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 26, 2016

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to release a Commemorative Postage Stamp on “Hardayal Municipal Heritage Public Library”.

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

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 301590

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Situated in the heart of Chandni Chowk, Hardayal Municipal Public Library (HMPL) is one of the very few oldest buildings that have been able to withstand the onslaught of modern times. This is the oldest public library of Delhi, named after the great revolutionary and freedom fighter Lala Hardayal, who was a resident of Old Delhi.
  
• The library was set up in 1862, as part of reading club meant for the British. Englishmen coming to India used to carry a lot of books with them to read in the several month long sea journey. These books were given to the reading room called the Institute Library, which was a part of the Lawrence Institute, named after the then Viceroy of India. The building was built between 1861 and 1866. Today the building is called the Town Hall and houses the offices of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
  
• In 1902, the Library was renamed as the Delhi Public Library and shifted to the small Kaccha Bagh building with a staff of one Librarian, one clerk, one peon. It wasn’t enough to accommodate its readers.
  
• On 23^rd December 1912, a bomb was hurled at Lord Hardinge while he was going on an elephant in a procession through Company Bagh, (Now known as Gandhi Maidan) but he escaped unharmed. To commemorate Hardinge’s escape, a committee was formed soon after to construct a building for the Delhi Public Library under the President-ship of Rai Bahadur Lala Sheo Prasad. The committee is said to have collected Rs. 70,000/-, Khan Sahib Haji Baksh Elahi donated Rs. 14,000/-, the Maharaja of Kashmir Rs. 10,000/-, and there were various other donors. The Library was renamed as Hardinge Municipal Public Library in 1916 when it shifted to the new building with its old collection and furniture.
  
• The name ‘Hardinge Municipal Public Library’ was further shortened as Hardinge Library in 1942 consequent upon an agreement between the Library and the erstwhile Municipal Committee which gave the Library the status of an autonomous body with 100% grant-in-aid from Municipal Corporation. In 1970 Hardinge Library become Hardayal Municipal Public Library.
  
• The governance of the Library vests in a Governing body called the Managing Committee. The Mayor of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation is the ex-officio-President of the Managing Committee of the Library. There are six elected sitting members of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation and one each from south & east DMC, nominated by it to the Managing Committee. Four persons elected by the subscribers of the Library.
  
• There are about 3123 Gazettes of India & Delhi Gazettes: those are quite useful for Govt. notifications since 1917 to 1998 and ten years five newspapers i.e. 1) Times of India, 2) The Hindustan Times, 3) Nav Bharat Times (Hindi), 4) Hindustan (Hindi), 5) Jansatta.
  
• The library décor is antique with ancient book shelves and almirahs. It has a unique collection of more than 1,70,000 books in Hindi, English, Urdu, Arabic, Persian and Sanskrit. This is one of the few Libraries in the world with a collection of at least 8,000 rare books. The oldest book in the library is block-printed. Some of the oldest books are “A Relation of Some years, by Travaile Begvenne, 1634”, “History of the World, by Sir Walter Raleigh, (1676 to 1677)”, “Mahabharata” in Persian written by Abul Fazal Faizi etc.
  
• Text : Based on the material received from proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Mar 11, 2016

Issued for : The Department of Posts is pleased to release a commemorative postage stamp on completion of 125 years of existence of National Archives of India.

Credits :
Stamp / FDC / Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.501 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The National Archives of India (NAI) is the custodian of non-current records of the Government of India and is holding them in trust for the use of the records creators and users at large. It is the biggest repository of the non-current records in South East Asia. Archives are the priceless documentary heritage of any nation and as the premier archival institution in the country; the National Archives of India plays a key role in guiding and shaping the development of archives both at the national as well as international level. In its unique position as the sole repository of Public records of the country, NAI has been the memory keeper of the nation.
  
• Established in 1891 at Calcutta as the Imperial Records Department (IRD), the National Archives of India was later shifted to New Delhi in 1911. The present building of the National Archives of India was constructed in 1926, and the transfer of all records was completed in 1937. After Independence, the IRD was rechristened as National Archives of India.
  
