Issued by India

Issued on Dec 31, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a set of four Commemorative Postage Stamps as Series – I on the theme “Indian Fashion – Through the Ages”.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet/First Day Cover/Brochure : Shri Suresh Kumar
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 1500 Paise (2) and 500 Paise (2)

Stamps Printed : 5.0 Lakh each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 1.1 Lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

About : 

• Fashion is a universal subject, a language understood and spoken by one and all. Fashion is one of the most popular modes of expression. It describes the ever-changing style of clothes worn by those with cultural status. Fashions vary greatly within a society over time and are affected by age, occupation, location and social class.
• India’s recorded history of clothing goes back to the fifth millennium BC in the Indus Valley Civilization. India was one of the first places where cotton was cultivated and used even as early as 2500 BC during the Harappan era. The remnants of the ancient Indian clothing can be found in the figurines discovered from the sites near the Indus Valley Civilization, the rock cut sculptures, the cave paintings and human art forms found in temples and monuments. Dating back to the Mohenjo-daro civilization, the earliest preliminary version was found in the statue of Mother Goddess wearing an elaborate headgear supported by a pair of bands and a brooch, tight-fitted tunic and skirt fastened with a broad waist-band using a medallion like clasp. She is adorned with two necklaces, the smaller one has a set of four cylindrical pendants. The “Priest-king” and other stone figures are also depicted wearing a long robe over the left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder bare. The clothing system was also related to the social and economic status of the person. The upper classes of the society wore fine muslin garments and silk fabrics while the common classes wore garments made up of locally made fabrics.
• During the Mauryan Period, the most common attire of the people was antariya, which they used to wear as a lower garment. A cloth was covered in lehnga style to form a tubular skirt. An embellished long piece of cloth wrapped around the waist pleated into the antariya was called patka. As an upper garment, people’s main garb was uttariya, a long scarf. The difference existed only in the manner of wearing. Textiles were dyed and printed. Resist dyeing and hand printing has been mentioned by Megasthenes as a common sight during the Mauryan period as has glazed cotton. Felting of fibres instead of weaving was also a generally used technique.
• The Mughals played a vital role in Indian Fashion and exerted a huge influence on the Indian dressing style. Men wore jama which was considered as the main royal garb of Mughal emperors, patka to keep the jewelled sword around the waist of jama. The patka is a type of girdle made of a fine fibre which is hand painted, printed or embroidered and choga embroidered, long sleeved coats generally worn over jamas and angrakhas. Mughal women wore a large variety of ornaments from head to toe. Their costumes generally included Peshwaj, Yalek, Pajama, Churidar, Dhillija, Garara and Farshi, they all included head ornaments, anklets and necklaces. This was done as a distinctive mark of their prosperity and their rank in society. Head-dresses were often worn by Mughal women and were available in various styles. Empress Nur Jahan, consort of Jahangir, epitomising beauty, wore a short-sleeved long or short jacket over her kurta. While she wore it to maintain her sophistication, the outfit made a style statement.
• Awadh (the region of the modern state of Uttar Pradesh around Ayodhya, west of Varanasi) has historically been among the most important regions in India, politically, religiously and socially and holds a vital position with respect to the development of Indian fashion. For centuries, the Awadhi style of dressing has intrigued fashion enthusiasts. Its fabrics, embroideries and precision in design, influence connoisseurs of fashion and style enthusiasts alike. The Nawabs, who were predominant in Awadh during the 18^th and 19^th centuries, particularly influenced the evolution of fashion. The aristocracy of Lucknow spent lavishly on their dresses. This had an impact on the dresses of the courtiers and the Awadhi people in general. The emphasis was not only on costumes and textiles, but also on how they were worn.
• Indian Princely states also displayed evolution of fashion through fusion of local traditional dresses with the trends from other parts of India. For instance, for aristocratic Rajput men court dresses included angarkhi, pagdi, chudidar pyjama and a cummerbund (belt). Dhoti was also in tradition but it was worn in different styles across various princely states. This period also saw a fusion of diverse Indian attire and clothing trends infused with elements of European fashion.
• Text : Based on the material provided by Prof. Manika Walia and other sources.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 31, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a set of five Commemorative Postage Stamps on Geographical Indication (GI) Registered Handicraft Products.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Shri Kamleshwar Singh

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise (5)

