Vol.3 No.3 May-June, 2008

FILA CAPSULE Bi-monthly philatelic bulletin published by EIPA A Decade of Achievement The Eastern India Philatelists’ Association has just completed 10 years of its foundation. It has started with four members at the beginning and now becoming the biggest philatelic organisation in Orissa having more than 100 members including 90 life members from Orissa, Kolkata, Shimla, Bihar, Gwalior, etc. It has rendered valuable assistance to the Department of Posts in organising several state and district level Exhibitions in Orissa and one National level exhibition during 2000 in the name of Millepex-2000. Besides the members of EIPA has also contributed significantly in organising several state and district level philatelic workshops, quiz competitions, stamp design contests, seminars, etc. as a part of promotion of philately in Orissa even in adverse climatic conditions. The impact has resulted the joining of more and more philatelists to our Association. from different parts of our state including the KBK districts which were treated to the economically backward districts of Orissa. The members of EIPA has also won several medals in the National and International philatelic exhibitions which has brought laurel to our State. We are proud of our members for their sincere and dedicated support to roll the wheel ahead. It was another mile stone when the Association issued the bimonthly philatelic bulletin in the name of Fila Capsule with effect from January, 2006. This bulletin is sent free of cost to the registered philatelic organisations in India for the promotion of philately and better exchange of views with each other. The response of our esteem readers are overwhelming and became a source of inspiration to maintain the quality of our bulletin. Our aim is to convert this bulletin to a journal in future. We are also trying to bring the facts of this bulletin on the web so that more and more philatelists can reach us and be benefited to mount their knowledge. We are very much thankful to the organisations, philatelists and Department of Posts for their support and help for the last 10 years and helped us to cover the long distance and also we sought their similar co-operation in future. A.K Dash Editor Salute to Sam Bahadur Field Marshal S.H.F.J. Manekshaw passed away on 27.06.2008. He was the first officer to get to the highest rank of Field Marshall of the Indian Army. In the history of Indian military forces, he was only followed by Field Marshall Cariappa to the same rank. With a glorious military service spanning four decades and five wars, the name of Field Marshall S.H.F.J. Manekshaw will be written in golden letters in the sepia pages of military history. He led India to victory in the Indo-Pak war in 1971. For his selfless service to the motherland, Shri Manekshaw was bestowed with the honorary rank of Field Marshall in 1973. We, the members of Eastern India Philatelists’ Association salute to our national hero for his dedicated service to our nation. We request the Department of Posts to issue a commemorative stamp on him which will be the best tribute to him. STAMP NEWS India Aga Khan Foundation Founded by the Aga Khan in 1967 at Geneva, Switzerland the Aga Khan Foundation is part of the Aga Khan Development Network,. a group of nine institutions working in health, education, culture, rural and economic development. Established in India in 1978, the Aga Khan Foundation currently functions in 18 countries across the world spanning Central and South Asia, the Middle East, Sub- Saharan Africa, Europe and North America. It seeks sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and ill-health with special emphasis on the needs of rural communities in mountainous, coastal and other resource-poor areas. Aga Khan Foundation has supported rural development programmes in India since the early 1980s. During 2006, in Jammu and Kashmir, over 25 masons were trained in earthquake-resistant construction techniques and six were contracted to provide regular technical guidance in programme villages. The Foundation engaged local communities in the management and delivery of health care through the “social franchise agreement”. The Aga Khan Foundation has completed 30 years of an extremely philanthropic and purposeful existence in India. Text: Based on Material provided by the proponent Stamp & FDC: Brahm Prakash Cancellation: Alka Sharma Date of Issue: 17-5-2008 Denomination: 500p, 1500p, Stamps Printed: 0.8 Million, 0.8 Million Printing Process: Photogravere Miniature Sheet: 0.2 Milliion Printer: India Security Press, Nasik Shri Shiridi Sai Baba Sai