Issued by India

Issued on Dec 31, 2008

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Udumalai Narayana Kavi.

Credits :
Stamp : India Security Press, Nasik
FDC & Cancellation : Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

Name : Udumalai Narayana

Born on Sep 25, 1899 at Poolavadi, Udumalpet taluk, Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu, British India

Died on 1981

About : 

• Udumalai Narayana Kavi was born on 25.09.1899 in Poolavadi Village about 20 kms from Udumalpet, Coimbatore District in Tamil Nadu. He lost his parents Thiru Krishnasamy and Tmt. Muthammal at an early age and was brought up by his elder brother Thiru Dhanuskodi. His early education was only up to Standard IV at a local elementary school in his village. Thereafter, he was taught by Guru Udumalai Muthuswamy Kavirayar, who also taught Tamil Literature. Then he learnt Harikatha Kalakshepam from Gayaka Sikamani Harikesa Nallur Muthiah Baghavthar.
• Udumalai Narayana Kavi displayed acting talents in local dramas at a very early age of 15. He acted in dramas like Valli Thirumanam, Pavalakhodi and Nandanar. A patriot, he went round the villages selling Khadi products and singing nationalist songs. Some of his songs became extremely popular.
• In 1923, he got the opportunity to act in dramas. His patriotic songs were often sung by famous artists of those days. His works earned him praise and recognition. The award of best lyricist by Sangeet Natak Academy and South India Film Chamber, the title of Sahitya Ratnakar and Kalaimamani, the award by the Tamil Nadu Government are some examples.
• He entered the world of cinema in 1933 when he continued till 1976. He wrote several lyrics for Tamil films.
• His Kathakalakshepam titled “Kindanar” was to eradicate caste-based discriminations among the people. His poems contained rationalistic, patriotic and social messages.
• Text : Based on material provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 31, 2008

Issued for : Department of Posts is proud to issue a postage stamp in the memory of Thillaiyadi Valliammai.

Credits :
Stamp : India Security Press, Nasik
FDC & Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

Name : Valliamma R. Munuswami Mudaliar

Born on Feb 22, 1898 at Johannesburg, South Africa

Died on Feb 22, 1914

About : 

• The story of freedom struggle of our country is full of many a chapter of unsung valour and sacrifices. The turn of events in the early 20^th century in South Africa added a new dimension to the Indian freedom struggle. It also started a huge churning process against colonial rules in a large part of the world and which, almost half a century later gave birth to a number of independent nation states, thereby changing the world map for good.
  
• The story of Thillaiyadi Valliammai is about one tiny indomitable flame of bravery that held against the mighty blows of colonial rule in South Africa.
  
• Born in Johannesburg on 22.2.1898 to Indian migrants from Tamilnadu, Munusamy and Janaki Ammal, she was deeply influenced by the Civil Disobedience Movement started by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa and its spectacular effect on the Indian and other communities there.
  
• On 14^th March, 1913 a controversial judgement was passed rendering all marriages not covered under the Marriages Registration Act of South Africa null and void. This created a widespread apprehension among the migrant Indians. Mahatma Gandhi started an agitation to protest this judgement. Thillaiyadi Valliammai actively canvassed and traveled extensively. On 28^th Oct. 1913 Satyagraha was launched by Kasturba in which Thillaiyadi Valliammai took the plunge. On 22^nd December, 1913 she was arrested and imprisoned in Maritzburg. The rigours of the prison took a toll on her health and though released on 11^th February, 1914, she died on 22^nd February, 1914 at the tender age of sixteen.
  
• Text : Based on material provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 31, 2008

Issued for : The Department of Posts is proud to release a commemorative postage stamp on Sheik Thambi Pavalar.