Stamps Printed : 606000 each

Miniature Sheets Printed : 110750

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• A Geographical Indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g. a town, region, or country). India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 with effect from 15 September 2003. The GI tag ensures that none other than those registered as authorised users (or at least those residing inside the geographic territory) are allowed to use the popular product name. Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged product in India, in 2004-05, since then by May 2017, 295 other GI tagged products have been added to the list.
• Department of Posts is releasing a set of Commemorative Postage Stamps on GI Registered Handicraft Products as follows:
• GI Registered Handicraft Products:
  • Blue Pottery of Jaipur: The art of blue pottery came to Jaipur from Persia and Afghanistan in the 14^th century. The use of blue glaze on pottery made from Multani Mitti, or Fuller’s earth, is an imported technique, first developed by enterprising Mongol artisans who combined Chinese glazing technology with Persian decorative arts. Man Singh–I was the first to bring the art of blue and white to Jaipur subsequent to his interactions with the Mughals through his campaign in Afghanistan. Blue Pottery has unique features as the pottery is completely hand painted, does not develop cracks and is impervious, hygienic and suitable for daily use.
  • Karnataka Bronzeware: In Karnataka, bronze casting flourished under Chalukyas, Rastrakutas, Hoysalas and the Vijayanagara period. The Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana under Vaishnava faith, erected many magnificent temples with exquisite metal icons. Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka, is the chief craft cluster for Bronze Casting. Traditional Indian bronzeware has worldwide reputation in overseas market because of its superior workmanship and modest price. Indian bronzes find place in museums at Boston, New York, Paris, London, Berlin etc. The artisans engaged in making bronze icons known as ‘Stapathies‘ are bound by faith, tradition and religion for making bronze icons and should be well versed in ‘dhynanaslokas‘, which gives the physical attributes to the deity. The traditional crafts persons were an unbroken chain of evolution passing from teacher to the disciple and father to son.
  • Kutch Embroidery: The Kutch Embroidery originated in Kutch–Gujarat with the arrival of different communities that migrated from countries like Iran, Iraq, Greece, Germany, Afghanistan during 16^th & 17^th centuries. Kutch embroidery is basically practised by women. Kutch work is unique in the sense that a net is woven on a cloth using thread. The net is then filled in using the same thread by intricate interlocking stitches. The patterns are usually built around geometric shapes. Designs of Kutch Embroidery are inspired by legend and everyday life. Each individual community expresses its own identity through a sense of aesthetics, colour, layout and motif preferences that evolved out of specific aspects of their history, including migration patterns and contact with surrounding people. However, the different adornment traditions are unified by regional styles and by motifs that bridge cultures: peacocks, parrots, temples, flowers, camels and elephants, human figures in dancing poses, dancing peacocks. It’s a tradition which is handed down from generation to generation (mothers to daughters), thereby skilling and empowering them.
  • Maddalam of Palakkad: Maddalam is considered a divine instrument on account of its inclusion as a major accompaniment in the dance of Shiva. Maddalam dates back to 13^th century. The sound produced by Maddalam is considered to be Pranavam or the sound of ‘Om‘ or ‘Aum‘. It is very similar to the mridangam. The maddalam is the classical drum of South India and is used as an accompaniment for vocal, instrumental and dance performances. Panchavadyam which is regarded as one of the most sophisticated art forms of Kerala is an ensemble of five percussion instruments viz. drums timila, maddalam, edaykka, the cymbals ilathalam and the kombu horn. Cylindrical in shape, maddalam till today is chiselled out of a single piece of jack wood. There are two varieties of maddalam- Suddha maddalam and Toppi maddalam. The former is tied around the waist of the drummer with a cloth while the latter is a smaller version suspended from the neck.
  • Sikki Grass Products of Bihar: Sikki, the golden grass of Bihar, is found growing in the wet and marshy area of Madhubani district. Sikki work is practised by women in the region of Bihar. There is growing demand for Sikki Grass work not only for outstanding beauty but also for its cultural value. At one point of time, a very large part of the population in North Bihar (i.e. pockets in Darbhanga, Madhubani and Sitamarhi districts of Bihar) was engaged in this craft. The sikki is characterized by its wonderful golden hue, is also coloured into myriad shades to make the products more attractive. The products made from sikki grass are as utilitarian as they are uniquely ornamental. They include containers to store grain, rice, and lentils; boxes to keep clothes and jewellery, baskets to store sweets and masalas (spices) etc.
• Text : Based on information received from Ministry of Textiles.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 30, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is proud to release a set of three Commemorative Postage Stamps the total of whose denominations adds up to Rs. 75/- to mark the historic occasion of the 75^th Anniversary of the first flag hoisting at Port Blair.

