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Stamps
of India Collectors Companion December 14, 2000
INDIA BAGS TWO GRAND PRIZES AT CALCUTTA The Grand Prize International of INDEPEX-ASIANA 2000 went
to V T Nathan of Malaysia for his exhibit ‘Straits Settlements: 1611-1899 in
Traditional Class. The exhibit also won Large Gold with Special Prize –
Ornamental Vase, provided by the Philatelists Association of Thailand. The other
contender short-listed was M A Sayeed from UAE for his exhibit ‘Great Britain
Early Line-engraved Issues’ in Traditional Class that won Large Gold with
Special Prize – Pagoda, provided by the Nepal Philatelic Society. Damayanti Pittie of Bombay won the Grand Prize National
of INDEPEX-ASIANA 2000 for her exhibit ‘ Hand Struck Postage Stamps of British
India’ in Postal History Class. She also received Large Gold with the highest
marks, 97 out of 100, with Special Prize provided by New Zealand Philatelic
Federation – Royal Doulton Plate. Her other exhibit, also in the postal
history class, ‘Cancellation of Bombay City 1854-1900’ won Large Vermeil
with Felicitations of the Jury. Once again the other contender short-listed was
M A Sayeed from UAE for his exhibit ‘India: 1852-55, Scinde District Dawk
& Lithograph Issues’ in Traditional Class that won Large Gold with Special
Prize provided by Mrs and Mr Liu Guang Shi – Chinese Rare Stamp Treasure. Our heartiest congratulations to the winners and best
wishes & better luck next time to the runners-up. The
Grand Prizes of the show, Large Gold and Gold medals were given away at Palmares
(Awards) Banquet at the Ball Room of Oberai Grand Hotel on December 11, 2000.
The Large Vermeil, Vermeil, Large silver, Silver, Silver bronze, and Bronze
medals and awards for Open Class were presented at the exhibition venue on
December 12, 2000. Click on the link below for complete award list WADP SEMINAR B N Som - Chairman of WADP & Director General of
India Post inaugurated the seminar and gave the keynote address. M S Raman,
Assistant Director general of Universal Postal Union (UPU) recounted the UPU
activities in the past decade leading to the formation of WADP. Knud Mohr –
President of International Philatelic Federation (FIP) spoke on the problems of
illegal issues and efforts of WADP in this regard as well as new numbering
system to be used for stamp listing in all catalogs. Sahadeva Sahoo, President
of the Philatelic Congress of India (PCI) stressed on the need for philatelic
organization like PCI in promoting philately and highlighted the contributions
made by PCI in promoting Indian philatelists in the world arena. Pradip Jain, representing philatelic trade said the role
of stamp dealers not only as partners but also as promoters of philatelic
movement is very significant. But for this dealers must have in their dealing
with collectors the following attitudes as pre-requisites: Honesty, Integrity,
and fair play. Madhukar Jhingan, representing the philatelic press said that the
focus of WADP should be general public and youth in particular. A syllabus for
conducting stamp-collecting courses be prepared and course material developed.
Plan of short and long term activities and targets be set up and implemented.
Internet and television are not a threat to the hobby but are excellent medium
to propagate it. All welcomed his announcement of the formation of a national
body of philatelic journalists. G B Pai gave valuable suggestion during interaction with
audience and question answer session that WADP should establish a Stamp Bank
where postal administrations can send their issues and obtain other countries’
issues of equal value for sale thru their philatelic bureaus. Madhu Narayanan
said that the concept of partnership between post and philatelists, philatelic
trade and press should be spread at not only national level but at district
level within the country for the promotion and growth of philately. B N Som
asked stamp catalog editors in India to join ASCAT,
and for dealers to form a national body. Gautam Gupta – Member, Operations, Postal Services
Board and Dr Edric Druce from Australia, Director FIP and author of WADP
publication ‘The Guide to the Development of Philately’ also attended the
seminar. Vishnu S Saksena presented the concluding remarks and thanked everyone.
It is planned to publish the detailed proceedings of the seminar. NEW STAMPS RELEASED The set of 6 stamps in the denomination of Rs. 3, the
inland letter post rate, feature Kamleshwar Singh designed the first day cover, priced at
Rs. 2. An informative brochure containing write-up and technical data, priced at
Rs. 2, was also brought out on the occasion. Calcutta Security Printers Limited
of Kanpur printed the stamps by photo-offset in six colors on matt chromo
unwatermarked paper in panes of 40 each in the quantity of 3 million.
