Konkan Railway 1998 India

It was in 1882 that the first plans were made to link the picturesque western coast of India with a railway line. But the Formidable Sahyadri Mountains, the innumerable creeks and rivers proved too great a challenge at that time.

The railway system had begun just a few decades earlier. *The first railway line on the Indian sub , from Bori Bunder  to  Thane  a distance of 21 miles had been opened to traffic on April 16, 1853*. Since then, it had grown to a total of 62,915 route kilometres [by 1998]. However, on the western coastline of the country, there was a crucial missing link.In 1984, more than a century after the first tentative survey, fresh plans are drawn up for a railway along this route. The survey was conducted over four years, upto 1988, and the Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., (A Government of India Undertaking) was set up with Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala in 1990 under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) principle.

It was a formidable task. The terrain through which the line traverses is the most difficult encountered in the history of railway construction. Crossing the route involved building 92 tunnels, 179 major bridges, 2,819 minor bridges and 59 stations. There were some long tunnels – the  tunnelin  Karbude (Ratnagiri) is 6.5 kms in length, the longest in the Indian Railway System. Some tall viaducts also needed to be built, such as the one in the Panval Nadi valley in Ratnagiri, the  tallest  bridge in Asia.
It stands at a height of 64 metres, surpassing even the height of Qutub Minar. The construction was finally completed on January 24, 1998 in the Golden Jubilee year of Indian Independence.

The building of the Konkan Railway system succeeded in a whole host of technological  innovations. The long tunnels have been  designed with ballast-less tracks, to ensure a smooth ride and reduce noise, apart from making it maintenance free. The deck of the Panval Nadi Bridge consists of a single continuous pre-stressed concrete box girder, manufactured and pushed from one end by the incremental launching system.

The 423.25 metre long continuous box girder, weighing 4,400 tonnes, was pushed from one end, using a force of a mere 715 tonnes over temporary bearings provided with Teflon lubricating pads mounted on each pier. The piers are octagonal in shape and hollow inside, designed to withstand the highest seismic forces.The Konkan Railway has the distinction of trying this technology for the first time in India, and its success was acknowledged by two prestigious awards – Most Outstanding Concrete Structure of India Award for 1994, from the American Concrete Institute (ACI), and the National Award for the Most Outstanding Bridge in 1995, from the Indian Institute of Bridge Engineers.Over the years, the Konkan Railway had spur economic growth in this region that has been handicapped by a lack of infrastructure, despite rich mineral and agricultural resources. The journey on the fast track to progress has just begun

The Department of Posts feels privileged to issue this commemorative stamp on the occasion of dedication of the Konkan Railway to the Nation.

Issued Date : 01.05.1998
Denomination : 800 Paise

Maharana Pratap 1998 India

Remembrances the great Rajput warrior Maharana Pratap

The Greatest Rajput Warrior Maharana Pratap And What Today’s Hindu Leaders Must Learn from Him

Rana Uday Singh of Mewar had 33 children, among them the eldest was Pratap Singh. Self-respect and virtuous behaviour were the main qualities of Pratap Singh. Pratap Singh later popularly was known as Maharana Pratap.

Maharana Pratap was a confident person of dignity and self-respect. He was a devout Hindu who always valued Vedic traditions. During Maharana Pratap Singh’s time, terrorist Akbar was the Mughal Ruler in Delhi. His policy was to make use of the strength of Hindu kings to bring other Hindu Kings under his control. Many Rajput kings, abandoning their glorious traditions and fighting spirit, sent their daughters and daughters-in-law to the harem of Akbar with the purpose of gaining rewards and shallow honor from Akbar. It was only Maharana Pratap who courageously fought against terrorist Akbar and other mughal ruler

Maharana Pratap Born on May 9, 1540 at Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajasthan, (India) was a leader who preferred a life of struggle rather than sacrificing his ideals of freedom and self-respect. He was a great warrior devoted to noble causes and he will be remembered as the most shining example of courage and valour epitomizing in himself the highest traditions of Rajput chivalry. Maharana Pratap passed away on 19th January 1597 A.D. at Chavand, Rajasthan, India

The Department of Posts  issued this special  commemorative postage stamp commemorative postage stamp to mark the conclusion of 400thdeath anniversary of the great Rajput warrior Maharana Pratap.

