Bankim Chandra Chatterjee 1969 India Stamp

Rembering the Author of Vande Mataram, the national song of India Bankim Chandra Chatterjee also known as Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was one of the greatest novelists and poets of India. He is famous as author of Vande Mataram, the national song of India. 

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was born on June 27, 1838 in the village Kantalpara of the 24 Paraganas District of Bengal. He belonged to a family of Brahmins. The word 'Bankim Chandra' in Bengali means 'the moon on the second day of the bright fortnight'. Bankim Chandra's father Yadav Chandra Chattopadhyaya was in government service.

After his birth he was posted to Midnapur as Deputy Collector. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee had his early education in Midnapur. He was a brilliant student. After his early education in Midnapur Bankim Chandra Chatterji joined the Mohsin College at Hoogly and studied there for six years. Apart from his textbooks, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, used to read other books in his leisure time.

He was very much interested in the study of Sanskrit. His study of Sanskrit stood him in good stead. Later, when he wrote books in Bengali his knowledge of Sanskrit helped him immensely. 

In 1856, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee joined the Presidency College in Calcutta. In 1857, there was a strong revolt against the rule of East India Company but Bankim Chandra Chatterjee continued his studies and passed his B.A. Examination in 1859. The Lieutenant Governor of Calcutta appointed Bankim Chandra Chatterjee as Deputy Collector in the same year.

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was in Government service for thirty-two years and retired in 1891. He was a very conscientious worker.

 Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was married when he was only eleven . At that time his wife was only five years old. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was only twenty two when his wife died. After some time he married again. His second wife was Rajlakshmi Devi. They had three daughters but no son. 

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee began his literary career as a writer of verse. He then turned to fiction. Durgeshnandini, his first Bengali romance, was published in 1865.

*Bankim Chandra Chatterjee most famous novel was Anand Math (1882). Anand Math contained the song "Bande Mataram", which was later adopted as National Song.*

 Bankim Chandra Chatterjee wanted to bring about a cultural revival of Bengal by stimulating the intellect of the Bengali speaking people through literary campaign. With this end in view he brought out monthly magazine called Bangadarshan in 1872. 

Bankim Chatterjee was superb story-teller, and a master of romance. No Bengali writer before or since has enjoyed such spontaneous and universal popularity as Chatterjee. His novels have been translated in almost all the major languages of India. *He breathed his last  on April 8, 1894 at age  55*

Department of Posts  released a commemorative postage stamp In memory of this great writer and patriot  Bankim Chatterjee ji

Issued Date : 01/01/1969
Denomination : 20 Paise

Vande Mataram 🇮🇳

Rafi Ahmed Kidwai 1969 India Stamp

Rafi Ahmed Kidwai – he was one of the most respected freedom fighters, an able and respected leader who had shown exemplary man management and problem-solving skills during his tenure when he was a communications minister and also served as the Food and Agriculture minister.
During his time as minister, he was widely credited in bringing about worthy initiatives and implementation of laws.

Rafi Ahmed Kidwai was born on February 18, 1894, in the village of Masauli in Barabanki District of Uttar Pradesh to a middle class zamindar family. His father, Imtiaz Ali Kidwai was a zamindar and a government servant by profession.

In 1916, Kidwai enrolled into the Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh to pursue his graduation. It was in the December of 1916 that his uncle made sure he participated in the historic session of the Congress party and the Muslim League party held at Lucknow.  In 1918, he successfully completed his B.A degree.

In 1920, Kidwai became an active force behind the Khilafat Movement and the Non-Cooperation Movement when he was jailed for the same. In 1922, he moved to Allahabad after being released from jail and served as the private secretary to Motilal Nehru. In 1926, Kidwai was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly of the British India and thus he became one of the pivotal figure of the freedom movement,

After independence, Kidwai became India’s first Minister for Communication in Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet. Kidwai, along with Abul Kalam Azad, were the two Muslims in Nehru’s central cabinet. *He  launched night air mail service as a minister for communications*. After the first general elections in 1952, Kidwai was entrusted with the food and agriculture portfolio.

The Logical Indian lauds Mr. Kidwai for his immense contribution to the country. Kidwai’s love for the country and commitment and desire to oust the British was firm. Kidwai, through his policies and politics, pre and post independence, has occupied a special place in the history and hearts of India and Indians.

*The Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award was created in 1956 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research  (ICAR) in 1956 to recognize Indian researchers in the agricultural field. Awards are distributed every second year, and take the form of medals, citations, and cash prizes*.

*In Nov 2011, Government of India decided to rename the Postal Staff College, Ghaziabad after him as Rafi Ahmed Kidwai National Postal Academy*

*Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology is named after him.He played a major role in donating 20 acres of the Campus land and Rs. 100,000 for the Radiotherapy  machine*.