• As the custodian of public records of the Government of India, the regular series of records in the department dates back to the year 1748. These records contain information essential for good governance and they provide a sound basis for historical and inter-disciplinary research. The National Archives of India also possesses microfilms of records of Indian interest acquired from the archival repositories located abroad. In addition, there is a rich collection of private papers of eminent Indians as well as a large collection of oriental records comprising manuscripts and various documents such as: (parwanas, kharitas, farmans) etc. All the records are available for consultation as per The Public Records Rules, 1997. Besides, NAI also has a rich and ever expanding library of books apart from proscribed publications, vernacular native newspaper reports, parliamentary papers etc.
  
• On 11 March 2015, the National Archives of India completed 125 years of its existence and this eventful journey from Imperial Records Department to National Archives of India was celebrated by a curtain raiser. During this programme, a plethora of activities were organized, viz, an exhibition, Launch of a Logo for 125^th Year Celebration, online search portal : Abhilekh Patal, virtual exhibition on Gandhi-Mandela (displayed at Johannesburg as a part of Festival of India in South Africa), and the release of three new publications based on archival material of the department.
  
• National Archives of India function as an attached office of the Ministry of Culture entrusted with the preservation of the documentary heritage of the nation. It is also the nodal agency for the implementation of the Public Records Act, 1993 and the Public Records Rules, 1997. It has one Regional Office at Bhopal and three Records Centres at Bhubaneshwar, Jaipur and Puducherry.
  
• Text : Based on the material received from proponent.

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Issued by Bangladesh

Issued on Feb 5, 2016 (২৩ মাঘ, ১৪২২ বঙ্গাব্দ)

Issued for : On the prestigious occasion of ‘Muslin Exhibition and Muslin Revival Festival’ in February-2016, Bangladesh Post has issued two commemorative stamps of Tk. 10, and of Tk. 5, and a first day cover of Tk. 10 (ten) only, a data card of Tk. 5 and a special canceller.

দেশবাসীকে সচেতন করার লক্ষ্যে এই মর্যাদাপূর্ণ “মসলিন উৎসব-২০১৬” উপলক্ষে বাংলাদেশ ডাক বিভাগ নকশা-অলংকৃত প্রাচীন আমলের মসলিন বস্ত্রের চিত্র দিয়ে ১০/- (দশ) ও ৫/- (পাঁচ) টাকা মূল্যমানের দুটি স্মারক ডাক টিকিট, ১০/- (দশ) টাকা মূল্যমানের একটি উদ্বোধনী খাম, ৫/- (পাঁচ) টাকা মূল্যমানের একটি ডেটাকার্ড ও একটি বিশেষ সীলমোহর প্রকাশ করছে।

Designer : Shafiq Saheen
নকশাবিদ : সফিক শাহীন

Type : Stamps, Mint Condition

No. of Stamps : 2 (Two)
স্মারক ডাকটিকিটের সংখ্যা : ২ (দুই) টি

Colour : Multicolour
রং : বহুরং বিশিষ্ট

Denomination of Stamps : Tk. 5/- (Five) & Tk. 10/- (Ten)
স্মারক ডাকটিকিটের মূল্যমান : ৫/- (পাঁচ) টাকা & 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 : 6,00,000 pcs (Each 3 Lac pcs)
ডাকটিকিটের পরিমাণ : ৬,০০,০০০ পিস (প্রতিটি ৩ লক্ষ পিস)

No. of Stamps in each sheet : (80 + 80) = 160 (One Hundred Sixty pcs)
প্রতি শীটে ডাকটিকিটের সংখ্যা : (৮০ + ৮০) = ১৬০ (একশত ষাট) 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 : 

