Issued by India

Issued on Dec 30, 1991

Description of Designs : The set of 4 stamps has been designed by India Security Press, Nasik on the basis of material and suggestions provided by Smt. & Shri Rajiv Chanchani. The First Day Cover has been designed by Shri Sankh Samant and shows the four asanas depicted on the stamps. The cancellation which depicts the Dhanurasana has been designed by Ms. Alka Sharma. The drawings of the various asanas shown in the brochure have been done by Shri J. Nath of Kodaikanal.

Type : Stamps, Postal Used

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 200, 500, 650 & 1000 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported Un W/M adhesive gravure coated Stamp Paper

Number Printed : 10,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed : India Security Press

About : 

• In Yoga Sutra, Sage Patanjali, the founder of the Yoga school of Philosophy, describes yoga as “the restraint of mental fluctuations”. This restraint leads to the goal of yoga – spiritual liberation. To attain this, Patanjali prescribes “Ashtanga-Yoga” or an eight-fold path. Yogasanas are the third aspect of “Ashtanga-Yoga”. Yogasanas, practiced correctly and diligently, bring about vast physical and psychological changes.
• The following four asanas have been depicted on the stamps:
  • (i) Bhujangasana: This asana adjusts minor displacements of the vertebrae and exercises and tones up the deep muscles supporting the spinal column and the trunk.
  • (ii) Dhanurasana: This asana stretches the entire spinal column, exerts extraordinarily intra-abdominal pressure, causes fresh supply of blood to the abdominal viscera, especially to the lower abdomen and gives exercise to the neck, arms, shoulders, back, legs and ankles.
  • (iii) Ustrasana: This asana provides an anterior stretch to the spine, prevents flabbiness and relieves vertebral pressure, promotes spinal circulation and strengthens the urogenital muscles.
  • (iv) Utthita Trikonasana: This asana strengthens the thigh and calf muscles, relieves constipation, indigestion and flatulence and is beneficial for the treatment of lumber spondylitis and obesity.
• Other Asanas:
  • The Padmasana is the classic meditative posture and it offers the maximum fixity of base, preserves normal elasticity and especially helps all the important muscles, ligaments and tendons of the lower extremities and increases blood circulation to the abdomen-genital region.
  • The Trikonasana increases flexibility of the waist, exercise the hips, stretches the muscles of the arms and legs, strengthens the hamstring muscles and corrects faulty posture-habits by intra-abdominal compression.
  • The Shirshasana strengthens all the body systems – the circulatory, digestive, respiratory, nervous and excretory. It is, however, of greatest benefit to the brain as it helps give nourishment to all its cells and tissues by reversing the blood supply. It prevents premature greying of hair and the skin becomes bright and smooth and the face, radiant.
  • The Navasana strengthens the thigh and abdominal muscles, enhances concentration and stability of the mind and is beneficial for diabetic and obese patients.
  • The Ardha Matsyendrasana helps in removing the lateral curvature of the spine, increases venous circulation in the abdominal zone, tones up the liver, spleen and pancreas, promotes gastric secretions and improves the appetite.
  • The Dhanurasana provides full exercise to the spine which becomes more elastic. It benefits the kidneys and helps cure abdominal disorders by stretching the entire digestive area. It also provides sufficient exercise to the neck, ribs and lungs, strengthens the heart and removes obesity.
  • The Urdhva Dhanurasana is especially useful in correcting spinal disorders and is also used in the yogic treatment of asthma and other respiratory diseases.
  • The Sarvangasana improves circulation to the brain, benefits the glandular system especially the thyroid, brings relief from congestion in the abdominal and pelvic regions and is good for those suffering from constipation, dyspepsia and neurasthenia.

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Issued by Nepal

Issued on Dec 28, 1991

Issued for : To commemorate the observance of 1991 as the SAARC year for shelter in recognition of the imperative need for providing better habitat to the peoples of South Asia, this postage stamp depicts the picture of houses and logo of the SAARC.

