Issued by India

Issued on Dec 30, 2014

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to issue a postage stamp on Baba Amte.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamp Printed : 0.6 Million (0.1 Million for proponent)

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Muralidhar Devidas Amte

Born on Dec 26, 1914 at Hinganghat, Wardha, Maharashtra, India

Died on Feb 9, 2008 at Anandwan, Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India

About : 

• Muralidhar Devidas Amte, lovingly referred to as Baba Amte, was born at Hinganghat, Maharashtra on 26^th December. 1914.
  
• After obtaining a degree in Law in 1936, he started practicing as an advocate in Warora. Soon after, deeply moved by the poverty and degradation of the peasantry, he began organizing farmers’ cooperatives. He worked as a volunteer at sites affected by disaster as the Quetta earthquake of 1935 and Bengal famine in early 1940s. Influenced by Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi, he took an active part in the freedom struggle and was sentenced for organizing the lawyers to represent the imprisoned nationalist leaders.
  
• Baba Amte was also influenced by Sane Guruji, a social reformer from Maharashtra. He renounced his property and gave up the legal practice to set up a Shram Ashram (Hermitage of Labour) with the support of his wife, Sadhana. He worked wholeheartedly to improve the abysmal social and economic conditions of the social outcastes. It was the sight of a person in advanced stages of leprosy which proved to be the turning point in his life and influenced him to take the pledge to work for the care and rehabilitation of leprosy patients.
  
• In 1949, he attended a six month course on leprosy at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine. He started treating leprosy patients in 60 villages around Warora by moving across villages on foot. In 1949, Baba Amte founded the Maharogi Sewa Samiti, a registered charity, which remained a medium for his activities. He set up a commune for leprosy patients, along with his wife, two sons, and six leprosy patients, called the Anandwan or ‘Forest of Joy’.
  
• Anandwan soon became the nerve centre of Baba Amte‘s relentless crusade, helping leprosy patients become self-confident persons capable of cooperative and creative leadership. Its inhabitants cultivated the land to become self sufficient, and the establishment grew to include a clinic with two hospital wards, primary school for visually impaired, school for hearing and speech impaired, a college of agriculture, and an orphanage.
  
• Baba Amte also worked for improving the health of the tribals. With a view to bring about national integration and check communal violence. Baba Amte undertook the Bharat Jodo Yatra in December, 1985 from Kanyakumari to Jammu and covered different states reiterating his plea for checking religious fundamentalism, linguistic and territorial bickering and keeping the country above individuals. He also protested against the displacement of people affected by building of the dam across the river Narmada.
  
• Baba Amte was conferred the Padma Shree in 1971, Padma Vibhushan, and the Welfare of the Disabled award in 1986, and Gandhi Peace Prize in 1999. Baba Amte also received the Damien-Dutton Award in 1983 and the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service in 1985.
  
• Baba Amte worked incessantly for welfare of the society till his death on 9^th February, 2008.
  
• Text : Based on the information furnished by the proponent.
  

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Issued by Bangladesh

Issued on Dec 25, 2014 (১২ চৈত্র, ১৪২১ বঙ্গাব্দ)

Issued for : Bangladesh Television is playing the pioneering role in upholding cultural heritage of this country and unmatched in broadcasting programs on education, health etc. It will cross fifty years on December 25, 2014 and celebration of Golden Jubilee of the first Bangla telecasting in the world will be held. In order to keep memorable the glorious history of BTV a Commemorative Stamp and a First Day Cover of TK. 10 each, a Data Card of TK. 5 and a special canceller will be released by Bangladesh Post Office to inspire the viewers of BTV in the days to come.

