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Book Review: India's Special Edition Stamps
In slightly over a hundred pages with over six-hundred stamps, the reader is deftly whisked away into the annals of history. Stamps are curated and accompanied with brief descriptions that tell a larger story.
Book Cover /
“Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action; into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake.”
These words, immortalized by the great Indian poet and Nobel laureate—Rabindranath Tagore, capture the spirit that has shaped the incredible Republic of India. But for a country of such immense diversity and immeasurable history it has been a journey difficult to visualize. Until now.
When the late Mr. Sukumar Chaudhuri passed away, he left behind a wonderful collection of postage stamps of India. His sister, Dr. Sulekha Chaudhuri, with encouragement from her well-wishers, decided to publish it as a book. The stamps not only tell the story of a nation coming of age since its independence, but also of a collector’s lifelong passion for his roots, and his sister’s steadfast determination in celebrating his work and memory.
In slightly over a hundred pages with over six-hundred stamps, the reader is deftly whisked away into the annals of history. Stamps are curated and accompanied with brief descriptions that tell a larger story.
The early pages show a young India proud of its heritage. India had won its freedom from the British Raj after a long and complex struggle. Innumerable intellectuals, freedom-fighters, and martyrs served the cause.
A national identity symbolizing unity in diversity comes alive in the icons of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sarojini Naidu and Maulana Azad, just to name a few. Due homage is paid to many such revered historical figures including the father of the nation—Mahatma Gandhi.
The vastness of India’s tradition and culture is revealed throughout the collection. Starting with the Ashoka Pillar, the official emblem of India, there is no dearth of symbols and sites of great renown.
Combing the length and breadth of the country, from the temple of Bhuvanesvara to the Parliament house in New Delhi, the architecture of India displays its enduring values. And as a nation of many faiths its values run deeper than its monuments. Several spiritual and religious figures are celebrated all the way back to the enlightened Buddha.
India has enjoyed a deep legacy in the arts and intellectualism. Many a great poets, thinkers and scientists were proud to call it home. Saint Kabir—the beloved poet, Dr. Ambedkar—who shaped the supreme law of the land, and Ramanujan—mathematician extraordinaire; all find a place to grace the pages in the book.
But India has never limited its appreciation to within its borders. Equally respected are the contributions of Madam Curie, Dr. Martin Luther King, and the legendary Charlie Chaplin in the collection, amongst others.
As the nation grew, so did its aspirations. Year by year, one can see reflections of modernity in various spheres. Aviation, factories, atomic energy, and the first space satellite launch demonstrate the ambitions of a capable nation. Modernizing currency to the decimal system shows its economic evolution. And an inclusion of sports rounds it up nicely. However, while simultaneously shooting for the stars, one can see the grounded appreciation of nature as reflected in the representations of indigenous wildlife.
Progress is inevitable. A great part of Indian culture is to never forget its roots. It is only fitting, therefore, that notable mention is due for stamps commemorating India’s membership in the Universal Postal Union in the late nineteenth century, a most delightful inclusion.
The book is now available on Amazon.
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Comments
Sulekha Chaudhuri
2023-11-04 00:00:00
The articles looses the importance of reading with focus when you post so many ads in between. It is very annoying. Dr. Sulekha Chaudhuri