Issued by India

Issued on Dec 22, 2001

Issued for : The Department of Posts is bringing out a set of four stamps on temple architecture. Four temples noted for their antiquity and architectural features have been included in this set. These are also popular pilgrimage centres and form part of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples, considered to be the abodes of Lord Shiva.

Design : The first stamp depicts the temple at Kedarnath, set against the majestic Kedarnath range of mountains of Uttaranchal. It is a handsome building with a neat facade, incorporating architectural features typical of the Himalayan region. The Tryambakeshwar temple, featured on the next stamp, is situated in the district of Nashik in Maharashtra. It is built in black stone and follows the Nagara style of architecture. The third stamp is on Aundha Nagnath temple, located near Nanded in Maharashtra. The temple is famous for its exquisite carvings. Spread over an area of 60,000 sq. ft., it follows the style of architecture called Hemadpanthi. Figuring on the fourth stamp, the temple of Rameshwaram is famous of its majestic pillars and well fashioned corridors. Built around the twelfth century A.D., with its beautifully embellished Gopurams and towers, it is a classic example of Dravidian architecture.

The First Day Cover carries an illustration of the Kashi Vishwanath temple at Varanasi, noted for its antiquity and architectural features.

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

Type : Stamps, Postal Used

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 400, 400, 400 & 1500 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 X 3.91 cms.

Printing size : 2.90 X 3.91 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported Unwatermarked stamp paper

Stamps Printed : 3 million each

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Madras Security Printers Ltd.

About : 

• Religion has been a formative influence on every form of human activity in India, particularly art and architecture. Thus, the evolution of the temple over two thousand years offers a fascinating subject to students of architecture. The different styles of Indian temple architecture also offers insight into the economic, cultural, social and climatic factors that were predominant in different historical periods.
• Models derived from religious considerations have been central to temple architecture in India. Thus, various elements and decorative details which originated on account of the structural requirements of the earlier timber buildings were carried over into the era of stone construction also, because of religious beliefs. The horseshoe shaped window, post and beam and corbelled vaulting are examples of such elements. However, there was enough scope for architectural elements and sculptural forms that are so characteristic of Indian temple architecture and which have few parallels in the entire world.
• The different architectural styles of the temples of India have been traditionally classified into three, viz. The Nagara of ‘northern’ style, the Dravida or ‘southern’ style, and the Vasara or hybrid style which is seen in the Deccan between the other two. There are also distinct and localised styles in areas like Bengal, Kerala and the valleys of the Himalayas.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 20, 2001

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a postage stamp in honour of this great leader who dedicated herself totally to social service and patriotic causes.

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

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Six Colour

Denomination : 400 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 Cms.

Printing size : 2.50 x 3.55 Cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5 mm with elliptical hole on each 39.1 mm sides

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 0.4 million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

Name : Lekha Divyeshwari Devi

Born on Oct 12, 1919 at Sagar, Central Provinces and Berar, British India [now Madhya Pradesh, India]

Died on Jan 25, 2001 at New Delhi, India

About :

• Combining in her personality the intrepid courage of Rani Laxmibai and the sacrifice and religiosity of Rajamata Ahilyabai, Rajamata Vijaya Raje Scindia (1919-2001) left an indelible mark in the socio-political life of the country.
• Born in an aristocratic family, her early education was at Sagar. She went on to complete higher education from the Dr. Annie Besant Theosophical College, Benares and the Isabel Thorborne College, Lucknow and later, received an Honorary Doctorate from the Vikram University, Ujjain. She was married to Maharaja Jivajirao Scindia, the Scion of the royal family of Gwalior in 1941.
• Rajamata’s advent into politics began in 1957, when she won the elections to the Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket. She went on to win several elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, as well as State Assembly, and was one of the most respected political leaders of the country. For her, politics was just a means to serve the society. She faced the personal tragedy of the loss of her husband in 1961 with rare dignity and poise. The remaining part of her life was spent in working for various social and political causes close to her heart.
• In 1967, she resigned from the Congress on matters of principle and ideology, and joined the Jan Sangh. All through her political career, she kept a distance from positions of power, even on occasions when she was the popular choice for posts like the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and President of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
• Despite being actively involved in politics, Rajamata Vijaya Raje Scindia remained equally committed to the spread of education and helping the poor and downtrodden. She was closely associated with the formation and development of many reputed educational institutions. She also worked for the upliftment of women and initiated many projects for the benefit of the weaker sections in and around Gwalior.
• Text : Based on material received from the sponsors.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 18, 2001