অসংখ্য স্যাটেলাইট টেলিভিশনের ভীড়ে শিক্ষা, স্বাস্থ্য, কৃষি, উন্নয়ন ও জনসচেনতা কার্যক্রমে বিটিভি স্বতন্ত্র বৈশিষ্টে সমুজ্জবল। গৌরবাকীর্ণ পঞ্চাশ বছরে বিটিভির অর্জন অসংখ্য। দীর্ঘ পথপরিক্রমায় ২৫ ডিসেম্বর ২০১৪ পূর্ণ হবে বিটিভির ৫০ বছর এবং পৃথিবীতে বাংলা ভাষায় টেলিভিশন সম্প্রচারের অর্ধশতক। বিটিভির গৌরবোজ্জ্বল ইতিহাস সমগ্র জাতির নিকট স্মরণীয় করে রাখার উদ্দেশ্যে স্মারক ডাকটিকিট যুগ যুগ ধরে বিটিভি দর্শকদের অনুপ্রেরণা যোগাবে। এ শুভক্ষণকে স্মরণীয় করে রাখার জন্য বাংলাদেশ ডাক বিভাগ ১০/- (দশ) টাকা মূল্যমানের একটি স্মারক ডাক টিকিট ও একটি উদ্বোধনী খাম এবং ৫/- (পাঁচ) টাকা মূল্যমানের ডাটা কার্ড ও একটি বিশেষ সীলমোহর প্রকাশ করেছে।

Designer : Anowar Hossain
নকশাবিদ : জনাব আনোয়ার হোসেন

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

No. of Stamps : 1 (One)
স্মারক ডাকটিকিটের সংখ্যা : ১ (এক) টি

Color : Multicolour
রং : বহুরং বিশিষ্ট

Denomination of Stamps : Tk. 10/- (Ten)
স্মারক ডাকটিকিটের মূল্যমান : ১০/- (দশ) টাকা

Size of Stamps : 32 m.m. x 42 m.m.
স্মারক ডাকটিকিটের আকার : ৩২ মি.মি. x ৪২ মি.মি.

Perforation of Stamp : 12.5 micron
স্মারক ডাকটিকিটের ছিদ্রক দূরত্ব : ১২.৫ মাইক্রোন

Qnt. of Stamps : 3,50,000 pcs
ডাকটিকিটের পরিমাণ : ৩,৫০,০০০ পিস

No. of Stamps in each sheet : 100 (One Hundred) pcs
প্রতি শীটে ডাকটিকিটের সংখ্যা : ১০০ (একশত) পিস

Process of Printing : Offset
মুদ্রণ প্রক্রিয়া : অফসেট

Printer : The Security Printing Corporation (Bangladesh) Ltd., Gazipur
মুদ্রাকর : দি সিকিউরিটি প্রিন্টিং করপোরেশন (বাং) লিঃ, গাজীপুর

About : 

