaysian for a period of two years. Tenku Abdur Rahman, the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, was nominated as the Secretary General of the Secretariat.
• The Secretariat is to serve as a liaison between participating states and will follow up the implementation of decisions taken at the summit level and will also make arrangements for the holding of future conferences.
• The decision for holding the forthcoming Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Pakistan was also taken by the Jeddah Conference in March, 1970. The Conference which is scheduled to be held in Karachi from 26^th to 28^th December, 1970 will consider the implementation of the decisions of the Jeddah Conference including the structure, organisation and functions of the proposed Islamic Secretariat.
• Issued by The Director-General, Pakistan Post Office, Karachi.

The post Pakistan on Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers 1970 appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Dec 23, 1970

Issued for : On this great occasion, the P & T Department is happy to bring out two special postage stamps of denominations 20 paise and Re. 1/- to commemorate the India National Philatelic Exhibition, 1970 held from the 23^rd December, 1970 to 6^th January, 1971 on the themes of stamp collecting. In addition to the usual First Day Covers which were brought out, the Department has arranged to provide separate cancellations on each day at the site of the Exhibition P.O.

Description of Design :
20p – The design of the stamp is horizontal and depicts a picture of young stamp collectors – a boy and a girl – arranging stamps in a stock book.

The design of the stamp is adapted from the original prepared by Shri Charanjitlal, Artist, P & T Directorate, New Delhi.

Rs. 1.00 – The design of the stamp is horizontal and depicts hands of a stamp collector holding a magnifying glass in one hand and a stamp on Gandhi in another for study.

The design is prepared by Shri P. B. Chitnis, Head Engraver, India Security Press, Nasik Road.

Colour :
20 P. – Pale Orange & Olive Green
1 Re. – Chestnut & JBA’s Red Brown

Type : Stamps, Postal Used

Denomination : 20 Paise & Rs. 1

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 :
20 P. – 50,00,000
1 Re. – 30,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Designed and Printed at : India Security Press

About : 

• The idea of issuing postage stamps originated with Sir Rowland Hill at whose suggestion, the first postage stamp in the world now known as the ‘Penny Black‘ was brought out in England on the 6^th May 1840. Other countries followed in quick succession. India brought out her first postage stamp, the famed ‘Scinde Dawks‘ in 1852. Two years later, in 1854, the first stamp for use all over India was issued.
• It is not known with certainty when stamp collecting as a hobby actually started but evidently it must have been immediately after the issue of the first postage stamp in 1840. For nearly two decades, stamp collecting as a hobby was confined mostly to school boys and enthusiasts who were called uncomplimentary names such as ‘Timbromaniacs‘. By 1863, however, the hobby had made inroads into the hearts of serious-minded people. They found in stamps, apart from their illustrative and pictorial value, sufficient interest to justify the study of their specialities. They found the history of every design worth tracing through the various mutations of shade, paper, watermark and perforation. Thus, stamp collecting took a new trend towards study and grouping of stamps on a scientific basis. It also acquired a reputable and new name of ‘Philately‘ from the combination of the Greek words ‘Philos‘ (fond of) and ‘Atelia‘ (exemption from tax).
• Philately being a social hobby, it did not take long for clubs and societies to be organised as the interest in philately grew. With the formation of philatelic clubs and societies, the need for exhibiting individual collections by stamp collectors was strongly felt. Thus, started philatelic exhibitions. At first, this was confined to the members of societies and clubs but soon it spread over to national and international fields. On the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the first postage stamp, the first International Exhibition was held in London in 1890. Other International Exhibitions at Paris, Hague, Amsterdam, Vienna followed in quick succession. The first International Philatelic Exhibition in U.S.A. was held in 1913. We are now having International Exhibitions practically every year in one country or the other. In addition, National Philatelic Exhibitions are being held in almost every country regularly. In India, Philatelic Exhibitions are known to have been held in the later decade of the last century. An International Postage Stamp Exhibition (Indipex) was organised by the P & T Department in 1954 at the time of the postage stamps centenary. Several competitive exhibitions have been held in India since INDIPEX at various places, such as Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Trichi, Jullundur, Kanpur etc.
• The India National Philatelic Exhibition 1970 however was the first of its kind held in India at that time. The Exhibition was being organised to inculcate public interest in philately, particularly amongst the younger generation to encourage stamp collecting as a profitable hobby with great educational interest and promote the study of serious aspects of the hobby by advanced collectors. A Philatelic Exhibition, like any other exhibition, will admittedly bring more and more new comers and enthusiasts to the hobby.
• The Exhibition displayed some of the rare and valuable collections not only of the Department but of the various collectors and philatelists which have never been seen before by many collectors. These will include Indian classics, proofs and essays of many of its issues, Indian stamps used abroad, Indian cancellations, Indian States (Convention and Feudatory), Indian Air Mails, postal stationery, and literature. A good collection of stamps of other foreign countries will also be shown by reputable collectors and philatelists in India. The Thematic Section of the Exhibition will be really eye-catching with themes like animals, wild life, flowers, scouts, space flight, evolution of flying wings on stamps etc., training of family planning, Red Cross, and various other subjects.