Credits :
Stamps/FDC/Brochure : Sh. Sankha Samanta
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Neenu Gupta

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 4100, 2200 and 1200 Paise

Stamps Printed : 500710 each

Miniature Sheets Printed : 1.20 lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About : 

• Port Blair in modern times, as the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is a picturesque tourist location and serves as the gateway to pristine beaches and exotic marine life. To those interested in history, the place is a constant reminder of “Kala Paani” housing the Cellular Jail as well as the stories of torture and inhuman acts meted out to the prisoners, most of them being Indian revolutionaries of the freedom struggle. The first batch of freedom fighters of First War of Independence was brought here on 10 March, 1858, thus marking the beginning of the penal settlement. Since then, the convicts brought here, mostly political prisoners, suffered life imprisonment and hard labour under cruel and degrading conditions. Many were hanged, while others died of disease and starvation.
• The Cellular Jail, now a National Memorial is a witness to the glorious contribution of revolutionary patriots in the history of the Indian Freedom Movement. Many charismatic personalities were imprisoned here. Veer Savarkar, Ganesh Damodar Savarkar, Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Ullaskar Dutt, Indu Bhushan Roy, Prithvi Singh Azad, Trailokyanath Chakravarthy, Mahavir Singh among others; the catalogue is long and distinguished. The stories of their suffering and sacrifice for India’s independence and their defiance and valour in the face of imperial oppression, have elevated the Cellular Jail to a place of pilgrimage in India’s collective national memory.
• The more significant fact however, is that Port Blair was the first Indian territory liberated from imperial British rule. In 1943-44 during World War II, this territory served as the headquarters of the Azad Hind government under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The island at the time was liberated from British rule by Japan which captured it during the World War-II.
• Netaji, accompanied by members of the Azad Hind Government and his staff had paid an official visit to the Andaman Islands from 29-31 December, 1943. He stayed at the former British Chief commissioner’s official residence on Ross Island. His visit followed the Japanese Prime Minister’s historic declaration at the Assembly of Greater East Asiatic Nations in Tokyo on 6 November, 1943 that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands would be transferred to the Provincial Government of Azad Hind.
• On 30 December, 1943 Netaji addressed a mass rally of Indians at the Gymkhana ground in front of the Andaman Club. On the same day, he hoisted the Tricolour for the first time at the Gymkhana Ground in Port Blair. He also announced the Islands as the first Indian Territory freed from the British rule.
• After the flag hoisting, Netaji visited the Cellular Jail the same afternoon. He spent two hours there going around the Indian Bastille. Describing his visit to the islands later, Netaji said, “For Indians the return of the Andaman represents the first territory to be liberated from British yoke. By the acquisition of this territory, the provincial government has now become a national entity in fact as well as in name. The liberation of the Andamans has symbolic significance because the Andaman has always been used by the British as a prison for political prisoners. Most of the political prisoners sentenced to servitude for conspiracies to overthrow the British Government – and there have been hundreds of them – were looked up in this island. Like the Bastille in Paris, which was liberated first in the French Revolution, setting free political prisoners, the Andaman where our patriots suffered is the first to be liberated in India’s fight for independence.” Netaji named Andaman Island as “Shaheed” and Nicobar Island as “Swaraj”.
• Today, the place where Netaji hoisted the flag stands as a great memorial.
• Text : Sh. Pallab Bose and material provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 29, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a set of six commemorative postage stamps on the theme UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India : Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Shri Brahm Prakash

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 1200 Paise (3) & 500 Paise (3)

