News : September 2016

Special Cover on 31st All India Postal Athletics & Cycling Tournament - 21st September 2016.

The 31st All India Postal Athletics & Cycling Tournament-2016 was held at Guru Nanak Stadium Ludhiana from 21.09.2016 to 23.09.2016. As many as 182 participants of 12 teams from different states, and Army Postal Services participated in 36 events. Athletic events were organized at Guru Nanak Stadium, and cycling competition at the velodrome of Punjab Agricultural University. Punjab Postal Circle issued two Special Covers to mark 31st All India Postal Athletics & Cycling Tournament- 2016 at Ludhiana on 21st September 2016 and 23rd September 2016 respectively.

Special Cover and cancellation issued on 21st September 2016 depicts Athletics & Cycling and logo.

Special Cover and cancellation issued on 23rd September 2016 depicts famous Clock Tower of Ludhiana popularly known as Ghanta Ghar. The Clock Tower was built in Ludhiana to emphasize the British rule in India and as a memorial to mark the silver jubilee of Queen Victoria’s leadership. The tower was designed by the then municipal chief engineer of Amritsar, John Gordon and construction began in year 1862. It was officially inaugurated in the year 1906 by Sir Charles Montgomery, the then Lt. Governor of Punjab along with Diwan Tek Chand, the then deputy commissioner of Ludhiana. Official Price per cover is Rs. 50 each.

Cover Courtesy: Suraj Jaitly, Ludhiana

Special Cover on 100 Years of Karur Vysya Bank - 10th September 2016.

Karur Vysya Bank, a leading private-sector bank in India and headquartered in Karur, Tamil Nadu, was set up in 1916 by M.A Venkatarama Chettiar and Athi Krishna Chettiar. Even as Karur Vysya Bank carries with it a tradition of 100 years, the Bank has, over the years, been adapting itself to meet the challenges of the changing scenario in the banking industry.

Karur Vysya Bank celebrated its centenary on 10th September, 2016. On the occasion a Special Cover was released by Dr. Charles Lobo, Chief Postmaster General, Tamilnadu Circle at Chennai, 10th September 2016.

Courtesy: Sreejesh Krishnan, Thiruvananthapuram

Special Cover on Conservation of Mahseer in Forested Rivers - 9th September 2016.

Since 2011 when Mahseer fish known as the tiger of the river or Tor Tor was declared as the Madhya Pradesh state fish, the forest department had been trying to conserve the species. Mahseer found extensively in the Narmada river, used to constitute 36% of the catch in 2011 but it has come down to just 3%. The Madhya Pradesh forest department is experimenting with artificial breeding of Mahseer fish at their newly developed conservation centre at Barwaha. While radio-collaring of tigers is now common, an atlas for the endangered state fish Mahseer (Tor tor) is being prepared in a first of its kind experiment in the country. The forest department has begun identifying the occurrence of Narmada Mahseer and is mapping them in protected areas with Global Information System (GIS) technology.

To commemorate conservation of Mahseer in Forested Rivers a Special Cover was released at Indore on 9th September 2016.

Special Cover on Silver Jubilee of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University - 8th September 2016.

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) is a dynamic institution of higher learning, set in a rural milieu of southern Tamil Nadu, with a campus spread of 550 acres. The University was established by the Government of Tamil Nadu as a teaching-cum-affiliating University on 7th September, 1990 to cater to the long-felt needs of the people of the three southern most districts of Tamil Nadu viz., Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, and Kanyakumari. It is named after the renowned Tamil Poet scholar, Professor P. Sundaram Pillai (1855-1897), the author of the famous verse drama Manonmaniam. It is his poem that has become “Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu” the official invocation song sung in all functions in Tamilnadu. Around 2400 students are studying in this institution directly. The University has under its jurisdiction 66 affiliated colleges, 6 University Colleges and 4 Constituent Colleges, with 73,000 students on the rolls. These colleges, amongst which three are over 100 years old viz., St. John’s College, M.D.T. Hindu College, and Sarah Tucker College the oldest women’s college in the state, have contributed decisively to the cause of higher education of this region.

On the occasion of Silver Jubilee of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University a Special Cover was released on 8th September 2016 at Tirunelveli.

Courtesy: Sreejesh Krishnan, Thiruvananthapuram

Special Cover on International Literacy Day - 8th September 2016.

8th September was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO on November 17, 1965. Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally. Celebrations take place around the world.

A Special Cover was released at Bengaluru on 8th September 2016 to commemorate International Literacy Day.

Courtesy: Suresh Rao, Bengaluru

Special Cover on K. C. Mammen Mappillai Trophy, Uthradam Thirunal Pamba Boat Race, Neerettupuram - 5th September 2016.

Kerala Postal Circle released a Special Cover on a moving snake boat on 5th September 2016 at Neerattupuram near Thiruvalla, Kerala to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the Uthradam Thirunal Neerattupuram Pamba Boat Race (1956-2016) for the K. C. Mammen Mappilai Trophy. The boat race is held on the river Pamba, at Neerattupuram in Central Travancore during the Onam season. Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma was the titular Maharaja of the princely state of the Travancore and K. C. Mammen Mappilai was the member of Sri Moolam Legislative assembly of Travncore and editor of the Malayala Manorama newspaper. Special Cover was released by Mr. A. Thomas Lourduraj, Director Postal Services (HQ), Kerala Postal Circle.

Courtesy: Sreejesh Krishnan, Thiruvananthapuram

Commemorative Stamp on Saint Teresa Canonization – 4th September 2016.

Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, (born 26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997) was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. She was born in Skopje (modern Republic of Macedonia), then part of the Kosovo Vilayet in the Ottoman Empire. After having lived in Macedonia for eighteen years, she moved to Ireland and then to India, where she lived for most of her life.

Mother Teresa established the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 with the mission of caring for the poor and the destitute. Today, the branches of Missionaries of Charity in several countries continue their service to humanity, reaching out to the needy, regardless of their religion or social status. Mother Teresa's work has been recognised and acclaimed throughout the world and she received numerous awards and distinctions, prominent among which were Padma Shree in 1962, the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971), the Nobel Peace Prize for humanitarian work in 1979 and the Bharat Ratna in 1980.

Mother Teresa has been declared a saint by Pope Francis on 4th September 2016 at a canonisation ceremony held in Vatican City. The canonization on 4th September comes on the eve of her 19th death anniversary. She will now be known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkata).

To celebrate the canonisation of Mother Teresa as a saint, Department of Posts released a commemorative stamp in form of Miniature Sheet in denomination of Rs. 50. Union Minister of State for Communications Shri Manoj Sinha unveiled the stamp at the function held at the Divine Child High School, Andheri, Mumbai in the presence of Chief Post Master General, Maharashtra circle, Bishop Agnelo Gracias, Sister Rubella, representing Missionaries of Charity and other dignitaries.

Special Cover on Sainthood of Mother Teresa of Calcutta - 1st September 2016.

Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, (born 26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997) was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. She was born in Skopje (modern Republic of Macedonia), then part of the Kosovo Vilayet in the Ottoman Empire. After having lived in Macedonia for eighteen years, she moved to Ireland and then to India, where she lived for most of her life. Mother Teresa has been declared a saint by Pope Francis on 4th September 2016 at a canonisation ceremony held in Vatican City.

To mark Mother Teresa's canonisation as a saint a Special Cover was released at Sahapur, Kolkata on 1st September 2016. It has a Rs 5 coin inserted on the cover which was minted in Kolkata in August 2010 on Mother Teresa's birth centenary.