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Monthly e-Stamp Bulletin edited and published by Jeevan Jyoti from Dehradun.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Rainbow March 2021

 


Honouring Frontline Heroes

Date of Issue : 16 February  2021


Dehradun March 2021  Vol. XIV  Issue No. 159

Readers are requested to send reports of philatelic activities in their area for publication. Short write ups by the readers about their journals, societies, publications and philatelic requirements can be sent for inclusion in this bulletin to the editor: j.jyoti9@gmail.com

Note- This bulletin is only for circulation among a limited group of philatelists without any commercial purpose. The bulletin will be sent to the readers only on request. Those who wish to receive it regularly please reply giving the name of your city / country with the subject SUBSCRIBE RAINBOW




Dear Reader,

I am pleased to present March 2021 issue of Rainbow Stamp News. The year 2020 has been very unfortunate for all with COVID 19 pandemic and it is still continued with new strain roaming around us.  Due to the present situation of pandemic prevailing in different parts of the world, it seems difficult to hold physical philatelic exhibitions for the organizers. Though two physical international exhibitions have been announced to be held in South Africa and Japan this year. Philatelists are just waiting whether it will be possible for the organizers to hold these shows physically. However, in India, circle level virtual stamp exhibitions and a national level exhibition with international participation have been organized successfully. Philatelic Federation of South Africa has also announced one frame virtual exhibition with international participation. This is a good step to promote the hobby at this time of the pandemic. The best part of a virtual exhibition is that it gives a chance to a large number of philatelists to view the exhibits. On the other hand, even if the physical philatelic exhibition is organized at this time only a few philatelists would be able to visit…or view the exhibits. So can’t we do something between the virtual and physical shows. I mean physical show along with the online show. The exhibits on display could also be made available to view online; this will prevent the display of virtual exhibits which do not exist physically. Moreover, if conditions do not permit to hold a physical exhibition and the only option is there for the virtual show, then the organizers must appoint a team of experts ( Which is not necessary to be a philatelist, he or she can be any authorized person) who can certify that the exhibit is genuine and the same exhibit has been uploaded in virtual exhibition. Because in the recent online philatelic exhibitions some exhibitors displayed virtual exhibits prepared from the images taken from the Internet. It was not fair for all in the competition where 70 % of exhibits were genuine. This is just a topic for discussion and analysis …..Let’s see what happens in the future and how things come out……

This is all for this month.  More in the next issue…

Wishing you all a very happy and colorful Holi !  Happy Collecting !   


Contents

§  From the Desk of Naresh Agrawal

§  Recent Indian Issues

§  In The News

 

§  Thematic Watch 

§  Beginners’ Section

§  Specialized Section

§  Philatelic Tributes to First-line Warriors –COVID-19 Pandemic

§  New Issues from Other Countries

§  Philatelic Clubs and Society

§  Blogs & Websites on Philately

§  Current Philatelic Magazines & Newsletters






 


HONOURING POSTMAN


Postwoman Shobha Chogle with Postmaster General Swati Pandey

My salute to all COVID warriors such as Doctors, Nurses, Police, and Postal workers. There is no doubt that they served humanity day and night for months together putting their own lives in danger. When the whole world was locked down, the warriors were in the field to protect us, to serve us to take care of us.

It is great news to know that Mumbai Region’s Postal Office has decided to honor 2 postmen in their circle every month to be identified as the smartest postman or postwoman. Truly a great vision and decision. I remember about two years back, I had put forward a request to SOP, Bilaspur to allow me to honor postmen (old and new) of my area where I reside and also some retired village postmen for the commendable and dedicated services they gave us.

 

Although the credit goes to the complete chain of postal workers for safe and efficient delivery of postal products to the receiver but postman being the last hand has his importance. I have observed the services of postmen right from my childhood. My love, concern, and fascination for the postman is tremendous. I love his Khaki dress which probably has changed in some regions nowadays, the very sight of the postman holding a bunch of letters in his hands, the way he shouts his arrival, the smile he carries on his face, and above all his willingness to deliver. Scorching sun rays, chilling cold days, thundering rainy days….. whatever be the weather conditions, he is always there to deliver mail pieces. Such is the commendable service we receive. In fact, for him, his family is the people living /organizations established in the area, the beat he covers to deliver the mail. I have seen postman serving even when he was not well, had urgent works at home when everything was closed but his mailbag was open for delivery. This is what we call “Service but true service”.

I don’t know how much and to what extent such commendable services have been identified and appreciated socially and officially but genuinely for a postman, work is worship. I recall the days of delivery of Telegram when even on a rainy stormy night, the telegrams used to be delivered. No second thought.

The latest news of honoring two postal carriers (Postman/Postwoman) as the smartest postman of Mumbai Region’s Postal Office every month has come to me as an extremely satisfying note. At least something has been done for the postman’s honor. Though the reason behind the same seems to motivate, educate and update, make the team of postal workers presentable, more accustomed to the latest communication technologies like usage of mobile apps to help postal transactions and updates, etc. but still honoring postman is one thing which I longed for a long time. On this new system/initiative of honoring Postman/postwoman one of the postwoman Shobha Dinesh Chogle said, “In my 29 years of service, this is the first time that I have received such an honour. Seeing the badge on my uniform, people have started respecting me even more. I thank CMG for encouraging the postmen cadre and creating healthy competition. Everyone now has the aim to do better.

We all know that Postmen have been serving us since time immemorial. However, they have never been rewarded for their arduous work and the tedious miles they cover through thick wild forests, overflowing rivers, and mountainous paths and deserts. The village postman who is retiring or has retired too has served the people in the same. Even today they work very hard to complete delivery. In mountains, they have to walk and climb a long distance to deliver mail. Hence, they must be honored for their dedication, sincerity, zeal to deliver, and the hard work they put.

Hence, my appeal to various postal organizations, philatelic organizations, and social organization to honor our friend Postman at different levels so that justice is done to this community of postal workers.

-Naresh Agrawal : email - nareshkumar1992@yahoo.co.in


Recent Indian Issues

23 January 2021 : 125th Birth Anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose – Rs 25

25 January 2021 50 Years of full Statehood of Himachal Pradesh – Rs 5


New Special Covers 




28 Feb 2021 : Honey and Bee Wax Collection  in Sundarban :  Kolkata

22 Feb 2021 : 35th All India Postal Badminton Tournament, 2020-21: Dharamshala (HP)




22 Feb 2021 : Road Safety : Sambalpur

18 Feb 2021 : 110 Years of Air Mail Allahabad to Naini : Allahabad Fort

15 Feb 2021 : 35th All India Postal Chess Tournament : Bhubaneshwar





12 Feb 2021 : Gandhi Smriti Vahan : Allahabad

13 Feb 2021 : Gender Park complex : Marikkunnu

8 Feb 2021 : Silver Jubilee of Vidyashilp Academy : Yelahanka

4 Feb 2021 : Centenary celebrations of Chauri Chaura : Chauri Chaura

 


 


In The News

Mumbai Region’s postal office to name 2 as "smartest postman" every month

In an attempt to appreciate their efforts and encourage them, postal department’s Mumbai region decides to name postmen or postwomen as ‘Smartest’ every month.

Postmaster General Swati Pandey (centre) with the four Smartest Postman awardees

A smart postman is coming to your doorstep! Not many may have noticed but the ubiquitous postman is slowly changing. It is not just about delivering letters, stamping, and sorting, but things have evolved. It is now more about technology, the new postal app, and offering online help to customers.



While many have learnt the new system well, Mumbai Region’s postal office has come up with a novel way to encourage them further by naming two as ‘Smartest Postman’ every month and giving them a badge. The two postmen, or postwomen, will be chosen on merit every month by the Postmaster General. The criteria they will be judged on will be thoroughness of technology, overall get-up, look, feel and neatness of uniform.The initiative is the brainchild of Mumbai’s Postmaster General Swati Pandey. The badge has been designed in-house with the help of philatelist and a representative of India as a Fellow for the Royal Philatelic Society, London, Kapil Gogri.

Why the award?

“Postmen have been serving us since time immemorial. However, they have never been rewarded for their arduous work and the tedious miles they cover. What is more impressive is that in this modern era, the get-up, look and feel and the personality of a postman has undergone a phenomenal change too! They have been trained to operate the latest post office mobile applications and each of them has become equally well-groomed, tech-savvy and smart in their work. So to acknowledge their efforts and encourage the makeover of their image, we have initiated the ‘Smartest Postman’ campaign,” Pandey said. Two postmen — Shobha Dinesh Chogle and Vilas Shankar Rane - from the Mumbai General Post Office (GPO) and two from Kalbadevi Head Post office — Shyamal Doye and Chetan Salimath — have been awarded the Smartest Postmen badge for the two months of 2021.