Stamps Printed : 5.0 Lakh each

Miniature Sheets Printed : 1.1 Lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world, considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972. There are many UNESCO recognized World Heritage Sites in India. One of them is Hill Forts of Rajasthan. Six Hill Forts of Rajasthan, examples of Rajput military hill architecture, namely Amer Fort, Chittorgarh Fort, Gagron Fort, Jaisalmer Fort, Kumbhalgarh Fort and Ranthambore Fort were included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list during the 37^th meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Phnom Penh during June 2013. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.
• Amer Fort is a fort located near Jaipur, Rajasthan. Located high on a hill, it is the principal tourist attraction in Jaipur. The town of Amer was originally built by Meenas, and later it was ruled by Raja Man Singh–I (21^st December, 1550 – 6^th July, 1614). With its large ramparts and series of gates and cobbled paths, the fort overlooks Maota Lake, which is the main source of water for the Amer Palace. Constructed of red sandstone and marble, the palace is laid out on four levels, each with a courtyard. It consists of the Diwan-i-Aam, or “Hall of Public Audience”, the Diwan-i-Khas, or “Hall of Private Audience”, the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace) or Jai Mandir and the Sukh Niwas where a cool climate is artificially created by winds that blow over a water cascade within the palace.
• Kumbhalgarh Fort (“Kumbhal fort”) is a Mewar fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills, in the Rajsamand district near Udaipur of Rajasthan. It was built during the course of the 15^th century by Rana Kumbha. Built on a hilltop 1,100 m (3,600 ft) above sea level on the Aravalli range, the fort of Kumbhalgarh has perimeter walls that extend 36 km, making it one of the longest walls in the world. Kumbhalgarh has seven fortified gateways. There are over 360 temples within the fort. The sand dunes of the Thar Desert can be seen from the fort walls.
• Jaisalmer Fort is situated in the city of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It is believed to be one of the very few (perhaps the only) “living forts” in the world, as nearly one fourth of the old city’s population still resides within the fort. For the better part of its 800-year history, the fort was the city of Jaisalmer. The first settlements outside the fort walls, to accommodate the growing population of Jaisalmer, are said to have come up in the 17^th century. Jaisalmer Fort is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan, built in 1156 AD by the Rajput Rawal (ruler) Jaisal from whom it derives its name. The fort stands amidst the sandy expanse of the great Thar Desert on Trikuta Hill.
• Gagron Fort is situated in Jhalawar district of Rajasthan. It is an example of a hill and water fort. The fort is surrounded by water bodies from three sides which makes it unique. It has remarkable construction as it takes support from the hill of Burj from one side. The famous fort was built by Raja Bijili Dev in 12^th century and it was ruled around 300 years by Khinchi dynasty. The fort stands at the juncture of Kalisindh and Ahu rivers and is surrounded by greenery.
• Chittorgarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India. Chittorgarh (garh means fort) was originally called Chitrakut. The fort was the capital of Mewar and is located in the present-day town of Chittor. Set atop a 180 meters high hill this majestic fort features in tales of courage, pride and romance that the bards of Rajasthan have been singing for centuries. The fort, when viewed from above, looks roughly like a fish. Spread across an area of 700 acres, the circumference of the fort alone covers an area of 13 kilometers. There are seven massive gates, safeguarding all the entrances. The main gate is called as Ram Gate. The fort has 65 structures including temples, palaces, memorials and water bodies. There are two prominent towers within the premises of the fort namely Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory) and Kirti Stambha (Tower of Fame).
• Ranthambore Fort lies within the Ranthambore National Park, near the town of Sawai Madhopur. It was built by the Chauhan rulers in the 10^th century. Due to its strategic location, it was ideal to keep the enemy at bay. The fort is characterised by temples, tanks, massive gates and huge walls. Constructed in 944 AD, Ranthambore Fort has witnessed many sieges and battles. An architectural marvel, the fort includes many attractions such include Toran Dwar, Mahadeo Chhatri and Sametonki Haveli within its premises.
• Text : Information collected from online sources.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 29, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Maharaja Suheldev.

Credits :
Stamp/First Day Cover/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.5 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Suhaldev

Born on 995 AD

Died on 1050 AD

About : 

• Maharaja Suheldev was a legendary Indian king of Shravasti, who is said to have defeated and killed the Ghaznavid general Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud in the early 11^th century. The legend of Salar Masud and Maharaja Suheldev is found in the text Mirat-i-Masudi. It is a historical romance, and a biography of Salar Masud written by Abd-ur-Rahman Chishti during the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir (1605-1627).
• According to the legend, Maharaja Suheldev was the eldest son of King Mordhwaj of Shravasti. Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud, a nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni, invaded India at the age of 16. He crossed the Indus river, and conquered Multan, Delhi, Meerut and finally Satrikh in Uttar Pradesh. At Satrikh, he established his headquarters, and dispatched armies to defeat the local kings. Sayyad Saif-ud-din and Mian Rajjab were dispatched to Bahraich. The local Raja of Bahraich and other neighbouring kings formed a confederation, but an army led by Masud’s father Gazi Saiyyed Salar Sahu defeated them. Nevertheless, they continued to threaten the invaders, and therefore, in 1033 CE, Masud himself arrived in Bahraich to check their advance. Masud inflicted defeat after defeat on his enemies, until the arrival of Maharaja Suheldev. Maharaja Suheldev’s army defeated Masud’s forces, and Masud was killed in a battle in 1034 CE.
• Maharaja Suheldev is remembered for his kindness and compassion and as a patron of saints. On one of these versions of the battle between Maharaja Suheldev and Salar Masud, Salar Masud planned to place a herd of cattle in front of his army, so that Maharaja Suheldev could not attack him. Maharaja Suheldev came to know about this plan, and released the cattle on the night before the battle, thus defeating his enemy in the battle of wits before the actual battle begins.
• Text : Based on the information available on internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 28, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Kakaji & Pappaji on their birth centenary.