Issued for : Department of Posts in happy to release these special stamps on greetings to reinforce and complement the greeting within the envelope and to add greater depth and meaning to the message. In a small but significant way, these postage stamps hope to show the feelings that have gone into sending the missive at the first glance.

Credits :
Stamp : C. R. Pakrashi and Kamleshwar Singh
FDC : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation : Nenu Gupta

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 400 & 300 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 Cms.

Printing size : 2.90 x 3.91 Cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5 mm with elliptical hole on each 39.1 mm sides

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 3 million each

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

About : 

• Greetings are an important medium of conveying thoughts and feelings. In a subtle way, they celebrate and strengthen relationships. Celebrations have been woven into the way of life in almost all cultures and greetings have played a significant role not only in celebrating important occasions but also in social interaction between people. Over the centuries, greetings have assumed myriad forms and shapes from letters written on leaf and bark scrolls, to greetings on gold, silver and copper plaques and modern day greetings by post and electronic medium.
• History has recorded the prevalence of greetings in ancient Egypt and Rome where the New Year was marked by the exchange of symbolic presents of scent, laurel or olive branches coated with gold leaf etc. This practice continued and further developed in the early days of Christianity. A fresh impetus was given to this form of expression with the advent of the printing press and with the coming of the penny post in 1840, greetings became a part of the social matrix, gathering increasing connotation as they passed through the centuries.
• In India too, the practice of sending illustrated greetings through the post picked up over the years. Almost all festivals, Diwali, Holi, Pongal, Durga Puja, Baisakhi, Christmas, Id and now even Raksha Bandhan and Valentine’s Day are marked by sending of greetings cards through the post. They are now used to express a gamut of emotions; love, friendship, sympathy, affection and for conveying congratulations and thanks.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 18, 2001

Issued for : Department of Posts in happy to release a commemorative postage stamp on completion of 100 years of Digboi Refinery.

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

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 400 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 Cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un w/m stamp paper

Stamps Printed : 0.8 million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Eagle Press Pvt. Ltd.

About :

• History was made more than a century back in a remote corner of Assam in the midst of dense jungles when a group of Italian Engineers, commissioned by the Assam Railways and Trading Company to build a railway line from Dibrugarh to Margherita accidentally discovered oil. It was here in Digboi that the first commercially viable oil well in India, known locally as well no. 1, was successfully drilled in September 1889 and the first modern refinery in India was built and commissioned in December 1901.
• Digboi Refinery is India’s first refinery and one of the oldest operating refineries in the world. In fact, it was the only refinery in India till mid 1950s. The capacity of the refinery was expanded over the years in order to process the increasing crude oil production from the Digboi Oil Field and subsequent discovery of Nahorkatiya fields in 1953. Earlier owned and operated by the Assam Oil Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Burmah Oil Company Limited, Digboi Refinery was vested with the IOCL by an Act of Parliament on 14^th October 1981. Digboi, is now the headquarters of the Assam Oil Division of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) also.
• Digboi Refinery was rebuilt in 1923 and most of the units were of 1930 vintage till it came into the fold of IOCL in 1981. Since then, large scale investments have been made by IOCL in the refinery. A modern Crude Oil Distillation Unit along with associated utilities and offsite facilities was commissioned in 1996. Subsequently, a Catalytic Reformer Unit, a New Delayed Coking Unit and a Wax Hydro-finishing Unit were commissioned between 1997 and 2001 and the refinery capacity was also enhanced. A state-of-the-art Vacuum Residue Short Path Distillation Unit for producing improved quality Bitumen and feedstock for high melting Point Microcrystalline Wax was commissioned in April 2001. With two more major ongoing projects viz. Solvent Dewaxing Unit and Kerosene/Diesel Hydrotreater, Digboi Refinery will soon complete its transition to a state-of-the-art refinery. With assimilation of technology and development of infrastructure, Digboi Refinery is striving to achieve higher standards of excellence in all fields of operation including safety and environment protection. The refinery is already certified for ISO-9002, ISO-14001, BS-8800 and has an ISRS rating at level 5 in the baseline audit. The refinery produces a wide range of petroleum products including wax, bitumen and also a number of speciality products. The paraffin wax produced in the refinery is one of the finest in the world.
• Petroleum has revolutionised our life, as a source of energy for domestic, industrial and transport sector and as a feedstock for agricultural, chemical and other industries. Over the past 100 years, petroleum industry of India with Digboi Refinery as its nucleus has been an integral part of our country’s march towards self-reliance.
• Text : Based on material furnished by the sponsors.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 14, 2001