Baba’s early life was enshrouded in contradictions and mystery. It is stated that he was born of Brahmin parents in the Nizam’s state. In infancy he was supposed to have been deserted by his parents. Legend says that a fakir found the child and took him home. After the fakir’s death, the child was brought up by a zamindar of selu. Sai Baba first came to Shirdi when he was a lad of 16, and lived there for about 4 years. Then suddenly he disappeared, and after a lapse of years returned to Shirdi in the year 1859. Conscious of the beauty and power that reside in devotion, Shri Sai Baba exhorted men and women to adopt Bhakti as the most rewarding sadhana. Bhakti or love is the most natural and vital feeling of the human heart as loving and being loved fall within the scope of very individual’s normal experience, and one has no need to cultivate love. Sai Baba recognized that the need to adore is inherent in the human heart and, as such, he felt that the sadhana of devotion (Bhakti) could well become the basis of an inter-religious dialogue. In Shirdi in those days a remarkable spirit of love and brotherhood prevailed, for all communities had found a common and unifying interest in the divine personality of Shri Sai Baba. Each individual saw it him a personification of his own favourite deity, an image of his own chosedn ideal, and worshipped him as such. Through all this maze of contrary beliefs, Sai Baba lived on unperturbed with perhaps a glint of humour in his eyes for the speculations about his caste and creed. Sai Baba discouraged the questions regarding whether he was a Hindu or a Muslim. Sai Baba taught only through a medium of the spoken word in the pattern of our ancient sages. His words transcended the limitations of time and distance, and spread far and wide even to the remotest of villages. Sai Baba’s teaching and life have captured the imaginations of the people in India and abroad as well. On 15th October 1918 he passed away, breaking, forever the barriers of existence. Text: Taken from website dedicated to Shri Shirdi Sai Baba. Stamp & FDC: C.R. Pakrashi Cancellation: Alka Sharma Date of Issue: 20-5-2008 Denomination: 500p Stamps Printed: 0.4 Million Printing Process: Photogravere Printer: India Security Press, Nasik Rajesh Pilot Shri Rajesh Pilot was born in village Baidpura in District Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh on February 10, 1945, he had his schooling from M.M. Higher Secondary School, New Delhi and later he studied in Meerut University. Shri Rajesh Pilot joined the Air Force Academy at Coimbatore in June, 1964 and was commissioned in the Flying Branch on October 29, 1966. He served for 13 years in Fighter and Transport Squardron of the Indian Air Force and saw action in Bangladesh during the Indo-Pak War of 1971. He resigned from Air Force in November, 1979 and joined politics as the 7th Lok Sabha Congress (I) candidate in December, 1979 and was elected to Lok Sabha from Bharatpur Constituency (Rajasthan) in 1984 and was inducted into the Union Council of Ministers as Minister of State, Surface Transport in the Ministry of Transport. Shri Rajesh Pilot was re-elected to the 10th Lok Sabha in 1991 from Dausa Constituency (Rajasthan). He was inducted in the Union Council of Ministers as Minister of State for Communications with independent charge with effect from June 26th 1991. Shri Pilot was regarded as an expert in Kashmir and North Eastern affairs, the areas which he handled both in his capacity as Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, earlier as Member of Parliament and even priortb that as a serving Officer of the Indian Air Force having had wide exposure of working in the North Eastern States. Shri Rajesh Pilot was elected as Member of Parliament of 11 th Lok Sabha in 1996. He was re-elected as Member of Parliament for the 12th Lok Sabha in 1998 from Dausa Constituency (Rajasthan). He retained the seat again as Member of 13th Lok Sabha from the same Constituency. Shri Pilot was deeply admired by the people of his constituency. Starting from Bharatpur constituency which he represented in 1980, Shri Pilot represented the Dausa Constituency of Rajasthan for five terms and breathed his last in the same Constituency on 11 th June, 2000 when a freak motor accident snatched him away from us. Text: Based on material given by the proponent. Stamp & FDC: Brahma Prakash Cancellation: Alka Sharma Date of Issue: 11-6-2008 Denomination: 500p Stamps Printed: 0.4 Million Printing Process: wet-offset Printer: Security Printing Press, Hyderabad HENNING HOLCK-LARSEN Henning Holck-Larsen, founding partner of L & T Ltd. was