Indian theme on foreign stamps..

 

100 years of Indian Immigrants Arrival

Suriname is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west & Brazil to the south. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as Dutch Guiana. Suriname achieved independence from the Netherlands on 25 November 1975.

It has an estimated population of approximately 490,000, most of whom live on the country's north coast, where the capital Paramaribo is located.

Slavery was abolished by the Netherlands in Suriname in 1863, but the slaves in Suriname were not fully released until 1873, after a mandatory 10 year transition period during which time they were required to work on the plantations for minimal pay and without state sanctioned torture. As soon as they became truly free, the slaves largely abandoned the plantations where they had suffered for several generations, in favour of the city, Paramaribo.

As a plantation colony, Suriname was still heavily dependent on manual labour, and to make up for the shortfall, the Dutch brought in contract labourers from the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia) and India (through an arrangement with the British). In addition, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, small numbers of mostly men were brought in from China and the Middle East.

According to the 2004 census, Indians form the largest major group at 37% of the population. They are descendants of 19th-century contract workers from India. They are from the Indian states of Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Most of the Indians are Hindu, but some practice Islam or Christianity. Surinamese Hindi or Sarnami, a dialect of Bhojpuri, is the third-most used language, spoken by the descendants of South Asian contract workers from then British India. There are also several Hindu and Islamic national holidays like Diwali, Phagwa and Eid. There are several holidays which are unique to Suriname. These include the Indian (Hindoestaanse), Javanese and Chinese arrival days. They celebrate the arrival of the first ships with their respective immigrants.

Suriname released stamps 1973 to celebrate 100 years of Indian immigrants arrival.

- Kenneth Sequeira

email : kenneth.sequeira@hotmail.com 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Mahavir Jayanti…

Mahavir Jayanti will be celebrated tomorrow, on 5th April. I am pleased to publish here a special article by Mr Sudhir Jain on this occasion. Greetings to all on Mahavir Jayanti !!

MAHAVIR JAYANTI

- Sudhir Jain

Mahavir Jayanti has a lot of religious significance for people belonging to the Jain religion. It is observed to celebrate the birthday of Bhagwan Mahavir, who was the last (24th) Tirthankara of the Jain religion.

He was born on Chaitra Shukla 13th, 599 B.C. at the Vaishali (Bihar) as a prince. At the age of 30, he left his family and royal household, gave up his worldly possessions, including clothing and become a monk. He spent the next twelve years in deep silence and meditation to conquer his desires and feelings. He went without food for long periods.

He carefully avoided harming or annoying other living beings including animals, birds, and plants. His ways of meditation, days of austerities, and mode of behaviour furnish a beautiful example for monks and nuns in religious life. His spiritual pursuit lasted for twelve years. At the end he realised perfect perception, knowledge, power, and bliss. This realisation is known as keval-jnana. At the age of 72 he died and got Nirwan at Pawapuri.

His original name was VARDHAMAN (Prosperous) but later he was called Mahavir, which means The Great Hero. He was also called as VEER and SANMATI. He extensively travelled and preached in the areas of Bihar and Bengal. His followers named their places after his name. Here I am exhibiting cancellations of some Post Offices bearing his name.

 

Mr Sudhir Jain may be contacted at email : sudhirjain@unistar.co.in

April Fool’s Day…

April Fools' Day is celebrated in different countries in the Northern Hemisphere on April 1 every year. In the Southern Hemisphere it is celebrated six months later, on October 1. Sometimes referred to as All Fools' Day, April 1 is not a national holiday in any country, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day when many people play all kinds of jokes and foolishness. The day is marked by the commission of good-humoured or otherwise funny jokes, hoaxes, and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, teachers, neighbors, work associates, etc.

In France and Italy children (and adults, when appropriate) traditionally tack paper fish on each other's back as a trick and shout "april fish!" in their local language ("poisson d'avril!" and "pesce d'aprile!" in French and Italian respectively).

The earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1392). Many writers suggest that the restoration of January 1 as New Year's Day in the 16th century was responsible for the creation of the holiday, but this theory does not explain earlier references.

