President Kicked-off INDIPEX-2011, Khadi Stamp on Mahatma Gandhi released and president Received Inaugral Sheet of my Stamp

The President of India Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil inaugurated the World Philatelic Exhibition - INDIPEX 2011(from 12th feb- 18th feb) by issuing a special limited edition “Khadi” Stamp here. In her inaugural address, the President said that Stamps tell the story of their own evolution, as well as of important occurrences and personalities in the lives of nations, since they are a significant mode of commemorating, celebrating and promoting national heritage and events. Underlining the importance and role of stamps, the President said, “Stamps are usually printed on paper. For the first time in history, a special Khadi Stamp is being issued which is on Mahatma Gandhi, the Apostle of non-Violence.” She further said that letters by post have seen a decline. We should not lose the art of letter writing. While technological advancements may have provided many faster modes of communication, the intimacy of the letter and the legend of the stamp cannot be matched.

Earlier speaking on the occasion the Union Minister for communications and Information Technology Shri Kapil Sibal said that India Post is also celebrating the centenary of the World’s official airmail flight. On 18th February 1911, a French Pilot, Henri Pequet flew a small Sommer biplane carrying 6,500 letters from Allahabad to Naini. The Journey was brief and lasted just thirteen minutes. To commemorate the occasion a set of stamps on aero philately is being issued at Allahabad today. The historic flight is also being re-enacted, courtesy Indian Air Force, he added. Referring to “My Stamp”, the exciting offer at INDIPEX 2011, he said this customized and personalized stamp is being introduced by India Post for the first time. One can have photographs of oneself on a stamp sheet which can be used to send out greetings or preserved as a unique philatelic memento.

The Minister said that to commemorate INDIPEX 2011,India Post has brought out two sets of stamps in 2010,one on Heritage post Offices and one on old pre independence era stamps of India States. A set of six stamps on six legendry actresses of Indian Cinema will also be issued during this exhibition.

Secretary Department of Post Smt. Radhika Doraiswamy and other senior officers of the Department were also present.

Later Minister of State for C&IT Shri Gurudas Kamat presented gold plated ingot with various stamps embossed on it to the President. The other MoS Shri Sachin Pilot presented the first sheet of “My Stamp” to the President.

The aim of the exhibition is to promote philately and provide a forum for interaction between philatelic stakeholder’s viz. collectors, dealers, stamp designers and printers and postal administrations. The exhibition will showcase some of the best collection of stamps, stationary and philatelic literature from all over the world in different categories. There are 595 collectors from 70 countries who will be participating in the exhibition apart from 28 philatelic dealers and 31 postal administrations.

Among the rare stamps on display is the most expensive Indian stamp, the “Inverted Head Four Annas” issued in 1854.

INDIPEX 2011 has been organized by India Post at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 12th to 18th February, 2011 after a gap of thirteen years. It is being organized in collaboration with the Philatelic Congress of India under the auspices of the Federation Internationale de Philatelie and the Federation of Inter-Asian Philately. This is the sixth time that such an exhibition is being held in India. India first held such an exhibition in 1954 and the last one in 1997.

Press Information Bureau of India