Dear Comrades,
Mahatma Gandhi (1869- 1948) and Kasturba Gandhi (1869 – 1944) were the
first Indian power couple to be depicted on a postal stamp after
independence. It was issued in 1969 to commemorate Gandhi’s centenary.
The stamp carries a value of 20 paise. “Gandhi always credits his wife
Kasturba with teaching him ahimsa. She was his pillar of support. She
plunged into the freedom movement and actively took part in fasts and
marches led by Mahatma Gandhi. She died on February 22, 1944,” says N.
Hariharan, a retired postmaster.
He displays with pride his collection
of exclusive Gandhi stamps, first day covers and postal cards and says,
“Prior to independence, stamps were issued only on royal couples. Gandhi
and Kasturba are the first Indian couple on a postal stamp after
Independence.” Hariharan is the first recipient of Meghdoot Award of the
Department of Posts instituted in 1984, and a winner of six awards for
his suggestions to the postal department. In one of the post cards
released on October 2, 1952, Gandhi is seen with his wife. Other post
cards feature portraits of Gandhi with a kid, his charkha…
Stamps and stories
Picking out a stamp from the collection, Hariharan narrates the story
behind it. It’s a one-and-a half anna stamp issued on Gandhi’s 80th
birthday. It is part of a set of four stamps in the denominations of
one-and-a half annas, three-and-a-half annas, 12 annas and 10 rupees
that were released. “It was Jawaharlal Nehru who suggested the word
‘Bapu’ be included in Hindi and Urdu on the stamps”, he says. There are
also stamps commemorating his fast for communal unity in 1924, the Dandi
March of 1930 and the salt Satyagraha. Hariharan shows you a set of
four commemorative stamps, released on the centenary of Satyagraha
(October 2, 2007).
Hariharan says the first country other than India to
honour Mahatma Gandhi on its stamps was the U.S. “The U.S. released
stamps with values of four cents and eight cents. More than 80 other
countries followed suit. The Indian Postal Department has issued stamps
on the leader at 35 significant occasions so far,” he mentions. However,
the British version of the Gandhi stamp is believed to be the most
outstanding example on philatelic art and printing. It bears Gandhi’s
characteristic smiling pose against the background of the Indian
tri-colour.
The historic Dandi March also features on a set of two stamps, issued by
the Indian posts and Telegraphs Department. Gandhi walked the distance
of 385 kilometres from Ahmedabad and defied the salt law by picking up a
fistful of salt at Dandi, a seaside village in Gujarat.
Hariharan also treasures the first day postal cover on Mahatma Gandhi,
released on August 15, 1948. “It’s a reminder of Gandhi’s contributions
to the freedom struggle and keeps his memories alive,” he smiles.
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