born on July 4, 1907 at Copenhagen in Denmark. He attended jesuit primary and secondary schools and in 1922 entered the Metropolitanskolen (high school) of Copenhagen from which he graduated in 1925. From the University of Copenhagen, he took a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 1930 and joined F L Smidth and Company, Denmark- a leader in cement technology. In1935 he was deputed to India to assess the various cement manufacturing groups which later formed the Associated Cement Companies.The year 1938 he and his former schoolmate, Soren Kristian Toubro, set up the partnership firm Larsen and Toubro, that was soon to establish itself as one of the country’s front-ranking industrial organizations. Under his vision, Larsen and Toubro became a private limited company in 1946 and a public limited company in 1950.In recognition of his contribution in promoting relations between India and Denmark in 1972,the Danish Government appointed him Consul General for Denmark in Mumbai.ln1976, his efforts on the world stage earned him the Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding. He was conferred a knightood and Order of The Knight Commander of Danneburg by Queen Margerethe II of Denmark in 1977. In 1980 he was given Sir Jahangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial Peace. In 2002, the Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan on Henning Holck-Larsen. Henning Holck-Larsen, one of the Pioneers of the engineering industry in India, passed away on 27th July,2007. Text: based on material provided by the proponent Stamp & FDC: Sankha Samanta Cancellation: Alka Sharma Date of Issue: 12.06.2008Denomination: 500p Stamps Printed: 2.4 Million Printing Process: Photogravure Printer: India Security Press, Nasik Madhav Institute of Technology & Science, Gwalior Maharaja Madhav Rao Scindia (1st) of erstwhile State of Gwalior, conceived the idea of setting up an engineering college at Gwalior to the major benefit of the youths of the region during the visit to Europe in 1925. But the Institute could not be established due to his death in the same year.The prestigious institute of the State of Madhya Pradesh, Maharaja Madhav Institute of Technology and Science (then known as Madhav Engineering College) was established 32 years later in 1957 by Jiwajirao Scindia, with the prime objective of providing Technical Education at undergraduate and post graduate level along with conducting research activities to produce trained technical man power for the progress of the state and the nation. The foundation stone of the Institute’s building was laid by Dr.Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India on 20th October, 1956 and the building was inaugurated on 11th December 1964 by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the then President of India. The Institute started initially with B.E. Courses in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering with total intake of 120 and ceaselessly kept striving to add Postgraduate and Ph.D. Courses in Applied Sciences in 1967. The institute started offering the Postgraduate Course in Civil Engineering with specialization in Construction Technology and Management in 1987, which was perhaps the first institution to do so in India. This was followed by introduction of Post Graduation course in Electronics and Electrical Engineering Departments in 1995. Engineering Department. Microwave Engineering in Electronics Department Bio- Tech in Biotechnology Department and Urban Management in Architecture Planning Department are the latest additions to the Institute. The Institute also conducts Ph.D. programme in various disciplines of Engineering and Science such as Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering. CSE & IT, MCA etc. The Institute is growing steadily and has student strength of 2500 in the campus under different graduate and postgraduate programmes. The human resources generated by the Institute are well accepted at national and international level such as NASA, Microsoft reputed universities of USA and E.U. Text: As per the material provided by the proponent Stamp & FDC: Brahma Prakash Cancellation: Alka Sharma Date of Issue: 30-6-2008 Denomination: 500p Stamps Printed: 0.8 Million Printing Process: wet-offset Printer: Security Printing Press, Hyderabad MAHATMA GANDHI 1948 ISSUE OF INDIA Santanu Panigrahi,Sambalpur,Orissa First anniversary of independence Mahatma Gandhi memorial stamps The First anniversary of Independence on 15th August 1948 was celebrated by issuing a set of four stamps showing the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate his life and work in the denominations of 1½ As., 3½ As., 12 As. and Rs.10/- in the colours of Brown, Violet, Grey-Green and Purple-Brown & Lake respectively. These stamps were designed and printed on unwatermarked Granite paper by the world famous printer Courvoisier in their printing works at La Chaux- de Fonds, Switzerland. The design showed the profile of Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi), the architects of Indian freedom, the apostle of peace and non-violence, who was shot dead on 30th January 1948, in a prayer meeting at Birla house in Delhi. Mahatma Gandhi is popularly known as ‘Bapu’, an ardent advocate of ‘Swadeshi’ (National products). This is the only set of stamps printed by any foreign country till today. Therefore it is an irony of fate that the Government of India went out of their way to get the very stamps which were to perpetuate his sacred memory printed by a foreign Swiss firm. These stamps are the first post-independence issue bearing Urdu scripts on them. These stamps were printed by photogravure process in the sheet containing 50 stamps, in 5 horizontal rows of 10 stamps each in all denominations in perforation 11½. The gum used on these stamps was not suitable for the Indian tropical climate. So, after arrival in India the gum started gathering moisture due to which many packets of mint stamp sheets got stuck to the intervening glassine sheets supplied by the printers like a log of wood making it difficult for the postal officials to tear apart the sheets. Finally large quantities of these commemorative stamps which could not be sold were destroyed by the postal authorities. This is the reason why many Gandhi stamps presently available with dealers are paper stuck. There is no report of any error printing. But Mr. G.S. Farid a specialist on Indian stamps from Calcutta had mentioned in one of his article regarding ‘Pearl’ variety Gandhi on 1½ as. Stamp. He noticed a dot below the Hindi word ‘Bapu’ on the left corner of the stamp visible to the naked eyes. It is a coloured dot with a white shadow at the top, imparting a sparkling pearl-like appearance. To confirm the fact I checked my collection out of four mint sheets only one sheet has such variety bearing control number 005721, Plate control number A4 (Illustration). This has been ascertained in many copies of this variety. The variety found in any sheet of 1½ as. Stamp was found to be in the constant 5th position bearing the control number in the last row. The reason for such flaw lies in the printing process of the stamp (i.e. the photogravure process). The stamps printed in the form of dots and dashes resulting from the foreign particles settling upon the cylinder, or due to dirt in the ink, but are not constant in nature, except those formed during manufacture of the multi-positive are constant. No such variety has been found in other three values. Small quantities of all the 4 Gandhi stamps were overprinted with the word ‘SERVICE’ by lithographic process in black by Indian Security Press, Nasik for the exclusive personal use of His Excellency the Governor- General’s Secretariat of Indian Dominion. Though it is believed that only small quantities of the three low values and 100 copies of the ten rupees value were thus overprinted, no information is vouchsafed by the authorities on this subject. However, it can not be denied that the stamps are extremely scarce; both in mint and used condition, and ten rupees value is practically unobtainable. Forgery is common in any rare items. Here also common forgeries are made by Typographic overprint which always shows a little ridge round the letters, formed by the ink being squeezed out under the pressure (detected by impression on reverse) or Thomas de la Rue style (1911 to 1926) over print. In the British Commonwealth section of the Stanley Gibbons Auctions on 14th to 17th April,1970, a superb O.G., complete mint set of India 1948 ‘SERVICE’ overprint, on Mahatma Gandhi with Fiecchi Certificate was sold for Rs.5,670/-. It confirms that this Set is quoting a high price since long. Now the only available source are the auction houses, so the available copies as and when offered in the auction sales are going to the album of the prospecting buyer. At the present juncture demand is more and supply is less. Accordingly the market price is increasing as per the demand of the collectors. Recently in David Feldman’s auction sale of 5th October 2007 at Geneva, Switzerland a set of 1948 Gandhi Service sets was sold for Euro 38,000 a record price which is even more than the price of a 4 Annas ‘Inverted Head’ error sold in the same auction