• Television broadcasting began as a pilot project initially for three hours a day from the then DIT Building on December 25, 1964. It became corporation in 1967 and was turned into Bangladesh Television as government electronic media after independence in 1972. BTV boasts its courageous crews who showed indomitable courage to defy hoisting of national flag of the then Pakistan in the fiery days of March 1971 & in telecasting the historical speech of March 7 delivered by Bangabandhu.
• Television station was shifted to Rampura TV Bhaban on 9 February 1975. Bangabandhu visited BTV Bhaban with family members in May 1975. Another TV centre was set up in Chittagong on December 19, 1996 which was inaugurated by Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Now BTV and BTV World telecast 24 hours programs through satellite.
• ১৯৬৪ সালের ২৫ ডিসেম্বর এদেশে সর্বপ্রথম টেলিভিশন সম্প্রচারের যাত্রা শুরু হয়। ১৯৬৭ সালে কর্পোরেশন ও স্বাধীনতা-উত্তর ১৯৭২ সালে বাংলাদেশ টেলিভিশন সরকারি গণমাধ্যমে রূপান্তরিত হয়। ঢাকা শহরের ডিআইটি (রাজউক) ভবন থেকে দশ মাইল ব্যাসার্ধে শুরুতে দৈনিক ৩ ঘন্টা অনুষ্ঠান সম্প্রচার করা হতো।
• বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমানের নির্দেশে ১৯৭৫ সালের ০৯ ফেব্রুয়ারি রামপুরাস্থ নিজস্ব ভবনে টেলিভিশন কেন্দ্র স্থানান্তরিত হয়। ১৯৭৫-এর মে মাসে বঙ্গবন্ধু সপরিবারে বিটিভি পরিদর্শনে আসেন। ১৯৯৬ সালের ১৯ ডিসেম্বর চট্টগ্রামে আরো একটি পূর্ণাঙ্গ কেন্দ্র স্থাপিত হয়। উদ্বোধন করেন মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনা। সময়ের বিবর্তনে দেশের সীমানা পেরিয়ে বিটিভি এবং বিটিভি ওয়ার্ল্ডে বিশ্বের প্রায় ৫০টি দেশে ২৪ ঘন্টা স্যাটেলাইটে সম্প্রচার করা হচ্ছে। পাশাপাশি IPTV এবং Web TV সম্প্রচার চালু হয়েছে।
• বাংলাদেশের মহান স্বাধীনতা, মুক্তিযুদ্ধের চেতনা, মূল্যবোধ ও আবহমান বাংলার চিরায়ত সংস্কৃতির ধারক ও বাহক বাংলাদেশ টেলিভিশন। বঙ্গবন্ধুর ০৭ মার্চের ঐতিহাসিক ভাষণ প্রচার, ৭১- এর মার্চের সেই অগ্নিঝরা দিনগুলোতে পাকিস্তানের জাতীয় পতাকা প্রদর্শন না করার অমিত সাহস দেখিয়েছিলেন সে সময়ের বিটিভি কুশীলববৃন্দ।

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 24, 2014

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to release a postage stamp to highlight the heroic deeds of the unsung heroes of the Kuka Movement.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million (0.1 Million for proponent)

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• For many years after the first war of Independence, in 1857, armed resistance against the British was witnessed in many parts of the country. Though the incidents of resistance were mostly local, it revealed the discontent against the foreign rulers.
  
• The Kuka Movement marked the first major reaction of the people in the Punjab to the new political order initiated by the British after 1849. The Namdhari Movement, of which the Kuka Movement was the most important phase, aimed at overthrowing the British rule. The Namdharis were also known as ‘‘Kukas’’ because of their trademark style of reciting the “Gurbani” (Sayings/Teachings of the Guru). This style was in a high-pitched voice called “Kook” in Punjabi. Thus, the Namdharis were also called “Kukas”.
  
• Satguru Ram Singh, son of a poor carpenter, who was born on 3^rd February, 1816 in a small village of Bhaini, around 7 kilometers away from Ludhiana, founded the Namdhari Sect on 12^th April, 1857 at Bhaini Sahib. He asked his followers to boycott everything which bore the stamp of the British Government. In course of time, Baba Ram Singh became a secular chief of Kukas. He would go about surrounded by horsemen and held his court everyday. He appointed Governors and Deputy Governors to organize Kukas in different districts of the Punjab. He also inspired young men by giving them military training.
  
• The Kuka Movement made the people aware of their serfdom and bondage. It evoked the feelings of self respect and sacrifice for the country. Within a few years, the followers of the Kuka Movement increased manifold. They called for boycott of educational institutions of British and laws established by them. They were rigid in their clothing and wore only hand-spun white attire. The Kuka followers actively propagated the civil disobedience.
  
• It seemed inevitable that before long, a clash would occur between the Kukas and the British Government. The clash started in 1871 and culminated in the Kuka raid on Malerkotla on January 15. 1872. The Kuka outbreak of 1872 was visited by terrible punishment, which was equalled in brutality by few events in our history. A large number of Kuka prisoners were blown to death with cannons and their leader Baba Ram Singh was deported to Rangoon.
  
• In 1920, the Kukas started publication of the paper ‘Satyug‘, and in 1922, the daily, ’Kuka’ was started. When the Non-Cooperation Movement was started by Gandhiji, the Kukas joined hands.
  
