Philatelic Exhibition on Tagore in Cairo..

150^th birth anniversary celebrations of Rabindranath Tagore

Tagore Exhibition at El Bab Gallery, 5-17 July, 2011

To commemorate the 150^th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC), Embassy of India, Cairo, in cooperation with the Foreign Cultural Relations Sector and the Fine Arts Sector of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture will be bringing two exhibitions related to Tagore which will be inaugurated on 5 July, 2011 at 7 p.m by H.E Dr Emad Abou Ghazi, the Egyptian Minister of Culture and H.E Mr R.Swaminathan, Ambassador of India at El Bab Gallery at the Opera House Complex. The function will be graced by H.E Mr Hossam Nassar, First Under Secretary for Foreign Cultural Relations and H. E Dr Ashraf Reda, Head of the Fine Arts Sector.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was the first Asian Nobel Laureate. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. Tagore was a master of several literary forms – he was a poet, a novelist, a short-story writer and a playwright. His contributions reshaped Bengali literature and music in the late 19^th and early 20^th century. Tagore is perhaps the world’s only writer whose compositions have been adopted as the national anthems of two countries: India and Bangladesh. At the age of 60, Tagore also became a celebrated painter. Tagore was also a pioneering educationist (thus the honorific ‘Gurudev’ meaning ‘Teacher’), and greatly promoted rural reconstruction. He set up a school, Santiniketan, and thereafter, a world famous university called Visva Bharati in West Bengal, India as well as a centre for promotion of traditional arts and crafts in Sriniketan. He was a national leader and an internationalist who visited many countries including Egypt in 1925.

The Tagore exhibitions will consist of two elements:

(i) ‘A Philatelic Exhibition on Tagore’ which consists of 20 panels of commemorative stamps and other rare philatelic objects issued by the postal departments of around 20 foreign countries on Rabindranath Tagore. Some of these items are more than a century old and belong to private collectors in India. Mr Sekhar Chakrabarti, one of three Indian collectors, whose collections are used in this exhibition, will be the curator for the show at Cairo.

 

(ii) ‘Tagore on Kantha’ which includes 13 panels of ‘kantha’ work illustrating Tagore’s short stories, songs, poems, dance dramas all made in the traditional ‘kantha’ style of embroidery practiced to this day by rural women in West Bengal, India and in Bangladesh. Tagore greatly promoted traditional arts and crafts including Kantha work. Kantha work basically uses the ‘running stitch’ to create beautiful motifs on fabric. It was originally used by Bengali women for making quilts from old, worn out saris. The Kantha exhibition has been conceptualized by Ms Shamlu Dudeja who has worked for over 25 years for the revival of kantha work in West Bengal through the setting up of NGOs.

The two exhibitions are being sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi and have been put together by ICCR’s Rabindranath Tagore Centre in Kolkata. The exhibits are travelling out of India for the first time. The exhibition will run until 17 July, 2011 at the El Bab Gallery.

For further details, please contact (i) MACIC at: Tel: 23933396 / 23960071; Fax: 23936572; e-mail: macic@indembcairo.com and (ii) on Facebook (Foreign Cultural Relations).

- MAULANA AZAD CENTRE FOR INDIAN CULTURE

EMBASSY OF INDIA

23, Talaat Harb Street, Down Town, Cairo

 

Recently  a  Philatelic Exhibition on Tagore was held at  Rabindranath Tagore Centre in Calcutta organised by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt of India. The exhibits of  Sekhar Chakrabarti and Moloy Sarkar were displayed  in this exhibition. The first ever solo philatelic exhibition on Tagore was held by courtesy Sekhar Chakrabarti,way back in 1966 organised by Indo-American Society, Calcutta.

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MF Hussain’s work on stamps..

" Between the Spider and the Lamp" Painting by MF Hussain

Stamp issued in 1982 on Contemporary Art at the Festival of India

Art and Artists

M.F. Husain

Celebrated Indian artist MF Husain, who earned both fame for his paintings, died in London recently on 9 June after being unwell for over a month. He was 95.Popularly known as MF and regarded as "Picasso of India", the artist breathed his last at the Royal Brompton Hospital, London . His work appeared on 3 Indian stamps issued in 1982 and 1988.