The post India National Philatelic Exhibition 1970 appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by Pakistan

Issued on Dec 17, 1970

Design : The format of the stamp is vertical. The top portion bears the flag of Pakistan, the central portion has the words ‘ELECTIONS FOR PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLIES 17^th Dec. 1970′ in reverse against pink background. The words ‘PAKISTAN‘ in Urdu, Bengali and English in the left lower corner of the stamp are in green. The value ’20 Paisa’ and the word ‘Postage’ are in the lower right corner of the stamp.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : 20 Paisa

Colour : Green, cerise (pink)

Size of stamp : 25 x 36 mm.

Size of print : 23 x 33 mm.

Perforation gauge : 13½ x 13 (c)

Quantity printed : 7,50,000

Number of stamps in each sheet : 50

Process of printing : Litho Offset

Printers : The Pakistan Security Printing Corporation Ltd., Karachi

About : 

• To build up a healthy political life in the country, the Election Commission has decided to allocate symbols for the candidates from political parties, which are not allowed to be used by individual candidates. For the purpose of allocating symbols to political parties and also to individuals contesting as independents, the Election Commission has prescribed a total number of 55 symbols.
• Postal ballot system has, also for the first time, been introduced in Pakistan, enabling Government servants (including members of the Armed Forces); holders of public offices and persons in jail or under legal custody to vote by post.

The post First General Elections of Pakistan (Provincial Assemblies) appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Dec 16, 1970

Issued for : This year, the whole world celebrated the 200^th birth anniversary of this most famous composer. For India to honour the memory of Beethoven that year was not only a most appropriate act, but it was one more gesture cementing the bonds of friendship between the people of India and the people of Germany. The P&T Department feels privileged in bringing out a special commemorative stamp to honour one of the greatest musicians and composers of the West, Ludwig van Beethoven.

Description of Design : The design of the stamp is vertical and depicts a portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Orange & Suede Grey 

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 : Ludwig van Beethoven

Born on Dec 16, 1770 at Bonn, Germany 

Died on Mar 26, 1827 at Vienna, Austria

About : 

• Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827), the German composer who gave to Western Classical music some of its most creative pieces, was born in Bonn two centuries ago. In Germany and other European countries concerts and festivals were being held to commemorate the bicentenary of this musical genius. India, along with the rest of the world celebrates his bicentenary during November-December, 1970.
• Born in a family of court musicians on December 16, 1770, Beethoven was subjected to a rigorous musical discipline from the age of four so that he could fulfil his father’s expectation in becoming a piano prodigy and child composer. The great Mozart after meeting the child prodigy said, “Pay attention to this young man, he will cause a stir in the world one day“. At 17, he became an organist at Bonn‘s Electoral Court and gave his first composition. In his 22^nd year, he gave a new expression to piano, displaying a style that changed the piano aesthetics. His compositions too were recognised at this time. In the following 33 years, Beethoven enamoured his audiences through concerts and devoted himself to musical compositions. Sieders, quartets, sonatas and symphonies received his feverish attention which one estimate places at 7,500 pages of manuscript.
• Belonging to the age of the French Revolution and Napoleonic era, he basically acquired a republication disposition. But partly because of the suppression in him due to pedagogical experiments in childhood and because of the dissatisfaction with the times, he was often aloof, grumbling and given to emotional outbursts. Beethoven suffered from partial deafness which later made him unable to hear his own compositions. A passionate hiker and lover of nature, he wandered in the countryside taking notes. Yet the musical genius in him endeared him to all. The legendary halo around him was evident at the time of his death when on March 24, 1827, 20,000 commoners, princes and nobles vied with each other to pay him their last respects.
• Beethoven was a tone poet and a musical counterpart of Shakespeare. In his approach to music he was a classicist who shaped humanity in all phases of expression. Goethe once said about him, “I have never seen an artiste more collected and intense.“
• Beethoven was by far the most towering personality in Western music. Not only was he a great innovator and a supreme creative genius whose influence is felt to this day but he was most deeply occupied with the fundamental problems of the human spirit. He believed that music was not just a form of entertainment but had a great role to play in stirring the human spirit to its roots and inspiring men to nobler heights.
• Unlike any other great composer or artiste of the West, he was deeply interested in the religious teachings of India and his working room was covered with quotations from German translations of the great Hindu scriptures. One such quotation reads : “Brahma, his spirit is existent in itself. He, the mighty one, is present in every part of space – his omniscience dwells alone by itself and the conception of him comprehends every other one. Thou alone art the truly blessed one (Bhagavan); Thou, the essence of all laws, the image of all wisdom, present throughout the universe. Thou sustainest all things. Sun, Ether, Brahma.“

The post India on Ludwig van Beethoven appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by Pakistan

Issued on Dec 7, 1970

Issued for : To commemorate the First General Elections for National Assembly in the country, the Pakistan Post Office is issuing a stamp of 20-Paisa denomination on December 7, 1970.

Design : The format of the stamp is vertical. The top portion bears the flag of Pakistan, the central portion has the words ‘Elections for National Assembly, 7^th December 1970′ in reverse against a blue background. The words ‘Pakistan‘ in Urdu, Bengali and English in the left lower corner of the stamp are in green. The value “20 Paisa” and the word ‘Postage’ are in the lower right corner of the stamp.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : 20 Paisa

Colour : Green, Ultramarine Blue

Size of stamp : 25 x 36 mm.

Size of print : 23 x 33 mm.

Perforation gauge : 13½ x 13 (c)

Quantity printed : 7,50,000

Number of stamps in each sheet : 50

Process of printing : Litho Offset

Printers : The Pakistan Security Printing Corporation Ltd., Karachi

About : 