Credits :
Stamp : India Security Press, Nasik
FDC & Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

Name : Sheikh Thambi Pavalar

Born on Jul 31, 1874 at Edalakudy, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India

Died on Feb 13, 1950

About : 

• Sheik Thambi Pavalar was a doyen among Tamil Scholars of his period. He was an authority on ‘Kamba Ramayanam‘. He was also an orator who could hold the audience spellbound. He is popularly known as ‘Sadavadani‘, which means one who has a grasp on many different aspects of knowledge at a moment. He wrote many books and more important among them are ‘Thirukkottaru‘ Pathirthupathu Anthathi and Thirunagoor Thiruvanthathi. He also wrote a commentary on Seerappuranam.
• He was born on July 31 in the year 1874 to Pakeer Meeran and Amina Ummal in Edalkudy Village, near Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari. Handloom weaving was the main occupation of this place. Parents of Sheik Thambi were also involved in this occupation.
• He was sent to a Malayalam Primary School at the age of eight. Due to poverty he could not continue his school education as he had to help his parents in their occupation, even before he reached the age of ten.
• Though he dropped out of school at a very early age, he joined a ‘guru-kulam‘ school, conducted by Sankara Narayana Annavi. Within a short period, with the help of his guru, he not only mastered ancient Tamil literature and grammar but also developed oratorical and poetic talents.
• At the age of twenty-one he went to Chennai along with Hazarat Syed Thahalebbai to put into print ‘Meygnana Thirupadal Thirattu‘ (about 6000 poems) of the Sufi Saint Gnaniar Appa in Sri Padmavilasam Printing Press owned by Itta Parthasarathy Naidu. Impressed by the talents of Sheik Thambi, Itta Parthasarathy Naidu appointed him as publishing manager in his printing press. During this period he published ‘Seera Puranam‘ (5027 poems). In one of the public meetings presided by Itta Parthasarathy Naidu he was conferred the title of ‘Pavalar‘ at the age of twenty-seven.
• Sheik Thambi Pavalar gained widespread popularity after his manifestation of ‘Arupta‘ of Ramalinga Adigalar as ‘Arupta’. He performed ‘Sodasavadanam‘ on one Friday in 1906 in front of the Arippu Street Juma Masjid. At the end of the function Sadavadanam Subramonia Iyer conferred the title of ‘Mahamadi‘ (intellectual giant) and the president of the function conferred the title of ‘Sadavadani’ on him.
• Several other titles, like Devamirtha Prasanka Kalanchiya, Tamil Perunkadal, Kalai Kadal, Allama etc., were conferred on him.
• In 1907, he married Mohamed Fathima Beevi at Kottar. He was included in the Tamil Sangam, Madurai established by Pandithurai Thevar. While he was living at Kottar, people benefited from his scholarly attributes. He was also associated with Indian National Congress in the year 1920. He was a strong supporter of Khadi.
• He died on February 13, 1950.
• Text : Based on material provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 31, 2008

Issued for : The Department of Posts is honoured to release a commemorative postage stamp in his memory.

Credits :
Stamp : Based on material provided by the proponent.
FDC & Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

Name : Minjur Kanakasabhapathi Bhaktavatsalam

Born on Oct 9, 1897 at Nazareth village, Madras Presidency, British India

Died on Feb 13, 1987 at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

About : 