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to release a postage stamp on this great showman of India.

Credits :
Stamp, FDC & Cancellation : Sankha Samanta

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 400 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 cms.

Printing Size : 2.90 x 3.91 cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5 mm

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 0.4 million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

Name : Ranbir Raj Kapoor

Born on Dec 14, 1924 at Peshawar, North–West Frontier Province, British India [now in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan]

Died on Jun 2, 1988 at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

About : 

• Combining in his career the diverse role of actor, director, producer and movie moghul Raj Kapoor (1924-1988) carved out a niche for himself in the history of Indian cinema.
• Son of the illustrious Prithviraj Kapoor, the legendary film and theatre personality, Raj Kapoor made his debut as an actor at the age of eleven in Inquilaab, directed by Debaki Basu. By the time he directed his first film, Aag in 1948, he had already acted in eight more films. Raj Kapoor‘s second film was a much bigger success at the box office and established him and Nargis as the leading romantic pair of Indian screen. In 1950, he established the RK Studios at Chembur near Bombay which went on to become one of the best in the country. The following year saw the release of Awara, considered by many as the masterpiece of Raj Kapoor. The narrative of the film which established the power of truth and love in a decadent society struck a chord with viewers not just in India, but in different parts of the world. It was dubbed into a number of languages. Boot Polish and Jaagte Raho were two of his productions noted for their quality of direct realism, making them worthwhile documents of the prevailing social situations. Directed by Prakash Arora and Shambu Mitra respectively, these films were ahead of the times with regard to technical aspects like cinematography and sound recording.
• Another popular film of Raj Kapoor was Shri 420, in which the character of the ‘lovable tramp’, already established with Awara, took on Chaplinesque undertones. Sangam, produced, directed and edited by Raj Kapoor in 1964, was his first in colour and turned out to be a big success at the box office. However, his most ambitious film Mera Naam Joker, released a few years later, failed to impress the audience. Learning from the failure of Mera Naam Joker, Raj Kapoor came up with Bobby three years later. It was a charming commercial film with a fresh star-cast that included his son Rishi Kapoor and a new face Dimple Kapadia. Its breezy narrative style appealed to the youth and the film was a run away hit. The nineteen seventies and eighties saw sweeping changes in the film industry and a whole new breed of filmmakers came and established themselves. However, Raj Kapoor still continued to hold his sway over the audience with films like Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Prem Rog.
• Raj Kapoor‘s immense knowledge of religions and fables helped him to discover a format that appealed to the cross section of viewers. In his format, he combined fact and fiction to educate and entertain masses comprising of various socio-economic and religious groups. His themes were deeply rooted in the soil but his treatment gave them a look of modern fables and fairy tales. He portrayed the lives of the under privileged with rare sensitivity and portrayed the underdog as a glamorous rather than a reprehensible hero. Many awards and distinctions were conferred on him, the most prominent being the Dada Saheb Phalke Award and Padma Bhushan.
• Text : Based on material received from the sponsors.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 5, 2001

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to issue a postage stamp to commemorate the International Year of Volunteers.