Additionally 50,000 ‘mixed’ sheets of 40 stamps, 4 stamps x 7 and 2 stamps x
6, were also printed. The ‘mixed’ sheet provides se-tenant blocks,
horizontal and vertical strips in several combinations. Gautam Gupta, Member (Operations), Postal Services Board
released the Gems & Jewelry Miniature Sheet on December 11, 2000 and
presented it to Sahadeva Sahoo, the President of PCI and Ratni Jatia, wife of
Late D N Jatia. The Miniature Sheet contains 4 stamps from the set of 6 and a
portrait of D N Jatia in stylized diamond shape. Kamleshwar Singh designed the
Miniature Sheet. Calcutta Security Printers Limited of Kanpur printed the
Miniature Sheet by photo-offset in six colors on matt chromo unwatermarked paper
in the quantity of 50,000. CPMG DELHI INDEPEX-ASIANA 2000 Walk for Stamps was organized on December 3, 2000 –
this was a novel way to publicize the event to millions of citizens of Calcutta.
The presence of a tableau and with the participation of a large number of
children carrying banners of the show going through the streets of Calcutta a
parade like atmosphere was created. Advertisements with details of the program
of the day were released on each day of the show in several newspapers. A
recorded message ‘visit INDEPEX-ASIAINA 2000 at Netaji Indoor Stadium’ in
Bengali, Hindi, and English greeted every time one picked up a telephone in
Calcutta during the show. Hundreds of buses were plying to ferry school children
to and from the show. All children were treated to a cold drink and given a
coupon to win 1000 t-shirts with Madhuabani Paintings on Stamps motif every day.
Due to the countrywide strike since December 5, 2000 by
postal workers the Army Postal Service provided officers and men to take care of
all related work along with senior officers of India Post. - FUNCTIONS Viren J Shah presented the Lifetime Achievement Award,
instituted by the Philatelic congress of India, to D N Jatia that was received
by Ratni Jatia –wife of late D N Jatia. He then proceeded to the venue and
inaugurated the show at 11.50 am. The exhibition was open to the public from 1
pm onwards. Bhutan Post released two miniature sheets on the show at
2.30 pm on December 7, 2000. The first miniature sheet contains 4 stamps on
butterfly, red jungle fowl, flower – zinnia elegans, and tiger in the
denomination of NU. 5, 8, 10 and 12 respectively. Other ms carries a single
stamp depicting spotted dear in the denomination of Nu.15. Major General K K Srivastava – Additional Director
General Army Postal Service released the Special Cover with Special Postmark on
December 8, 2000. Gautam Gupta – Member, Operations, Postal Services Board did
the honors on December 9, 2000 and Tay Peng Hian – President FIAP on December
10, 2000. The chief guest for December 11, 2000 was Sahadeva Sahoo – President
PCI, and on December 12, 2000 was Manabendra Mukherjee - Minister-In-Charge for
Youth Services, Environment & Tourism West Bengal State Government. Cox & Kings India Limited – the official travel
agency hosted a dinner for Jury and Commissioners on December 6 at Park Hotel.
Ram Vilas Paswan - Minister for Communications hosted the dinner on the first
day at Taj Bengal. Tapan Sikdar - Minister of State for Communications gave a
dinner at Royal Calcutta Golf Club on the second day of the show. The official
hotel of the show – Park Hotel hosted the dinner on 9th. On 10th
the dinner was hosted on board at the River Hooghly Cruise by West Bengal State
Government’s Department of Tourism. The awards banquet was at the Oberai Grand
on December 11, and Damyanti Pittie winner of Grand Prize National hosted a
dinner on the last day. The show concluded at 2 pm on December 8, 2000. The
dismounting was completed and stadium vacated before midnight. - SEMINARS Yaovanee Nirandara of Thailand, a member of the Jury,
conducted the seminar on Youth Philately on December 9, 2000 coordinated by
Rajesh Kumar Bagri. John Sinfield of Australia conducted the seminar on
Thematic Philately coordinated by R D Binani on December 10, 2000. Also on December 10, 2000 a seminar on Postal History was
conducted by Dr Ed Druce of Australia and coordinated by Yogesh Kumar. - OTHER COMPETITIONS A Sit and Draw contest
was held at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra on December 10, 2000. B B Patnaik of
Indian Overseas Bank presented the prizes to following winners: Age Group – 11 to 15
years Age Group – 16 to 21
years On the spot design a
stamp competitions were held all over India and entries were sent to Calcutta.
Following were announced the winners: A Letter Writing
Competition was also held on all India basis. The results shall be announced
later. - PACKS &
ALBUMS Indian Culture &
Heritage Natural Heritage of
Manipur & Tripura Migratory Birds Also available was an
Album with show logo on the cover for housing special covers, at Rs. 50. However
its six leaves are made of PVC that should never be used to store stamps for any
period. |