• M. Bhakthavatsalam was born on October 9, 1897 in Nazarathpet, a village in Chingleput District, Tamil Nadu. He was educated in the Christian Mission School and P.S. High School, Chennai. He joined the Presidency College, Madras in 1916 from where he graduated in Economics. He later joined the Madras Law College, worked as an apprentice under Alladi Krishnasami Iyer and subsequently, enrolled himself as an Advocate. However, he abandoned a promising legal profession in 1927 to plunge into full time political activity.
• Bhakthavatsalam took active interest in the Home Rule Movement started by Dr. Annie Besant even while he was in college. It was then that he came into contact with Rajaji. Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, he took part in the agitation against the Rowlatt Bill and joined the freedom struggle in 1921. He took a leading part in the Civil Disobedience Movement and was imprisoned in 1932. To stimulate Congress propaganda he started the daily newspaper “India” in Tamil and was its Managing Director till 1933. In the Individual Satyagraha Movement, he was imprisoned for 9 months (1940-41). Once again, he played an exemplary role in Quit India Movement in 1942 during which he was incarcerated for 2 years.
• Bhakthavatsalam served as Deputy Mayor of the Madras Corporation in 1937. Starting as a Parliamentary Secretary in Rajaji’s Ministry in 1937, he joined the Cabinet in 1946 and became an automatic choice in the subsequent ministries. Except for a brief spell of 10 months in 1952-53, he remained a member of the Cabinet for 21 years, as a Minister till 1963 and as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for over three years from 1963 to 1967. As Chief Minister, he contributed a great deal to the all round development of the State, particularly the development of industry, education and agriculture.
• Monuments to his farsightedness are the Madurai University which was established as his initiative and the Kundah and Periyar hydro-electric projects planned and executed during his term. Madras was the first state to have a separate highways department under him. As Minister in charge of religious endowments, he was largely responsible for toning up the administration of temples and undertaking renovation work on a large scale with UNESCO assistance. He was instrumental in the renovation of temples and kumbabhishekams and several institutions sprang up to promote temple architecture, music and sculpture. General and technical education under the aegis of temples also took shape under his leadership. As Education Minister, he was responsible for making Coimbatore Agricultural College, a premier institution.
• M. Bhakthavatsalam passed away on 13.2.1987. The Department of Posts is honoured to release a commemorative postage stamp in his memory.
• Text : Based on material provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 31, 2008

Issued for : India Post is proud to commemorate one of the forgotten bravehearts of the eighteen century, especially as the country has celebrated 60 years of freedom, Rani Velu Nachchiyar.

Credits :
Stamp : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad
FDC & Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : wet–offset

Printers : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Veera Mangai Velunachiyar

Born on Jan 3, 1730 at Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, India

Died on Dec 25, 1796 at Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, India

About : 

• The Story of Rani Velu Nachchiyar is an inspiring and touching chapter of bravery and valour against the East India Company which was consolidating its foothold in South India through a combination of cunning and brute force in the early eighteenth century. Mostly taking advantage of a lack of unity among the various small princely states, and the intrigues and treachery, that pervaded the atmosphere, the French, the Dutch and the British fixed alliances with various small princely states as fast as they changed sides, with a sole aim of stealing a march over their European competitors and gaining more and more territory. However, at times they met with terrific resistance from the Indians Rani Velu Nachchiyar being one such glorious example.
  
• The Queen Velu Nachchiyar was the daughter of King Sellamuthu Sethupathi of Ramanathapuram and Sakkandhi Muththaththai Nachchiyar. She was born in 1750. Sakkandhi was one of the auxiliary Palayams of Sivagangai State adjoining Sivagangai. Queen Velu Nachchiyar was very active and talented when she was young. She wanted to learn many languages and accordingly she learnt Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Urdu, English and French languages.
  
• She has studied the Sangam literary works, Silappadhikaram and Manimealai and also our epics like Ramayanam and Mahabharatham. Well versed in the art of warfare. This was the tradition followed by the family of Sethupathys, and accordingly, Velu Nachchiyar was well versed in all these aspects. She was married to Muthuvaduganathar and the couple was blessed with only one daughter.
  
• Muthuvaduganathar Thevar was the son of Sasivarna Periya Udaya Thevar the first independent king of Sivagangai State.
  
• He was in-charge of the administration of Sivagangai State from the year 1730 to 1750, though his father Sasivarna Thevar was the king. History was bestowed on him the distinction of being the ruler of Sivagangai state for the longest period from the year 1750 till he was killed in Kalaiyakoil in the year 1772. His death in the battle with the forces of Col. Smith in the year 1772 was the most grief-stricken incident in history.
  
• Queen Velu Nachchiyar and the most dependable and trustworthy Marudhu brothers escaped this slaughter.
  
• The death of her husband Muthu Vaduganathar was informed to Queen Velu Nachchiyar who was staying at that time in Kollangudi and she rush to Kalaiyarkovil fort.
  