Credits :
Stamps/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 610300

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : Babubhai (Pappaji)

Born on Sep 1, 1916 at Borsad, Anand district, Gujarat, India

Died on — at —

Name : Dadubhai (Kakaji)

Born on Jun 12, 1918 at Nadiad, Kheda district, Gujarat, India

Died on — at —

About : 

• Kakaji and Pappaji are divine due brothers, who dedicated their life to the service of their Master and existed merely as his instrument. They inspired innumerable aspirants, brought about transformation in their life and guided them to liberate themselves from the clutches of vices. Both were supremely realized souls, original thinkers and devout disciples of Yogiji Maharaj, who dedicated all their possessions and their entire life to fulfill their Master’s will.
• Pappaji, elder of the two brothers, was born on 1^st September, 1916 at Borsad and named Babubhai. Kakaji Maharaj was born on 12^th June, 1918 at Nadiad and was named Dadubhai. Their family roots were from Karamsad, a small town in Gujarat and native place of Sardar Patel. Both brothers studied at Nadiad. At a tender age of nine & seven, the brothers made a vow to bring heaven on this earth, devoid of any discrimination and conflict.
• While the elder brother Babubhai migrated to Mombasa, Kenya to take on formal vocation of a school teacher, the younger Dadubhai studied in Nairobi and Colombo and completed his graduation from London School of Economics. After a brief stint of service, he emerged as a very successful entrepreneur, handling large businesses.
• Right from the childhood, his core belief was in Supremacy of Lord Swaminarayan, as realized through the Divine manifestation of Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj. His master Yogiji Maharaj blessed him in the form of 72 hours of ‘Samadhi’ – Supreme Enlightenment on 3^rd Feb, 1952 at Gondal Temple in Saurashtra, Gujarat.
• In April 1952, elder brother Babubhai returned from Mombasa and met Yogiji Maharaj, whom the younger one had hailed as the living embodiment of Lord Swaminarayan. Soon, Babubhai also became the torch bearer in the form of this radiance with unconditional surrender to Yogiji Maharaj relinquishing personal, emotional and any human desires.
• Thereafter, both of them spent their whole life devoted to God. One of the spiritual heirs of Yogiji Maharaj, they were masters of the Akshar Purushottam doctrine. Without blindly following outdated rituals and dogmatic traditions, they remained continuously absorbed with Swaminarayan Mantra and became a living embodiment of the Mantra and its deity – the Supreme Lord; existing merely as an instrument of the God.
• Kakaji & Pappaji facilitated initiation of lady aspirants to sainthood for the first time in Swaminarayan faith. Duo-brothers worked very hard to let women also become part of mainstream Swaminarayan faith and get ultimate redemption. They valiantly faced ostracization from the fellowship for this worthy cause of women’s emancipation and today there are more than 600 sisters working together following the path of Lord Swaminarayan as per Verse 26 of Last Chapter of Vachnamrit.
• Kakaji wrote several articles and books on Spirituality based on his own experiences and explained that spirituality had nothing to do with metaphysical powers and that a true aspirant should disregard them completely. He published works include ‘Lord Swaminarayan and Applied Brahm Gnan’, ‘The Divine Grace’, ‘Panch Yagna’, ‘The Real Essence of Tantra’ and numerous articles in different spiritual magazines like Swaminarayan Prakash, Akshardham, Bhagwad Kripa, Shri Aksharpurushottam Satsang Patrika, which enlightened the society towards a revolutionary spiritual path. Likewise, Pappaji authored spiritual scriptures viz. Anoopam Part 1 to 8; Parabhakti Saurabh, Sanjivni Mantra – 10 commandments; Acharsamhita – Code of conduct in Society etc.
• Kakaji founded Yogi Divine Society, with its mission to awaken divine consciousness by means of Swaroop Ashtanga Yoga which is the synthesis of Akshar Purushottam Yoga, enabling all to attain the supreme understanding, perfection and spiritual realization in this life, here and now. He advocated not blind faith but spirituality based on investigation, analysis and synthesis. His basic tenet was that of ‘Suhradbhav’ – Spiritual Brotherhood and Friendliness. The institutions founded by him are based at Sokhada, Sankarda, Mogri, Mumbai, Delhi in India, Chicago in USA and Paris in France and are doing exemplary work for benefit of the masses without any distinction of caste, creed or color. Pappaji also established spiritual centres at Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Surat, Nadiad, Manavadar, Rajkot, USA and London, England. Both of them considered the entire satsang as a divine family, a concept demonstrated by Lord Swaminarayan during his life. In short, they are the very embodiment of love, friendliness and selfless service.
• Text : Based on information received from the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 24, 2018