• Text : Based on the material furnished by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 15, 2014

Issued for : Department of Posts lauds the exemplary work of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan in the field of school education, and commemorates the 50 years of its existence by issuing a Commemorative Postage Stamp.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Cancellation Cachet : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million (0.1 million for the proponent)

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), Government of India. It was formed through the approved scheme of Central School Organization 1962 to cater primarily to the educational needs of children of transferable Central Government Employees. The organization began with 20 Regimental Schools as Central Schools during 1963-64 and later registered as Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) on 15^th December, 1965.
  
• Since its inception, KVS has grown in size from 20 schools to 1093 schools in 2013 located all over in India with around 10,58,450 students and 49,285 qualified teachers. The Sangathan has a three tier management structure: Headquarters, Regional Office managing a cluster of about 45-50 Kendriya Vidyalayas, and, Kendriya Vidyalayas spread all over the country and abroad, each having their own management committees. The Minister of Human Resource Development is the Chairman of the General Body of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and the Board of Governors, which comprises of educationists, educational administrators and Members of Parliament.
  
• The mission of KVS is to cater to the educational needs of the children of transferable Central Government employees, including Defence and Para-military personnel, by pursuing excellence and setting the pace in the field of school education. It also strives to initiate and promote experimentation and innovations in education, and, develop the spirit of national integration and create a sense of “Indian ness” among children.
  
• The Sangathan with a pan India presence comprises of co-educational, composite schools which impart inclusive education. Affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, the institution strives to maintain excellence in academic pursuits through an ideal and updated methodology. The schools of KVS have excellent infra-structure facilities like school buildings, class rooms, science laboratories, libraries, computer labs, maths laboratories, resource rooms, etc. It ensures uniform pattern of education in all its school with vocational streams at +1 and +2 levels. KVS has recently begun teaching foreign languages like German, Chinese, French from Class VI onwards. No tuition fee is charged to boys upto Class VIII and to girls upto class XII. No fee is charged from single girl child and from children admitted under RTE Act-2009.
  
• The organisation nurtures all round development of a child through academic, performing and visual arts and a plethora of games and sports activity. Being a composite school system, it has designed child friendly curriculum for primary students. It has been given the status of a state for various National Level Competitions in the arena of science and sports.
  
• Text : Based on the material furnished by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 4, 2014

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to release a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Swami Ekrasanand Saraswati.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Narayan Das (Swami Ekrasanand Saraswati)

Born on Aug 29, 1866 at Bhuriyana, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Died on Sep 9, 1938

About : 

• Swami Ekrasanand Saraswati, was a great saint, who devoted his entire life to the service of humanity. He was born on 29^th August, 1866 in a Brahmin family to Pt. Radha Krishna and his wife Palubai, at village Bhuriyana, district Jodhpur, in the state of Rajasthan. His childhood name was Narayan Das.
  
• Since childhood, young Narayan Das showed qualities of politeness, kindness, courtesy, etc. He practised deep meditation at Badrinath Dham, in the upper Himalayan valleys. Afterwards, he went to Kashi, where he met Swami Ganeshanand who named him “Swami Ekrasanand“. After learning the Vedas in Kashi, he set out on a journey to various religious places like Mathura, Vrindavan, Haridwar, Rishikesh, etc. When he reached Teekamgarh in Madhya Pradesh, he was warmly welcomed by the king there.
  
• Swami Ekrasanand Saraswati established Daivi Sampad Mandal in 1914, on the principles of ‘Sarv Bhoot hite Ratah‘ based on Daivi Sampatti described in the Sixteenth Chapter of Srimad Bhagwad Gita. This organisation has been involved in propagating the qualities of fearlessness, full cleanliness of conscience, continuous practice of Meditation and Yoga for spiritual knowledge, charity, control over senses, non-violence, truthfulness, sacrifice, peace, mercy, detachment, tenderness, modesty, forgiveness, patience, etc., irrespective of caste, race and religion, in all. The followers of Swami Ekrasanand Saraswati abide by the ten gospels he preached. These gospels spread the message of love, compassion and devotion to God.
  