• Velu Nachchiyar along with some body guards went to Virupakshi Palayam and sought asylum with Gopal Nayakkar. At the proper time Velu Nachchiyar along with a group of youngster of Sivagangai left the place and proceeded to meet Hyder Ali.
  
• The meeting of Velu Nachchiyar with Hyder Ali took place in Dindigul. The rule of Nawab of Arcot over Sivagangai which has already been weakened by the problems created by the revolutionary forces fumbled further on hearing about the assurance given by Hyder Ali to help Velu Nachchiyar. Though the Nawab tried to protect his interests with the help of the army of the East India Company all his efforts were defeated by the patriotic and loyal people of Sivagangai. After a period of eight years the flag of Nawab of Arcot was lowered from the flag post of Sivagangai palace and the Hanuman flag of Sivagangai was hoisted again under the reign of Velu Nachchiyar.
  
• Vengan Periya Udaya Thevar became king of Sivagangai as per the compromise formula suggested by the Englishmen. The adopted son of Velu Nachchiyar Padamathur Gowri Valluba Thevar escaped to Arantangi to protect his life.
  
• In the year 1790, Vellachhi Nachchiyar daughter of Velu Nachchiyar died under mysterious circumstances. Velu Nachchiyar became physically weak and sick because of the tremendous mental stress and strain to which she was subjected to for quite some time. A bishop by name Jose-de-pray arranged for the treatment of her heart ailment in France. It is presumed, but not confirmed that she would have gone to Paris in the year 1791. After a gap of three years Velu Nachchiyar appeared again in Sivagangai. As the situation for her continuous stay in Sivagangai was not conducive, she went to Virupakshi Palayam and stayed there. She died there on 25.12.1796.
  
• Text : As per the material provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 31, 2008

Issued for : India post is pleased to release a postage stamp on A.T. Paneerselvam.

Credits :
Stamp : India Security Press, Nasik
FDC & Cancellation : Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

Name : Rao Bahadur Sir Arogyaswami Thamaraiselvam Pannirselvam

Born on Jun 1, 1888 at Selvapuram, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, India

Died on Mar 1, 1940 at Gulf of Oman

About : 

• The colonial rule in India evoked a wide range of socio-cultural responses from different parts of the country. The colonial rule and the independence struggle threw up a number of educated and vociferous protagonists espousing the interests of different socio-cultural segments of society. Contribution of such leaders to the overall dynamics that worked in the pre-independence India and that ultimately led to independence, cannot be underestimated. While some of them assumed a pan national stature, some of them devoted themselves completely to voicing the aspirations of particular segments of society. A.T. Paneerselvam was one such personality.
• He was born on 01.06.1888 at Selvapuram in Thiruvarur District in Tamil Nadu. He completed his early studies in Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli. He studied law in London and joined the Madras High Court. Subsequently he came back to Thanjavur and continued his practice. He joined the Justice Party in 1917. He strongly advocated the cause of downtrodden on various platforms. He, along with Arcot Sir A. Ramasamy represented the minorities before the Simon Commission and supported community based reservation and asked for Dominion status for India. In 1927 he came in contact with Mahatma Gandhi. In 1930 he got elected from the Tiruchi-Thanjavur reserved constituency and remained Member of the Legislative Assembly for ten years. He participated in the two Round Table Conferences in 1930 and 1931.
• In 1934 he became a Member of the Administrative Council to the Governor. In the same year he became the Minister of Finance & Home in the interim Ministry formed by the Justice Party in Tamil Nadu after the Congress decided not to form the government even after winning the elections. The Congress, however, formed the government in 1937 under C. Rajagopalachari.
• In 1938 the British conferred the title ‘Sir‘ to Paneerselvam. On 1^st March 1940, as he was on way to London upon the invitation of the British he died in an air crash.
• His devotion to social issues has many admirers.
• Text : Based on material provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 22, 2008

Issued for : India Post is proud to issue commemorative postage stamp on “BrahMos”.