Issued for : According to some historians the rebellion of 1817 was better organized than many such early movements in other areas of India. Paika Rebellion completed its two hundred years on 20 July, 2017. The Paika rebellion is a noteworthy incident in the history of India’s struggle for Independence. In order to commemorate this important event in Indian history, the Department of Posts is pleased to release a Commemorative Postage Stamp on the Paika Rebellion.

Credits :
Stamps : Late Sh. Subir Das
FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 606450

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About : 

• Paika Rebellion popularly known as “Paika Bidroha” was a well organized struggle against the oppressive rule of British East India Company. Paikas were essentially the peasant militias of the Gajapati rulers of Odisha who rendered military service to the king during times of war while taking up cultivation during times of peace. Immediately after the advent of company rule in Odisha, discontent spread rapidly amongst the people of Odisha. The British were fiddling with the revenue system, bringing about land reforms that increased taxes on the land owned by the local peasants and the natives. The money lenders took advantage of this creating huge debts for the common man. In fact, the socio economic fabric of the peasants of Odisha was disturbed completely. This irked the rulers of Khurda, who protested. Khurda, which is twenty-five kilometres from Bhubaneswar, was the centre of the Paika Rebellion.
• The Paika Bidroha was an armed revolt of the traditional Paika militia in the state of Khurda in Odisha in the year 1817. It began in the month of March and sporadically and intermittently continued up to 1836 after the formal suppression of the rebellion. It was led by Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mahapatra, who was traditionally a Buxi, military commander, under the king of Khurda. It had nearly swept away the British in Khurda, Pipili, Banapur and Puri for months before being crushed by the forces of East India Company. It was not a purely military revolt of disgruntled or demobilized soldiers but had a component that gave it a character of a civil uprising in which the Khurdapaikas, tribesmen, peasants, the traditional rent collectors and people engaged in native salt manufacturing, an industry tottering due to the monopoly of salt trade by the Company, all had joined. The uprising was against the unjust Company rule and set a strong tradition of defiance.
• The revolt began in March, 1817, when the Kondhs from Ghumsar and the Paikas of Khurda jointly raided Banapur and attacked everything that symbolized the new Company’s establishment there. Even the mahajans and sahukars advancing loan to the peasants with the sole motive of appropriating their land and other valuable materials were not spared. A 400 strong contingent of Kondh tribesmen from Ghumsar crossed into Khurda; the Dalabeheras and Paikas joined them. The rebels attacked the police station and other Government buildings at Banapur. The Salt Agent of the southern division, narrowly escaped from this popular fury. However, his boat on the Chilika Lake was captured and plundered. The rebels then marched on to Khurda. More crowds joined them on the way, because of their success at Banapur. The officials did not dare to offer any resistance. All the official buildings were burnt. The Magistrate of Cuttack moved to Khurda to control the rebellion. By the beginning of April 1817, the number of rebels had swelled to about 3000. They constantly attacked the Government forces thereby forcing the Magistrate to retreat to Cuttack on 4 April, 1817.
• The rebels under the leadership of the Buxi also reached Puri and requested Mukunda Deva II, the former king of Khurda, confined to Puri, to join them and to lead the revolt. The pilgrim city, Puri, came under the control of the rebels. The covert support of the prince in Puri gave strength and popular legitimacy to them. The Magistrate of Cuttack recommended that one the Company re-gained the control over this most important pilgrim city, the prince should be removed to Cuttack, the Company’s headquarter in Odisha. A reward of Rs. 5000 was also announced on the head of the rebel sirdars on 12 April, 1817 and martial law was imposed in the entire Khurda territory.
• On 12 April, 1817 the rebels burnt the Government cutchery and several other public buildings in Puri. In the resultant clash, 15 rebels were killed and many more were wounded. However, very soon more people joined the rebels. The priests of the temple openly proclaimed the fall of British rule and the restoration of the king’s rule in Odisha. This created a mass upsurge forcing the European officials stationed in Puri to leave for Cuttack, where they reached on 18 April, 1817.
• By the second half of April, 1817 martial law had been proclaimed in Puri, Pipili, Lembai, Kotdesh, Khurda and Banapur. All communications between Cuttack and southern part of the province were completely cut off. By the end of April, 1817, the British swung into action in repressive mode. An armed British contingent returned to Puri and took the prince to Cuttack as their captive. There were attempts to rescue the prince on the way. Some 2500 rebels encountered the British forces escorting the prince. The British used modern arms and scared the mass of crowd whereas the rebels had only traditional arms, which were no match to the British arms. On 11 May, 1817 the prince reached Cuttack as a Company prisoner and was placed in close confinement in the Barabati fort till his death on 30 November, 1817. Although by the end of May, 1817, the revolt had been effectively suppressed, the resistance continued to prevail thereafter in pockets.
• Text : Ms. Shaili Dhagat and as per information received from the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 22, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps on the National Police Memorial.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Stamps, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 1500 Paise, 1000 Paise

