Latest Indian Issue -- India Post Freighter

India Post launched country wide services using Air India Cargo Aircraft from 13  Sep 2009. India post has been given three Boeing 737-200 aircraft’s of the 1970’s Vintage to cover the North East. This may give good competition to international players like DHL, TNT ,FedEx etc

Hub at Nagpur

The three planes can together carry 40 tonnes of Mail which will be sorted at Nagpur Hub before being airlifted in AI cargo Freighter to the airport closest  to the destination of the Parcel.

The size of the domestic express delivery services is estimated at Rs 7000 crore by the Indian Council for research on International Economic relations.

Four Cargo Routes

Mumbai - Nagpur - Mumbai

Bangalore- Chennai- Nagpur - Chennai- Bangalore

Kolkata-Delhi-Nagpur- Delhi- Kolkata

Kolkata- Guwahati- Imphal- Agartala - Kolkata.

Date Of Issue:-12.10.2009.

Thanks to Mr.Vinod for Images

Latest Indian Issue -- D N Dalmia

Padma Bhushan Dr. Smt. Dinesh Nandini Dalmia’s personal and literary journey portrays a bold departure from the prevailing trend of her times. Her life story has a fictional aura which reflects brilliantly in her literary works.

Born in Udaipur, she started writing as Dinesh Nandini Chordia at the age of 13 to continue as Dinesh Nandini Dalmia after her marriage to Ram Krishna Dalmia the top industrial mogul of the country. In her early years, when her poem Niraash Aasha was published, it drew the attention of the then veterans Subhadra Kumari Chauhan and Mahadevi Verma. Her first book Shabnam made a deep impact and she was honored with the Sakseria Award. Several successful volumes of prose-poems later she ventured into the domains of poetry, short stories and novel writing and was honored at the end with the Padma Bhushan in 2006.

 

Date Of Issue:-11.10.2009.

Thanks to Mr.Vinod for Images

Latest Indian Issue -- R.K.Narayan

R. K. Narayan-shortened from Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami at the behest of his close friend and admirer Gram Greene, was one of India’s greatest English language novelists, known for his works based in the fictional town of Malgudi.

Born on 10th October 1906 in Madras (now Chennai), Kunjappa, as was affectionately called.one of the finest Indian authors of his generation writing in English.His first novel, Swami and Friends (1935), is an episodic narrative recounting the adventures of a group of schoolboys. That book and much of Narayan’s later works are set in the fictitious South IndianIndian daily life, in which modern urban existence clashes with ancient tradition. His style is graceful, marked by genial humour, elegance, and simplicity. town of Malgudi.Narayan typically portrays the peculiarities of human relationships and the ironies of

R.K Narayan received several awards and accolades for his work.He was awarded Padma Vibushan in 2000.R.K.Narayan died on 13th May 2001.

Date of Issue : 10-10-09

Thanks to Mr.Vinod for Images

Latest Indian Issue -- Jeanne Jugan-Little Sisters of the Poor

Jeanne Jugan is the foundress and first Little Sister of the Poor. On October 11, 2009 she will be canonized a Saint by Pope Benedict XVI.

Jeanne Jugan gave herself entirely to God and the elderly poor. As our aging population continues to grow and dignity at the end of life is increasingly threatened, Jeanne Jugan offers herself as a friend and patron of the elderly. She is a Saint for old age.

• Jeanne is a Saint for every age as she challenges young people to give themselves to God and neighbor.
• She is a role model for those who care for the poor, the sick and the aging.
• To those who feel anxious in these tough economic times, she offers an invitation to live the Beatitudes, trusting that God will provide.
• She challenges all of us to do everything through love.

 Date of Issue : 29-10-09

Thanks to Mr.Vinod and R.Suresh for Images

Latest Indian Issue -- Danmal Mathur

Shri Danmal was born on 14th March 1904 in a modest home in ‘Bhata Gavari’ in Kayastha Mohalla, Aimer.His father, Munshi Kanmal Mathur, employed by the Kotah State in 1894 as ‘Motamid’ (Housemaster) of Kotah House in Mayo College.And he was a disciplinarian!Without doubt Danmalji’ s formative years and personality were greatly influenced by his father.

On 25th Feb., 1916 (when he was only 12) Danmalji was married to Roop Kanwar, daughter of Shri Devi Dayal Mathur of Kharwa.The adage ‘Behind every successful man is a woman’ is exemplified in its entirety by the support Shri Danmal received from his wife who managed the house-hold and brought up a large family, allowing her husband time to give to the innumerable professional, philanthropic, societal and other commitments he was destined to be a part of.

He passed his B.Sc. examination from Government College, Ajmer in 1927 where he was appointed ‘Demonstrator’ in Physics. He was HOD and Vice Principal Mayo College.
In 1952 Shri Danmal was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship to the USA where he impressed the various forums he addressed, by his views on Education and his expositions on Indian culture and religion.
In the same year Shri Danmal was awarded the ‘International Service Star’ for his valuable services by Lord Mountbatten of Burma and Chief Scout of India.

In 1947 Shri Danmal accompanied the Indian Scouts contingent as a senior member to Paris at the international Scouts Jamboree.

Shri Danmal started scouting in the Railways at the Mt. Abu camp in 1948.

In his quest to spread the message of scouting, dynamic Shri Danmal also took a contingent of scouts to Japan in 1953.

