Parth Shastri, TNN | Oct 14, 2014, 07.50PM IST
AHMEDABAD : Philately, considered to be king of collection hobbies, has
given the state much to be happy about. While Gujarat's erstwhile state
of Sorath (Junagadh), was among the first princely states to issue
postal stamp, today the state has around 5,000 philatelists who boast of
one of the biggest and perhaps one of the most valuable collections of
postal stamps in India.
Mainak Kathiara, president emeritus of
Gujarat Philatelists Association, said that they are trying to take the
hobby to the next generation. "We believe that the stamps are pleasure
for the collectors and treasure for their descendents due to the value
they generate both emotionally and financially. We also believe that the
stamps are an important educational tool due to the vast range of
subjects it covers," he said.
As the celebration of National
Postal Week continues among the enthusiasts, here is how Gujarat has
been seen by postal stamps and stationary.
When Rajpipla stamps were printed in Germany
Ilyas Patel, a city-based chronicler of philately, mentions in his book
Gujarat: A State of Enriched Philately that out of 366 princely states
of Gujarat, seven - Idar, Jasdan, Morvi, Nawanagar (Jamnagar), Rajpipla,
Sorath (Junagadh) and Wadhwan - had issued postal stamps between 1864
and 1948. Likewise, four states - Morvi, Rajkot, Rajpipla and Sorath -
issued postal stationary such as covers and post cards.
Patel
mentions that while most of the states gave orders for printing to press
based in state or institutions such as India Security Press at Nasik,
Rajpipla used to get its stationary printed in Germany. Sorath issued
state's first postal stamp in 1864 whereas Rajpipla issued state's
first inland letter card in 1875. Rajkot only issued postal stationary
and interestingly it had to be signed by the judge of the district and
sessions court before use.
Soon after independence, the state
saw formation of United States of Saurashtra. The short-lived entity is
known as a curious case in philately as even after independence in 1947,
the postal system of the state continued functioning till March 30,
1950 with own stamps and stationary due to handover issues.
Rani ki Vav on cancellation mark, Whale Shark on First Day Cover Cancellation marks, also known as postmarks, provide the receiver with a token from the place of origin of the letter.
"So far, the state has seen its icons such as Asiatic Lion, Flamingo,
Sun Temple of Modhera, Hridaykunj, Krishna Temple at Dwarka, the Sidi
Syed jali, Alfred High School of Rajkot, Jain idols from Palitana and
Sardar Sarovar Dam on cancellation marks. Rani ki Vav that has recently
been announced as World Heritage Site, has also been used as pictorial
cancellation by Patan post office since 2002," he said.
Similarly, a number of important events have been marked by issuance of
First Day Cover, a commemorative postal stationary. Some of the
institutions and events covered include 25 years of satellite
broadcasting (ISRO), Charkha with quotes from Mahatma Gandhi, 100 years
of Gandhi Ashram, Vhali- the whale shark, Dutch tombs of Surat, 50 years
of Gujarat, Bird Feeder of Ahmedabad and Lakshmi Vilas Palace.
Gujarat on the stamps
As per chroniclers, till 2011 the India Post has released 142 stamps
that have Gujarati personality, flora and fauna or thematic
representations. Some of the Gujaratis who have been immortalized on the
postal stamps include Narsinh Mehta, Dr Vikram Sarabhai, Jam
Ranjitsinh, poet Nanalal, Mahadev Desai, Ravishankar Maharaj, Kanaiyalal
Munshi, Sayajirao Gaekwad, Ravishankar Maharaj, Indulal Yagnik and
Balvantrai Mehta.
The Dandi March of 1930 has been of great
interest among philatelists. It has been commemorated on its 50th and
75th anniversaries with special sets of postal stamps. When GUJPEX was
organized in Vadodara in 2011, the Gujarat circle of India Post had come
out with a unique set of 22 specially cancelled postcards on Dandi
March.
Asiatic Lion, Great Indian Bustard, two Gujarati cow
breeds - Kankreji and Gir, Kathiawari Horse, Black Buck, Kite Festival,
Rathwa painting, Shatrunjay temples, Somnath temple, Harappan seal,
Patola from Patan, bronze artifact from Baroda Museum, embroidery from
Kutch and an elephant statue from Kutch museum have also found place on
the postal stamps. Several Gujaratis have also got their designs printed
on stamps.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Ahmedabad/Gujarat-through-stamps/articleshow/44815027.cms