for Euro 32,000. There will be no doubt if it will be treated as a rare set of stamps. COLLECTING AUTOGRAPHS FOR PLEASURE Santosh Kumar Lahoti, Kolkata The leisure industry has revolutionized the mankind so warmly that he gets entertained and influenced by the people, who act for the public from different perspectives of life. Celebrities like film stars, sportspersons, politicians or artists become the idols in the minds of their thousands of fans. The fans try to imitate the style of their hero’s. The most successful of public figures become legends and live in the hearts of their admirers even after they are dead. Autographs of such legendary personalities are precious possessions for those who admire them. Believe it that one signature of one’s idol brings happiness to the fan of that idol. People who collect autographs would go any distance to fetch a signature from their favorite star. For them an effort to collect an autograph from their favorite personalities is an effort to enrich themselves. In fact, some people collect autographs because they feel that they have an association with legends. It gives them an all time high happiness to acquire an autograph from a legendary personality. It also gives them pride and pleasure to be with their beloved celebrity for a few moments. To be nearer to someone like the famous Indian film star Amitabh memorable moment. As a matter of fact, collectible autographs can fetch huge sums of money too. Some collections have been auctioned from time to time. In Western world there are people who collect the autographs as hobbyists and harvest a rich return when they sell them. Graphologists are the autograph scientists who spend time in studying autographs and their analysis ultimately help the biographers. Autographs of celebrities taken at different times indicate the inner qualities and outer achievements of those personalities. In our country mainly children pursue this hobby. It has been distinctly noticed that girls tend to seek autographs of male film stars and the boys would be after their favorite sportsperson. In India, the Cricket lovers are always looking for an opportunity to get a cricketer’s signature. The collection of autographs need not always be something scribbled on paper. There are other surfaces on which the autographs are given by the stars. Then such objects like clothes, mugs etc. become the value added items for the collectors. For example, Cricketers place their prized signature on bats and stumps. And such autographed bats or stumps are craved items. Today the class of autograph collectors is increasing in India. It is now considered to be a hobby of great educational value, which as per the analysts gives mental relief, broadens the mind and teaches the collector history of one’s own country. This hobby not only brings the collector in contact with the great personalities who are making history, but also enlarges one’s circle of friends having a common interest. In 1993 Autograph Collectors Club of India was established in Kolkata to promote this educational and interesting hobby in India and its neighboring countries. The Club got registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961. “It was like my unplanned thought, when I showed my collection to two very serious collectors of autographs and then a joint idea came to our mind to form an autograph collectors club which is the only club of its kind in India which now has about 20,000 addresses of prominent persons of India and abroad” says Santosh Kumar Lahoti, a 23 year old Company Secretary, who is the prime member of the Club. “The main aims and objectives of the Club are, to promote and guide the study of Autographs, to co-operate with the Autograph Clubs/Societies of other countries by offering them information, advise and help about their collectors and to establish exchange relation with them, to organize exhibitions of Autographs in different cities of India, to check authenticity of Autographs by experts, to help collectors get addresses of celebrities. The Annual membership fee of the club is rupees one hundred and Life membership fee rupees one thousand” elaborates Mr. Lahoti. For further information on autograph collecting, Sri Lahoti may be contacted in the following address :Santosh Kumar Lahoti, Autograph Collectors Club of India, “Shree Sadan”, 26, P K Tagore Street, Kolkata-700 006Phones : 033 2543 6471/2530 5293, Cell : 93310 12533 Email: sklahoti@vsnl.net ; Website: http://www.autographindia.com/ Exhibition News EFIRO-2008 The International stamp exhibition EFIRO-2008 was held in Bucharest, the capital Romania from 