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

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 & 2000 Paise

Stamps Printed : 2.0 Million (500p),  1.0 Million (2000p)

Miniature Sheet : 0.2 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

About : 

• “Defence of country is time honoured function of its Government and an essential attribute of sovereignty and economic growth”.
• Extensive use of subsonic cruise missiles in Gulf war brought about stupendous changes in strategic thinking and convinced nation’s world over to lay more emphasis on development of cruise missiles. India and Russia conceived an idea of jointly developing a cruise missile far superior to the one used during Gulf war. This laid the foundation of a unique Joint Venture “Brahmos Aerospace” with partnership from both countries, represented by Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) from India and Nauchno Proizvodstvennoe Obiedinenie Mashinostroyeniya (Scientific & Production Organization of Machine Building) (NPOM) from Russia. The technological voids of both were to be covered by either side and the program commenced in 1998.
• Brahmos, name represents two well-known rivers, Brahmaputra of India and Moskova of Russia. The calmness and serenity of Moskova River and the power and speed of Brahmaputra depict the main characteristics of “BRAHMOS Supersonic Cruise Missile”, the product of the Joint Venture. The combination of speed, power and precision achieved by this missile is unparallel and by far the best in the world in this class of Weapon System.
• Brahmos Aerospace became the first Joint Venture between India and a foreign partner from mind to market and took on the responsibility of design, development, production and marketing. This Joint Venture was for the first time formed in the history of India by converting Loan repayment into Investment with equity share ratio of 50.5% and 49.5%. An integration of Public-Private Industries from India and Russia as consortium resulted in production of world class product which presented an opportunity of penetrating the world market.
• BRAHMOS is a supersonic missile that approaches target with three times the speed of sound and is capable of being launched from multiple platforms i.e. land based launcher, warships, submarines, maritime patrol/ASW aircraft and combat aircraft.
• Unleashing technological asymmetry in the battle space, this supersonic cruise missile is capable of tilting the balance of war in favour of the possessor who can use it imaginatively and decisively.
• Numerous flight tests have taken place from different platforms in variety of configurations such as from ship to ship, land to ship, land to land and ship against the land. Today the BrahMos is operational with the Indian Navy and Army.
• Success of BrahMos is attributable to many known major factors such as vision, government support, mutual trust between partners, sharing of available best technologies.
• The trust and support provided by the two Governments coupled with the outstanding management leadership of the Joint Venture has resulted in a World class product which has become a model for all future co-operations between our two countries and has escalated relations between the two countries well beyond the buyer-seller equation that has persisted for decades.
• Text : Based on material given by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 21, 2008

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

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

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Wet–offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Thazhuvia Ramasubbaiyer

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

Died on Jul 21, 1984

About : 

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

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 16, 2008

Issued for : Department of Posts is proud to issue a commemorative postage stamp in the honour of Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw.

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

Type : Block of 4 Stamps, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi color

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.5 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

Name : Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw

Born on Apr 3, 1914 at Amritsar, Punjab, India

Died on Jun 27, 2008 at Wellington, Tamil Nadu, India

About : 