• Muslin is a bright Chapter in the history of Bengal. Muslin of Dhaka cut a glance to the world for some centuries before the birth of Christ. This finest ancient cloth made by the weavers of Bengal especially introduced this country during Mughal rule all over the world. The best quality of cotton was grown here and for centuries, the finest muslin cloth has been woven around Dhaka. It is known from the writing of Greek historian and China travelers, the muslin of Bengal was exported to Rome and China. The merchants from Arab, Iran, African, Armenia, China, Java and different countries of Europe had been crowded in the then capital of Bengal, Sonargaon and Jahagirnagar as buyers of Muslin production. Seeing the finest quality of Muslin the European merchant and Rulers become highly astonished.
• Unfortunately, the vibrant muslin industry of Bengal and other parts India sharply declined during the British era; and, by the middle of the 19^th century, Muslin became a relic to be collected and preserved by the museums. However, it is possible to resurrect Muslin and restore its lost glory. Regeneration of cotton that was suitable for spinning yarn for Muslin. Revival of the fine technique of weaving is challenging but not impossible. However, what is needed foremost of all is creation of social awareness in this regard. If the society demands revival of Muslin then all of challenges can be removed within a short span of time.
• Following the directives of the Honorable Prime Minister for salvaging the proud heritage of the nearly extinct muslin of Bangladesh National Museum organizing the ‘Muslin Exhibition and Muslin Revival Festival’ in February-2016.
• বাংলার বস্ত্র শিল্পের ইতিহাসে মসলিন একটি উজ্জ্বল অধ্যায়। খ্রিষ্টের জন্মেরও কয়েক শত বছর আগে ঢাকাই মসলিন পৃথিবীকে তাক লাগিয়েছিল। বাংলার তাঁতীদের হাতে তৈরি প্রাচীন এই সূক্ষ্মবস্ত্র বিশেষ করে মোগল আমলে বাংলাকে সারাবিশ্বে পরিচিত করে। বহু শতাব্দী ধরে ঢাকা ও এর পার্শ্ববর্তী এলাকার সর্ব্বোৎকৃষ্ট মসলিন বস্ত্র তৈরী হতো। গ্রিক ঐতিহাসিক ও চীনা পর্যটকদের লেখা থেকে জানা যায়, বাংলার মসলিন রোম ও চীন সাম্রাজ্যে রপ্তানি হতো। বাংলার তৎকালীন রাজধানী সোনারগাঁও এবং জাহাঙ্গীরনগরের মসলিনের ক্রেতা হিসেবে আরব, ইরান, আফ্রিকা ও আর্মেনিয়া, চীন, জাভা ও ইওরোপের বিভিন্ন দেশের ব্যবসায়ীরা ভীড় করতো। ইওরোপীয় বণিক ও শাসকরা বাংলার মসলিনের উচ্চমান দেখে আশ্চর্যান্বিত হতো।
• কিন্তু দুঃখের বিষয় যে, এদেশে ব্রিটিশ শাসন প্রতিষ্ঠা হওয়ার পর রাজকীয় পৃষ্ঠপোষকতার অভাবে মসলিনের দ্রুত অবনতি হয় এবং উনিশ শতকের মাঝামাঝি এসে মসলিন জাদুঘর এবং বিভিন্ন সংগ্রহকারী প্রতিষ্ঠানের প্রত্ন সামগ্রীতে পরিণত হয়ে যায়। আমাদের বিশ্বাস, প্রচেষ্টা চালানো গেলে বাংলার  এই হারানো গৌরবের পুনরুজ্জীবিত করা সম্ভব। মসলিন তৈরির উপযুক্ত তুলা উৎপাদন এবং মিহি সুতার বুনন কাজটি খুবই কঠিন কিন্তু অসম্ভব নয়। এর জন্য এ সম্পর্কে সংশ্লিষ্টগণসহ সমাজের সকলের আগ্রহ ও সচেতনতা প্রয়োজন। সচেতন দেশবাসী যদি চায় তবে মসলিনের পুনরুজ্জীবন অবশ্যই সম্ভব।
• মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রী ্কর্তৃক হারিয়ে যাওয়া মসলিনের গৌরবময় ঐতিহ্য পুনরুদ্ধার বিষয়ক নির্দেশনার অনুবৃত্তিক্রমে বাংলাদেশ জাতীয় জাদুঘর ‘মসলিন প্রদর্শন ও মসলিন পুনরুজ্জীবন উৎসব’ ২০১৬ আয়োজন করেছে।

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Issued by India

Issued on Apr 21, 2015

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of the Bicentenary celebrations of Old Seminary, Kottayam.

