THE FILA CAPSULE

A Bi-monthly EIPA Bulletin

For Private Circulation to Members only
Bhubaneswar

Vol.3 No.3 May-June, 2008 Bimonthly

A Decade of Achievement Salute to Sam Bahadur
The Eastern India Philatelists’ Association has just com-
pleted 10 years of its foundation. It has started with four
members at the beginning and now becoming the big-
gest philatelic organisation in Orissa having more than
100 members including 90 life members from Orissa,
Kolkata, Shimla, Bihar, Gwalior, etc. It has rendered valu-
able 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 promo-
tion of philately in Orissa even in adverse climatic condi-
tions. The impact has resulted the joining of more and Field Marshal S.H.F.J. Manekshaw passed away
more philatelists to our Association. from different parts on 27.06.2008. He was the first officer to get to the
of our state including the KBK districts which were highest rank of Field Marshall of the Indian Army.
treated to the economically backward districts of Orissa. In the history of Indian military forces, he was only
followed by Field Marshall Cariappa to the same
The members of EIPA has also won several medals in the rank. With a glorious military service spanning four
National and International philatelic exhibitions which decades and five wars, the name of Field Marshall
has brought laurel to our State. We are proud of our S.H.F.J. Manekshaw will be written in golden letters
members for their sincere and dedicated support to roll
in the sepia pages of military history. He led India
the wheel ahead.
to victory in the Indo-Pak war in 1971. For his
It was another mile stone when the Association issued selfless service to the motherland, Shri Manekshaw
the bimonthly philatelic bulletin in the name of Fila Cap- was bestowed with the honorary rank of Field
sule with effect from January, 2006. This bulletin is sent Marshall in 1973. We, the members of Eastern India
free of cost to the registered philatelic organisations in Philatelists’ Association salute to our national hero
India for the promotion of philately and better exchange for his dedicated service to our nation. We request
of views with each other. The response of our esteem the Department of Posts to issue a commemorative
readers are overwhelming and became a source of inspi- stamp on him which will be the best tribute to him.
ration to maintain the quality of our bulletin. Our aim is
to convert this bulletin to a journal in future. We are also In view of the overwhelming popularity of our bi-
trying to bring the facts of this bulletin on the web so monthly philatelic bulletin “Fila Capsule”, we are
that more and more philatelists can reach us and be ben- pleased to add two more pages to our bulletin from
efited to mount their knowledge. this issue onwards. Hence the number of pages of
our bulletin will be 12 pages instead of 10 pages to
We are very much thankful to the organisations, philat-
accommodate more information and varieties for
elists and Department of Posts for their support and help
for the last 10 years and helped us to cover the long our esteem readers.
distance and also we sought their similar co-operation
in future. Very shortly our readers can also log on to “http://
-A.K Dash, filacapsule.blogspot.com/” to get the informations
Editor on EIPA and the bulletin,which will be ready soon.
21 May-June
 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
h a s he was supposed to have
supported
r u r a l
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”.
22
The Aga Khan Foundation has completed 30 years
of an extremely philanthropic and purposeful
existence in India.
Credits:
Text: Based on Material provided by the
proponent
Stamp & FDC: Brahm Prakash
Cancellation: Alka Sharma
TECHNICAL DATA
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
‘e1,shrouded in
contradictions and mystery.
It is stated that he was born
of Brahmin parents in the
Nizam’s state. In infancy
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
May-June
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.
Credits:
Text: Taken from website dedicated to Shri Shirdi
Sai Baba.
Stamp & FDC: C.R. Pakrashi
Cancellation: Alka Sharma
TECHNICAL DATA
Date of Issue: 20-5-2008
Denomination: 500p
Stamps Printed: 0.4 Million
Printing Process: Photogravere
Printer: India Security Press,
Rajesh Pilot
Shri Rajesh Pilot wasBorn 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
23
(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.
Credits:
Text: Based on material given by the proponent.
Stamp & FDC: Brahma Prakash
Cancellation: Alka Sharma
TECHNICAL DATA
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
May-June
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.
Credits:
Text: based on material provided by the proponent.
Stamp & FDC: Sankha Samanta
Cancellation: Alka Sharma
TECHNICAL DATA
Date of Issue: 12.06.2008
Denomination: 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
24
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.
Credits:
May-June
Text: As per the material provided by the
proponent.
Stamp & FDC: Brahma Prakash
Cancellation: Alka Sharma
TECHNICAL DATA
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.
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.
First anniversary of Independence Mahatma Gandhi
memorial stamps
25
Three low values in block of four with Delhi, JAIHIND
cancellation dated 15TH August 1948
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
May-June
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 su-
perb O.G., complete mint set of India 1948 ‘SER-
VICE’ 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 pros-
pecting buyer. At the present juncture demand is
more and supply is less. Accordingly the market
price is increasing as per the demand of the collec-
tors. 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.
26
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 Bachchan is considered a
matter of pride and a 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
May-June
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 :
27
Santosh Kumar Lahoti,
Autograph Collectors Club of India,
“Shree Sadan”, 26, P K Tagore Street,
Kolkata-700 006
Phones : 033 2543 6471/2530 5293,
Cell : 93310 12533
Email : sklahoti@vsnl.net ; Website:
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 Cochin
Large 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 - 1873
Silver Medal: Madhukar Jhingan’s Indian Internal
Airmails 1911 - 1938
Silver 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 Au-
gust 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 Olym-
pic Games 2008 in order to promote Olympic spirit,
spread Olympic concept and carry Olympic cul-
ture forward.The aim of the show is to display
Olympic history and development through philately
May-June
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 phila-
telic 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 mem-
bers of EIPA and other senior philatelists having
award winning exhibits will be exhibited in the ex-
hibition by invitation only. All the participants will
be honoured with a certificate of participation with
a memento/commemorative medal. The participa-
tion fees has been tentatively fixed to be Rs.100/- Orissa Philatelists & Numismatists Association,
per frame. A special souvenir will also be released Cuttack released 2 maxim cards one for each value
for the purpose if possible. It has also been de- of the Jasmine set. The cards priced at Rs 30 each.
cided to issue a special cover to mark the occa- Similarly they have also issued a maxim card for
sion, the theme of the issue to be decided later. Shiridi Sai Baba issue, priced at Rs 30. For further
There will be provisions for dealers booths, but detail contact upna2006@gmail.com.
limited in number which will be free of charge and
will be booked on first cum first served basis. The The Orissa Philatelic Association , Cuttack, has
final decision will be taken in the meeting to be issued a stamp booklet for Sai Baba issue priced at
held during July, 08. Rs 50.