• The first ever general elections on the basis of universal adult franchise and on the principle of ‘one man one vote’ will be held in Pakistan on 7^th December, 1970 to elect the members of the National Assembly. 300 members of the National Assembly will be elected directly by nearly 56.5 million registered voters throughout the country. Out of this total of 300 members, 162 will be from East Pakistan, 82 from Punjab, 27 from Sind, 18 from N.W.F.P., 7 from Centrally Administered Tribal Areas and 4 from Baluchistan. The elected members of the National Assembly from the respective Province will elect 13 women members (East Pakistan-7, Punjab-3, N.W.F.P.-1, Sind-1 and Baluchistan-1). (Elections to 9 constituencies in East Pakistan which have been badly affected by the devastating cyclonic storm and tidal bore on the night of 12^th and 13^th November 1970 will, however, be held later).
• The present elections are unique as through them will be elected a National Assembly which will have the privilege of framing a constitution for the country. The National Assembly, after completing its task of constitution making, will become the Central Legislature under that Constitution. The Election Commission has worked with unprecedented speed in completing the different stages of the elections viz. the preparation of election rolls, delimitation of constituencies and preparations for the actual polls.
• The total number of voters registered in the country is nearly 5,65,00,000. 3,13,00,000 voters having been registered in East Pakistan and 2,52,00,000 in West Pakistan (including electors from the Centrally Administered Tribal Areas). The right of adult franchise has been extended to some tribal areas of the N.W.F.P. and Baluchistan for the first time in the history of Pakistan.
• To ensure that the elections are free and fair, the Election Commission has introduced many innovations which exists only in the most advanced democracies. The marking system of voting under which a common ballot paper containing the names of all the candidates with their symbols, the common ballot box, and the use of indelible ink are some of the salient features. Secrecy of the ballot is fully ensured by requiring the voter to mark the ballot paper in a screened place with a marking aid to be provided for the purpose. Polling throughout the country (except the cyclone affected 9 constituencies of East Pakistan referred to above) will be completed in a single day on 7^th December, 1970.
• To help the voters in identifying the candidates, the Election Commission has allocated 24 symbols for the candidates sponsored by political parties. The remaining 31 symbols were available for independent candidates.
• Government servants (including members of the Armed Forces) holders of public offices, wives of such Government servants and holders of public offices and persons in jail or under legal custody have been given the facility to vote by post. This facility has also been extended to persons who have been appointed for election duties.
• Elections to National Assembly will be held on 7^th of December, 1970 and the official results of the count will be known within a couple of days following the election. 1581 candidates are contesting 299 (one having been returned unopposed) National Assembly seats – 800 from West Pakistan for 137 seats, 589 as party nominees and 211 as independents, and 781 for 162 seats in East Pakistan – 667 as party nominees and 114 as independents.

The post First General Elections of Pakistan (National Assembly) appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by Japan

Issued on Nov 10, 1970

Issued for : To commemorate the 19^th International Apprentice Competition, a postage stamp is to be issued. This competition opens on Nov. 10, 1970 and about 280 competitors from 16 countries gather in Japan.

Design : The emblem of International Apprentice Competition and a competitor.

Designer : Midori Masumi

Colour : Multicolour

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : 15 Yen

Printing Process : Photogravure

About : 

• To commemorate the 19^th International Vocational Training Competition held at the Vocational Training Centre in Chiba City, November 10-19, 1970, a 15 yen postage stamp has been released.

The post 19th International Apprentice Competition, Japan appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Nov 9, 1970

Issued for : Namdeo‘s 700^th birth anniversary falls on 9^th November, 1970 and the Posts and Telegraphs Department joins the Nation in honouring this great man of God by issuing a special stamp to commemorate the occasion.

Description of Design : The design of the stamp is horizontal and depicts Sant Namdeo in a devotional mood.

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Orange

Denomination : 20 Paise

Overall Size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing Size : 3.56 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Printed on Asoka pillar watermarked adhesive stamp paper

Number Printed : 30,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Designed and Printed at : India Security Press

Name : Bhagat Namadeva

Born on Oct 29, 1270 at Hingoli, Maharashtra, India

Died on 1350

About : 