Credits :
Stamp, FDC & Cancellation : Based on the material given by sponsors.

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 400 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 Cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un w/m stamp paper

Stamps Printed : 0.8 million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Eagle Press Pvt. Ltd.

About :

• Volunteer service has been a part of virtually every civilisation and society. Defined in the broadest terms as the non-profit contribution that individuals make for the well-being of their neighbour, community or society at large, voluntary service can range from traditional customs of mutual self-help to response in times of crisis. The concept includes local and national volunteer efforts, as well as bilateral and international programmes which operate across frontiers. Volunteers have come to play a significant part in programmes of humanitarian assistance, technical cooperation, promotion of human rights, democratisation and peace. Volunteering is also the basis of much of the activity of non-governmental organisations, professional associations, trade unions etc. Given the adverse impact of global problems, the need for increased volunteer effort is greater today than ever before. While the contribution of volunteers is vast, much of their work often goes unrecognized because it does not involve the payment of market wages and because it is often spontaneous, informal and unstructured.
• The idea for an International Year of Volunteers (IYV) to be proclaimed as the world entered the 21^st Century, arose in deliberations of several major international organisations and the United Nations General Assembly in its 52^nd session declared to designate the year 2001 as International Year of Volunteers. The objectives of the International Year of Volunteers are increased recognition and facilitation of volunteers, networking through different media for wider publicity and promotion of volunteers and their activities.
• The premise underlying IYV 2001 is that voluntary service is called for more than ever before to tackle areas of priority concern in the social, economic, cultural, humanitarian and peace building fields and that more people are needed to offer their service as volunteers. For this to happen, there is a need for greater recognition and facilitation of volunteer work and greater promotion of such service. Designation of an International Year of Volunteers by the UN General Assembly has provided a valuable framework and established a favourable environment for the growth and more strategic use of voluntary contributions. It is hoped that this initiative will generate enough awareness to ensure that the Year extends beyond Governments and the UN to touch all sectors of society.
• Text : Based on the material given by sponsors.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 1, 2001

Issued for : The architectural magnificence of Konark has drawn the attention of art lovers all over the world and found it a place in the World Heritage List. For years, this magnificent poetry in stone was in a state of utter negligence and near ruin. Steps for the scientific conservation of the temple were started in 1901. This year, the temple completes a century of its conservation. Department of Posts is happy to release these postage stamps to commemorate hundred years of conservation efforts of the Sun Temple, Konark.

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

Type : Se–tenant pair of 2 Stamps, Mint Condition

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 400 & 1500 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 7.82 cms.

Printing Size : 2.90 x 7.82 cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5 mm

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 3 million

Number per issue sheet : 18

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

About : 

• One of the most stunning symbols of ancient Indian architecture, the Sun Temple of Konark represents the quintessence of temple architecture and art of Orissa. This temple, once widely known as the Black Pagoda, was built by the King Narasimhadeva–I of the Ganga dynasty in the thirteenth century, perhaps as a royal proclamation of the political supremacy of his dynasty. It is said that a workforce of twelve hundred artisans and architects invested their creative talent, energy and artistic commitment for a period of twelve years to create this colossal monument. The temple was constructed as a monumental representation of a massive chariot drawn by seven spirited horses on twelve pairs of exquisitely carved wheels, lying on an east-west axis in which the Sun God Surya was pulled across the sky.
  