20- 28, June 2008. Mr. Sahadeva Sahoo was the National Commissioner from India. Following participants from India were received awards at this exhibition as per the list given below. M A Sayeed of United Arab Emirates won the Grand Prize of the EFIRO - 2008 for his exhibit “India The Scinde District Dawk, lithograph issues and usages”.Gold Medal: Anil Suri’s Fiscals of CochinLarge Vermeil Medal: Adul Matin Mollah’s Indian Government Fiscal & Judicial Stamps & Stamp Papers (Literature)Vermeil Medal: Sahadeva Sahoo’s Postal History of Orissa Region of India 1803 - 1873Silver Medal: Madhukar Jhingan’s Indian Internal Airmails 1911 - 1938Silver Bronze Medal: 1)Ashish Talwar’s Definitive Issues of India, 2)Yogini Jhingan’s Holograms, 3)Padmini Balan’s Window to Philately (Literature)Bronze Medal: Lallan Singh’s The four seasons Congratulation to all the winners. OLYMPEX-2008 The Olympic Philatelic Exhibition Olympex-2008 will be held in Beijing Exhibition Center from August 8 to 18, 2008. The exhibition will be organized by China Post Group and sponsored jointly by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC). IOC has decided to call this philatelic exhibition Olympex from Beijing Olympic Games 2008 in order to promote Olympic spirit, spread Olympic concept and carry Olympic culture forward.The aim of the show is to display Olympic history and development through philately and promote Olympic spirit and culture with the theme “Inheriting Olympic Spirit, Inspiring Beijing City”. EIPAPEX-08 In the last General Body meeting of EIPA it has been decided to hold a two days State level philatelic exhibition at Bhubaneswar towards the last week of October, 2008 comprising of 120 frames to mark the 10th year of foundation of the Eastern India Philatelists’ Association. The exhibition will be a noncompetitive one. The exhibits of the members of EIPA and other senior philatelists having award winning exhibits will be exhibited in the exhibition by invitation only. All the participants will be honoured with a certificate of participation with a memento/commemorative medal. The participation fees has been tentatively fixed to be Rs.100 per frame. A special souvenir will also be released for the purpose if possible. It has also been decided to issue a special cover to mark the occasion, the theme of the issue to be decided later. There will be provisions for dealers booths, but limited in number which will be free of charge and will be booked on first cum first served basis. The final decision will be taken in the meeting to be held during July, 08. Philatelic workshop, quiz contest and stamp design contests will be organised among the school students during the exhibition. NEW MAXIMCARDS AND BOOKLET Orissa Philatelists & Numismatists Association, Cuttack released 2 maxim cards one for each value of the Jasmine set. The cards priced at Rs 30 each. Similarly they have also issued a maxim card for Shiridi Sai Baba issue, priced at Rs 30. To know further details Sh. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra may be contacted in the email upna2006@gmail.com. The Orissa Philatelic Association , Cuttack, has issued a stamp booklet for Sai Baba issue priced at Rs 50. For further details Sh. Pradip Kumar Mohanty may be contacted in his e-mail oriphil@gmail.com Readers Desk “Thank you for your mail and electronic copy of your bulletin. You have been maintaining high quality throughout your bulletin.” -Madhukar Jhingan, Stamps of India Collectors Companion, New Delhi “I have gone through the recent issue of Fila Capsule. It is full of updated information with nicely placed images. I am pleased to receive it regularly without any delay. Its a great pleasure for philatelist community that Philatelic newsletters from Orissa, Gujrat, Punjab and Delhi are published regularly and timely. It shows the active interest of philatelists in our country. If all of us take this responsibility, we will be able to promote this hobby to some extent. As philatelic newsletters keep philatelists well informed about the latest philatelic activities happening around us.It also motivates others to pick up this hobby when they come to know about its different areas." -Jeevan Jyoti, Rainbow Stamp News, Shimla “Thanks for the prompt response. I have gone through the bulletin. It has come out very nicely.It is really heartening to note that the issue has come out when the Eastern India philatelists’ Association is going to complete its tenth successful year in May,2008. All the members and contributors are congratulated for their active support and co-operation. Congratulations!” -S.Balasundaram