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 the proponent)

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The foundation of Orthodox Theological Seminary (OTS), known as Old Seminary or Cottayam Syrian College, was laid in February, 1813. The Seminary is run by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the St. Thomas Christians, commonly known as ‘Malankara Nazranis’. This is a heritage monument recognized by the Government for its importance as a two hundred year old quadrangular edifice where English education was started for the first time in the state of Kerala. The institution, which once served as a co-ordinating centre of public education under the Christian missionaries continues to serve as the earliest non-Roman Catholic Seminary for Christian Priests.
  
• Besides the serene Chapel of the Seminary, the structure holds the Nalukettu (four sided courtyard made of wood) depicting the rich architectural beauty of the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The Nalukettu structure today houses a heritage museum which acts as a repository of 2000 years of Christianity in the country. According to the Department of Archaeology, Government of Kerala, the Old Seminary Building which is approximately 200 years old and is one of the earliest public institutions in Kerala, has a historical significance in the context of Kerala’s socio cultural history.
  
• A modern phase of the history of the Seminary began in 1965 when it assumed the status of a theological college affiliated to the University system of the senate of Serampore (West Bengal). The present day campus houses:
  • Federated Faculty for Research in Religion and Culture (FFRRC) which is a joint ecumenical programme of Orthodox, Mar Thomas and CSI Seminaries in Kerala, for Research-oriented higher studies in Theology.
  • Sruti School of Music which is a recognized centre of Christian music-studies with special emphasis on Syriac Music.
  • Mar Gregorios Foundation (M.G.F.) which is a centre to promote the ideals and philanthropic services of the late Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios, the former Principal and world renowned thinker.
  • Pratyasa Counselling Programme which is a centre to cater to the counselling studies and needs.
  • Divyabodhanam which is a centre to promote and train in the faith needs of clergy and the laymen.
  • Saroopya School of Art which is a centre to train clergy and laity in ancient art forms, and
  • Smriti which is a campus which houses an auditorium, a media-room, an ecumenical hall and modernized library cum archives.
    
• Text : Based on the material provided by proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Feb 2, 2014

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to release a Souvenir Sheet comprising of three Commemorative Postage Stamps on Indian Museum, Kolkata.

Credits :
Souvenir Sheet/FDC : Sankha Samanta
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 4500 Paise

Souvenir Sheet Printed : 0.61 Million (0.1 Million for proponent)

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The foundation of the Indian Museum is an important milestone in the cultural heritage of India and heritage preservation. The museum grew out of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
  
• The idea of establishing a Museum acquired a tangible form in the beginning of 1808 when the society occupied the premises erected at the corner of Park Street on a land granted by the government. It appointed Dr. Nathanial Wallich, a Danish Botanist, to be the Honorary Curator and then Superintendent of the Oriental Museum of the Asiatic Society. The Society decided to establish a museum which would be divided into two sections; one of which would be concerned with archaeological, ethnological and technological artifacts, while the other devoted to preservation of geological and zoological specimens. Wallich was not only the enthusiastic under and the first Curator of the Indian Museum; he was one of the largest donors to the museum at its inception. Out of one hundred seventy four items donated to the Museum till 1816, he had donated forty-two botanical specimens.
  
• Dr. Nathaniel Wallich took charge of the museum on 1^st June, 1814. The Museum thus inaugurated, thrived rapidly under the guidance of its enthusiastic founder Wallich and individual collectors. The Museum moved to the present building designed by Walter R. Granville at Chowringhee Road, Kolkata in the year 1878 and was thrown open to the public with two galleries on 1^st April, 1878. In 1879, it received a portion of the collection from the India Museum (South Kensington) when that collection was dispersed. Though in the beginning the Indian Museum was opened with two galleries, it was transformed later into a multipurpose Institution, where multi-disciplinary objects have been displayed in its six sections viz, Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Zoology, Geology and Botany.
  
• The museum, known in the beginning as the “Asiatic Society Museum“, subsequently came to acquire the elevated status of the “Imperial Museum“. The familiar name of course was the “Indian Museum” described by the ordinary visitors as “Jadughar” or a ‘House of Wonders‘. Since 1878, at its present edifice, the Indian Museum has been rendering its services to the people of India as a centre of art and culture in India.
  