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

Designer : Mr. Mohan Rana

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : Rs. 9

Colour : 5 colours

Size : 25 mm x 35 mm

Format : Vertical

Paper : Special Stamp-paper

Quantity : 2,000,000 (Two million)

Sheet : 50

Process : Offset

Printer : Austrian Government Printing Office, Vienna, Austria

About : 

• The Fifth summit of the Heads of state or Government of the SAARC countries held in Male, Maldives decided to declare 1991 as the SAARC year for shelter.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 28, 1991

Description of Designs : The stamp depicts Asit Kumar Haldar‘s painting “Siddhartha with an injured Bird”. The first day cover depicts the self portrait of the artist. The cancellation has been designed by Ms. Alka Sharma.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 200 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported Un W/M Gravure Coated Stamp Paper

Number Printed : 6,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed : India Security Press

Name : Asit Kumar Haldar

Born on 1890 at Jorasanko, Kolkata, India

Died on 1964 at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

About : 

• Asit Kumar Haldar, a pioneer of the Renaissance School of Indian Painting and a distinguished disciple of Abanindra Nath Tagore was born in Calcutta in 1890. As a child he owed his first inspiration to his grandfather, Rakhaldas Haldar and also to his father Sukumar Haldar both of whom had an innate taste for painting. In deference to the talent shown by young Asit Kumar, he was taken off the school at the age of 14 and admitted to the Government School of Art, Calcutta. His zeal for fine art was pronounced even at this early age.
• It was indeed a happy augury for Dr. Abanindra Nath Tagore to have at the very beginning of his national art movement a talented young artist like Asit Kumar Haldar. Haldar has produced several outstanding works, such as “Seeta in Ashoka Grove”, “Apsara”, “Damayanti”, “At the Temple“, “Krishna and Yashoda” and “Awakening of Mother India” which bear a striking resemblance to the Ajanta frescoes, but all of which were done well before 1909 when he first visited Ajanta. Haldar‘s art did not therefore merely canalize or regiment the national aspiration but actually helped in the regeneration of the art life of India.
• Asit Kumar Haldar‘s creative imagery was ceaseless. His art is not an abstruse expression of inarticulate pattern, it is a value-laden narrative, speaking out at once its inner meaning to the observer. In this respect, Haldar’s art is like a seer’s or a poet’s vision, which enriches the soul, inspires the mind and ennobles the ignoble. The great poet Rabindranath Tagore often found inspiration from the themes of Haldar‘s sensitive brush drawings of lyrical scenes from village life, while composing his immortal songs.
• Haldar’s masterpieces are several and include “Raj–Raja“, “Lotus”, “Vina“, “Kunala and Ashoka“, “Dan–Lila“, “Ras–Lila”, “The Flame of Music”, “Pronam“, “The Precious Gift“, “The Captive Prince“, “The Negro Princes” etc. Haldar is abounding in his technique. He painted in oil, tempera, water colour, according to his mood and the requirement of the subject and even discovered a special technique ‘lacsit‘ – lacquered paintings on wood. Haldar was also the first Indian artist to be elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, London (1934). He also received recognition from the British Government with the award of a title in 1941. His name and fame had spread far and wide and his work, “The Dance of Destruction” was published by the Czechoslovak Government in their War Souvenir ‘India and Czechoslovakia‘ in 1943. One of his works, “Yashoda and Krishna” appeared in “Great Philosophers of the East” by E.W.F. Tomlin, 1959.
• Text : Courtesy Lalit Kala Academy.

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Issued by Nepal

Issued on Dec 28, 1991

Issued by :
His Majesty’s Government
Postal Services Dept.
Nepal Philatelic Bureau
Kathmandu

Designer : Mr. K. Karmacharya

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : Rs. 8

Colour : 6 Colours

Size : 29.6 mm x 38.5 mm

Format : Vertical

Paper : Special Stamp-paper

Quantity : 2,000,000 (Two Million)

Sheet : 50

Process : Offset

Printer : Austrian Government Printing Office, Vienna, Austria

Name : Birendra Bir Bikram Shah

Born on Dec 28, 1945 at Kathmandu, Nepal

Died on Jun 1, 2001 at Kathmandu, Nepal

About : 

• “The prospects for peace would improve when people’s basic necessities of life are met.” – H. M. King Birendra

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Issued by Pakistan

Issued on Dec 26, 1991

Issued for : To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 7/- denomination on the “100 years of American Express Travelers Cheques” on December 26, 1991.