Read More…

APRIL FOOL’s DAY in PHILATELY

© Dr.Satyendra Kumar Agarwal

April Fool's Day is a "for-fun-only" observance. Practical jokes are a common practice on this Day. Some believe it sort of evolved simultaneously in several cultures at the same time, from celebrations involving the first day of spring.

American April Fool’s Day postcard prepared by Geo. W. Parker Art Co. of Minneapolis

Sometimes, elaborate practical jokes are played on friends or relatives that last the entire day.

The closest point in time that can be identified as the beginning of this tradition was in 1582, in France. Prior to that year, the New Year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25 and culminating on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved to January 1.

Though in general sense the First April is a day for practical jokes but for philately it gave many first. Few countries chosen this day to start a new postal service and some to close down. This day also witnessed first stamp issue of few postal administrations. Illustrated Postal stationeries also brought out commemorating this special day.

Read the whole article….

Rainbow Stamp…

 

Hi !

While surfing on Net I came across a beautiful stamp featuring ‘Rainbow’ issued by Nepal Post on ‘Balanced Environment’. This stamp has appeared on Indian Stamp Ghar. I shall be highly thankful if anyone could help me in getting this beautiful stamp as this is from my favouite theme “ Rainbow ”. I shall be pleased to send mint stamps in exchange. In this post please read an article on stamp collecting by Mr Mainak Kathiara of Ahmedabad and news on pictorial cancellations from Germany. This is all for Today..… More in Next Post….Till Then Have a Great Time !……...

Club News

New Pictorial Cancellations on fauna from Germany

Norderney

Date of Issue : 1 April 2012

Jackdaw

Date of Issue : 26 May 2012

During  a philatelic exhibition  in Kaltennordheim on May 26th  2012 ,Germany, will be available a new  pictorial cancellation featuring the JACKDAW (Corvus  monedula), BIRD OF THE YEAR   2012 in Germany.

Interested philatelists in the above cancellations may contact Mr Wolfgang Beyer, Vice Chairman of the German Collector Group ArGe ZOOLOGIE. Mail: Wolfgang.Beyer1@polizei.sachsen.de Postage rates are 0,75 Euro AIRMAIL or 2,80 Euro REGISTERED AIRMAIL

Articles

I am pleased to share here an article by renowned philatelist of Ahmedabad Mr Mainak Kathiara. This article was published in Phila Post in 2008. some images have been changed in this article . Mr Mainak Kathiara may be contacted at email : mainak61@yahoo.com

Learning Philately

Stamp collecting or ‘Philately’ is one of those timeless hobbies that might have been enjoyed by your grandfather and could be a past time for your grandchildren. Stamp collecting is far more compelling than just the removal of the paper from the back of the stamp.

The postage stamp permitted the letter to be delivered free of charge to the recipient, thus rendering it as untaxed. The introduction of the postage stamp and its popularity gave rise to an interest in philately and birth of the Philatelist. The history of philately is as old as the history of the postage stamp itself.

- Mainak Kathiara, Ahmedabad

 

A world of opportunity opens up when you start to learn about a stamp. Philately is one of the more interesting and educational hobbies as it teaches us about history, geography, politics, art & culture, all inside the borders of a postage stamp.It trains our power of observation, improves our perception, broadens our views and adds to our knowledge of many fields of learning.

Stamp collecting or ‘Philately’ is one of those timeless hobbies that might have been enjoyed by your grandfather and could be a past time for your grandchildren. Stamp collecting is far more compelling than just the removal of the paper from the back of the
stamp. Philately is a way of engaging in the past through pictorial imagery and preserving it for the future.

Definition of Philately:

The oxford dictionary defines the word ‘Philately’ as the ‘collection and study of stamps’. The term ‘Philately’ was coined in 1865 by a Frenchman, Mr. George Herpin, who combined the Greek words ‘PHILOS + TELEIN’, where Philos means ‘love’ and Telein means ‘exemption from the payment of tax’. The postage stamp permitted the letter to be delivered free of charge to the recipient, thus rendering it as untaxed. The introduction of the postage stamp and its popularity gave rise to an interest in philately and birth of the Philatelist. The history of philately is as old as the history of the postage stamp itself.