Issued on Jan 19, 1998
Denomination : 200 Paise

Savitribai Phule 1998 India

Savitribai Phule was born on 3rd January 1831. She completed her study from the Normal School during 1846-47. Savitribai Phule understood the importance of education and educating women became her life mission. She was also the first Indian woman who took the training in teaching in Mrs. Mitchell’s of ‘Normal School’ where Savitribai’s educational potentials were tested. She was wife of social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule who initiated pioneering work in education and shared his thoughts on the importance of women’s education.
Savitribai Phule and Mahatma Phule together started first girls’ school. Those were the times when the concept of educating girl received very meagre importance. It was therefore difficult to propagate the need of educating women in the society, even though they individually believed that if girls are educated and informed it would not only help the girls themselves but the next generation to come will be benefitted which will ultimately upgrade the society in general. Eventually their joint efforts began to show its effects. It was so mentioned in a report compiled by education inspector Cap. J. F. Lefter on 26th December 1856. Both Jyotiba and Savitribai genuinely believed that education means knowledge and information and so it has to reach at every strata of the society. Later in the year 1852, school for the untouchables was started. Girls from these castes began to join the school.
Pioneering work of Savitribai did not limit to education itself but liberating women from the cultural patterns of male dominated society became the prime cause of her living. She supported widow remarriage and initiated the ashram place for brahmin widows. She also supported the concept of court marriages.
Savitribai Phule, in 1868, welcomed the untouchables to use the well in the backyard of her house to drink water and she also adopted a son of a widow in the year 1873. She was appointed as the President of Satyashodhak Samaj Parishad in 1893.
Savitribai’s poems and other writings are still an inspiration to others. Two books of her poems were published, Kavya Phule in 1934 and Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar in 1982. Recently the Maharashtra government started an award in her name for Women Who Work Social Causes.
On 10 March 1897 Savitribai Phule expired while serving the plague victims.

Issued Date: 10-03-1998
Denomination : 200 Paise

Sri Ramana Maharishi 1998

Karthigai Deepam / Karthigai Brahmotsavam. at Tiruvannamalai

Sri  Ramana Maharishi Asram

Tiruvannamalai is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tiruvannamalai is named after the central deity of the Annamalaiyar Temple, Annamalaiyar. The Karthigai Deepam festival is celebrated during the day of the full moon between November and December, and a huge beacon is lit atop the Annamalai hill. The event is witnessed by three million pilgrims. On the day preceding each full moon, pilgrims circumnavigate the temple base and the Annamalai hills in a worship called Girivalam, a practice carried out by one million pilgrims yearly.

Located on the foothills of Annamalai hills, Tiruvannamalai has been ruled by the Pallavas, the Medieval Cholas, the Later Cholas, Hoysalas, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Carnatic kingdom, Tipu Sultan, and the British. It served as the capital city of the Hoysalas. 

Many festivals are celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai throughout the year. Among them Karthigai Deepam is the most significant festival that is celebrated with pomp and gaiety at Arunachaleswarar Temple.

This Karthigai Deepam is celebrated as a Ten day festival and it widely known as Karthigai Brahmotsavam.

The First day - Karthika Deepam festival begins with the hosting of the flagsignifying the
commencement of the festival also known as Dwajaroghanam. In the morning and night Lord
Arunachaleswarar will be taken out on the silver vahana for procession.
The Panchamurthis (Panchamurthigal) are also taken out in the procession. The Panchamurthigal are
Lord Ganapathi, Lord Murugan, Lord Sandeswarar, Lord Arunachaleswarar and Goddess
Parvathi.These processions are carried out on different vahanas after the Deeparadhana is done at
the kalyana mandapam.

The Second day - Karthigai Deepam festival commences with the Lord
Panchamurthigal coming on Indira Vimanam the chariot of Lord Indira.

The Third day - Karthigai Deepam festival the ceremony begins at night with the Lord Panchamurtigal coming in procession majestically on the Simha vahana, the chariot of lion.

On the Fourth day of Karthikai Deepam the Lord Panchamurthigal comes in the procession  that starts at night on the kamadhenu vahanam. The auspicious tree Karpaviruksha is
also on the side of the lord. This tree is believed to grant all the wishes that the devotees seek
withoutfail.

The Fifth day - Karthikai Deepam festival begins at night. This procession on the silver rishaba vahanam is very appealing and splendid to witness. Lord Panchamurthigal goes on
this vahana that is about 25 feet tall. A big umbrella with about 17 feet in diameter is carried along in the procession.

The Sixth day - Karthigai Deepam festival commences with a night procession of Lord  Panchamurthigal on the silver chariot that is beautifully crafted and simply imposing when it
comes around the temple.