Paintings by MF Husain and S H Raza the modern and contemporary artists on stamps issued for Festival of India in 1982.

FDC Image source : Ashwani Dubey – Gorakhpur

Three paintings by M F Hussain topped a Bonham's auction in London, going under the hammer for Rs 2.32 crore with an untitled oil work in which the legendary artist combines his iconic subject matters - horse and woman - fetching Rs 1.23 crore alone. The auction house's Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art sale represented artists from eight countries - India, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Tilak's Proclamation " Swaraj is my Birthright" - Painting by M. F. Hussain on stamps issued in1988

Tagore FDC designed by Hussain

The official  FDC designed by MF Hussain which was released along with the Tagore 125 Birth anniversary stamp on 8 May 1987. The FDC is personally autographed  by M F Hussain in Bengali and English (a very rare gesture from the late artist) The FDC is from the collection of Moloy Sarkar of Kolkata. – Sekhar Chakrabarti, Kolkata

Auction News…

The nation mourns for MF Husain, but as the dust settles on his grave, it is business as usual in the art mart. Here, death sells really well. The veteran artist’s works are still being purchased conservatively. The day he breathed his last, two of his untitled canvases got a lukewarm response at a Christie’s auction in London. One came under the hammer for Rs 53.5 lakh; the other sold for Rs 27.5 lakh .

Art pundits have always theorised that the prolific Husain led to more supply than demand, leading to a minimal price rise for his work. But the fact is that the art market is full of fake Husain horses. If in 2006, two of his water colours were withdrawn from a Christie’s auction over questions of authenticity.

 

Maqbool Fida Husain (17 September 1915 – 9 June 2011) the eminent Indian painter. influenced a whole generation of artists in the country. He was awarded Padma Shri in 1955, Padma Bhushan in 1973 and Padma Vibhshan in 1991.

His narrative paintings, executed in a modified Cubist style, can be caustic and funny as well as serious and sombre. His themes—usually treated in series—include topics as diverse as Mohandas K. Gandhi, Mother Teresa, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the British raj, and motifs of Indian urban and rural life. One of the most celebrated and internationally recognized Indian artists of the 20th century, he also received recognition as a printmaker, photographer, and fimmaker.

Website : http://www.mfhussain.com/

Stamps on art and artists

Click : Art on Indian Stamps

Club News

News from Chattisgarh Philatelic Society

Chhattisgarh Philatelic Association informs that it has not issued any booklet on Rabindranath Tagore on 7 May 2011 as projected by some of the philatelic sites. The association informs all  that it  has never permitted and authorized  printing and release of any such booklet.

 

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New Stamps from Romania

Date of Issue : 2 June 2011

Romania Post issued a beautiful set of two stamps   on Circus and 6 stamps on first six Zodiac signs.Both the sets are unique and wonderful !!

Circus

In the glory period of the Roman Empire, the circus represented one of the most accessible and favourite forms of entertainment. The manner of existence and organization of the activities, united under the name of circus, bears the clear mark of the temperament of different peoples and continents.

In Ancient Rome, the word “circus” meaning a circle or ring, defined the spaces having this shape where manifestations specific to that time took place: soldiers competing to demonstrate their qualities as great fighters, animal taming etc.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, circus continued its existence in Europe due to the organized groups of actors who were present with their performances, especially in the town fairs. In the Middle Ages, in Saxony, people saw these nomads also as an important source that could supply information about what was happening in the world, since strolling artists sang, told stories and most of the times brought news about other towns. After the Normans invasion, the juggler emerged in the world of the Saxon circus decreasing initially the popularity of minstrels. Subsequently, the circus actors learned to combine the representation styles and to share their dexterity tricks.