The  Department of Posts released commemorative postage stamp on Shri Rafi Ahmed  Kidwai & Mail Plane 20th Anniversary of "ALL-UP" Air Mail Scheme

The  design  of the  stamp  depicts  a portrait  of  shri  Rafi  Ahmed  Kidwai  at the  right  side  corner  aeroplane fling to  indicate  the  the  Night Air  Mail  service which  was  introduced  by him in 1949

Issued Date : 01.04.1969
Denomination : 20paise

Dr Zakir Hussain 1969 India stamps

Dr Zakir Hussain was the third President of India from May 13, 1967 until his death,  was born at Hyderabad State, British India [now in Telangana, India] he came of a Pathan family of the upper middle-class, settled at Qaunganj in the District of Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh. His father, Fida Hussain Khan, went to Hyderabad, studied Law and had a most successful career. Unfortunately, he died when Dr. Zakir Hussain was only ten years old.

Hussain went for higher education to Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental College (now Aligarh Muslim University). He was known even in those days for his love of knowledge, his wit and eloquence and his readiness to help his fellow students.

Zakir Hussain, then only 23 and a student of the M.A. class, was among the small group of students and teachers who decided to establish a National Muslim University by the name of Jamia Millia Islamia.

Zakir Hussain's unceasing quest for knowledge also took him to Germany in the 1920's. During his three year stay there, he acquired a deep love for European art and literature on music and he also got a Doctorate from the University of Berlin in Economics.

In November 1948, Dr. Zakir Hussain was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University. He was also nominated a member of the Indian Universities Commission. The World University Service made him the Chairman of the Indian National Committee and in 1954 he was elected the World President of the organization. He was also nominated to the Rajya Sabha and made the Indian representative on the Executive Board of the UNESCO from 1956 to 1958. He remained the Chairman, Central Board of Secondary Education, till 1957, a member of the University Grants Commission till 1957, a member of the University Education Commission in 1948-1949 and of the Educational Reorganisation Committee of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Dr. Zakir Hussain was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1954 and Bharat Ratna in 1963. He was awarded D.Litt. (Honoris Causa) by the Universities of Delhi, Calcutta, Aligarh, Allahabad and Cairo. After serving as the Vice President for a term of five years, Dr. Zakir Hussain was elected President of India on May 13, 1967. In his deeply moving inaugural speech he said that the whole of India was his home and all its people were his family. 

“Among the galaxy of luminous stars that have shed their radiance on the firmament of our national life, Dr. Zakir Husain occupies a pride of place. Moulded in the great traditions set before us by the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, Zakir Saheb was the embodiment of all-pervading humanism. In him, the nation found a true and living symbol of our composite culture. He adorned many a position with distinction, dignity and decorum.

He has been a shining example of erudition, dignity, nobility and humility. In his sudden demise the Nation has lost a leader of high intellectual and moral eminence. May his memory remain ever green with us as an example of lofty ideals and gentle behaviour.“

The  Department of  Posts  offer its humble homage and tribute to a great patriot, by issuing commemorative  postage stamp in honour of the late Dr. Zakir Husain,

Issued  Date : 11.01.1969
Denomination : 20  Paise

Mirza Ghalib 1969 India

Mirza Ghalib was One of the best-known Urdu poets of all times, Mirza Ghalib is a name that is synonymous with Urdu poetry. Born Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan, *Ghalib* was a pen name he adopted. It is like a pseudonym that most poets and writers adopt in the literary world. The life history of Ghalib is truly interesting and indeed makes a good read. Ghalib was born in Agra, India in Turkish aristocratic ancestry on 27th December 1796. Not much is known about Ghalib's education and it has always confused scholars, as there are no written records of his formal education and early life. However, it is said that his friends were some of the most respected and intelligent people of Delhi.

Ghalib got married at a very young age in a noble family around the year 1810. It is said that Ghalib had seven children, but sadly none of them survived. This pain has found its way into his poetry. His spouse was a contrasting personality when compared to him. She was a god fearing and a very reserved person as compared to Ghalib, who was a carefree and unrestricted person. 

It is said that Ghalib had a weakness for drinking and gambling. These two vices were something that he was truly fond of in his lifetime. Though gambling was considered an offence at that time, Ghalib never seemed to have bothered about it. He himself said that he was not a strict Muslim in the true sense of the term.

Ghalib also had a scandalous affair with a courtesan who was a fan of his poetry. In fact, one can find a record of an FIR filed against Ghalib in a police station in Delhi regarding his affair with the woman. Ghalib never strived for earning a decent livelihood and led his life on the generosity of his friends or state sponsorship. Though no one gave him due importance then, fame came much later. Today, he is the most written about poet and the most read poet in Urdu. On February 15th 1869, this great poet breathed his last.