Philatelic workshop, quiz contest and stamp design

contests will be organised among the school stu-
dents during the exhibition.

NEW MAXIMCARDS AND BOOKLET

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
14-05-08

28 May-June
“I have gone through the recent issue of Fila Regular Pre-mature Issues
Capsule. It is full of updated information with nicely Pre mature issue of stamps in India has become a
placed images. I am pleased to receive it regularly regular feature. Recently stamps of two more is-
without any delay. Its a great pleasure for philatelist sues are openly available in the market.
community that Philatelic newsletters from Orissa,
Gujrat, Punjab and Delhi are published regularly The sheetlets of India’s first hexagonal stamps
and timely. It shows the active interest of philatelists depicting Aldabra giant tortoise are available in
in our country.If all of us take this responsibility, the market. These stamps are yet to be officially
we will be able to promote this hobby to some released for sale by India Post.
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
16-05-08

“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
17-05-08

“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 Similaly the stamp on Sheik
bulletin. I hope you can understand my view. No Thambi Pavalar is also openly
doubt it is very much difficult to get articles from available in the market. Mr
Senior Indian Philatelists - who will not think to write madhukar Jhingan has laready
for upcoming generation, some who can write, started putting all these
prefer to give the same to magazines in overseas, premature stamps in separate
as they think Indian magazines have not so much website which can be seen by
scope, for their appreciation. Even general collectors browsing the website of stamps
like to criticize and write much more on their of India news letter http://
exhibits, but afraid to discuss ‘What to include or w w w. s t a m p s o f i n d i a . c o m /
not in their collections’ or How to increase marking premature.htm
in their exhibits etc. Wish you all the best for
future.” Rathyatra Pictorial cancellation
The Department of Posts, Orissa Circle has issued
-Suraj Jaitly special pictorial postmarks on Rath Yatra of Lord
Indian Thematic Society, Ludhiana Jagannath to be held from 04.07.08. These post
22-05-08 marks are given to all out going articles from

29 May-June
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 quanti-
ties 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 feel-
ing and experience that there will be heavy de-
mand of the stamp. In spite of this fact the Depart-
ment 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
30
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.
1. The Philately Advisory Committee, PAC
should have a survey on the issue about their de-
mand in the market.
2. Basing on the demand and requirement the
PAC should recommend for issue of specific num-
ber of stamps for that issue.
3. 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.
4. 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 ben-
efitted.
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 quanti-
ties 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 per-
sonnels 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 fre-
quently and are openly sold on auction on differ-
ent 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
May-June
raised by several Philatelists, Editors in several being delivered both locally and
news letters, without having any result thereof. internationally.