The history of the Romanian circus started in 1874 in Bucharest when the first autochthonous circus Sidoli Circus was set up, in the location of the present Gambrinus Beerhouse founded by I. L. Caragiale.The period between 1960 and 1970 was beneficial for the development of the acrobatic art, juggling and, implicitly, the circus show. The Romanian jugglers were highly appreciated by the audience on the stages of many countries performing as skilled acrobats, tightrope walkers, and illusionists.

Stamps on Zodiac Signs

Date of Issue 5 May 2011

Romfilatelia issued a MS of 6 postage stamps issue on Zodiac signs Part I, illustrating the first six signs.

:Romfilatelia

Club News

Honor for Indian Philatelist

Mr Praful Thakkar’s book Collector's Guide to First Day Covers & Folders of India 1947-1964 Official & Private has been awarded Silver Bronze medal in NAPEX 2011 held at Washington, USA. After Portugal and South Africa, now in USA also the work has been appreciated. Award List is available at following link :

http://www.napex.org/docs/palmares/napex_palmares_2011_combined.pdf

Praful Thakkar is a renowned philatelist from Ahmedabad and retired as Indian Administrative Officer. He is a double Limca Book Record Holder in 2009 for Autographs & Canteen Tokens and indeed is a collector of autographs, stamps, First Day Covers (FDCs), coins, medals, tokens, badges , badge plates etc. and many more collectibles of India since last more than 45 years. For philatelic collectors, he has written Collector's Guide to Covers & Folders of India 1947-1964 - Official & Private. Through this book, he has tried to give a dimension to Philatelic facet of early classic period by cataloging Official FDCs, Private FDCs and Folders of this time.

Thematic Gallery of Indian/World Autographs-Limca Record Holder 2009
http://www.indianautographs.com

Classic Gallery of Indian Numismatics
http://www.indiannumismatics.com

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The Treasures of Hungarian Museums…

 

Date of Issue : 18 May 2011 

The Magyar Posta issued a set of two stamps on 18 May 2011 featuring famous items from famous Hungarian Museums.

The Rákóczi Museum operates as an affiliate of the Hungarian National Museum in Sárospatak. The castle of the Rákóczi family is today the most significant Rákóczi-linked location in Hungary, more than one hundred thousand people visit it every year. The permanent exhibition of the "golden age of the Rákóczi family" is the most detailed and the richest collection in the subject with regards to artefacts. Among the permanent exhibitions it is important to mention the exhibition on grape growing and wine making.

The  objects and motifs of the Rákóczi Museum in Sárospatak appear on the HUF 280 stamp, from left to right: a stove tile made by the Haban potters settled in town quarter known as Héce by György Rákóczi I (17^th c.); the building of the Rákóczi castle: the inner castle courtyard with the red Tower (16^th c.) and the Lorántffy lodge; Head of the angel from the north gate of the Old Palace (16^th c.); a product from the glassworks established by Ferenc Rákóczi II, a thread-decorated glass jug (19^th c.); a shark-decorated glass with the coat of arms of the Mikes family (1682) and also from the glassworks established by Ferenc Rákóczi II a glassworks glass (18^th c.)

The Hungarian Chemistry Museum was established in 1963 by the Ministry of Heavy Industry with the purpose of collecting the Hungarian memories of the chemical industry and the science of chemistry, to keep them safe and make them accessible for the generations to come. It has been in operation in the Thury castle since 1969. Since being established it has retained its curiosity and operates as Central Europe's only independent museum of chemistry.

The order of the motifs forming the stamp image of the Várpalota Museum of Chemistry on the HUF 385 stamp are, from left to right: the certificate of Lajos Ilosvay (1851-1936) a prominent figure in Hungarian education in chemistry and medicine; the museum building, Thury castle; János Bánffy-Hunyady (1578-1646) Hungarian alchemist living in London; pharmacy vessels from the end of the 19^th and beginning of the 20^th centuries and a mercury air pump from the bequest of Károly Than.

News from our Readers..