“In my 29 years of service, this is the first time that I have received such an honour. Seeing the badge on my uniform, people have started respecting me even more. I thank Pandey ma’am for encouraging the postmen cadre and creating healthy competition. Everyone now has the aim to do better,” Chogle said.

Forthcoming International Philatelic Exhibitions updates



CAPE TOWN 2021 Philatelic Exhibition



Mr. Shakil Ahmed is Indian National Commissioner for the Cape Town 2021, FIP Specialized World Stamp Exhibition to be held at Cape Town, South Africa from 9 to 13 November, 2021.

Exhibition Classes: Traditional, Postal History, Aerophilately, Postal Stationery, Revenue, Thematic, Open, Modern Philately, One Frame, Philatelic Literature and Picture Postcards only)

Shakil Ahmed : Email: ahmedshakil99@gmail.com : (M) +91-9437225760 / +91-7008025663

PHlLANIPPON 2021 Update


Mr. Surendra Kotadia is Indian National Commissioner for the PHILANIPPON 2021, FIP World Stamp Championship Exhibition to be held in Japan from 25th to 30th August 2021.

Philanippon 2021 will have the following competitive classes: Championship Class, Traditional, Postal History, Postal Stationery, Aerophilately, Thematic, Modern, Open, Youth, One Frame, Literature.

Surendra  Kotadia : Email: 
surendrakotadia@gmail.com  : Mob : + 91 98199 03789

CAPEX 22, Toronto 


June 9-12, 2022 : Toronto

CAPEX 22 is an international one frame stamp and philatelic literature exhibition organized by the Canadian Association of Philatelic Exhibitions – Association Canadienne des Expositions Philatéliques (CAPE-ACEP).

The Exhibition will be held from June 9-12 2022 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), 255 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

CAPEX 22 is the inaugural International One Frame Stamp Championship Exhibition. It is also the largest exhibition of one frame exhibits ever held.

CAPEX 22 is being held under the Patronage of the Federacion Interamericana de Filatelia (FIAF) and the Recognition of the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP). CAPEX 22 will be governed by the General Regulations for Exhibitions (GREX), the General Regulation for Evaluation of Exhibits (GREV), the Special Regulations for Evaluation of exhibits (SREV’s) and Guidelines issued by FIP and the Individual Regulations for Exhibition (IREX) issued by CAPEX 22.

In addition to the classes recognized by FIP for One Frame exhibits, several non-FIP classes including FDCs, Cinderellas and Illustrated Mail may be entered in CAPEX 22.

Exhibitors from FIP member federations and FIAF member federations shall be eligible to participate at CAPEX 22. Entries awarded at least 75-points at national exhibitions since Jan 1, 2015 or which have been exhibited at FIP, FIAF, FEPA or FIAP exhibitions will be eligible.

Participation Fee

1. There is no fee for Non-Competitive Class entries.
2.The participation fee for One-Frame Exhibit (Class 1) is US$125 per exhibit.
3. The participation fee for Philatelic Literature (Class 2) is US$80 per exhibit.
4. There is no fee for Youth Class entries.

Addresse

CAPEX 22 Organizing Committeec/o Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation 10 Summerhill Ave, Toronto, ON Canada M4T 1A8 Telephone : 416-921-2073 Fax : 416-921-1282 E-mail : info@capex22.org

Exhibitors shall submit one Exhibit Application Form for each exhibit or literature application through the on-line application form at www.capex22.org. The Organizing Committee will notify the assigned National Commissioners of their respective countries.

Exhibit Application Forms duly filled shall be submitted through the on-line application form not later than November 30, 2021.

View : CAPEX 22 IREX

 

View : Exhibit Application Form


SAVPEX 2021: South African Virtual Philatelic Exhibition 22-25 July 2021

 



1. STATUS OF EXHIBITION

1.1 The Exhibition will be a competitive “One Frame Virtual Exhibition” and open to all members of Societies affiliated to The Philatelic Federation of South Africa (PFSA) and all members of Federations affiliated to the Federation Internationale Philatelique (FIP)

1.2 The concept of this Virtual Exhibition may be explained as follows:

(a) Exhibitors, after assembling the exhibit, will scan the sixteen pages and send to the email address in Clause 6.3

(b) The exhibits will be judged by appointed National and International Jurors.

(c) The exhibits will be available for display by request of a visitor to the venue of the National Exhibition hosted by the Orange Free State Philatelic Society (Bloemfontein) in JULY 2021. A number of TV screens will be available for individual viewing of the exhibits.

 (d) The exhibits will be available for viewing on the Federation Website after the judging is completed and Exhibitors have been notified of their results.

ENTRIES AND EXHIBITS

4.1 An administration charge of US $35 per entry will be due on Submission of the Entry Form. The South African Federation will subsidize South African exhibitors, their Entry Fee will be R275 and for “First Time South African Exhibitors”, the Entry Fee will be fully subsidized. Paid Fees will only be refunded in the case of an entry which is not accepted.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further copies of these Exhibition Guidelines and provisional entry forms may be obtained from: Joof van der Merwe at email: jnc1@vodamail.co.za  These Exhibition Guidelines and Entry Form will also be available on the Federation website :  https://stampssa.africa

32nd Maximaphily and Postcards Exhibition in Echternach, 24 – 25 July 2021



The Echternach Philatelic Circle invites visitors to the 32nd Maximaphily and Postcard Exhibition organised by the FSPL (Federation of Philatelic Societies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg).

The collection of Maximum cards and Postcards was and is very popular in Luxembourg and for this reason the FSPL has organised a specialised national exhibition for more than 30 years. In 2021 the organisation of this exhibition has fallen to the Echternach society. Exhibitors from other countries will be very welcome. The only condition is that an exhibitor possesses a Maximum or Postcard exhibit that is qualified to be shown at national exhibitions. Collectors who are members of a society in Luxembourg may apply without prior qualification.

Traditionally frame fees are not charged in Luxembourg, but one special characteristic of the frames needs to be mentioned. This is that the Luxembourg frames each hold three rows of five sheets (A4 or the rather broader album sheets). Thus, it is possible to show 15 sheets in a frame but it is not a problem if your exhibit is designed to show 12 sheets per frame. A Luxembourg jury will evaluate your exhibit and will be available to discuss the exhibit. Applications should be made by 31 May 2021 and acceptances for participation a few days later will be sent.

The exhibition will take place in the ‘Trifolion’ Cultural Centre, 2 Porte St Willibrord, 6486 Echternach in Luxembourg.

National and international exhibitors are invited to participate in this exhibition. Those interested in participating, please contact either Mr Robert Grosch, 1A Rue CM Spoo, 6483 Echternach (email: groschr@pt.lu) or Mr Lars Böttger, 10 Route der Grundhof, 6315 Beaufort, Luxembourg (email: lars.boettger@bdph.de) for the application forms.

Visit : Maximaphily and Postcards Exhibition

  


Observations / Experiences / Facts 





In a Thematic Exhibit Title page is very important as it gives a glimpse of the whole exhibit. It should be impressive brief and complete in all aspects so that one can easily understand all about the theme of the exhibit. The Plan of the exhibit should be complete and relevant to the theme because on its basis the whole exhibit is being explained. It should not be very long as one has a very limited time to see or evaluate the exhibit. If it is uninteresting, the viewer will move to another exhibit. It is like a title page of the book with the index. Using a philatelic item on the Title page makes it more attractive and catchy ! The Plan actually explains the theme and its gradual development through the pages one by one. It should be simple and easy to understand. If one makes it more technical it becomes quite boring for the jury and the visitors both. An interesting Title page with a clear objective and classified points about the theme and its development makes it perfect. I am sharing here an article on Title Page by Robert R. Henak, it will help the Thematic Exhibitors to make their Title page more interesting and relevant.

Philatelic Exhibiting : Title Page

by Robert R. Henak, originally published in Topical Time

Regardless whether you exhibit thematics, postal history or postcards, your title page may will be the most important page of your exhibit. This is especially true in the Brave New World of exhibiting ushered in at the national level by the Manual of Judging and Exhibiting (7th edition). Yet far too many exhibitors simply dash off the title page without a second thought.