Earlier the stamps are pre issued due to commu- The sea is such an important part
of life in Vanuatu so in addition
nication gap between the Head quarters and the
to opening the worlds only
issuing authorities at the root level. There was a
Underwater Post Office,
specific date of issue which is postponed at the Vanuatu Post has issued a new
last moment resulting pre issue of stamps of that stamp issue and minisheet
issue. But now a days when there is no date of featuring snorkelling. This
issue or any stamp issue programme how these stamp issue follows the
stamps are coming out of Treasury. Hence the extremely popular eco-tourism stamp issue that
Department of Post should take drastic steps featured many of the adventure, culture, nature,
against the persons who are responsible for their sport and community activities available in Vanuatu.
gross negligence.
Vanuatu Post encourages
visitors to literally look below
If the Department is unable to handle these prob-
the surface of this beautiful
lems, then , it is better to assign these works to
country and grab a mask, fins
Private parties/ organisations interested, who can and snorkel, and visit the
organise the things in a better and disciplined Underwater Post Office. They
manner. guarantee you will discover
unlimited fun and unforgettable
World’s Only Underwater Post Office adventures!
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
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 phi-
lately. 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 infor-
mation on philately so that it can help the other phi-
latelists to share their knowledge. They should send
their articles in both hard copy as well as in soft
copy by floppy or CD to the editor or may e-mail to
any of the following email IDs
“eipaorissa@yahoo.co.in” or
“akdash2000@yahoo.com” so that it will be easier
to edit and publish them in this bulletin.

31 May-June
 OUR NEW MEMBER OUR TRIBUTES
The following new member joined to our EIPA family The members of EIPA express their heartfelt
during May-June,2008. condolences to the sad demise of two senior persons
related to our EIPA family.
Dr Bibhudatta Mishra,
CIFA,Kausalyaganga, Dr. Bichitra Nanda Sinha, Ex Professor and Head
Bhubaneswar-751002 of Dept of Geography, Utkal University, Vani Vihar,
Email:bhanubibhu@rediffmail.com Bhubaneswar and father of our senior Philatelist
Mobile-0437282638 Mr. Bijoy Kumar Sinha, passed away on 28.05.08
Membership No. LM-21 early morning at his Sahid Nagar residence. He was
82. He was popular for his sgnificant contribution in
Philatelic Interest: Aquatic Fish, plants, animals the field of Geography.
& birds.
Shri Gangadhar Das father of our
senior Philatelist Mr. Prasant Kumar
Mr. Santosh Kumar Lahoti, Das passed away on 22.06.08 at
Autograph Collectors Club of his Cuttack residence at the age of
India, Shree Sadan, 85.He was working in the Civil
26, P.K. Tagore Street, Supply Deparment for a long time.
KOLKATA-700006
Ph. 033-25436471 Let their souls remain in peace.
e-mail- sklahoti@hotmail.com

Membership No. Annual Member-08-09 The monthly meeting of EIPA is held on every
third Sunday at plot No. A/117, Press Colony,
Philatelic Interest: Autographs on FDC, Special Kharavela Nagar, Bhubaneswar-751001 from
Cover, Philatelic items 5.00 PM to 7.00 PM.

A bi-monthly news bulletin of Eastern India Philatelists’ Association.

(For free circulation among members only)
Edited by Mr. Ajit Kumar Dash, D-13/6, Rental Colony, IRC Village, Bhubaneswar-751015, Orissa.

PRINTED MATTER
BOOK POST
To

Mr........................................................................

.............................................................................

.............................................................................

If undelivered please return to :

Eastern India Philatelists’ Association,
D-13/6, Rental Colony, IRC Village,
Bhubaneswar-751015, Orissa.
Phone-0674-2553330, mobile-09437162474.

32 May-June