The Seventh day of Karthikai Deepam festival Lord Panchamurthigal starts with the
procession on the Maha Ratham that is very huge and it almost occupies the full width of the road.
This ratham is made of pure wood that is strong and rugged.

The Eight day - Karthigai Deepam festival begins at night with the Lord
Panchamurthigal going out on procession on the huge horse vahana. The specialty of this horse is
that all the four legs of this horse are in the air and they do not touch the ground.

The Ninth day of Karthigai Deepam festival the devotees can witness Lord
Panchamurthigal going out procession on the Kailasa Vahanam. This ceremony is mostly  conducted on the Ninth Night.

On The Tenth day- Karthigai Deepam festival starts at around four o clock in the early hours and the Bharani Deepam is lit at the temple. In the evening the Mahadeepam is lit on the
top of the hill at around Six o’clock. This is a very important ceremony during the Karthigai Deepam festival at Tiruvannamalai.

Arunachaleswarar is said to be visually represented in the form of agni (Fire) on the hill top. There is a very mammoth gathering on this day at the Arunachaleswarar
temple to witness this glorious and sacred event. The night ceremony starts with Lord Periya
nayagar going out procession on the Rishaba vahanam that is made of gold. This is another
spectacular event at Arunachaleswar Temple at Tiruvannamalai. This festival  have  been  followed by Cholas

The  stamp  of 1998 despite  of Sri Ramana Maharishi and Tiruvannamalai hill in the background

Issue Date:14.04.1998
Denomination :200 Paisa

LT. Indra Lal Roy, DFC India 1998

LT. Indra Lal Roy, DFC

Indra Lal Roy is the sole Indian World War I flying ace. While serving in the Royal Flying Corps and its successor, the Royal Air Force, he claimed ten aerial victories; five aircraft destroyed (one shared), and five 'down out of control' (one shared) in just over 170 hours flying time.

The second son of Piera Lal Roy and Lolita Roy, he was born in Calcutta, where his father was a barrister and Director of Public Prosecutions. He was nicknamed "Laddie". Roy came from a highly qualified and distinguished family. His older brother, Paresh Lal Roy (1893–1979), served in the 1st Battalion,  Honourable  Artillery Company, and later became known as the "father of Indian boxing."His maternal grandfather, Dr. Surya Kumar Goodeve Chakraborty, was one of the first Indian doctors to be trained in Western medicine. His nephew, Subroto Mukerjee(1911–1960), served as a fighter pilot in World War II, and later became the first Indian Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force.

When the First World War broke out, Roy was attending St Paul's School, Hammersmith in London, England. Initially rejected by the Royal Flying Corps on the grounds of defective eyesight, Roy paid for a second opinion from a leading eye specialist, and the decision was overturned. Five months after turning 18, on 4 April 1917 he joined the RFC, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 5 July. After training and gunnery practice at Vendôme and Turnberry, he joined No. 56 Squadron on 30 October. Roy was part of "A" Flight, commanded by Captain  Richard Maybery.

Two months later, Roy was injured after he crash-landed his S.E.5a fighter on 6 December. While recovering, Roy made numerous sketches of aircraft — many of which survive. In May he returned to duty as an equipment officer, but within a few weeks was passed as medically fit to fly and was transferred to Captain  George McElroy's flight in No. 40 Squadron in June 1918.

On his return to active service, Roy achieved ten victories (two shared) in thirteen days. His first was a Hannover over Drocourt on 6 July. This was followed by three victories in the space of four hours on 8 July (two Hannover Cs and a Fokker D.VII); two on 13 July (a Hannover C and a Pfalz D.III); two on 15 July (two Fokker D.VIIs); and one on 18 July (a DFW C.V). Roy's final victory came the following day when he shot down a Hannover C over Cagnicourt. He is believed to be the first and only Indian flying ace of the First World War.

Roy was killed over Carfin  on 22 July 1918 in a dog fight against the Fokker D.VIIs of  Jagdstaffel 29.He is buried at Estevelles Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Roy was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in September 1918 for his actions during the period of 6–19 July 1918. He was the first Indian to receive the DFC. 

Lieutenant Indra Lal Roy."A very gallant and determined officer, who in thirteen days accounted for nine enemy machines. In these several engagements he has displayed remarkable skill and daring, on more than one occasion accounting for two machines in one patrol. (20 September 1918)

In December 1998, to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth, the Indian postal service issued a commemorative stamp in his honour.

Issued  Date 19.02.1998 
Denomination: 300 Paisa