Stamps Printed : 534600 each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 1.6 lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The National Police Memorial (NPM) has been established at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi as homage to the martyrdom of policemen in the performance of their duty. Being the only National Memorial in the country dedicated to police martyrdom, it gives Police Forces a sense of national identity, pride, unity of purpose, common history and destiny, besides reinforcing their commitment to protect the nation even at the cost of their supreme sacrifice.
• Hon’ble Prime Minister dedicated the NPM to the nation on Police Commemoration Day on October 21, 2018.
• The date derives significance from being the anniversary of the martyrdom of ten valiant policemen at Hot Springs (Ladakh) in an ambush by heavily armed Chinese troops, who had violated Indian territory in Aksai Chin, on October 21, 1959.
• The NPM is conceived as an ode to our policemen, who fight on the country’s borders, deal with counter militancy, terrorism as well as crime while maintaining law & order, protecting national assets, combating disasters and other emergencies. Since Independence, 34,844 policemen have been martyred (upto August 2018). Every year, on an average, more than 450 policemen lay down their lives in the line of duty.
• The NPM includes a Central Sculpture, the Wall of Valour and an underground museum. As one enters the site, the flower laden ramparts with two large symmetrically placed bowls, laced with flowers on the periphery that rise above, symbolize the everlasting spirit of police martyrs and their dedication.
• The Central Sculpture, designed by the National Gallery of Modern Arts, is a vertical 30 feet tall granite pillar which is a primordial yet permanent symbol of a sacred space for a police officer who is always in the line of duty. The single block of granite, both polished and unpolished, presents the ebony black granite as testimony of tolerance and karmic symbolism. ‘Jeeva Jyot’ is designed as an epitome of an eternal flame to keep the supreme sacrifice of police martyrs alive in common memory.
• The ’Wall of Valour’ is engraved with the names of police martyrs, who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty and reminds of their valour and glory. The NPM is a dynamic memorial, capable of additions to cater to the fact that policemen lay down their lives every year, whether on the country’s borders, while fighting terrorism and militancy, while fighting crime and maintaining order, while protecting national assets, or in combating disasters and emergencies.
• The museum set up in the premises of the National Police Memorial depicts the history, artifacts, police related gazette notifications, unique weapons and uniforms of Central and State Police Forces etc. It is a national level permanent exhibition on policing subjects. A section of the museum is dedicated to memory of the police martyrs from various Police Forces of the country.
• Text : Based on information received from the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 19, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Gulabrao Maharaj.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Ms. Gulistan

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 3.0 lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Gulab Gondoji Mohod

Born on Jul 6, 1881 at Amravati, Maharashtra, India

Died on Sep 20, 1915 at Pune, Maharashtra, India

About : 