• In 1942 at the height of the World War II a fierce battle was raging in Myanmar, then Burma, at the Sittang Bridge. A company of the Indian Army was engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the invading Japanese Forces for the capture of a position, which was critical for the control of the bridge. The young company commander was exhorting his troops when his stomach was fiddled by a machine gun burst. Afraid that his company would be left leaderless if he was evacuated, he continued fighting till he collapsed. His company won the day and the general commanding the Indian Forces arrived at the scene to congratulate the soldiers. On seeing the critically wounded commander, he announced the immediate award of the Military Cross as the young officer was not expected to survive much longer and the Military Cross is not awarded posthumously. Thus began a historic military career of a great Indian soldier who survived to become India‘s first Field Marshal.
• The man eventually destined to be free India‘s first Field Marshal was born into a Parsi family on 3^rd April 1914 at Amritsar. After a stint in Hindu College, on 30^th September 1932 he joined the first batch of the newly opened Indian Military Academy (IMA) at Dehradun for training Indians for commissioned rank in the British Indian Army. In IMA he was part of the Academy Tennis Team and was awarded the ‘tennis Blue‘. However he frequently landed up in trouble with the laws and rules of the IMA. He received his commission on 4^th February 1934 and, after an attachment as was the practice then with a British Infantry Battalion, the 2^nd Battalion the Royal Scouts, he joined the 4^th Battalion, 12 Frontier Force Regiment, commonly called the 54^th Sikh.
• One of the finest officers of the Indian Army, Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, MC, popularly known as Sam Bahadur, has had a long and illustrious military career. His first major military campaign was World War II when he served as a captain with the 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment in Burma in 1942. After that near fatal campaign Sam went to the Staff College in Quetta for a course and served for while as an instructor. He joined the 12 Frontier Force Rifles in Burma and was wounded amidst fierce battle yet again. Towards the end of the War he helped in the rehabilitation of 10,000 Prisoners of War (POWs). He then served as a first grade staff officer in the Military Operations Directorate. Manekshaw successfully handled many planning and administrative problems that crept up after partition. The Jammu and Kashmir operations of 1947-48 were largely successful because of his professional acumen.
• Promotions followed in rapid succession, after command of an Infantry Brigade he was posted as the Commandant of the Infantry School and also became the Colonel of 8 Gorkha Rifles (his regimental home) and 61 Cavalry. He commanded a Division in Jammu & Kashmir and 1959 saw Sam as Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College. On promotion to the coveted rank of Lieutenant General he took over the Command of 4 Corps on 28^th November 1962, at a most critical time during Chinese Aggression. The same day Sam addressed a conference, he entered the room with his usual jaunty step, looked as if he were meeting each eye trained on him and said, Gentleman, I have arrived! There will be no more withdrawals in 4 Corps, thank you; and walked out. But the charisma that surrounds the man had preceded him and soldier and officer alike knew the ‘chosen one’ had arrived and henceforth all would be well. It was as if the dark and oppressive atmosphere had suddenly been lightened and Sam was the bearer of the light. The Indian Army suddenly once again became, that proud, disciplined and distinguished force that had fought and triumphed in practically every battlefield of the world. The Chinese aggression was effectively replied thereafter.
• As General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command, he handled the tricky problem of insurgency in Nagaland and the grateful but nation honoured him with a Padma Bhushan in 1968. On 7^th June 1969 Sam Manekshaw replaced General Kumaramangalam as the 8^th Chief of Army Staff. His immense military experience came to good use during the Indo-Pak War of 1971 which led to a splendid victory under his command.
• During the 1971 War refugees from the then East Pakistan poured into India and Sam had to manage the two tasks, one of defeating the Pakistani Forces and to deliver the goods, his brilliant war strategy led to the unconditional surrender of the Pakistani Forces within a short span of just 14 days. Over 93,000 Pakistani soldiers and civilians were taken POWs. Sam was full of compassion and was the first Indian officer to reach at Delhi Railway Station to meet the Pakistani POWs. He shared a cup of tea and chatted with them for some time. The POWs were seen shaking their heads in disbelief, saying they wished they had generals like him in Pakistan. When the Prime Minister asked him to go to Dhaka and accept the surrender of the Pakistani Forces, he declined, magnanimously saying the honour should go to his Army Commander in the East. The war became an example of perfect coordination between the three units of the Armed Forces and stands out as one of the fastest military victories in the history of. With the Shimla agreement in place, the new nation of Bangladesh was created.
• Sam never raised his voice, but even a mild disapproving look from him with a ‘Sweetheart, this won’t do,’ was enough to shake the stoutest heart. Sharply critical, but always constructively, there was nothing his eye ever missed or his fantastically retentive memory ever forgot. He forgave easily, being basically a kind man. He was human and approachable. His mastery of detail was fantastic and he could quote an answer given verbally or in writing months previously to correct someone who was saying something else.
• As a commander, he was a hard taskmaster. He encouraged his officers in the face of adversity but did not tolerate incompetence. A battalion employed in the Mizo Hills, was paying perhaps a little more attention to the welfare of its troops and, in the process, a little less than desired to the operational side received a rude reminder that ‘someone up there‘ was watching very keenly, every move that was made. A parcel of bangles was delivered to the commanding officer with the compliments of the Army commander with a cryptic note, ‘If you are avoiding contact with the hostile give these to your men to wear.‘ Needless to say, the next few weeks saw a flurry of activity of this battalion resulting in another, more soothing message; ‘send the bangles back.’ That is perhaps Manekshaw‘s greatest contribution, to instill a sense of duty, efficiency and professionalism in the modern Indian Army.
• Sam came from a family with strong values. He had three brothers and two sisters, in 1937 he met his wife Silioo Bode at Lahore and they got married on the 22^nd April 1939. Their first daughter Sherry was born on the 11^th of January 1940 and Maya was born on September 24^th 1945. Manekshaw learnt his strong sense of honour and honesty from his father and his jolly spirit and humour from his mother.
• In 1972 President Shri V.V. Giri awarded him the Padma Vibhushan for his distinguished and selfless service to the nation. On 1^st January 1973 he was bestowed with the prestigious rank of Field Marshal, another first in Indian military history. Sam Manekshaw retired a fortnight later after forty years of exceptional and dedicated military service. He died at the age of 94 on the 27^th June 2008 at Wellington Military Cantonment due to pneumonia and related complications. He is survived by his daughters and grandchildren.
• Soldiers like him never die; they live for ever in every soldier’s heart and soul.
• Text : Based on material given by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 15, 2008