The title page is not simply a piece of paper containing nothing but the title of the exhibit. Rather, as Randy Neil explains in his Philatelic Exhibitors Handbook (Third edition) at 129-30, the title page is best used to explain the exhibit’s significance and to “draw a clear, easily understood roadmap for the judge.” The well-done title page also can note particularly important items in the exhibit, or new discoveries or research by the exhibitor. Depending on how well these purposes are fulfilled, the title page can have a major impact on the ultimate award level at both local and national exhibitions.

 


 

Given the importance of the title page, for experienced exhibitors, it is often the first page written and the last one finalized. It is quite common for an exhibitor to revise the title page multiple times during the process of designing and mounting an exhibit.

Much like the introductory paragraph to an essay, the title page should define – as exactly as possible – what the exhibit will show. A judge or member of the public reading the title page should be able to understand both the scope and content of the exhibit, expecting neither more nor less than the exhibit ultimately delivers.

Indeed, the title itself should define the scope of the exhibit. If the title suggests a broader or narrower scope than the exhibit delivers, the award level will suffer accordingly. Using Shakespeare as a title suggests that the exhibit will cover Shakespeare’s life, sonnets and the impact of his works, as well as his plays. On the other hand, one would expect an exhibit titled Shakespeare’s Comedies to be limited to the creation, plot, staging and impact of that subset of his plays.

Judges, having limited time to devote to each exhibit, will not appreciate having to search through dense paragraphs of text on the title page to find the statement of purpose and scope of the exhibit. It is therefore a good idea (absent a very good reason not to) to set off your statement of purpose and scope somehow so it is easy to find on the title page. Some exhibitors use a box around the statement of purpose, while others use a bolded header or the like. The following is the current statement of purpose from my Spuds exhibit:

Purpose: This thematically organized Illustrated Mail exhibit uses advertising covers and some ephemera of the time to portray the production methods, uses, and folklore of potatoes in the United States roughly between 1870 and 1935.

Keep in mind that the statement of purpose is especially important at APS national-level shows judged under the Manual of Judging and Exhibiting (7th edition). A primary impact of that new edition is to abolish the need to shoehorn exhibits into strict classes and categories, giving exhibitors more freedom to choose what and how to exhibit their material. Of course, a necessary consequence of that change is to place on the exhibitor the responsibility to define for the judges and other viewers exactly what it is they intend to show. Without a detailed and comprehensible statement of purpose, the judges are unable to determine how well the exhibitor accomplished what he or she set out to do. The title page and its impact on the exhibit’s treatment scores is discussed in Section 4.3 of the Manual, available online at https://stamps.org/Portals/0/Judging-Manual.pdf.

A well-designed title page also will summarize the story of your exhibit. Remember, a quality exhibit has a beginning, a middle and a logical ending. The title page will help explain why your story starts where it does, how the exhibit develops that story and why you have chosen the particular ending. This can be done in words or outline form. Although a plan or outline of the exhibit is required for thematic exhibits, either can be useful in other types of exhibits as well, especially where the exhibit is long and the story is complex.

Finally, the title page can briefly explain the exhibit’s significance or highlight important items (or how to find them in the exhibit). Why should anyone care about the postal history of some small Iowa county that did not even exist until shortly before the Civil War? Perhaps because the postal development of that county reflects or represents the similar development of any number of similar counties throughout the Midwest. Why should we care about hoot owls? Maybe because of their impact on the broader environment and sustainability of a given ecosystem. The judge or others viewing the exhibit may not know if you do not tell them and may not be willing to wait until the second row of the third frame to find out.

The bold qualification in the preceding paragraph is important. This is not a book, a PhD thesis or even a magazine article you are creating. It is an exhibit for which the judges and others in the viewing audience have little time and much information to try to take in. Again, your job is to make it easy for them to do so.



As for important items, some exhibitors choose to identify the most important items or groups of items right up front on the title page. While not required, such a tactic reduces the risk that the judge and other viewers will miss your best material. Indeed, there was a time when exhibitors would place one of the very best items on the title page as a kind of teaser of things to come. While the exhibitor should not be docked for such a move today, the consensus currently seems to be that the top pieces should be included where they logically fit in the body of the exhibit and that the title page should be reserved for either an item appropriate to the beginning of the story told by the exhibit or an item representative of the exhibit storyline as a whole.

Of course, there is no rule that you must place a philatelic item on the title page. Anything that draws the viewer into the exhibit’s story or helps to tell it can be placed on the title page, be it a map, a photograph, a picture postcard or – as with a transformational exhibit from the 1980s called Gold Fever – a real gold nugget.

In the end, the importance of your title page rests on two factors. First, the title page often is your best – and usually only – chance to catch the attention of the viewing public. Especially where there are a number of exhibits to see, a boring, un- informative title page or uncreative title will lose the audience to your story no matter how impressive the philatelic material actually shown in the rest of the exhibit.

Second, with very limited exceptions, the title page alone, from among all the pages of your exhibit, goes to the judges before the show. The title page, sometimes joined by the plan page and a synopsis page (to be discussed in a later article, but which is not actually part of the exhibit), is the only page of your exhibit that the judges must read. Again, a boring or pedestrian title page will lead the jury to expect more of the same at the frames, while a well-done title page will leave the judges enthusiastic to see the rest of the exhibit.

For a period of time, the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (AAPE) offered an award for the best title page at World Series of Philately (WSP) shows (that is, those shows whose multiframe grand award-winning exhibits compete at the annual Champion of Champions competition at the annual APS Stamp show).You can see some of the winning title pages posted online at www.aape.org/aape_awards_title_page_winners.asp.

At the next show you attend, take the time to read several of the title pages of the exhibits presented. Indeed, reviewing other exhibits is a great way to get new ideas for your own exhibits, regardless of the level of the show and the overall quality of the exhibits. See what you like about them and what you decide just does not work for you. Then feel free to incorporate the ideas you like into your own exhibit.

Source : https://www.americantopicalassn.org/The-Title-Page

Beginners’ Section

Parents Mail Children Through Parcel Post


Several instances of children traveling through the mail were by train.

On February 19, 1914, parents in Idaho took advantage of the affordable Parcel Post rate to mail their daughter to her grandmother’s house.  It was one of several instances of people mailing children using stamps.

A year earlier, the Post Office Department had initiated its Parcel Post service for fourth-class mail on January 1, 1913.  Parcel Post service could be used to send items weighing 16 ounces or more through the mail.  The mail is divided into four classes, with Parcel Post making up the fourth class.  Almost any type of merchandise could be mailed parcel post, including day-old chicks, baby alligators, and honeybees.  Only items that could be dangerous to handle could not be sent through Parcel Post.

Rural mail carrier

It wasn’t long after the new service began that parents found an interesting loophole.  None of the regulations concerning parcel post prohibited the mailing of people, and other living beings were being mailed that way.  In January 1913, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Beauge of Glen Este, Ohio, sent their young son via Rural Free Delivery one mile to his grandmother’s.  The parents paid 15¢ for the stamps and insured their son for $50.  Later that month, a family in Pine Hollow, Pennsylvania mailed their daughter to relatives in Clay Hollow at a cost of 45¢.

A railway postal clerk

Then on February 19, 1914, five-year-old May Pierstorff’s parents in Grangeville, Idaho, wanted to send their daughter to visit her grandparents 73 miles away.  They placed 53¢ in stamps on her coat and handed her over to the postal worker on the railway mail train, who also happened to be a relative.  Despite her safe delivery to her grandmother’s doorstep, once Postmaster General Albert S. Burleson heard her story, he officially prohibited postal workers from accepting humans to be mailed.

In spite of this, a woman mailed her six-year-old daughter 720 miles from Florida to Virginia the following year for 15¢.  The last known instance of a child being mailed came in August 1915, when three-year-old Maud Smith was mailed from her grandparents to her sick mother in Kentucky.  Even after this, some people attempted to mail children, but postmasters rejected their applications claiming they couldn’t be classified as “harmless live animals.”


Parcel Postage Due Stamps

Courtesy : Mystic Stamps Co.

Specialized Section 

He gave his country its Freedom and its Flag






-By Sekhar Chakrabarti

“A flag is a necessity for all nations. Millions have died for it; it is no doubt a kind of idolatry which it would be a sin to destroy. For a flag represents an ideal. The unfurling of the Union Jack evokes in the English breast sentiments whose strength it is difficult to measure. The Stars and Stripes mean a world to the Americans. The Star and the Crescent will call forth the best bravery in Islam. It will be necessary for us Indians -Hindus, Mohammedans, Christians, Jews, Parsis, and all others to whom India is their home - to recognise a common flag to live and to die for”, wrote Gandhiji in an article titled “The National Flag” for the Young India on April 12,1921.