Special Covers from Andhra Pradesh

a special cover was released by Numismatic and Philatelic Society of East Godvari, Andhra Pradesh with the famous Annavaram Temple with the cancellation of the Temple Structure. This was released on the occasion of the East Godavari Numismatic and Philatelic Exhibition held in 2009.

 

Date of Issue : 26 June 2011

Annavaram village is situated on the banks of the Pampa River in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh in India.Annavaram is located at a distance of 125 KM from Visakhapatnam and 80 KM from Rajahmundry. National Highway number 5 passes through Annavaram. The bypass road (NH - 5) goes straight and to visit the temple take right turn in the junction near the Annavaram. It takes two and half hours from Visakhapatnam and from Rajahmundry side it will take 2 hours. Separate pooja halls are available for offering special pujas.

Annavaram Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy Temple
The most distinctive feature of Annavaram is the shrine to Lord Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy on the hill top. The name of the Goddess is Ananta-lakshmi Satyavathi Ammavaru.
National Highway (NH)-5 pass via Annavaram. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) operates regular bus services from Kakinada to Tuni, Rajahmundry to Tuni, and Yele-swaram to Tuni via Annavaram. Important trains links of the South Central Railways (SCR) passing through are the Vijayawada-Vishakapatnam Ratnachal superfast express, the Chennai-Howrah Mail, Kolkata-Chennai halt at Annavaram, which is the nearest railway station about 2 miles from the temple. The temple, situated on the hill top is about four furlongs away from its base. It can be reached either by steps covered with canopy, via ghat road or trekked through a rusty stone paved trail road.

 

The popularity and importance of the temple is gaining among the pilgrims and this place is considered as second only to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. Festivals are celebrated round the year at this temple with great pomp and show. Some of the popular festivals celebrated are the Kalyanam festival in May, Devi Navaratri festival in September, the Swayamvara Vardhanti of Sraavana Suddha Ekadashi Day, Srirama Kalyana, Kanakadurga Yatra, Prabha Utsavam, Teppa Utsavam and Jalatoranam.
The serene atmosphere of the temple and its surroundings captivate devotees of Lord Veera Venkata Satya-narayana Swamy. The prasadam offered to the devotees has a wonderful taste that cannot be replicated.
Etymology of Annavaram
Anna means whatever you say or you desire and varam means boon, hence whatever you desire will be given as boon by the deity.
Ratnagiri rupaya Ramasatyadevaya Mahashakthi yantraya Bakthakalpavrukshaya

 

:  Cdr G.Sriramarao, I.N (Retd), Vishakhapatnam

2 Different Khadi Stamps

Here is a set of 2 different Khadi stamps with totally different portrait Of "Mahatma Gandhi". Left side looks normal but on Right side, the portrait is stretched vertically and the stretch is also visible on Charka.

- Er.Hemant KumarJain, Civil Lines,Mandla (M.P.)

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New Stamps from Switzerland

EUROPA-Forests

Swiss Post issued different stamps on 5th May 2011 covering a variety of themes.

Venice Biennale

50 years of the Swiss national anthem

Pro Patria 2011

Traditional Swiss handicrafts

From our Readers….

Special Covers from Tiruvannamalai

Mrs Radha Ramalingam shares here some special covers issued from her town, Tiruvannamalai..

: Mrs Radha Ramalingam, Tiruvannamalai

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New Stamps on children theme……

 

 Date of Issue : 1 June 2011

This new stamp from Czech Republic to be issued on 1st June For Children’ series commemorates Zdeněk Smetana, Czech animator, screenwriter and graphic designer.

Smetana was born on July 26th, 1925 in Prague. He worked in the Bratři v triku film studio and as a director in the Krátký film Praha film studio, received more than fifty awards at both national and international film shows and festivals, including a Golden Lion, Golden Bear, British Academy Film Award, created a large number of characters and helped animate popular Czech TV bedtime stories, such as Pohádky z mechu a kapradí (featuring Křemílek and Vochomůrka), Rákosníček, Štaflík a Špagetka, Radovanovy radovánky and Malá čarodějnice (The Little Witch). He also illustrated several children's books.