When Ajmer was merged with Rajasthan in 1956 Shri Danmal was appointed Divisional Secretary and later Commissioner of Rajasthan State Scouts and Guides.It was because of his efforts in persuading the Government that a 17 acre permanent scouts campsite was set up at Pushkar Ghati, and land was allotted for setting up the Divisional Headquarters for Scouts in ‘Tope Dara’ in Ajmer.For his contribution to Scouting the National Headquarters of Bharat Scouts and Guides honoured him by decorating him first with the ‘Silver Star’ and subsequently, in 1970, with the ‘Silver Elephant’ the highest award in Scouting in India.

Subsequently, he played cricket for Rajputana and was in the team which played against the M.C.C. when it toured India and Australia in the thirties.

Date of Issue :  07.11.2009

Thanks  to Mr.Vinod for Images

Latest Indian Issue -- Virchand Raghavji Gandhi

Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi-He was the first Jain to travel outside India to participate in the first Parliament of World Religions held in Chicago in 1893 on recommendation of Acharya Vijayandsuri. The second Parliament was also held in Chicago in 1993 to which the Institute had led a Jain delegation.

Virchand Gandhi was a young barrister, great exponent of Indian culture-religions, a multilingual person having learnt 14 languages, secretary of Jain Association of India, Mumbai. He was well-versed in Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Western philosophies, Yoga, etc.

Its note worthy that he had become first Hon. Secretary of Jain Association of India in 1885, at a very young age of 21,

VRG and Swami Vivekananda sailed at the same time to participate at the Parliament with same goals; both personalities wearing traditional turbans, made tremendous appearance and had claimed equal attention at the Congress for awakening the western world of the spiritual heritage and rich past history of India.
1893, World Religions parliament was held at the Columbus Hall of Art Institute of Chicago with more than 3000 delegates of different nations and religions.

VRG, at the Parliament of World Religions conveyed, “You have heard so many speeches from eloquent members, and I shall speak later on at some length. I will, at present, only offer on behalf of my community and their high priest, Muni Atmaramji, whom I represent here.,Our sincere thanks for the kind welcome you have given us.

Date of Issue : 08.11.2009

Thanks to Mr.Vinod for Images

India- Horses Issue

 

                                                 A set of 4 stamps on horses Of India was released by Smt Radhika Doraiswamy, Secretary, India Post in Ahmedabad on 9th, November, 2009.

Kathiawari Horse-

The Kathiawari is fairly small and fine featured, light built, but still strong and sturdy horse built much like itsArabian ancestors. They have long backs, sloping shoulders, slender necks and refined faces and a naturally high set tail. Their movement is fairly smooth, as many have the natural ability to pace.In the 17th and 18th centuries, the princely family of various States of Kathiawad, have evolved this ‘Kathiawadi’ breed by breeding the indigenous stock with the ‘Arab’ stallions to fulfill their sporty needs. Some State of old Kathiawad province took special interest and care in the development of this breed and due to their sustained efforts, present Kahtiawadi breed of horse has been developed.

The Kathiawari horse looks like an Arabian, but has curving ears that touch and are extremely movable. The most prominent body colour in KATHIAWARI horses is chestnut followed by bay (body chestnut, Foreleg up to knee and fetlock are black, KATHIAWARI black, Hairs of tail and neck are black), gray (complete white colour) and dun (light chestnut). The physical characteristics of KATHIAWARI horses are concave profile, long neck, short leg and squared quarters. Face is dry and short, triangular from pale to forehead and small muzzle, big nostrils, edge of nostril is thin; small, fine and curved upright ears on 90 degrees axis that can touch and rotate at 180 degrees , broad forehead and large expressive sensitive eyes. Tail is long, not bushy, curved well and touching to the ground, foot round and broad. These horses are friendly, compliant, and smart. The Kathiawari Horses today are used in India’s police force.

Marwari Horses-

This breed is derived fits name from its habitat: Marwar region of the Rajasthan . The Marwari horses are reared mainly for riding and sports and no attempts are being made to prepare them as thoroughbred race animals. The predominant body colour is brown where as other body colours are roan, chestnut, white and black with white patches. The Marwari horses have 130-140 cm long body, 152-160 cm height. The Marwari horses are longer and taller than Kathiawari horses.

 

Manipur Horses:-

Manipuri breed of ponies is one of the purest and prestigious breed of equines of India. It is a strong and hardy breed and has very good adaptability to extreme geo-climatic conditions. It is one of the well-known breeds of India and has been claimed as the oldest polo pony. They are found in Manipur and Assam, and are similar to the south-east Asian type pony.  Mane is generally coarse and upright. It has small pointed pricked ears, eyes are alert and slightly slant .The area between the nostrils is flat not crispy. Withers are not prominent. Face is concave and tail is well set and commensurate with height. Manipuri ponies are intelligent and extremely tough, and have tremendous endurance. Perhaps all these good qualities made it suitable for polo game for which it is globally famous.

 

Zanskari:-

Zanskari horses are bred in the high altitude Zanskar region of Ladakh in eastern Jammu and Kashmir State of India. Physique of this horse is very similar to the Spiti pony but are more adaptable for higher altitude where they are used as work horses.

The predominant body colour is gray followed by black and copper. The horses are known for their ability to work, run adequately and carry loads at high altitude. Horses are medium in size, well built and 120 to 140 cm high. The Zanskari horses have predominant eyes, heavy and long tail and uniform gait. The body hairs are fine, long and glossy. Only a few hundred horses at present exist in the Zanskar and other valleys of Laddakh. The Animal Husbandry Department, Jammu and Kashmir has recently established a Zanskari horse Breeding farm at Leh for breed improvement and conservation through selective breeding.

 Thanks to Mr.Vinod for Images.