Designer : Adil Salahuddin (President’s Award for the Pride of Performance)

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : Rs. 7/-

Colour : Multi colour

Size of Stamp : 78 x 25 mm

Size of Print : 74 x 21 mm

Perforation : 13 C

Paper : 102 gsm dual purpose coated PVA gum

Quantity : 250,000

Number of stamps in a sheet : 12 (3 x 4 rows)

Process of Printing : Litho offset

Printers : Pakistan Security Printing Corporation

Date of Withdrawal of the Stamp : June 25, 1993

About : 

• Long before commercial aviation, when travelling involved long ocean voyages or travel by rail, passengers had no choice but to carry large amounts of money. This money in most cases in the form of cash on themselves and in their baggage, where it could easily be lost or stolen. Those wealthy enough or with influence could obtain letters of credit from a bank. But even letters of credit could only be obtained from one bank and reimbursed by another when the traveler had credit outstanding.
  
• In 1891, the president of American Express Company, James C. Fargo, returned to the U.S. from a journey to Europe where he had experienced difficulties with reimbursement of his letters of credit from foreign banks. Upon his return to America he summoned his manager, Marcellus Berry, and instructed him to create a negotiable instrument that would be as widely accepted internationally as cash yet safer. Marcellus Berry worked on this for months and finally came up with the solution. He had the idea of requiring two signatures to validate the check. This idea is so simple yet so effective that till today after 100 years it has not become obsolete. Since the past 100 years the traveler’s cheque product has been a symbol of security, refundability and convenience.
  
• The travelers cheque product has stood the best of time and continues to meet the needs of the travellers worldwide. In addition, the fact that travelers cheque are as easily accepted as cash at banks, hotels, and at major shops and stores is another reason why millions of travellers prefer to travel with this form of payment.
  
• As travellers needs grew more complex travelers cheque issuing companies introduced more and more innovative ways to save the travelers cheque purchasers trio. American Express, the inventor and world leader in travelers cheques, has a reputation for introducing innovative services. Today, purchases of American Express travelers cheques have the convenience and security of reporting their loss or theft over the phone and having their TCs delivered in their doorstep nearly anywhere in the world, usually within 24 hours.
  
• It is such value added services offered by American Express that has made the travelers cheque product one of the most secure methods of carrying money oversees. Today, travelers cheques are available in all major currencies such as US dollars, Canadian dollars, French and Swiss francs, German Marks, Pounds Sterling, Japanese Yen to mention a few.
  
• The main feature of the stamp specimen bears the first travelers cheque that was encashed by William C. Fargo on 5^th August, 1891 in Leipzig, Germany in the backdrop.
  
• In 1951, the design of the American Express Travelers Cheques was changed. The addition of the roman warrior made counterfeiting more difficult and his portrait today on the American Express Travelers Cheques symbolises strength, security and reliability.
  
• One man’s frustration, another’s vision and the commitment of dedicated people throughout the last century created a product of unquestionable advantage – The American Express Travelers Cheques.
  
• (Contributed by : American Express Bank Limited, Karachi).
  
• Issued by The Director General, Pakistan Post Office, Islamabad.

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Issued by Pakistan

Issued on Dec 24, 1991

Date of withdrawal of the stamp : 23 June, 1993

Issued for : To commemorate the works of renowned painters of Pakistan, Pakistan Post Office is issuing one commemorative postage stamp of Re. 1/- denomination on December 24, 1991.