Gandhi in his article ibid, tells us that for some years PingaliVenkayyaa of the National College, Masulipatam (Machilipatnam) had placed a suggestive booklet offering designs for an Indian National Flag. While Gandhi admired the persistent zeal with which Venkayyaa had prosecuted the cause of a national flag, but he was never able to enthuse him. In his (Pingali’s) designs Gandhi saw nothing to stir the nation to its depths. 

Pingali’s designs, compiled in the booklet in 1916, almost uniformly featured the British Union Jack in one corner, which was ironic considering the purpose of the flag.

It was Lala Hansraj of Jullunder (Jalandhar) who suggested the ‘spinning wheel’ on the Swaraj flag. Gandhi could not help admiring the originality of the suggestion. At Bezwada (Vijaywada) Gandhi asked Venkayyaa to give him a design containing a spinning wheel on a red (Hindu colour) and green (Muslim colour) background. Later, on maturer consideration, Gandhi further suggested addition of a white band on top to represent the other religions, as well as, purity and peace.

Thus, the first Swaraj flag ‘white over green over red’ was born. The Swaraj flag was never officially adopted as the National flag by a formal resolution. Nevertheless, Gandhi’s approval made the flag sufficiently acceptable.

 Gandhi wanted that the flag must be made of khaddar, for it is through coarse cloth alone that we can make India independent of foreign markets for her cloth. No matter what we have been told, Venkayya was not the sole originator of our tricolour, though he was one of the pioneers.

Stamp-like Cinderella labels depicting the Swaraj flag and conveying exhortation to ‘Boycott British Goods’.


Postal notices were issued from time to time directing not to use any such prohibited labels on postal articles. Many such prohibited labels were found affixed on postal articles defying government orders against the Swadeshi propaganda.



The Cinderella label issued from Khadi Mondal, College Street Market, Calcutta. The line-drawn flag on the label has the words ‘Observe 26 January as Independence Day’ and below ’Get ready for the freedom struggle’ in Bengali. It has on the top a stanza taken from Padmini Upakhayan (Saga of Padmini,1858) penned by RangalalBandopadhyay:

 

“Swadhinatahinataykebachitechay?

Deshatyasrinkhal bolo kedharibay pa-ey”

(Who wishes to live without freedom?

Who wishes to be fettered by slavery?)

 The Swaraj flag and Civil Disobedience movements

The years following the Nagpur flag Satyagraha of 1923, we see many historic events centred around the Swaraj flag. On 12 March 1930 Mahatma Gandhi launched Salt Satyagraha and set out from Sabarmati ashram with his volunteers to Dandi on the Gujarat coast. The twenty-five-day long march culminated on 6 April1930. It was a campaign for the non-violent movement against the British salt monopoly in India, which eventually grew into the Civil Disobedience movement and drew more volunteers to join the freedom struggles under the Swaraj flag.

 

This miniature sheet issued to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Salt Satyagraha in 2005, captures the historic moments and the varied facets of Salt Satyagraha. The fluttering Swaraj flag is depicted on the top margin.

 Conflicts around the Swaraj Flag

The Swaraj flag as the National flag for India was not taken very kindly by many and objections were put forward to the communal interpretations of the colours from time to time.

The Swaraj flag for the United India was considered to be a threat to the identity and authority of the Convention and Feudatory States (Popularly known as Princely States) within British Empire in India.

The Swaraj flag by then became a symbol of dispute and eventually failed to find a pan-Indian acceptance.


Rabindranath Tagore was at variance with Mahatma Gandhi’s advocacy of the charkha symbol. In 1924–1926, a debate ensued between Tagore and Gandhi on the charkha campaign. In an essay titled ‘Swaraj Sadhan’ Tagore argued the futility of the spinning of the charkha as a means to attain Swaraj.

The Congress Working Committee which met at Karachi on 2 April 1931 passed a resolution stressing the need for a flag which would be acceptable to all. In pursuance of the resolution, a seven-member Flag Committee was formed with Dr PattabhiSitaramayya, as the Convener, to go into the question of the national flag for recommending a new flag after examining the objections raised against the present Swaraj flag.

 


The Purna Swaraj Flag; Saffron over Red over Green

The CWC which met in Bombay from 5 to 8 August 1931, presided over by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel  rejected the ‘all-saffron flag’ recommended by the Flag Committee-1931 on the grounds that it was politically provocative and unsuitable and also because the flag reflected a drastic change from the prevailing Swaraj flag.

A new tricolour, named Purna Swaraj flag by substituting saffron for red and rearranging the disposition of the colours of the Swaraj flag was adopted. It implied that the colours now stood for qualities not communities.The saffron would represent courage and sacrifice, white would stand for peace and truth, and green would symbolise faith and chivalry while the spinning wheel would be an emblem of hope of the masses.

The Purna Swaraj flag had acquired overwhelming influence during the Quit India movement of 1942. Waving of the flag symbolised an act of defiance, as well as, a kind of proclamation of freedom.


 




 Philatelic tributes honouring 1942 Quit India Movements.

On 20 February 1947, British Prime Minister, Clement Attlee announced in the ‘House of Commons’ that they would ‘transfer all powers’ to India not later than June 1948. Lord Louis Mountbatten, who took over the Viceroyalty of India on 22nd March 1947 started without much ado a compromise plan between the Congress and the Muslim League for his mission to transfer of power. Mountbatten had chosen the date 15 August 1947, it was the 2nd anniversary of the historic VJ Day, exactly two years ago, on this dayImperial Japan announced its Acceptance of Surendersignifying the end of World War II. 



With the coming of Independence, the Constituent Assembly on 23 June 1947set up a nine-member ‘Flag committee’ under the Chairmanship of Dr Rajendra Prasad to recommend a new National flag for India. 

Suggestions started pouring in for the new National flag for independent India.


V.D. Savarkar sent a telegram from Bombay on 7 July 1947 to Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr N.B. Khare, reading thus: ‘The standard of Hindustan must be Bhagwa - ochre coloured (.) the Charkha too must be replaced by a Chakra - wheel - or any other symbol signifying progress and strength.

 

Dickie Mountbatten was also passionate about flag. He put forward a proposal on 24 June 1947 to the Congress and Muslim League leaders to include the Union Jack at the canton of their respective National flags, so as to reflect the symbolic continuity with Britain

For once Mountbatten was unsuccessful. Regarding the protest against the Viceroy’s proposal to include a small Union Jack in the Indian flag; Mahatma Gandhi saw, nothing wrong in that as long as India was a Dominion included in the British Commonwealth. Such a display would be an act of courtesy, and a gesture worthy of the best traditions built up in India. But he had learnt at the Working Committee meeting that the Union Jack was not in fact going to be included. The Mahatma asked his audience not to rejoice over this omission.

S. D. Kalelkar hailing from Nagpur, in an article titled ‘A Thoughtful Suggestion’ published in the Harijan on 6 July 1947, suggested a simple wheel in place of the charkha, making it easier to draw it symmetrically on the flag.He writes;“…… the wheel might also include the Buddhist concept of dharma-chakra (adopted by Emperor Ashoka) or the balance-wheel of religion that sustains society. The spiritual basis of Indian civilization might thus be made pronounced in our national symbol which will carry the message of peace and non-violence to the whole world”. 

The Flag Committee members were mostly veterans of the Congress. They did not waste much time on pondering, without much ado, they decided to make their Party flag double as the National flag with a token alternation in its design by substituting Gandhi’s Charkha with Ashoka’s Dharma-Chakra. Only two meetings were held to discuss the design of the National Flag, first on 10th July and the other on 18th July, 1947, but no ‘minutes of the meetings’ were available. 

The decision to remove the charkha evoked mixed reactions. A correspondent from Hyderabad wrote; ‘Gandhiji is being buried alive’, citing some of the speeches of the constituent assembly debate to illustrate his stand, he further wrote, ‘The new wheel or Ashokan chakra has no connection with Gandhi’s wheel; wheel is the sign of ‘non-violent economy’ while the new one represents the Sudarshana Chakra, which represents violence.