• The good works of Swami Ekrasanand are being carried forward by his followers who have been involved in setting up various institutions like Sri Ekrasanand Ashram, Sri Ekrasanand Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Sri Ekrasanand Adarsh Inter College, Sri Ekrasanand Dharmarth Ayurvedic Hospital, etc. The Daivi Sampad Mandal, established by Swami Ekrasanand Saraswati has continuously been involved in the service of humanity. All institutions of the Daivi Sampad Mandal are working for the welfare of people and propagation of self-control, good conduct and spiritualism by organizing Conferences, Meditation and Yoga training camps, Ayurvedic Health camps, Satsangs, discourses and assemblies.
  
• Swami Ekrasanand Saraswati left for his heavenly abode on 9^th September, 1938.
  
• Text : Based on the material furnished by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 29, 2014

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to release a Postage Stamp to commemorate the occasion of the 150^th anniversary of introduction of Sagol Kangjei to the world.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation Cachet : Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million (0.1 Million for the proponent)

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• “Sagol Kangjei“ is derived from the two Manipuri words ‘Sagol’ for horse and ‘Kangjei’ for hooking stick. Lt. Joseph Ford Sherer, who was instrumental in introducing the sport to Europeans, in 1859, as a young lieutenant and adjutant of the 44^th (Sylhet) Regiment of (Bengal) Native (Light Infantry), along with Captain Robert Stewart, Superintendent of Cachar, founded a European Polo Club. Five years later, in the year 1864, Sherer and his team of seven Manipuri men, nicknamed ‘The Brothers‘, took the game to Calcutta where it immediately became very popular. George Frederick Samuel Robinson, 1^st Marquess of Ripon, former Viceroy of India, while speaking in the British Parliament (House of Lords) on 22^nd June 1891, described Manipur as the birth place of Polo.
• The story behind the origin of the game in Manipur is very interesting. King Kangha, who reigned Manipur in 3300 B.C., is believed to have introduced Sagol Kangjei. During a festival known as Ukrong Hongba, he demonstrated how a bamboo root clump could be dribbled with his walking stick, and asked his subjects to play the game on horseback. The game first found mention in the Royal Chronicle of Manipur, Cheitharol Kumbaba, in 33 AD.
• The game is played with seven members in each team, representing seven Manipuri ancestral clans. The players are mounted on Manipuri ponies which are four to five feet high but hardy and active. The ponies are fully decorated, with various guards protecting their eyes, forehead and flanks. The main implements used in the game are Kangjei, the polo stick, a long shaft of bamboo with a head of hard wood set on at an obtuse angle and the ball, Kangdrum which is made of bamboo root. The saddle used in the game is large, light and peaked both in front and the back. In addition to it, there is a pair of leather flaps which project around the legs of the rider and afford some protection from a blow.
• The rules of the game are not obvious. In fact, most observers of the sport declare that rules are conspicuous by their absence. A goal is scored in this game once the ball crosses the back line and the ball is again thrown in from the middle line, not along the ground, but in the air, so as to give occasion for a brilliant stroke of hitting it in mid-air or catching the ball by hand.
• Text : Based on the material furnished by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 28, 2014

Issued for : India Post is happy to release a set of two Postage Stamps on India–Slovenia : Joint Issue in association with Slovenia Post.

Design : India Post organized a ‘Design a Stamp Contest’ where the theme was ‘A Day with my Grandparents‘. Thousands of children from different parts of the country participated. The first, second and third prize-winning entries were selected for designing the Postage Stamp, the First Day Cover and the Information Brochure, respectively. The design on the Postage Stamp is based on the painting by Master Roshan V Anvekar, the First Day Cover design is based on the painting by Miss Anamika Ann Maria, and, the Information Brochure portrays a design based on the painting by Master Theerdha Gopakumar K.