Asst.Postmaster General (Retd.) & OSD, INPEX 2008 “Thanks a lot for your quick mail, but sorry for my late reply. Really it was nice to note your efforts in this project. Please try to include some articles in the same, which will increase creditably to this bulletin. I hope you can understand my view. Now for upcoming generation, some who can write, prefer to give the same to magazines in overseas, as they think Indian magazines have not so much scope, for their appreciation. Even general collectors like to criticize and write much more on their exhibits, but afraid to discuss ‘What to include or not in their collections’ or How to increase marking in their exhibits etc. Wish you all the best for future.” -Suraj Jaitly, Indian Thematic Society, Ludhiana Regular Pre-mature Issues Pre mature issue of stamps in India has become a regular feature. Recently stamps of two more issues are openly available in the market. The sheetlets of India’s first hexagonal stamps depicting Aldabra giant tortoise are available in the market. These stamps are yet to be officially released for sale by India Post. Similaly the stamp on Sheik Thambi Pavalar is also openly available in the market. Mr madhukar Jhingan has laready started putting all these premature stamps in separate website which can be seen by browsing the website of stamps of India news letter http://www.stampsofindia.com/premature.htm Rathyatra Pictorial cancellation The Department of Posts, Orissa Circle has issued special pictorial postmarks on Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath to be held from 04.07.08. These post marks are given to all out going articles from Bhubaneswar and Puri GPO from 01.06.2008 to 12.07.2008. Though it has been decided to issue the post mark from Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri simultaneously, it could only be possible to issue them from Bbubaneswar GPO and Puri GPO. Solo Philatelic Exhibition Shri Bibhuti Patnaik, a philatelist of EIPA has shown his philatelic exhibits and collection of match boxes at the State Museum, Bhuabaneswar on 18.06.2008 on the occasion of world Museum Day Promoting -Philately or Business? Recently the department Posts, Govt. of India has issued stamps on Larsen in the quantity of 24 lakhs, and Madhab Institute of Technology in the quantities of 8 lakh. All of us are aware of the facts that there are crores of devotees of Shiridi Sai Baba through out the world and it was the general feeling and experience that there will be heavy demand of the stamp. In spite of this fact the Department Post has issued only 4 lakh stamps of Sai Baba and the stamps were vanished from the Philatelic Bureaux within few days of its release. The price of this stamp has set up a all time record in the market. Why this has happened ? Is our Philatelic advisory committee is defunct or we will presume that the Department of Posts ha no for sight. It was a blind prediction about the demand of the stamp before its issue. When the Department of Posts is going to issue 24 lakhs of stamps on a specific issue having less importance, how they have forgotten about the demand of sai baba issue. Due to shortage of Sai Baba stamps it is directly promoting the Business than Philately. Before issuing a stamp the Department of Posts should consider the following points to avoid such business. The Philately Advisory Committee, PAC should have a survey on the issue about their demand in the market. Basing on the demand and requirement the PAC should recommend for issue of specific number of stamps for that issue. The laws of the Land regarding issue of stamps should be adhered in cases of issue of stamps on personalities, which are now a days, appears to be not followed at all and are issued at the will of certain ministers/ Officers. The low value stamps should be issued sufficient in number so that more and more postal use will be expected and the philatelists will be benefitted. This is not the first time that the Department of Posts has repeated the same mistake. Earlier the stamps on R.K.Shukla were issued in the quantities of 1 lakh only which has made some people to earn an appreciable and unbelievable price out of that stamp. It compels us to think that there may be some relation between the certain personnels of Deaprtment of Posts and the Stamp dealers. This is high time that the Deaprtment of Posts should open their eyes and issue right directions before issuing a stamp so that the main aim of promoting Philately can be achieved. Similarly several stamps are prematurely issued frequently and are openly sold on auction on different web sites. How these things