Mahatma Gandhi was not too happy with the replacement of the charkhain the flag with Emperor Ashoka’s Dharma Chakra. Jawaharlal Nehru insisted that the change was not significant, Gandhi had his reservations, fearing that the association with the lion in the Ashokan emblem would signify violence. He admitted in a statement published in the Harijan that, ‘Nothing would have lost (sic) if our councillors had never thought of interfering with the design of the original flag.’In a statement made in Lahore on 6 August 1947, Gandhi said;

I must say that, if the Flag of the Indian Union will not embody the emblem of the Charkha, I will refuse to salute that flag. You know the National Flag of India was first thought of by me, and I cannot conceive of India’s National Flag without the emblem of the Charkha. We have, however been told by Pandit Nehru and others that the sign of the Wheel or Chakra in the National flag symbolises the Charkha also.


Though Gandhi himself was very upset about the substitution of the chakra for the charkha but he gradually came around to the view that the chakra of the flag was the Ashokan Chakra and not the Sudarshana Chakra. He also admitted that the notion of the Sudarshana Chakra as a symbol of violence was a popular misconception. Thanks to Prof. Radha KumudMookerji for the ‘note’ he personally handed over to Gandhi when he was staying at Hyderi Manzil in Calcutta in August 1947.



Kolkata house that hosted Gandhi during the tumultuous chapter of our history in August 1947.

 

In that Note, Prof.Mookerji explained: “how the Chakra of the National Flag was not the Chakra of Asoka but of the Buddha who conceived of it, the Chakra is to be traced back to the Sudarsana Chakra of Vishnu. Prof Mookerji further added: “according to our Sastra, Sudarshana Chakra is a cosmic circle of all-embracing love as indicated in the great prayer:अखंड-मंडलाकारंव्याप्तमयेनचराचरम“AKHANDA --MANDALAAKARAM  VYAAPTAM  YENA  CHARAA  CHARAM” (The cosmic circle within the limitless circuit of which is embraced all that is animate and inanimate)”. Needless to say,Gandhiji was satisfied.

Gandhi however reminded; ‘if we neglect the charkha ...we will be acting like a man who remembers God in sorrow and forgets him when he showers happiness’.

 

Mahatma Gandhi who“Gave his country its Freedom and its Flag” fell to assassin’s bullet on 30 January 1948.


Gandhi Smriti Vahan (Gandhi Memorial Vehicle) carried the ashes of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi from Allahabad Railway Station to the Sangam on February 12, 1948. The V-8-Ford Truck has been maintained in its original form and is in display at Allahabad Museum in a separate enclosure.

About the author



Sekhar Chakrabarti (b.1946) – Vexillologist, author, curator and flag collector. His name found a place in the “LIMCA Book of Records’ for his collection of most stamps featuring Indian National Flags.

- Authored “The Indian National Flag unfurled through Philately” (Niyogi Books, 2012).

-Curated exhibitions celebrating 125th anniversary of Rabindra Nath Tagore in Cairo, Egypt in 2011 under the auspices of the ICCR and Embassy of India. Curated a solo exhibition on the “Indian Flag” for the first time in India in Kolkata in 2014 under the patronage of ICCR.

-Credited to be the only Indian delegate in three consecutive International Flag Congresses (ICV)s held at Rotterdam (2013), Sydney (2015) and London (2017). 


Women’s Day special


Women Freedom Fighters of India : Bharat ki Veeranganaen



- Eeshita Basu Roy

India became Independent on 15th August 1947. Independence did not come easily .The entire history of the freedom movement is replete with the saga of bravery, sacrifice and political sagacity of great men and women of the country. The list of great women whose names have gone down in history for their dedication and undying devotion to the service of India is a long one. There are endless number of women who daringly fought for India’s freedom with their true spirit and undaunted courage and had faced various tortures, exploitations and hardships to earn us freedom that we enjoy today in our motherland India.

It is a very difficult task to list out all Women freedom fighters and equally difficult to segregate a few amongst them. With all respect and due apologies, furnishing below is a brief note on selected few women freedom fighters. 

 


     Woman's participation in India's freedom struggle began as early as 1817 when Bhima BaiHolkar fought bravely against the British colonel Malcolm and defeated him in guerilla warfare. In 1824 Rani Channama of Kittur resisted the armed might of the East Indian Company.

Kittur Rani Channamma(23 October 1778 – 02 February 1829)



KitturChannamma was the Queen of Kittur, a princely state in Karnataka. She was one of the Indian female ruler to lead an armed rebellion against the British East India Company in 1824 because of the effect of doctrine of lapse. The resistance ended with her arrest and she became a symbol of the independence movement in India. In the state of Karnataka, she is celebrated along with Abbakka Rani, KeladiChennamma and OnakeObavva, as the foremost women warriors and patriots. Chennamma was a member of the Lingayat.

Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi (Jhansi ki Rani )(19 November 1828 – 17 June 1858) 

Rani Lakshmi Bai was one of the leading warriors of India’s freedom struggle who laid an outstanding influence on the succeeding women freedom fighters.She used to go into the battlefield dressed as a man. Holding the reins of their horse in her mouth she used the sword with both hands. She fought valiantly and although beaten she refused to surrender and fell as a warrior should, fighting the enemy to the last. Her remarkable courage inspired many men and women in India to rise against alien rule.

A commemorative postage stamp on Martyrs of The First War of Independence, 1857 revolution.The stamp depicts M. F. Hussain’s painting on Rani Laxmi Bai.

 

Jhalkari bai of Jhansi (November 22, 1830 –1890)


Lost in the pages of history is the tale of an incredible warrior and woman named Jhalkari Bai.Hailing from a humble background, she rose the ranks to become an advisor to the legendary Rani Laxmibai. In fact, so courageous was she that during the battle of fort of Jhansi, she disguised herself as Rani Laxmibai and took command of the army, thus giving the real queen a chance to escape in the meantime.

A prominent fighter during the Rebellion of 1857, one woman driven by sheer fortitude and courage was able to strike fear in the hearts of the British army and leave behind a rich legacy for millions to emulate.

Sarojini Naidu (The Nightingale of India) (13 February 1879 –  02 March 1949)

 


 

Sarojini Naidu, was a distinguished poet, renowned freedom fighter and one of the great orators of her time. She was elected as the president of Indian National Congress. The dynamic phase of Sarojini’s career was from 1917-1919.

 

She campaigned for the Khilafat Movement.When Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement, she proved a faithful lieutenant. After Gandhi's arrest she had prepared 2,000 volunteers under the scorching sun to raid the Dhahran Salt Works. She gave up writing poetry and fully devoted herself to emancipation of women, education unity etc. She became a follower of Gandhiji and accompanied him to England.

 

  Begum Hazrat Mahal (1820—1879)

 


Begum Hazrat Mahal was a great Indian freedom-fighter who played a major role during India's First War of independence (1857-58). She was also known as the Begum of Awadh (Oudh) and was the wife of the then Lucknow ruler, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. 

She led a band of her supporters against the British, and was even able to seize the control of Lucknow. She worked in close association with other leaders of India’s First War of Independence, including Nana Sahib. Begum was not only a strategist but also fought on the battlefield. When the forces under the command of the British re-captured Lucknow and most part of the Awadh, she was forced to retreat. When her forces lost ground, she fled Oudh and organized soldiers again in other places. She turned down all offers of amnesty and allowances by the British rulers. 

Finally, she took refuge in an asylum in Nepal, where she died in the year 1879. To acknowledge her endless effort in fighting for the freedom of country, the Government of India issued a stamp on 10th May 1984.

 Matangini Hazra  (19 October 1870 – 29 September 1942)



Matangini Hazra was an Indian revolutionary who participated in the Indian independence movement until she was shot dead by the British Indian police in front of the Tamluk Police Station (of erstwhile Midnapore District) on 29 September 1942. She was affectionately known as Gandhi buri, Bengali for old lady Gandhi.

Madam Bhikaiji Cama (24 September 1861 - 13 August 1936)

Madam BhikaijiCama fought for the freedom of the country till the last in her own way, and helped many revolutionaries with money and materials. She unfurled the first National Flag at the International Socialist Conference in Stuttgart (Germany) in 1907.She declared “This flag is of Indian Independence! Behold, it is born! It has been made sacred by the blood of young Indians who sacrificed their lives. I call upon you, gentlemen to rise and salute this flag of Indian Independence. In the name of this flag, I appeal to lovers of freedom all over the world to support this flag." She traveled a lot of places including America to propagate Americans about Indians struggling for Independence.