• Gulabrao Maharaj was a Hindu saint from Maharashtra, India. Born in a farmer’s family, deprived of education, blinded of on early age, facing adverse conditions all around, he was still credited with giving a vision of life to the people.
• Gulabrao Maharaj was born in a Maharashtrian family on 6 July, 1881 to Gonduji Mohod and Alokabai Mohod from the village of Madhan near Amravati. His full name was Gulab Gonduji Mohod. He became blind on being administered the wrong medicine at the age of 9 months. When he was four years old his mother died and he was brought up by his maternal grandmother in Loni Takli village. He was married to Mankarnika, daughter of Ganaji Bhuyar a farmer in nearby village in the year 1896.
• Sant Gulabrao Maharaj was known as Pradnyachakshu Madhuradwaitacharya Gulabrao Maharaj. He was called Pradnyachakshu because in-spite of becoming blind at the age of about 9 months, he was master of Vedanta philosophy and many occult and physical sciences. ‘Pradnya’ means intelligence and eyes are called “chakshu” in Sanskrit language. He had many divine powers that included the ‘intellectual eyesight’.
• Gulabrao Maharaj displayed his deep intellect and genius through a vast array of writings on Bhakti Vedanta, Sankhya, Nayaya, ethics, Yoga, Ayurveda, music, poetry, literature, plays and scripts in Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi, Brij and Varhadi. He wrote about 133 books on various subjects containing more than 6000 pages, 130 commentaries and about 25,000 stanzas in poetry. He particularly wrote on the Advait Vedanta of Shri Sankaracharya and Shri Dnyaneshwar Maharaj. He liked the holy songs (Bhajans), holy verses (Shlokas) and reading occult books. He would ask his friends to read the books and would repeat the contents immediately. He had extraordinary memory. He knew all the Vedas and Shastras at the age of ten years. He started writing essays and poetry on religious philosophy since 1897 i.e. from the age of sixteen. He would visit nearby cities, villages and towns and meet people to discuss various topics of religion. In the year 1902 when he was 21, he wrote a commentary on the theories of Darwin and Spencer. He wrote books on various subjects like dhnyan, yoga and bhakti and commentaries on ancient treatises. He wrote on the “Manas Ayurveda”, i.e. psychological part in the Ayurveda. He gave valuable guidelines to those who want to attain salvation and gain eternal knowledge.
• Gulabrao Maharaj is also called “Dharama Samanvaya Maharshi” because he compared and contrasted Indian Philosophy with western philosophy and put up the theory of reconciliation to remove misunderstandings and conflicts from all religions of the world.
• Gulabrao Maharaj died at an early age of 34 years on 20 September, 1915.
• Text : Based on information received from the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 18, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Rajkumar Shukla.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure : Designed by Sh. Sankha Samanta based on the materials received from Mani Bhushan Rai (Rajkumar Shukla‘s grandson) and Swati Chandra.
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 5.0 lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Raj Kumar Shukla

Born on Aug 23, 1875 at Satwaria village, Champaran, Bihar, India

Died on May 20, 1929 at Motihari, Bihar, India

About : 

• In India’s struggle for Independence, the “Champaran Satyagraha” marks a turning point. Rajkumar Shukla drew the attention of Mahatma Gandhi, who had just returned from South Africa, to the plight of the peasants suffering under an oppressive system established by European indigo planters. Beside other excesses they were forced to cultivate indigo on 3/20 part of their holdings and sell it to the planters at prices fixed by the planters themselves. This set the stage for Gandhiji’s entry into the India’s Struggle for Freedom. On his arrival at Motihari, the district headquarters, accompanied by Rajkumar Shukla, Gandhiji was ordered to leave by the next available train which he refused and was promptly arrested. He was released and the ban order was withdrawn in the face of a “Satyagraha” threat. Gandhiji conducted an open enquiry into the peasant’s grievances. The Government had to appoint an enquiry committee with Gandhiji as a member. This led to the abolition of the system.
• Rajkumar Shukla has been described by Gandhiji in his “Atmakatha”, as a man whose suffering gave him the strength to rise against the odds. In his letter to Gandhiji he wrote –
  • “Respected Mahatma, you hear the stories of others everyday. Today please listen to my story _ _ _ _ _ I want to draw your attention to the promise made by you in the Lucknow Congress that you would come to Champaran. The time has come for you to fulfil your promise. 19 lakhs suffering people of Champaran are waiting to see you.”
• Gandhiji reached Patna on 10 April, 1917 and on 16 April he reached Motihari accompanied by Rajkumar Shukla. Under Gandhiji’s leadership the historic “Champaran Satyagraha” began. The contribution of Rajkumar Shukla is reflected in the writings of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, first President of India, Acharya Kriplani and of course Mahatma Gandhi himself. Rajkumar Shukla maintained a diary in which he was given an account of struggle against the atrocities of the indigo planters, atrocities so movingly depicted by Deen Bandhu Mitra in “Neel Darpan”, a play that was translated by Michael Madhusudan Dutt.
• Text : Based on book “Rajkumar Shukla” by Rai Prabhakar Prasad & NCERT’s publication: India’s struggle for Independence.

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