Designer : Adil Salahuddin (President’s Award for the Pride of Performance)

Courtesy : Javed Latif SKYPAK International, Karachi

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : Re. 1/-

Colour : Multi colour

Size of stamp : 57.30 x 32.5 mm

Size of print : 54 x 28.5 mm

Perforation : 13 C

Quantity : 500,000

Number of stamps in a sheet : 20 (5×4 rows)

Process of printing : Litho Offset

Printers : Pakistan Security Printing Corporation

Name : Allah Baksh

Born on 1892 at Wazirabad, Gujranwala District, Punjab, Pakistan

Died on Oct 18, 1978

About : 

• Ustad Allah Bux born in Wazirabad circa 1892. He worked as an apprentice to Ustad Abdullah at a very young age. He also learnt the art of painting from Master Meeran Bakhsh Naqash, a known teacher and painter and was also the Vice Principal of the Mayo School of Arts. Ustad Allah Bux worked for various private agencies as a commercial artist and never stick to one job. He was invited to teach at Sir J. J. School of Arts, the offer was politely declined by the artist. But he accepted to work at the Mayo School of Arts.
• From a very young age Allah Bux started exhibiting his works. He was awarded 1^st prize in painting in a competition held in Bombay. Later on he was awarded countless prizes. He was also awarded President’s medal for Pride of Performance. In 1979, through RCD’s programme, the government of Iran, reproduced one of his paintings on a postage stamp.
• He was known for painting folk tales, village life, landscapes and portraits. He worked mostly in oils and on larger scales but he also experimented with other mediums. He was fluent in watercolours, pen & ink, tempera colours, pencil and paints. At times he combines various mediums to achieve innovative surfaces. Thematically, Allah Bux was very much inspired by his own surroundings but in his style of painting landscapes he was deeply influenced by the western classical paintings. The reason could be strong hold of British Empire ruling united India.
• Ustad Allah Bux taught free to his students which include Pakistani as well as Foreigners, some of them are today considered prominent artists. His paintings are preserved by collectors world over and are considered treasure. The National Art Gallery has a representative collection of his paintings which remains on display for public viewing. He left behind amongst many valuables, his studio where he used to spend most of his time. The same has been converted into an academy “Allah Bux Academy” which is a learning ground for those who wants to excel in this great master’s style.
• He died in October 18, 1978, leaving behind a long list of his admirers and followers. Ustad Allah Bux was a real asset to this nation. His traditions will be preserved for generations in times to come and his contribution will be long remembered.
• (Contributed by: Pakistan National Council of the Arts Ministry of Culture and Sports).
• Issued by The Director General, Pakistan Post Office, Islamabad.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 11, 1991

Description of Designs : The stamp depicts the heart with people of all age groups running. It has been designed on the basis of material furnished by Dr. Sanjiv Malik and Dr. K.K. Aggarwal. The First Day Cover has been designed by Ms. Bharti Mirchandani. The cancellation uses the logo of the Heart Care Foundation of India and has been designed by Ms. Nenu Gupta.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Two 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 : Imported Un W/M Adhesive Gravure Coated Stamp Paper

Number Printed : 10,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed : India Security Press

About : 

• Heart disease is today the single biggest killer. Rapid modernisation and fast lives have taken man away from the natural way of living. Sedentary life styles, changing diet menus for the worse and over consumption of addictive substances like tobacco and alcohol have been the end result of this ‘always on the run’ society.
• Lack of exercise has been proved to be one of the most significant causative factors of this biggest killer – heart disease. Over mechanisation and lack of time from the daily hustle and bustle have contributed even more to man becoming an in-home, in-office creature. The importance of daily exercise is now being stressed with renewed vigour.
• To make people aware of this essentially, the Heart Care Foundation of India , a voluntary charitable organisation, had organised a mammoth health awareness campaign in the form of a symbolic marathon termed ‘RUN FOR YOUR HEART’ on December 11, 1991. Being organised on Rajpath in India’s capital city, New Delhi, the Run for Your Heart had over 50,000 participants from all walks of life. Eminent cardiologists from India as well as from over the globe participated in the event being organised on the theme “Physical exercise is good for the heart”.
• The Run for Your Heart was the inaugural event of the Heart care Fortnight being organised by the Heart Care of India as a major public awareness and social service programme.
• The participants in the run included policy makers and political personalities, sports persons and athletes, film stars, school and college children, medical and para-medical staff, representatives of the armed forces and police etc. The aim is to create a phenomenal awareness about the usefulness of daily exercise including running and jogging.
• The fact that practically all sectors and strata of society participated in the run shows that we understand and that those who understand want others to understand too!
• The event was positively a precursor to the initiation of an ongoing system of public health awareness campaigns.
• Text : Courtesy Heart Care Foundation of India.