Children's drawings on stamps of Tunisia

La Poste Tunisienne has issued two stamps depicting two paintings by Tunisian children to promote their creative talents, to share and develop their artistic skills and encourage them to express their creativity. The first stamp is the work of the schoolboy Syrine Zouari representing a boy and a girl taking the flag of Tunisia under a radiant blue sky, symbolizing the love of the young students for their country.

At the second stamp, the schoolboy Mustapha Gader illustrates the Spring, through a multicolored butterfly flitting from flower to flower on a green landscape bathed in sunlight.

Permanent Pictorial Cancellations

Tamil Nadu

Permanent Pictorial Postmark – 16 – Nilgiri Tahr at Topslip

Date of Inauguration of PPP - October 14, 1980

Topslip, a part of Western ghats, is located above 240 meters from the sea level on the Anamalai mountain ranges (Hills of elephants). It is an important tourist center in Indira Gandhi National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Coimbatore District at the southern part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Topslip is the only entry point to Parambikulam Wild Life Reserve Forest which comes under the state of Kerala. The nearest access point to Topslip is Pollachi (about 35 Km).
The postmark shows Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goat or Nilgiri Ibex), an endangered species endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu.

: Kasinath R.- Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu)

Blog : My Watercraft Philately

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Buddhist Religion Day (Visakhapuja Day)

 

 Date of Issue : 17 May 2011

Thailand Post will issue a postage stamp and a souvenir sheet to commemorate Vishakhapuja Day on 17 May . It is a very important festival of Buddhists and also celebrated in India as Buddha Purnima. The design of the stamp is based on traditional Thai-style mural paintings .

Vishakha Puja Day

Visakha Puja day goes on to celebrate three important incidents in the life of Lord Buddha on the same day that is the full moon day of the sixth lunar month. The three events are as follows:

The Buddha's birth -This is important as he was born into the royal family and was later named as Siddhartha.
The Enlightenment of Buddha
The Nibbana- This is actually meant to commemorate the death of the Lord Buddha.

Visakha Puja Day is recognized as most important memorial day in Buddhism for the Lord Buddha who wandered from place to place teaching his discoveries to people who are accessible to the instruction, helping large a number of people achieving various levels of spiritual attainment. He sent his followers to spread Buddhism in capitals, cities and upcountry, until Buddhism was firmly established and widely spread. Visakha Puja day is also recognized by the UNESCO in 1999 as "World Heritage Day". Thailand where is the permanent location of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, is chosen to host celebrating event for the day.

Every year when this important day comes around again, all Buddhists throughout the world gather together to perform the worship to recollect the wisdom, purity and compassion of the Buddha.

Winning the Devil, Winning All in the World ( Stamp Design)

These are traditional Thai-style mural paintings created during the reign of King Rama I, which have become well-known as artistic masterpieces. The paintings are taken from mural paintings--"Subduing the Mara" on the walls of the ordination hall of Khongkharam Temple in Potharam District, Ratburi Province. The background of the paintings is deep red colour and the whole background is strewn with fallen flowers. Mother Earth, wringing her locks, is moving with grace. An image of the Lord Buddha, covered with gold leaf, depicted in the posture of Subduing the Mara, is clad in red robes. Phraya Waswadee Mara is seated on the green elephant's back and his entourage consists of demons riding on mythical lions and horses. These paintings are representation of the anecdote about the Floods overcoming the troops of the Mara. Among these troops, there a number of figures depicting Dutch and French soldiers wearing leather helmets.

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New stamps from Poland..

 

Date of Issue : 27 May 2011

KWAPISZON, GAPISZON, CEZAR & GUCIO

Polish Post will issue a set of four stamps on 27 May 2011, featuring famous cartoon characters Gapsizon, Kwapiszon,Gucio & Czar . The stamps are beautiful and will attract children very much !!

Permanent Pictorial Cancellations

Gujarat

Palitana

Patan

Courtesy : Vijay Modi, Himmatnagar – Gujarat email : vijay_idom@rediffmail.com

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