Rani Gaidinliu (Rani of the Nagas)   (26 January 1915- 17 February 1993)


Born in Nangkao village of Manipur she came in contact with the political and spiritual leader of the Nagas,Haripau Jadonang who started a movement to drive away the British from Manipur. When Jadonang was hanged by the British,Gaidinliu took over the leadership and challenged the Britishers. The British Govt. tried to suppress her movement. She went underground. The army made a house to house search and finally captured her in 1932 and sentenced her to life imprisonment. Jawaharlal Nehru called her "Rani of the Nagas" for her indomitable spirit and aggressive fight against the British. She spent more than 15 years in jail and was released only after Independence. She was honoured with Tamrapatra and Padma Bhushan.She died on 17-02-1993.

 Aruna Asaf Ali(16 July 1909  -  29 July 1996)


Aruna Asaf Ali was born in a Bengali Brahma Samaj family at Kalka in Haryana. She married Asaf Ali a prominent lawyer of Delhi against convention. She actively participated in the National Movement for Independence. Following the arrest of all congress leaders in 1942 she went underground to guide the movement evading police arrest. She became the symbol of the spirit of youth in this country guiding and leading the National Movement from underground. She remained underground till 1946 when the warrant of arrest was withdrawn. Aruna belonged to the heroic age of Freedom Movement. With this background, after Independence she could not adjust to the political realities and chose to live in retirement till her death on 29th July 1996. She was awarded Bharat Ratna (1997) Posthumously.

Annie Besant(1 October 1847 – 20 September 1933)


From the time she landed in India in 1893 and till her death in 1933, Annie Besant worked wholeheartedly for the advancement of India in every field - educational, social, religious, and political. Though born an English woman she turned into an Indian by her love for this country. She was the founder of the Theosophical Society in Madras.

In 1917 she was elected the Congress President at the Calcutta Session. With the active support of Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and Rt. Honourable V.S. Srinivasa Shastry Annie Besant worked wholeheartedly towards the fulfillment of Indian political aspirations. She died in 1933.

  Kasturba Gandhi   (Ba) (11 April 1869 – 22 February 1944)


She was the daughter of GokuladasMakharji of Porbunder. She was married to Gandhi at the age of 13. Simple and self- effacing she stood devotedly by her great husband in all his trials and tribulations. She was in the thick of the Freedom Movement and went to jail several times. The shock of country wide arrests during Quit India Movement deteriorated her health and she suffered a severe heart attack. She breathed her last on 22-2-1944.

Kamala Nehru  (1 August 1899 – 28 February 1936)

 


She was the daughter of Pandit Jawaharlal Mul, a businessman of Delhi. Married to Jawaharlal Nehru at the age of 17 she gave birth to the only daughter Indira Priyadarshini. Within 3 years of marriage her husband plunged into Non-cooperation Movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. Kamala was a woman of great courage and determination and she also threw herself into the Civil Disobedience Movement and the historic Dandi March by Mahatma Gandhi. Her brave and heroic role in the freedom struggle left an indelible imprint on the Nationalist Movement. She died at a very young age on 28-02-1936.

 Durgabai Deshmukh (15 July 1909 – 9 May 1981)

 

She was the mother of social work in India. She was born in a middles class Andhra family in Kakinada. In 1937 she founded Andhra Mahila Sabha in Madras which to-day runs two hospitals, 2 colleges and 3 high schools. As Member of Parliament she worked to set up a social welfare board on 13-8-1953 to carry out programmes of educating, training and rehabilitating the needy women, children and the disabled. She was the recipient of a number of awards including Padma Bhushan and the UNESCO award for outstanding work in the field of literacy.

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur (2 February 1889 – 6 February 1964)

 


Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was an eminent Gandhian, a freedom fighter, and a social activist.She was also a member of the Constituent Assembly, the body that framed the constitution of India. She was the first health minister of independent India & served for ten years in the capacity. She co-founded the All India Women's Conference in 1927 and participated in Gandhi-led 240-mile Dandi March in 1930. In 1942, she participated in the Quit India Movement, and the Raj authorities imprisoned her.

Nellie Sengupta ( 1 December 1886 - 23 October 1973 )

 

Nellie Sengupta was an Englishwoman who fought for Indian Independence. She was born as Edith Ellen Gray, and was the daughter of Frederick and Edith Henrietta Gray. She was born and brought up in Cambridge. As a young girl, she fell in love with Jatindra Mohan Sengupta, a young Bengali student at Downing College who lodged at her parental home. Despite parental opposition, she married Jatindra Mohan and returned to Calcutta with him. Nellie joined her husband in participating in the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921 and was even imprisioned.She was elected president of the Indian National Congress at its 47th annual session at Calcutta in 1933.

 Pandita Ramabai  (23 April 1858 – 5 April 1922)

 


PanditaRamabai was a social worker, scholar and a champion of women's rights, freedom and education. PanditaRamabai participated in the freedom movement and was one of the 10 women delegates of the Congress session of 1889. She founded Arya MahilaSamaj . The purpose of the society was to promote the cause of women's education and deliverance from the oppression of child marriage.

Meera Behn  (22 November 1892 – 20 July 1982)

Madeleine Slade (MiraBehn) daughter of the British Rear-Admiral Sir Edmond Slade, was a British woman who left her home in Britain to live and work with Mohandas Gandhi, the leader of the Indian Independence Movement. She devoted her life to human development, the advancement of Gandhi's principles. She was christened “Meera” by Gandhiji. She joined the Satyagrahmovement and was jailed thrice. She was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1982

.Kamala devi Chattopadhyay  (3 April 1903 – 29 October 1988)

                     


             

Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay was an Indian social reformer and freedom fighter. She is most remembered for her contribution to the Indian independence movement; for being the driving force behind the renaissance of Indian handicrafts, handlooms, and theatre in independent India; and for upliftment of the socio-economic standard of Indian women by pioneering the co-operative movement.

In 1974, she was awarded the Sangeet NatakAkademi Fellowship the highest honour conferred by the Sangeet NatakAkademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama.

Savitri Bai Phule (3 January 1831 – 10 March 1897) 



Savitri bai Phule was an Indian social reformer, educationalist, and poet from Maharashtra. She is regarded as the first female teacher of India. Along with her husband, Jyotirao Phule, she played an important and vital role in improving women's rights in India.

Rani Avanti Bai (16 August 1831 - 20 March 1858)


Avantibai Lodhi was an Indian freedom fighter and the queen of Ramgarh in Madhya Pradesh. Avanti Bai was married to King Vikramaditya Lodhi of Ramgarh (today in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh) at an early age. Fiercely independent as a young girl, she was well-trained in sword fighting, archery, cavalry, military strategy, diplomacy and all other subjects of statecraft. This was why, when Vikramiditya fell into ill-health, it was Avanti Bai who rose to the occasion and took over the reins of Ramgarh’s administration. Even after the king’s death, the Lodhi kingdom continued to flourish under its queen’s able guidance.

Subhadra Kumari Chauhan  (1904 -1948) 




Subhadra Kumari Chauhan was born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. She initially studied in the Crosthwaite Girls' School in Allahabad and passed the middle-school examination in 1919. After her marriage with Thakur Lakshman Singh Chauhan of Khandwa in the same year, she moved to Jabalpur.

In 1921, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan and her husband joined Mahatma Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement. She was the first woman Satyagrahi to court arrest in Nagpur and was jailed twice for her involvement in protests against British rule in 1923 and 1942.

Chauhan has authored a number of popular works in Hindi poetry. Her most famous composition is Jhansi Ki Rani, an emotionally charged poem describing the life of Rani Lakshmi Bai.

Rukmini Lakshimipathi  (6 December 1892 – 6 August 1951)


Rukmini Laxmipathi was an Indian independence activist and politician belonging to the Indian National Congress. She was the first woman to be elected to the Madras Legislature and the first to serve as a minister in the Madras Presidency.

-Eeshita Basu Roy  : email : eeshita2015@gmail.com  

Philatelic Tributes to the First Line Warriors - Corona virus COVID-19 Pandemic

Contd.. from  the  last..


MOROCCO - Surcharge (or semi-) postage stamp




Morocco is against COVID-19 (7th May 2020)

Surcharge (or semi-) postage stamp (3.75 + 5.00 Dirhams) with surcharge for the COVID-19 funds calling for the united fight against the pandemic of corona virus COVID-19 with text: "Le Maroc uni contre le COVID-19" (= Morocco is against COVID-19); the stamp depicts various professions that help in the fight against the corona virus COVID-19.


UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - souvenir sheet




#ThankYouHeroes COVID-19 (10th May 2020)

Souvenir sheet with one stamp (19 AED) with thanks to heroes in the fight against the pandemic of corona virus COVID-19 with text: "#ThankYouHeroes / COVID-19"; the sheet depicts various professions (note the doctor without a protective mask) that help in the fight against the corona virus COVID-19.

URUGUAY - Postage stamp




National Corona Virus Plan COVID-19 (13th May 2020)

Commemorative postage stamp ($ 25) promoting a National Corona Virus Plan for the fight against the pandemic of corona virus COVID-19 with texts: "Plan Nacional Coronavirus COVID-19" (= National Corona Virus Plan COVID-19), contact phone number 0800 1919, hashtag #NosCuldamosEntreTodos (= We take care of each other) and depictions of people of different races with protective masks and the symbolism of the corona virus COVID-19.


MONACO - Postage stamp



All facing COVID-19 (3rd June 2020)

Commemorative postage stamp (1,16 €) calling for the fight against the pandemic of corona virus COVID-19 with text: "ENSEMBLE FACE AU COVID-19" (= All facing COVID-19); the stamp depicts the face of Prince Albert II with his hands holding a transparent globe, and words extracted from his message: "Patience" (= Patience), "Confiance" (= Trust), "Courage" (= Courage), "Solidarité" (= Solidarity) and his signature.

To be contd....

Source : Tributes to first line warriors COVID-19 Pandemic

New Issues from other countries

Australia


16 Feb 2021 : Frontline Heroes


This set of stamps contains all five stamps from the Frontline Heroes stamp issue and a minisheet .

  • $1.10 Healthcare workers
  • $1.10 Paramedic and aged care worker
  • $1.10 ADF and police services
  • $1.10 Postal and delivery services
  • $1.10 Teacher and supermarket worker

Canada

16 Feb 2021 : Snow Mammals



The new Snow mammal stamps feature stunning photographs of five Canadian mammals – the ermine, snowshoe hare, Arctic fox, Peary caribou and northern collared lemming.

Their coats moult from lighter-weight shades of brown or grey in warmer months to a heavier-weight white in winter, giving them effective camouflage and increasing their odds of survival.




Sized at about 100 feet long and 200 tons, the blue whale gracefully swims the ocean at 8 km an hour, emitting loud pulses, groans and moans.

As the largest and highest denomination stamp ever produced, this is the 9th and final issue in the Canadian Wildlife series which includes: a grizzly bear, a loon, a polar bear, a moose, a white-tailed deer, an Atlantic walrus, a Peregrine falcon, and a Sable Island horse.

This blue whale stamp also has security features (intaglio and invisible “tagging” inks) to reinforce its authenticity, making it a valuable collector’s item.

Croatia

22 Feb 2021 Children’s world


The Bengal cat

This breed of cat is a relatively new, that is, it is a cross between a domestic black cat and an Asian leopard. The people who own cats of that breed have a miniature leopard in their home. Its spotted fur and body shape resemble that of the leopard, while its behaviour has been adapted and is more similar to the behaviour of a domestic cat. Considering their father is a leopard, these cats are quite large and tall, can weigh up to 7 kg and live up to 15 years.

Their cultivation began in the middle of the last century. The first two generations, the so-called F1 and F2, are not recommended for pets because they have too many characteristics of their wild ancestor. Further generations can, with proper upbringing, become a wonderful pet in not only their looks, because their patterns are similar to those of a Leopard, but nature, too. Bengals are among the most expensive cats in the world and are one of the few breeds that love water. They like to bathe or play with water, so they need to be allowed to do so. Because they are crossbreeds, they can have health problems, and special attention should be paid to this.

These cats like to act as if they are the boss of the house and to keep things under control, but that does not mean that they are demanding, especially for cat lovers who lead an active life. Namely, these cats are constantly on the move - they like to climb, so it is important to provide an appropriate play area with climbers, a platform and scratchers. They like to play and can never have too many toys (even dog toys will do), and they will also respond to a marble as an invitation to play.

Bengals get along well with other cats, but they must be submissive because Bengals like to “call the shots". They produce a specific noise while eating or interacting with other cats. They are well suited for active families who like to be on the move and have enough space in the house, but also a garden or at least a terrace so that their pet can run off their energy and satisfy their need to move.

The Bombay cat

A relatively new breed (created 70 years ago), the Bombay is a cross between the Burmese and a black American Shorthair. Blending these two breeds from two continents created a breed of cat that resembled a miniature black panther. The breed was registered in 1976 and was named after the Indian city of Bombay which is considered the homeland of black leopards. Black leopards or panthers get their jet-black coat from melanism, a gene mutation.

The Bombay has a short coat with hair that is thick and shiny and easy to groom. You just have to brush them more often during the shedding season. When born, kittens do not have black hair, but after shedding their baby coat, its colour becomes black and shiny. These cats love warmth, so they will choose the warmest corner in the house, and they often crawl under the covers. They have large eyes, widely set on a beautiful round head usually of bronze or gold colour. Their ears are also set wide and are round, which contributes to the tame appearance of this cat. They do not have any special health problems.

Males of the Bombay cat grow to a weight of 5 kg, while adult females can weigh up to 4 kg and live up to 15 years. They grow relatively quickly and may reach sexual maturity by the young age of 6 months, but should not mate before twelfth months of age.

These cats are very intelligent and playful, although they do not have high demands for movement, so staying at home suits them. They like to play and can learn different tricks - they like to bring the ball almost like dogs, and they can be easily trained to walk on the leash, so they can enjoy outside adventures. They also get along fine with other cats, but will try to impose their dominance over the others. They get along well with all family members, but choose one person who will be their “boss”. They are a little distrustful of strangers, so they retreat to their safe place until they gain confidence.

The Egyptian Mau

In the case of this breed of cat as well, the name of the breed tells us about its origin. This cat originates from Egypt and is one of the oldest cat breeds in the world. Ancient Egyptian papyri show that the Mau cat dates back to the year 1500 BC. In other words, this breed is known for about 3500 years, but it has almost disappeared in the last century. It has been saved through determination and willpower of cat lovers, and currently there a stable number of specimens around the world.

The Egyptian Mau is a medium-sized cat breed. It can weigh up to 5 kg and has a typical lifespan of 15 to 20 years. It has a short coat that is easy to groom and has characteristic spots. Its main coat colours are silver, bronze and smoke. The spots are different in shape and arrangement in each specimen, and the "mask" on the head often has the shape of the letter M. Since their fur is short, these cats can be sensitive to cold weather and should have a warm corner in the home. Their eyes are also specific to this breed and are characterized by a beautiful green colour.

The body of the Egyptian Mau is athletic and muscular, and the hind legs visibly longer than the front, which enables them to jump very high. They are very fast and can reach speeds of up to 45 km per hour. These cats are sociable with a very strong hunting instinct thus they are not a good choice for a pet if they have to share a household with a pet rodent.

The Egyptian Mau gets along well with dogs and other cats, and they also love children. They are loyal, but distrustful of strangers. They get attached to the home they live in and to the person they perceive as the head of household. They are intelligent, so they often get people to pet them while communicating using different vocalizations, and they often show happiness by wagging their tails just like dogs. Because of their intelligence, but also their need for movement, they need a lot of toys, scrapers and climbers.

These cats are not demanding, but their diet and weight must be controlled. They should be provided the sufficient amount of food at the same time each day.

The Norwegian Forest cat

The name of the breed of this beautiful cat partly reveals its origin. It originated from a wild cat that lived in Scandinavia, especially in Norway. It is one of the most natural breeds on the planet thanks to the fact they have only been bred through natural selection. Given the harsh conditions in which it lived in the wild, it has retained some of the characteristics that make it a very popular pet today.

The Norwegian Forest cat has a semi-long coat, but there is still controversy about its origin. According to one story, these cats have semi-long coats due to their crossing with Persian cats which were brought by the sailors from their voyages, but it is also believed that semi-long coat is the result of a gene mutation. Its two-layer fur consists of an undercoat of soft fluffy fur and a topcoat of coarser fur which helps to fend off wind and rain.

Almost all fur colours and combinations are registered, except chocolate, cinnamon and their "diluted" shades. This cat sheds its coat twice a year and then needs brushing. It is a quite large cat breed, so males can often reach a weight of up to 8 kg.