On the same lines, a painting competition was organized for the children of Slovenia during the Shankar‘s International Children Competition. The winner of the competition was Miss Sara Zivkovic. The stamp design of Slovenia Post is based on her painting.

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

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 2500 & 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million each

Miniature Sheet : 0.3 Million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• India Post and Slovenia Post have come together to issue a set of stamps, based on the prize – winning entries of Painting Competitions for children, organized by the two countries separately.
• India and Slovenia relations have come a long way since Slovenia, a part of erstwhile Yugoslavia, attained Independence in 1991. India recognized Slovenia on 11^th May, 1992. Slovenia sought India‘s support for its membership to the United Nations and was admitted to the UN on 23^rd May, 1992. It also sought India‘s support for guest membership of the Non-Aligned Movement.
  
• India and Slovenia relations extend to a wide range of areas including trade and commerce, science and technology, education, etc. Both the countries have signed various agreements to extend their cooperation in identified fields. Bilateral trade between India and Slovenia has been growing steadily over the years. Further, a Programme of cooperation in the Field of Culture, Arts, Education, Science, Sports and Mass Media for the period 201 0-2014 was signed between the two countries in 2013.

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 12, 2014

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to celebrate the journey of UTI by releasing a Commemorative Postage Stamp on it.

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

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamp Printed : 4.03 Million (3.53 Millions on for the proponent)

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The objective of India‘s development strategy has been to establish a socialistic pattern of society through economic growth with self-reliance, social justice and alleviation of poverty. These objectives were to be achieved within a democratic political framework using the mechanism of a mixed economy where both public and private sectors co-existed. In the 1960s, the era of Green revolution and industrialization, the planners and policy makers suggested the need for using a wide variety of instruments like state allocation of investment, licensing and other regulatory controls to steer Indian industrial development on a closed economy basis. This led to the establishment of the UTI or the Unit Trust of India through the Unit Trust of India Act, 1963 of the Parliament.
  
• UTI was set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and functioned under its Regulatory and administrative control. It commenced its operations from 1^st February, 1964 with the objective of mobilizing savings of the community and providing the small investors with a means of acquiring a stake in the industrial growth of the country. The first scheme launched by UTI was Unit Scheme 64. In 1978, UTI was de-linked from the RBI and the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) took over its regulatory and administrative control.
  
• UTI remained the sole vehicle for investment in the Indian capital market for more than two decades, after which, the public sector banks were allowed to enter the foray. The vibrancy and competition increased with the setting up of the Security Exchange Board of India, a regulatory body. The Unit Trust of India Act, 1963 was repealed in 2001. This was followed by the bifurcation of the organization into – Specified Undertaking of Unit Trust of India (SUUTI); and UTI Mutual Fund (UTIMF) on 1^st February, 2003.
  
• Today, the two branches of UTI are carrying forward the legacy of the parent organization. The Specified Undertaking of the Unit Trust of India, with assets worth Rs. 29,835 crores at the end of January 2003, represented broadly, the assets of US 64 scheme, assured return and certain other schemes. This is a Spedfied Undertaking of Unit Trust of India, functioning under an administrator and under the rules framed by Government of India, and does not come under the purview of the Mutual Fund Regulations.
  
• The second branch is the UTI Mutual Fund, sponsored by State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda and Life Insurance Corporation, with each of them holding 18.5% stake in the paid up capital of UTI AMC. It is registered with SEBI and functions under the Mutual Fund Regulations. With the bifurcation of the erstwhile UTI, which had in March, 2000 more than Rs. 76,000 crores of assets under its management, and with the setting up of a UTI Mutual Fund, conforming to the SEBI Mutual Fund Regulations, along with recent mergers taking place among different private sector funds, the mutual fund industry has entered its current phase of consolidation and growth.
  
• UTI is the oldest and one of the largest mutual fund in India. UTI Mutual Fund has been the pioneer for launching various schemes like UTI Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) with life & accident cover (Launched in 1971). Over the years, brand UTI has taken up the role of wealth creator for the masses. UTI is a process-oriented financial powerhouse with core business principle being customer delight through consistent fund performance and excellent service.
  