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Issued by Nepal

Issued on Dec 11, 1991

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

Design : The present postage Stamp depicts the picture of the Vivaha Mandap and the idols of Rama–Janaki placed in it.

Designer : Mr. Mohan Rana

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : Rs. 1

Colour : 4 Colours

Size : 33.1 mm x 26.2 mm

Format : Vertical

Paper : White Coated Offset Paper

Quantity : 2,000,000 (Two Million)

Sheet : 50

Process : Offset Lithography

Printer : Helio Courvoisier S. A., Switzerland

About : 

• According to Ramayana, King Janaka had built an exquisitely beautiful Vivaha Mandap (Pavilion), decorated with celestial gems and jewels and celebrated the marriage ceremony of Rama–Janaki by placing them on a golden throne installed in it.
• From that very time this site is known as Vivaha-Mandap. It is located at Janakpurdham of Dhanusha District. The Vivaha Mandap is situated on the north of Janaki temple. The various artistic idols placed in it give us the reminiscence of its ancient grandeur and the significance of the wedding of Rama–Janaki. This newly built Vivaha Mandap was inaugurated by His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in January, 1986.

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Issued by Nepal

Issued on Dec 11, 1991

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

Design : Present Postage Stamp depicts the enchanting and beautiful picture of Mt. Kumbhakarna (Jannu).

Designer : Mr. Mohan Rana

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : Rs. 4.60

Colour : 6 Colours

Size : 38.5 mm x 29.6 mm

Format : Horizontal

Paper : Special Stamp paper

Quantity : 3,000,000 (Three Million)

Sheet : 50

Process : Offset

Printer : Austrian Government Printing Office, Vienna, Austria

About : 

• 7,710 metre high Mt. Kumbhakarna (Jannu) is located in the Kanchenjunga Range in East Nepal. Although the first attempt of ascent on Mt. Kumbhakarna was made by a French expedition in the spring season of 1959, the first successful climb was made by two Sherpas (Nepali) and nine Frenchmen of another French expedition in the spring season of 1962.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 7, 1991

Issued for : Against this background, a special postage stamp is being brought out to commemorate the SAARC Year of Shelter and to focus attention on the efforts of the Government to provide housing to different income groups.

Description of Designs : The stamp and the first day cover have been designed by Shri Narendra Srivastav and the cancellation by Ms. Nenu Gupta.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Two Colour

Denomination : 400 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 Gravure Coated Gummed Stamp Paper

Number Printed : 10,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed : India Security Press

About : 

• The SAARC Heads of States, in the fifth SAARC Summit held at Male in December, 1990 declared 1991 as “SAARC Year of Shelter” to focus attention on and to arrive at appropriate policies, programmes and projects, which would help to attain the goal of shelter for all by the year 2000. The Male Declaration had recognised the imperative need for providing a better habitat to the people of South Asia through optimum utilisation of indigenous technology know-how and materials.
• The provision of appropriate and affordable shelter is a common problem being faced by member countries of SAARC. The SAARC countries have taken major initiatives in taking up programmes for solving the housing problem in urban and rural areas. India has taken up a number of successful projects for cost effective and yer aesthetic housing through qualitative planning and design inputs and use of transfer mechanism for appropriate building materials and technologies through Building Centres. The Government of India is determined to implement vigorously the Draft National Housing Policy of 1988 and is taking a series of legal and other initiatives to create a congenial environment for housing activity. The Government of India is assisting the State Governments in various ways to augment the housing stock for the poor, the significant schemes being night shelter for the homeless, liberation of scavengers and low cost sanitation in urban areas, Nehru Rozgar Yojana for the urban poor, Indira Awas Yojana for the rural landless and basic amenities for slum dwellers. Increased flow of housing finance is arranged through the National Housing Bank, HUDCO and a network of housing finance institutions. The Government has also announced a scheme for mobilising black money through the National Housing Bank for schemes of slum improvement and low income housing.
• Text : Courtesy Ministry of Urban Development.

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