Ghalib was one of the important court poets in the court of Bahadur Shah Zafar II. He honored Ghalib with the royal titles of *Dabber-ul-Mulk and Najm-ud-daulah*. These titles ensured Ghalibs entery into the nobility of Delhi. He suffixed his name with Mirza after Ghalib because of another title that the emperor added to his honor, Mirza Nosha. Bahadur Shah Zafar was a great poet himself and was very interested in writing and reciting poetry. Therefore at first, he was tutored by Ghalib in the year of 1854 and then Zafar invited him to sit in his court as an honorable court poet. He also tutored Bahadur Shah Zafar IIs eldested son Fakhr-ud-Din. Ghalib was also the royal historian in the court of Zafar. 

It is said that Ghalib was inclined towards poetry since his early years and he wrote him poem for the first time when he was only 11. He knew many languages like Urdu, Persian and Turkish. There was a time in the life of Ghalib, when he was in his young age, when a traveler came from Iran to stay in Agra. This traveler was called Abdus Samad and he stayed with Ghalib and his family for 2 years. During this time, it is presumed that, Ghalib learnt many things from him like: Persian and Arabic language, logic, philosophy, etc. as this traveler was a very learned man. Ghalib liked his work in the Persian language, but his most famous work is in Urdu. A lot many Urdu poets elucidated Ghalib. The first person to elucidate Ghalibs Urdu poetry was Ali Haider Tabatabai from Hyderabad. His poetries did not only depicted his failed loved and its agony but also the philosophy of life and world and the mysticism. 

His poetry is said to have a muddled description of his lover, which is considered to be the most beautiful part of his poetries. Instead of having a definite lover, he depicts an idea of the lover which takes the realism part of the writing away, which essentially gave Ghalib the independence of the idea and expression. He could express his anguish in bigger depths because he made his lover in his poetry less important than the feelings and emotions. His poetry has been translated into English language as well. This was first done by Sarfaraz K. Niazi in India by the publication company calle Rupa & Co and in Pakistan by a company called Ferozsons. This book was called the Love Sonnets of Ghalib and had Roman transliteration alongside English language translation. His poems are considered to be the poems about love and not the love poems

Then  the Indian  Posts & Telegraphs  Department paid it's  homage  to this  distinguished  poet  by issuing  a commemorative  postage stamp in his  honour.

Issued Date  17. 02.1969
Denomination : 20 Paisa

Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar India 1969

Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar, popularly known as Thakkar Bapa was born at Bhavnagar, Gujarat. "Bapa" in Gujarati means Father in English. He was an Indian social worker who worked for upliftment of tribal people in Gujarat state in India. He became a member of the Servants of India Society founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1914.

In 1922, he founded the Bhil Seva Mandal. Later, he became the general secretary of the Harijan Sevak Sangh founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 . The Bharatiya Adimjati Sevak Sanghwas founded on the 24 October 1948 on his initiative.

 When Indian constitution was in process, Thakkarbapa visited remotest and most difficult parts of India and conducted probe into the situation of tribal and Harijan people. He added valuable inputs in the process of constitution. Mahatma Gandhi would call him ‘Bapa’.

Thakkarbapa visited forests in Assam, rural Bengal, drought affected areas of Orissa, Bhil belts in Gujarat and Harijan areas of Saurashtra, Mahar areas of Maharashtra, untouchables in Madras, hilly areas of Chhota Nagpur, desert of Tharparkar, foothills of Himalaya, coastal areas of Travankor with his mission of upliftment of tribal and harijans. He would always travel in third class of railway. Thakkarbapa spent 35 years of his life in service of tribal and harijans.

Thakkar Bappa was born in a middle-class family of Bhavnagar in Saurashtra region of Gujarat State India. His father Vithal Das Thakkar named the child Amrit Lal. He received his first schooling for benevolence and service to humanity from his father. He got his L.C.E. (Licenciate in Civil Engineering) from Poona in 1890.

He worked as an engineer creditably in Porbander and later went out of India to serve in laying the First Railway Track in Uganda (East Africa). He served also as chief engineer in Sangli State for some time and then was employed in Bombay municipality as an engineer. It was here he saw, for the first time, the miserable conditions of those scavengers who had to dispose of the refuse of the whole town of Bombay.

He was shocked to see the filthy colonies where the Sweepers had to live and made a firm resolve to devote the rest of his life to alleviate the lot of these people. *He later served in Uganda (Country) railways in East Africa. In 1914*,

he resigned and took up social work. He became a member of Servants of India Society and advocated the rights of untouchables and tribals.

The Government of India issued a stamp in his honour in 1969. A well known locality, 

Bappa Colony in Mumbai is named after him. The  Madhya Pradesh state government has instituted an award named in his honor for dedicated services to poor, victimised and totally backward tribal community.Maharashtra government has set the scheme to improve aadivasi villages and colonies named Thakkar Bappa aadivasi vasti sudharana in the year 2007

Issued  Date :29.11.1969
Denomination : 20 Paisa