• The grand temple complex consists of Deula (Sanctum), Jagamohana (Audience hall) and the Nata Mandir (Dancing hall). The temples faces the east to greet the first rays of the rising sun. The Deula and Jagamohana, forming component parts of one architectural scheme, stand on a magnificent platform. The temple abounds in sculptural work. The walls of the temple are richly carved and contain superb carvings of divine, semi-divine, human and animal figures amidst floral and geometric ornamentations. The vivacious ‘kanyas’ and danseuse are remarkable for their sensuous modelling, pulsating with human emotions in a variety of gestures and rhythmic actions. Each wheel of the chariot is a masterpiece of Indian art. The seven splendid stone horses near the eastern flight of steps to drag the chariot, the ornamental platform and the wheels impart a feeling of movement to the monument as a whole. The contemporary life and culture as well as the character of an entire classical dance style can also be traced out from the surface of the temple.

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 29, 2001

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to honour this accomplished artist with the release of a commemorative stamp.

Design : The First Day Cover depicts one of the paintings of Sobha Singh. The stamp carries the self portrait of the artist.

Credits :
Stamp and FDC : Based on material furnished by the Government of Punjab.
Cancellation : Nenu Gupta

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 400 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 Cms.

Printing size :  2.90 x 3.91 Cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un w/m stamp paper

Stamps Printed : 0.4 million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Eagle Press Pvt. Ltd.

Name : Sobha Singh

Born on Nov 29, 1901 at Sri Hargobindpur, Gurdaspur district, Punjab, British India [now Punjab, India]

Died on Aug 22, 1986 at Chandigarh, India

About :

• Investing his paintings with rare nobility and character, Sobha Singh (1901-1986) created a Sikh idiom in Indian art and brought Punjab into the mainstream of the art movement in the country.
• Though the young Sobha Singh joined the British Army as a draughtsman, he soon realized that the world of colours was his true calling. He sacrificed the security of a career in the Army to take up painting as a full time profession. His initial years as a professional artist saw him moving from Amritsar to Lahore, and further to Delhi. He made a mark wherever he went, and set up an art studio in Delhi in 1942. During this period he produced some unique paintings on Indian Railways and the Posts and Telegraphs Department. He also worked as an Art Director for some films.
• An unfortunate incident when about 300 of his valuable art pieces were destroyed by fire proved to be a turning point in his life. He moved to the sylvan surroundings of Andretta in the Kangra hills, where he established the now world famous “Sobha Singh Art Gallery” in 1950.
• His paintings based on romantic tales such as Sohni-Mahiwal, Heer-Ranjha, Sassi-Punnu and Mirza-Sahiban are well known. His paintings of the poets, writers, martyrs, saints and saint-warriors of Punjab as well as Sikh Gurus are also famous.
• A documentary film titled “Painter of the People” throws more light on his life and works. The British Broadcasting Corporation also made a documentary on him in 1984. Numerous awards and distinctions were conferred on him, the prominent being the title of ‘State Artist’ of the Punjab Government, honorary Doctorate of the Punjab University and the Padmashri of the Government of India.
• Text : Based on material furnished by the Government of Punjab.

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 17, 2001

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to release a commemorative postage stamp on Dr. V. Shantaram.

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

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 400 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 cms.

Printing Size : 2.90 x 3.91 cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5 with elliptical hole on each 3.91 mm sides

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 0.4 million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

Name : Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre

Born on Nov 18, 1901 at Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India

Died on Oct 30, 1990 at Mumbai, India

About : 