• Text : Based on the material furnished by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 21, 2010

Issued for : India Post is proud to release a set of commemorative postage stamps on Crafts museum.

Design : We have tried to create a diasporas through sets of two stamps along with mini-sheet depicting different art forms like Madhubani painting & terracotta, stone & wood carving, metal work, paper machie etc.

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

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise each

Stamps Printed : 0.3 Million each

Miniature Sheets : 0.2 Million

Printing Process : Wet–offset

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About : 

• The Crafts Museum was established in 1956 as a resource centre for traditional Indian handicrafts and hand looms. The aim of setting up the museum was not merely to preserve Indian art or ethnography, but also to build a collection of craft specimens, which would serve as source material for the revival, reproduction and development of crafts. The Museum was shifted from Thapar House to its present premises in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi in 1979-80, is a subordinate office under the Development Commissioner for, Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
  
• The museum has a collection of 32000 artefacts. The Museum’s Village Complex, comprising of 14 huts and courtyards of different States as well as three open theatres is a replica of rural India. The Crafts Museum has five theme based permanent galleries, namely, Bhuta Sculpture Gallery, Folk & Tribal Gallery and Reference Collection. Fifty Craftsmen including folk performers are invited every month in the Crafts Demonstration Programme from various States to display their respective crafts through live demonstration and also simultaneously offer their exquisite products for sale.
  
• Research and Development has been a regular activity of the Crafts Museum. Students from Schools and Colleges are invited to acquaint themselves with the Handicrafts and Handlooms of India under the educational programme. It has been observed that this unique Museum is serving all sections of society, including foreign visitors interested in India’s rich heritage. The Museum has completed 53 years of glorious service in the field of Handicrafts & Handlooms. The Museum has rendered yeoman service in the promotion of Indian heritage and culture.
  
• Text : Based on the material provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Jun 19, 2009

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to bring out a set of four commemorative postage stamps on Rampur Raza Library.

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

Type : Miniature Sheet with above four stamps with borders depicting some other collections in the library, Mint Condition

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 500 Paise each

Stamps Printed : 1.0 Million each

Miniature Sheets : 0.5 Million

Printing Process : Wet–Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Rampur Raza Library was established formally by Government of India on 1^st July, 1975 by an Act of Parliament as an institution of national importance. Before that it was a state library under the patronage of Nawab Raza Ali Khan (1930-66).
• The library has a collection of about 50,000 printed books in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Hindi both in Arabic and Devnagari scripts and Pushto. It has 15,000 manuscripts in these languages besides 205 miniature paintings on the Palm-Leaf popularly called ‘Bhoj Patra’.
• Maulana Shibli Numani, a noted Urdu and Persian literary critic who visited the library on 6^th April, 1914 wrote of its collection ‘I have consulted this library several times. There is no better collection than this in India. I have also seen the libraries of Egypt, Syria, Turkey and Europe and I can say that this library is richer than any one of them’. Percy Brown, the famous author of ‘Indian Paintings under the Mughals’, considered it a unique library because of its more than hundred illustrated manuscripts. Many other scholars consider the library unique because of the range of its collection where ‘Bhoj Patras’ occupy the pride of place.
• Among the Arabic collections, the Holy Quran shines as a pole star in this great store-house of knowledge. We have here the Holy Book, the oldest piece of handwork in the field of Arabic calligraphy, belonging to the 7^th century AD written on parchment in early Kufic script attributed to Hazrat Ali. The library possesses also a copy of Quran calligraphed by the master calligraphist of the 13^th century AD of Baghdad, Yaqut-ul-Musta’ Simi. It bears ornamentation in gold and lapis lazuli in different colours. Another precious masterpiece of Arabic manuscript by the same calligraphist is ‘Diwan-al-Hadira’ dated 1221. It was once a part of the royal library of Ibrahim Adil Shah of Bijapore. Another great asset of the library is ‘Sharhul Kafia of Razi’. It bears marginal notes by Sadullah Khan, the Prime Minister of Shahjehan. The manuscript also contains a note by emperor Shahjehan in his own handwriting and bears the seal and signatures of Aurangzeb.
• The Persian collection includes rare books on medicine, philosophy and miniature paintings. These Persian paintings clearly indicate the influence of Mongol and Chinese art which dominated the Herat School for quite some time. The notable titles are ‘Zakhira-i-Khwarism-Shahi’ by Zainuddin Ibrahim Gurgani of the 11^th century AD. The manuscript of ‘Diwan-e-Hafiz’ another asset of the library has attracted attention of Sufis and scholars, the world over.
• The Dance of the Dervesh is at the heart of Sufi traditions and there are several paintings pertaining to the Dervishes in the state of ‘Haal’ (Ecstasy). There are also paintings bearing the signature of Jahan Ara Begum that are included in the prize collection.
• Ramayana of Valmiki
  • It is a unique illustration translated into Persian by Sumer Chand and illustrated during the reign of Farruck Siyar, a later Mughal, dated 1715 AD. The great Hindu epic Ramayana written in Grantha script is another highlight of the library.
    