Stamp collecting today is the world’s oldest and most widely followed hobby. It is also one of the very few hobbies which has acquired authentic status and enjoys extensive government support.

A Few Generalised Tips for the Collectors:

Be a regular visitor at the post office philatelic bureau. The advantages are many:

a) By opening a philatelic deposit account, you are secured about your supply of Mint Stamps, First Day Covers, Brochures and postal stationery etc.

b) You get the material delivered to your address without extra cost.

 

c) You get the stamps from the post office at face value, which is a parallel currency and hence you are never a loser.

 

d) You can get 25p Meghdoot Post Cards. Lot of slogans, information on social issues are to be seen on them and they will be a good source for Thematic collection.

e) The brochure of any stamp is worth reading. It will help to learn the details of the particular
stamp. It is also a collectable item.

f) You get a chance to meet fellow philatelists of your area and it gives you chance to
exchange views.

The department is carrying out all these activities to promote philately. You can take advantage of them. So what are you waiting for? Go and open a philatelic account.

• Be in touch with senior philatelists - they have learnt philately the hard way and their experience will help you a lot.

• Refer to the many Internet auction sites on philately.• Try to get a few good catalogues, reference books, auction lists, magazine, articles written by senior philatelists, and postal information from time to time from post offices.

• Go for quality material even if it is a bit more costly. It will be more worthy in the long run.

• Buy good stationery items to preserve your philatelic material in good condition.

• Visit National and International exhibitions, which will broaden your vision for collecting.

• Become a member of a local philatelic society where you can interact with philatelists of your area.

• Never speculate on stamps unless you are guided by the specialist of that subject.

 

Hexagonal stamps of the ‘Aldabra Giant Tortoise’ issue

Be Innovative:

Innovation will take you a step ahead of your fellow collectors. Shown below are hexagonal stamps of the ‘Aldabra Giant Tortoise’ issue. Different attractive combinations can be made which gives a beautiful look.

Try to be creative - it does not cost much and it is a pleasure to look at. The department is carrying out all these activities to promote philately. You can take advantage of them. So
what are you waiting for? Go and open a philatelic account.

• Be in touch with senior philatelists - they have learnt philately the hard way and their experience will help you a lot.

Also shown below are two covers which were made by a philatelist to commemorate the ‘World Aids Day’. These types of innovative/creative ideas will give birth to exclusive items for the future and will enhance your collection.

 

To commemorate World Aids Day on 1st December, Cover was cancelled with Date
Stamp, as no special cancellation was available.

 

A private First Day Cover commemorating the release of Aids Stamp on 1st December 2006. The cover shows ‘Tata Steels’ initiative for prevention of HIV Aids.

Educate Yourself :

You have to ask a few questions of yourself if you want to be an expert of philately.

a) Do you want to lead your fellow philatelists, rather than being ignored by them? Then educate yourself and share what you know with others.

b) Do you want to get goodies that busy and lazy dealers over look for cheap prices? Then......READ.

c) Do you want to make fruitful investment in stamps? Then the answer is, READ as much as you can.

You have seen them. They are usually quiet. They sit at a dealers table and sift through everything within their speciality. What are they looking for? Dozens of things: cancellations, the rare shade, different perforations, die variety, rare rate, rare destinations and many more things. Don’t ask these experts; they are professionals
at what they do and they won’t tell you the secrets. They took the time to READ the books. They are experts and if you know what they know, you would get in line or ahead of them, wouldn’t you? So keep reading !

These days, stamps are considered as an alternative investment. Stamps possess considerable aesthetic qualities and there is also psychological appeal of something tangible, rather than the figures in the bank pass book or demat accounts. The beauty of investing in stamps is that there is such an enormous range and diversity of material available to suit every pocketbook. With the present surge of interest in philately as an alternative investment, the future looks very bright.

The next time when you pass by a post office in any city pay attention to how they are using their philately to promote the country, cater to the tourist, or commemorate moments of significance. My appeal to young professionals, doctors, lawyers, chartered accountants is to have a peep at the philatelic bureau wherever they go. I am sure they will find something or the other that is interesting to take home as a collectible or to gift someone  as a memento.

- Phila Post 2008