• In an illustrious career spanning over 7 decades, Dr. V. Shantaram (1901-1990) created 105 films and used the medium of cinema to advocate social messages, winning the acclaim of both connoisseurs and commoners.
• Hailing from Kolhapur in Maharashtra, Shantaram‘s initiation into cinema was through the Maharashtra Film Company of Babu Rao Painter, one of the great pioneers of Indian cinema. Initially a mere studio hand, he progressed through hard work to become a film-maker. In 1929, Shantaram and some friends launched their own concern called Prabhat Film Company, which steadily grew in reputation and became a major force in Indian cinema.
• The films of Shantaram were noted for their visual beauty and powerful narrative. The subjects varied from film to film, and were drawn from contemporary life as well as mythology. The young Shantaram was not afraid to express his nationalist feelings through films even in troubled decades of 1930s and 1940s, despite the severe censorship of the British rulers. Themes of social relevance like untouchability, poverty etc. were also dealt with in his films. The enterprising film-maker kept abreast of the technological developments in the industry happening elsewhere in the world. Films like Dharamatma (1935), Sant Tukaram (1936) and Aadmi (1939) were not just commercial successes, but also won critical acclaim.
• In 1941, Shantaram parted ways with the Prabhat Studios. He formed his own studio under the name Rajkamal Kalamandir in Bombay. A series of hugely successful films like Shakuntala (1943), Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946), Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje (1955), Do Ankhen Barah Haath (1957) and Navrang (1959) were produced under this banner, making him a legend in the film industry. His masterpiece was perhaps Do Ankhen Barah Haath, which, apart from winning the President’s Gold Medal for the best film and several other awards at the national level, was recognised abroad also.
• The movement for children’s films was close to V. Shantaram‘s heart. He made significant contributions to the Children’s Film Society of India, of which he accepted the honorary Presidentship in 1978. The V. Shantaram Motion Picture Scientific Research and Cultural Foundation which he set up in 1977 continues to serve Indian cinema through technical research and cultural advancement. Many awards were conferred upon this great movie maker, the prominent among them being the Padma Vibhushan (awarded posthumously), the Dada Saheb Phalke Award and honorary Doctorate of Nagpur University.

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 9, 2001

Issued for : The reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the harbinger of great things to come – the birth of a modern nation transcending communal distinctions. The Department of Posts deems it a privilege to issue a commemorative postage stamp in the memory of this great hero of Indian History.

Design : The First Day Cover depicts a miniature painting by an unknown artist of nineteenth century showing the Court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh as perceived by the artist.

Credits :
Stamp, FDC & Cancellation : Alka Sharma, Based on material furnished by sponsors.

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 400 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 cms.

Printing size :  2.90 x 3.91 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un w/m stamp paper

Stamps Printed : 0.4 million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Eagle Press Pvt. Ltd.

Name : Buddh Singh

Born on Nov 13, 1780 at Badrukhan village, Sangrur district, Punjab, India

Died on Jun 27, 1839 at Lahore, Punjab, Sikh Empire [now in Pakistan]

About :

• Born in 1780 AD, Maharaja Ranjit Singh has been rightly called the founder and architect of secularism in India. His father, Mohan Singh, a chieftain, died when Ranjit Singh was hardly eleven years old.
• He had to face a herculean task from the very beginning and to take the sword at a very young age. The country was torn by internal dissensions and jealousy. Hostile eyes were looking greedily at Punjab and it was left to Ranjit Singh to protect it from its many enemies. By sheer dint of courage, sagacity and wisdom, he rallied a disunited people, roused them to a supreme effort and made them masters of the land. Himself illiterate, educated by the milieu in the art of practical warfare, he carved out a great kingdom in northern India.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh raised a most powerful fighting force and, for the first time in a thousand years of Indian history, brought the traditional invaders of India to their knees. In the history of the world it would be hard to find another ruler who never took life in cold blood yet built up such a large empire. His reign was free from any acts of cruelty and oppression. His success was mainly due to his ability to arouse the nascent sense of nationalism amongst his people and make them conscious that the fact of belonging to one’s country was the most important. Considerations of caste or creed never weighed with him and he meted out justice impartially to all his subjects, regardless of their religious affiliations. Due recognition was given to ability and loyalty and thus he was assured of the assistance of a band of highly capable and devoted lieutenants. Maharaja Ranjit Singh never adopted the theory of the Divine Right of Kings, never gave himself any high-sounding titles and never claimed any supernatural powers. He picked out men like jewels and cherished them.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh passed away at Lahore in June, 1839. He has left an indelible mark on the pages of history. He was a great soldier and statesman – one of the greatest that India has produced in her long history.
• Text : Based on material furnished by the sponsors.

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