• Urdu Collection
  • Although smaller in number as compared to Arabic and Persian, the Urdu collection of the library possesses the Diwan of Shah Hatim, Kulliyar-e-Mir Taqi Mir, Jurrat, Diwan-i-Soz and indeed the manuscript of Diwan-e-Ghalib with corrections in the poet’s own handwriting. There are also two rare copies of the first short story in Urdu, ‘Rani Ketki Ki Kahani‘.
    
• Hindi and Sanskrit
  • The greatest beauty of the Rampur collection lies in its Hindi and Sanskrit manuscripts. Special mention must be made of Prabodh Chandrika, a work on Hindu grammar. It was written by Baijnath Chauhan and scribed by Girdhari Lal Mishra. There is also a commentary on Jyothish Ratnamala written by Shripat Bhatta. Another striking feature of the collection is the existence of hundred manuscripts in Hindi originally written in Persian. The original complete version of “Madhumati” of Malik Manjan is also preserved besides “Padmavat” of Malik Mohammad Jaisi with Persian translation.
    
• Turkish Collection
  • Turkish language influenced Indian languages considerably. The word ‘Urdu’ is of Turkish origin meaning ‘Lashkar’ (Camp). Babur‘s ‘Tozak‘ is the highlight of the library. Similarly, the Holy Quran is there in the library in Pushto. The works of the great Pushto writer Khushal Khan Khatak are there. So are the works of the Sufi poet Rahman Baba.
    
• The library has also a unique collection of art objects and rare astronomical instruments. A noteworthy feature of the library collection is that it includes manuscripts belonging to the libraries of Halb, Mecca, Medina, Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact a visit, even today, to the Rampur Raza Library, evokes the spirit of classical traditions. It beckons one and all to come and become a part of the knowledge society for which this country is known since ages.
  
• Text : Pranav Khuallar.

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Issued by India

Issued on Jun 23, 2003

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp honouring Shri V. K. Rajwade.

Design : The first day cover carries a picture of Rajwade Historical Museum, Dhule, Maharashtra.

Credits :
Stamp : Based on material received from the proponents.
FDC and Cancellation : Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Single colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 cms.

Printing size : 2.55 x 3.56 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated stamp paper in Sheets 50.8 x 53.5 Cms.

Stamps Printed : 0.5 million

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade

Born on Jun 24, 1863 at Varsai village, Raigad district, Maharashtra, India

Died on Dec 31, 1926

About : 

• Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade (1863-1926), one among the pioneering historians of India, was a multifaceted personality who left his imprint in many other disciplines like Linguistics, Literature, Geography, Oleography and Sociology also.
• V.K. Rajwade hailed from the Raigad district of Maharashtra. After completing his education in Pune, he took up the teaching profession and settled in Pune. The sad and untimely death of his wife in 1894 was a turning point in Rajwade‘s life. Overlooking the advice from different quarters to remarry, he decided to devote the rest of his life to the selfless pursuit of knowledge, through which he fructified his desire to serve the country. Meticulous in his research and prodigious in output, Rajwade wrote on a variety of subjects. However, he is remembered most for his path breaking work in historiography. His writings inspired many research scholars in Maharashtra and other parts of India to pursue the subject at a time when works of European historians dominated the academic discourses in Indian history. It is no exaggeration to say that his work revolutionized the way the subject of history was perceived in India and helped to advance an Indian view of history, which held that history included the totality of the activities of the society.
• By founding the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal at Pune in 1910, he institutionalised his research procedures. He also changed the way history was being researched by giving as much importance to non-documental sources of history like costumes, articles of house hold use, buildings and works of art as was being given to written archival material like letters and manuscripts. He had highlighted the importance of folk literature and other oral evidences as useful historical sources much ahead of contemporary historians in most parts of the world. He had stressed five aspects in his research methodology, viz. collection of original historical records, preservation of records, examination and classification of records, editing and publications of records and interpretation of sources and writing of histories.
• Text : Based on material received from the proponents.

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Issued by India

Issued on Jun 19, 2003

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a set of three postage stamps and a miniature sheet as part of the year-long celebrations of the 151^st anniversary of the Government Museum, Chennai.

Design : The first stamp depicts Natesa, a 12^th century A.D. Bronze from Thanjavur district. The image is notable for its vigour and details of ornamentation. The second stamp carries a picture of the century-old Museum Theatre, a heritage building in semi-circular shape with striking architectural features. A sculptured medallion (circa 150 A.D.) from Amravati figures on the third stamp, which tells a story related to king Bandhuma. Its craftsmanship is of the highest order. The miniature sheet depicts some of the other remarkable exhibits of the museum also.

Credits :
Stamps, Miniature Sheet, Sheetlets & FDC : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 500, 500 & 1500 Paise

Overall size : 2.85 x 2.90, 2.85 x 5.80 cms.

Printing size : 2.85 x 2.90, 2.85 x 5.80 cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5 mm

Paper : Matt Chromo

Printed quantity :
Stamps : 0.8 million each
Mini. sheets : 0.1 million 

Number per issue sheetlet : 20, 10

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

About : 

• There has been a notable change in the role and functions of museums in recent times. They are not passive storehouses of antiques and artifacts any more, but dynamic centres of knowledge and learning, which inform, educate and on occasions, even entertain.
  
• Museums in the modern sense were brought to India by the British with the setting up of the Indian Museum at Calcutta in 1814. However, fragments of the museum concept have always been there, as borne out by the picture galleries of pre-historic caves found in different parts of the country, particularly the likes of the Bhimbetka caves of Madhya Pradesh. These concepts evolved further through temple panels, stupas and chitrasalas (painting galleries), in the process giving rise to an idiom of visual communication that is typically Indian. Later, during the British period, much emphasis was laid upon the creation of museums and a number of them came up in different cities and towns. In independent India, museums acquired a new dimension as promoters of national integration and international understanding.
  
• The Government Museum, Chennai is one of the largest and oldest of India’s museums and is considered an institution of excellence because of its varied collections, communicative galleries, conservation efforts and educational activities. Beginning as a museum of practical Geology in 1851, its scope was extended considerably over the years to cover various fields of knowledge. The pace of re-organisation and development of the museum increased after independence and the displays acquired a nationalistic character. Today the Chennai Museum is a large multipurpose museum covering a wide range of subjects and is organised into sections like Archaeology, Art, Anthropology, Numismatics, Zoology, Botany, Geology and Children’s. There is a well-equipped Chemical Laboratory for the conservation of museum objects and an Education Section for carrying out the educational activities. The Design and Display Section organises the display work of the Museum. These sections contain extensive collections illustrating mostly the past history, culture and natural history of South India and are manned by qualified professionals.
  
• The Government Museum, Chennai presents to the people their own culture through various pieces of collective heritage, without removing the social context. Its success shows that with proper management, funding and communication strategies, museums showcasing India’s rich culture and hoary past can be great sources of inspiration to the nation.
  
• Text : P.N. Ranjit Kumar (Based on material furnished by the Commissioner of Museums, Chennai).

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