• Text : Based on the text provided by the proponent and the internet.
  
  

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 4, 2014

Issued for : Department of Posts commemorates the occasion of 15 years of Liver Transplantation in India by releasing a Postage Stamp.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Cancellation : Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million (0.1 Million for the proponent)

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The only definite treatment for liver failure is a liver transplantation. During a liver transplant, the diseased liver is removed and replaced with a healthy one.
  
• The first successful Liver Transplantation was performed on a child in 1967. Since then, there has been tremendous progress in the complicated process of liver transplantation, which in 1983 was confirmed to be a valid procedure in cases of end stage liver disease (ESLD), in a consensus by the National Institutes of Health. The first successful liver transplantation in India was performed at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital on 15^th November, 1998 in New Delhi.
  
• The liver performs various functions that are essential for the well being of the body. Two types of liver transplant are possible: living donor transplant and cadaveric transplant. In living donor transplant, a portion of the liver is removed from a healthy person and placed into the patient. Since the liver has the capacity to regenerate, both the donor and the recipient liver portions grow to a normal size in a few weeks. In a cadaveric transplant the donor is a brain dead person.
  
• The development of effective immuno-suppressive drugs and the refinement of surgical procedures have improved long-term success of liver transplantation. Liver transplantation currently is the only effective and acceptable option for treatment of various liver diseases both in adults and children.
  
• Within the span of these last 15 years, approximately 4500 Liver Transplants have been done in India. This remarkable foray into organ transplantation has made India a global leader in the field by providing access to high quality and affordable transplant program.
  
• Text : Based on the material furnished by the proponent.
  

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Issued by India

Issued on Oct 25, 2014

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to release a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Anagarika Dharmapala.

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

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : David Hewavitame [Anagarika Dharmapala]

Born on Sep 17, 1864 at Colombo, Sri Lanka 

Died on Apr 29, 1933 at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India

About : 

• Anagarika Dharmapala, who played a leading role in the revival of Buddhism in his native place Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and other parts of the world, was born on 17^th September, 1864 in the Pettah district of Colombo. His childhood name was David Hewavitame. He grew up in an atmosphere of traditional Sinhala piety. From a young age, he took refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, and promised to observe the Five Precepts.
  
• At the age of 9, young David was initiated into the vow of Brahmacharya by his father, and, was advised to be content with whatever he got to eat, and to sleep less. Anagarika’s temperament was ascetic in nature and he loved solitude, meditation and study. He came in contact with Madame Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society and became a follower. He left his home at the age of twenty to dedicate his life in the service of humanity. He renounced his English name and called himself ‘Anagarika’ or ‘homeless one’, ‘Dharmapala’ or ‘the protector of Dharma’. He helped in establishing schools, and propagated Buddhist ideals.
  
• Dharmapala’s visit to Bodh Gaya, India in January, 1891 changed his life, and the course of modern Buddhist history. When he visited the temple at Bodh Gaya, the place was in shambles. He decided to take on the task of taking care and protecting the holy place. He travelled to various parts of the world to mobilize funds for renovation of the Buddhist temple and founded the Mahabodhi Society in Colombo on 31^st May, 1891. The office of the Mahabodhi Society was shifted to Calcutta in early 1892. Dharmapala also started the Maha Bodhi Journal to facilitate interchange of news between the Buddhist countries.
  
• Anagarika Dharmapala attended the World’s Parliament on Religion in Chicago in 1893. He was one of the most popular speakers at the Parliament. All his life, Anagarika continued to lecture and write about Buddhist principles. He set up Sri Dharmarajika Chaitya Vihara at Calcutta and the London Buddhist Vihara.
  
• Anagarika Dharmapala died on 29^th April, 1933 at Sarnath.
  
• Text : Based on the material furnished by the Mahabodhi Society of India and internet.

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