• In its long history covering about three thousand years, Hinduism as we know it has produced an almost unbroken succession of saints and religious leaders. In this galaxy of holy men and women the name of Namdeo occupies a pre-eminent place. A succession of savants who believed in the primacy of the way of ‘Bhakti‘ or complete surrender as a means of attaining spiritual liberation lived and preached in Maharashtra during the early centuries of the second millennium A.C. Dnyanadev, Gora Kumbhar, Janabai and Chokhamela were among this distinguished lineage who not only attained spiritual perfection themselves but helped to spread the holy tenets among the masses. Namdeo was one of the earliest and most famous of these leaders of popular religion.
• Many supernatural incidents are related about Namdeo‘s life, but the historical facts are clear only in their broad outline. He was born in 1270 A.C. at Narasi-Bamani in Parbhani District, a child of Damashet and Gonai. He is believed to have spent his childhood along with his parents at Pandharpur. Early in life, he associated himself with Dnyanadev, his contemporary who, however, predeceased him by several decades. Namdeo received religious initiation from Visobha Khechar. With Dnyanadev he undertook a pilgrimage to different parts of Northern India which took them also to the Punjab. Namdeo is believed to have made another visit to the Punjab later in his life which perhaps lasted for many years. However, he spent most of his days at Pandharpur, singing ‘abhangas‘ or religious poems and spreading the message of God. He was a householder and lived with his mother, wife and children. He is believed to have attained ‘Samadhi‘ in 1350 A.C.
• A mine of information about Namdeo‘s religious work and teachings is available in his extant ‘abhangas’. He no doubt believed in the ultimate oneness of man and God but felt at the same time that the doctrine of total surrender was the only way to attain salvation. He was a mystic well-versed in Yoga but still Yoga could not, according to him, be divorced from ‘Bhakti’, the path of devotion. Even mere repetition of the Lord‘s name could lead the devotee to supreme realisation provided it was accompanied by utter faith in the omni-potent. A holy man should be characterised by ‘indifference to worldly life, perennial love, constant divine contemplation, effacement of egoism, absence of sensuousness and anger, peace and forgiveness….. and eagerness to show men the path of devotion‘. Thus his philosophy consisted not only in seeking fulfilment for himself, but was positive in its compassion for his fellow-human beings and keenness for their spiritual advancement.
• Namdeo‘s place in the religious and cultural history of India is exceptional in many respects. Unlike most other religious precursors he disseminated his message in different parts of the country. He composed ‘abhangas’ not only in Marathi but in Hindi also. A measure of his influence in the Punjab is the temple still associated with his name at Ghoman near Batala. What is even more significant, some of his verses have been incorporated in Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs. Namdeo was also the originator of the ‘Kirtan‘ tradition, the practice of singing the glories of God. This tradition is still a recognised mode of worship and is found in all parts of the country. The names of Lord Vittobha and Pandharpur are now bywords for every devout Hindu and it is Namdeo who was responsible for popularising them not only in Maharashtra but in the rest of India as well. Last but not least, Namdeo was one of the earliest to democratise religion by carrying its message from the learned to the lowly and encompassing within its fold the tailor, the barber, the maid-servant, the sweeper, the potter and even the dancing girl. It is this unique role that marks him out as a saint among saints.

The post Sant Namdev appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by United States of America

Issued on Nov 5, 1970

Issued for : These 6-cent Christmas stamps will be first placed on sale November 5, 1970 at Washington, D.C., in non-precanceled and precanceled forms.

Design : Each pictures a toy of yesterday. These 19^th century bits of Americana are becoming prize collectors’ items and museum pieces. The four stamps, printed on the same sheet, were designed by Stevan Dohanos, of Westport, Connecticut, Chairman of the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee.

The locomotive was adopted from artwork by Charles Hemming in the “Index of American Design“, a collection of the National Gallery of Art. The others are from “The Golden Age of Toys“, by Fondin and Remise. Red, yellow, blue and black are combined to produce the stamps.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : 6 cents each

Technical Details : They were printed by gravure at Guilford Gravure, Inc., Guilford, Connecticut, which was leased by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and was manned by Bureau personnel.

An additional 6-cent Christmas stamp reproduces “The Nativity“, by Lorenzo Lotto, 16^th Century Italian artist. It will also be issued November 5 in Washington, D.C.

The post Christmas – Antique Toys appeared first on iStampGallery.