The Norwegian Forest cats are very intelligent and playful, they love company and do not like to be left alone. Their companion may be another cat, but they also get along with dogs or other small animals. They are very gentle and well-suited for families with children. They like a lot of movement and mental challenges, they are curious, so during education and socialization they should be stimulated with games and toys. They are also called ‘gentle giants’ given to their somewhat wild appearance and playfulness, many are surprised by their gentleness and affection.

If you are a cat lover, they are a great choice for a pet, especially if you have plenty of space to make them a playground with climbers, scratchers and toys because they love exploring and are constantly on the move

Estonia


4 Feb 2021 : Valentine’s Day


Red roses are depicted in the Valentine’s Day stamp design, which refers to sending letters as a traditional way to remember our loved ones. Roses were considered a symbol of beauty and love in Ancient Greece. Therefore, they are one of the most popular flowers to be gifted to loved ones on Valentine’s Day. In addition to the flowers, the writing on the stamp says “Parimad soovid!” /Best wishes/.

Thanks to its design, the stamp can also be used for other celebrations, when you decide to surprise your friends or family with a letter or a postcard. There are several such days a year in addition to Valentine’s Day (14 February): Mothers’ Day (9 May), Grandparents’ Day (12 September) and Fathers’ Day (14 November), but the stamp is also ideal for any other greeting card.

France

1 March 2021 : Charlie Chaplin - The Kid

Guernsey


17 Feb 2021 : Clematis Gold

Clematis Gold - C.Sarah Elizabeth



The first plant to feature in  'Clematis Gold' series is called Sarah Elizabeth. this unique and beautiful clematis is dedicated to the memory of Sarah Elizabeth Groves, whose life was tragically cut short when she was murdered whilst back packing, on board a house boat on Dal Lake, Srinagar, Kashmir, on 6 April 2013. Sarah was just 24 years of age.

Philippines

10 Feb 2021 Valentine’s  Day


The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) issued Valentine's Day postage stamp as part of its effort to make the season of the hearts more memorable inspite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Themed "Far but not apart," this year's stamp feature's digital art of male and female person with face masks overcoming physical distance by constant communication in whatever means to send messages of love and affection under a big heart shape ribbon.

The words "Pilipinas" and "Valentine's Day" were also printed in the stamp. The price of P12 on each stamp is located at the upper corner. Young graphic artist Ryman Dominic Albuladora design and layout the stamps.

Poland

19 February  2021 : Easter

Acknowledgment

- Ananthapuri Stamp Bulletin March 2021 issue edited by Mohanachandran Nair

- Judaica Thematic Society (UK)  March 2021 Newsletter edited by Gary Goodman email - judaicathematicsociety@talktalk.net

Blogs & Websites 

Philatelic Congress of India

Indian Philately Digest

       Stamps of India

Rainbow Stamp News

Se-tenant Stamps of India

Flags & Stamps

Europa stamps

       Phila Mirror

      International Stamp News

      Welcome to Indian Philately

     Blogs by Kumar Biswas

Philatelic Clubs & Societies


Ananthapuri Philatelic Association, Thiruvanthapuram

Baroda Philatelic Society -  http://www.vadophil.org/

Chandigarh Philatelic Club

Deccan Philatelic Society – Pune, Maharashtra

Eastern India Philatelists’ Association -http://www.filacapsule.blogspot.com/

The Hyderabad  Philatelic and Hobbies Society

India Study Circle -  http://www.indiastudycircle.org/

Indian Thematic Society, Ludhiana -http://indianthematicstamps.webs.com/

Ludhiana Philatelic Club

Numismatic & Philatelic Association of Vellore Fort 

http://numismaticphilavellore.site40.net/index.htm

Philatelic Congress of India - http://www.philateliccongressofindia.com/

Philatelic Society of Rajasthan, Jaipur

Philatelic Society of India , Mumbai : http://www.psi1897.com/
Orissa Philatelic Association, Mail id-: 
orissaphilatelic@gmail.com

Rainbow Stamp Club -http://rainbowstampclub.blogspot.com/

Rajkot Philatelic Society – Rajkot, Gujarat

Gujarat Philatelic Association - Ahmedabad

South India Philatelists Association -http://www.sipa.org.in/

The Army Philatelic Society, Pune

Stamps of India – http://www.stampsofindia.com

RAINBOW STAMP CLUB

This is a blog of e-Stamp Club www.rainbowstampclub.blogspot.com . The idea of this blog is to extend philatelic fraternity in all corners of the world. Readers may write about themselves with their collecting interests and share new ideas with other philatelists.  New Post on recent issues, news on stamp activities and Contribution by members are published every day on this blog. Readers may also express their views on any philatelic matter which will be published under Club News at Rainbow Stamp Cub Blog. Philatelic Clubs and Societies may also send brief write ups. Readers may send reports on new issues, special covers, cancellations & philatelic activities of their area for inclusion in this Blog. - Editor

Current Philatelic Magazines – Newsletters 

-VADOPHIL, Editor - Prashant Pandya &TimirShah and published by Baroda Philatelic Society, Vadodara. Website -http://www.vadophil.org/ 

-ITS Stamp News - Quarterly - Editor: Suraj Jaitly Publisher: Indian Thematic Society website - 
http://itsstampnews.blogspot.com/ 

-Ananthpuri Stamp Bulletin - Monthly e -stamp bulletin of Anathapuri Philatelic Association, Thiruvanthapuram 

-Journal of the Army Philatelic Society : Editor – Col Jayanta Dutta 

-India Post – Quarterly Journal of the India Study Circle publishes original articles submitted by members of ISC. 

-Deccan Philatelist from Deccan Philatelic Society, Pune. edited by Col Jayanta Dutta 

-The Hyderabad Philatelist from Hyderabad Philatelic and Hobbies Society Editor – Prakash Agrawal 

-SIPA Bulletin issued by South India Philatelists’ Association 

Courtesy - News and Image Resource to this issue :      Suresh R.– Bangalore; EIPA, Prayag Philatelic Society, Philately Promoters Whatsapp groups; India Post, Jagannath Mani, Bangalore; Rahul Ganguli, Allahabad

Address for communication:

Jeevan Jyoti, c/o Mr. Ajay Srivastav, M.D., HP State Forest Corporation, Kusumpti, Shimla-171009, India

E-mail –    j.jyoti9@gmail.com

A Request to Readers & Contributors –

·         Please do not send the text in scan form or PDF. Send your write ups in MS Word only.

 

·         Last date for receiving articles/ News /write ups – 25th of every month. 

 

·          For articles :  Kindly send images in jpg compressed form and text in MS Word only  Please do not use any formatting and text wrapping in the article.  Simply put the images under text where required.   

 

·         If you like this issue please forward it to your friends and help in promoting philately.

·         Please do not send forwarded messages for promotional section if you want to give any information for promotion please write personally with brief write up. As this newsletter is not used for any commercial purpose in any manner.


Attention –Please do not send text or images for publication in PDF. 

Any material from this newsletter may be reproduced only with the written permission from the editor. 

Happy Collecting .........                                                                                       

Rainbow Stamp News is edited and published monthly by Jeevan Jyoti from Dehradun    (Uttarakhand ) India for free circulation among philatelists.


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AMRITPEX 2023 - Silver

CAPE TOWN 2022 - Silver

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INPEX 2019, Mumbai - Silver

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INPEX 2017, Mumbai - Large Silver

CHINA 2016 - Bronze

TAIPEI 2015 - Bronze

CG International Philatelic Promotion Award 2014, Germany - ( 4th Position)

INPEX 2013, Mumbai - Vermeil

SHARJAH 2012, Sharjah ( UAE ) - Silver Bronze

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NDIPEX 2011 - World Stamp Exhibition, New Delhi - Bronze

JOBURG 2010 - 26th Asian International Stamp Exhibition, Johannesburg - Silver Bronze

PORTUGAL 2010 - World Stamp Exhibition, Lisbon - Bronze

Hong Kong 2009 -23rd Asian International Stamp Exhibition, Hong Kong - Silver Bronze

About Me

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Participated in different philatelic exhibitions Wrote for philately column in The Pioneer and worked as sub-editor for U-Phil Times published from United Philatelists, Kanpur.Did Schooling from Kanpur Vidya Mandir and Post Graduation in Botany from A.N.D. College Kanpur.

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The views expressed in the articles published on Rainbow Stamp News Blog are solely those of the authors and contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Blog Owner. The Readers are requested to contact author or the contributor of the particular article if they have any objection or do not agree with the views expressed in the article . Please do not ask the Blog Owner to delete or change any Post published on this blog.The Post will be removed only after strong recommendation of the original author / contributor after proper verification .

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