Issued for : India Post is happy to issue commemorative postage stamp on Swami Ranganathanada Maharaj.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC, Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi color

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : wet-offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Swami Ranganathananda (Birth Name : Shankaran Kutty)

Born on Dec 15, 1908 at Thrissur, Kerala, India

Died on Apr 25, 2005 at Belur Math, near Kolkata, India

About : 

• From 1973 to 1986 Maharaj undertook annual tours to the US, Europe and Australia spreading the message of Vedanta and Ramakrishna–Vivekananda. Never confined within the limits of race, language or nation, his consciousness was always international and universal. He was proficient in several languages.
• Following the policy that Swami Vivekananda laid down for the Order, Swami Ranganathanandaji always remained a political. He worked for national integration at all levels, bringing politicians and administrators, industrialists and technocrats, educationists and students, scientists and professionals, doctors and lawyers, businessmen and workers, and even children to believe in their country, to stop exploitation of every kind, and to work for the amelioration of the poor and the downtrodden.
• Swami Ranganathanandaji was a constant traveller and an unrelenting karma yogi in appreciation of his noble contribution as an integrator of humanity, he was honoured in 1985 with the first Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration.
• Swami Ranganathanandaji was elected a trustee of the Ramakrishna Math and a member of the governing body of the Ramakrishna Mission in 1961. On 1 April 1989 he was elected a Vice President, and on 7 September 1998 he became President of the Order. From 1998 onwards he lived at Belur Math.
• All through his life, in addition to meeting his demanding schedule of travelling, lecturing, meeting people and attending to the details of administration, Maharaj found time to read and write extensively. He was a voracious reader and kept up the habit of serious study till the end of his life. All his talks and writings bear the stamp of deep thinking and scholarship. He was deeply involved with the welfare of the weaker sections of society and women, and actively helped in their uplift. He was also greatly concerned about the need for conscientious political leadership.
• A large number of Swami Ranganathanandaji‘s lectures have been published in book form, notable among which are : The Message of the Upanishads, Universal Message of the Bhagavad Gita (three volumes), The Central Theme of Srimad Bhagavatam, The Message of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Eternal Values for a Changing Society (four volumes), A Pilgrim Looks at the World (two volumes), Vedanta and the Future of Mankind, Social Responsibilities of Public Administrators, Enlightened Citizenship and Our Democracy and Spiritual Life of the Householder.
• Swami Ranganathanandaji passed away on 25^th August 2005 at the age of Ninety six.
• Text : Based on material given by the proponent.

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