are possible ? We have already raised objections about these issues and knocked at the doors of the Department of Posts to stop these business. But inspite of checking these business, the business is rather spreading with more viogour than before. This issue has been raised by several Philatelists, Editors in several news letters, without having any result thereof. Earlier the stamps are pre issued due to communication gap between the Head quarters and the issuing authorities at the root level. There was a specific date of issue which is postponed at the last moment resulting pre issue of stamps of that issue. But now a days when there is no date of issue or any stamp issue programme how these stamps are coming out of Treasury. Hence the Department of Post should take drastic steps against the persons who are responsible for their gross negligence. If the Department is unable to handle these problems, then , it is better to assign these works to Private parties/ organisations interested, who can organise the things in a better and disciplined manner. World’s Only Underwater Post Office Vanuatu Post has created an official Post Office with a difference. It is the world’s only Underwater Post Office. Situated within the Hideaway Island marine sanctuary, the Post Office sits in around three metres of water and both divers and snorkellers are able to post special “waterproof postcards”. If snorkellers cannot duck-dive down that far, Hideaway Island staff will be on the spot to help out. During opening hours the cards will be cancelled/embossed by the postal staff in the Underwater Post Office. Instead of being stamped with ink to show that the card has been sent, the Post office has developed a new embossed cancellation device. This is opened for business in May 2003 Out of hours the post cards can be posted in the underwater post box attached to the post office or taken to the main post office in town. All are guaranteed to receive the special cancellation from this unique underwater paradise before being delivered both locally and internationally. The sea is such an important part of life in Vanuatu so in addition to opening the worlds only Underwater Post Office, Vanuatu Post has issued a new stamp issue and minisheet featuring snorkelling. This stamp issue follows the extremely popular eco-tourism stamp issue that featured many of the adventure, culture, nature, sport and community activities available in Vanuatu. Vanuatu Post encourages visitors to literally look below the surface of this beautiful country and grab a mask, fins and snorkel, and visit the Underwater Post Office. They guarantee you will discover unlimited fun and unforgettable adventures! OUR NEW MEMBERS The following new members joined to our EIPA family during May-June,2008. Dr. Bibhudatta MishraCIFA, Kausalyaganga Bhubaneswar 751002 Email:bhanubibhu@rediffmail.com Mobile- 09437282638 Membership No. LM-21 Philatelic Interest: Aquatic Fish, plants, animals & birds Mr. Santosh Kumar LahotiAutograph Collectors Club of India Shree Sadan 26, P.K. Tagore Street KOLKATA 700006 Ph. 033- 25436471 e-mail- sklahoti@hotmail.com Membership No. Annual Member-08-09 Philatelic Interest: Autographs on FDC, Special Cover, Philatelic items OUR TRIBUTES The members of EIPA express their heartfelt condolences to the sad demise of two senior persons related to our EIPA family. Dr. Bichitra Nanda Sinha, Ex Professor and Head of Dept of Geography, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar and father of our senior Philatelist Mr. Bijoy Kumar Sinha, passed away on 28.05.08 early morning at his Sahid Nagar residence. He was 82. He was popular for his significant contribution in the field of geography. Shri Gangadhar Das father of our senior Philatelist Mr. Prasant Kumar Das passed away on 22.06.08 at his Cuttack residence at the age of 85.He was working in the Civil Supply Deparment for a long time. Let their souls remain in peace. Our readers are requested to give their comments, suggestions regularly to the Editor so as to improve the quality of this bulletin and also to promote philately. The views and comments will be published in the ‘Reader’s Desk’ column of this bulletin. They are also requested to contribute any article or information on philately so that it can help the other philatelists to share their knowledge. They could send their articles in both hard copy as well as in soft copy by floppy or CD to the editor or may send me an e-mail to eipaorissa@gmail.com or akdash2000@yahoo.com so that it will be easier to edit and publish them in this bulletin. Please feel free to post your comments. Thank you!