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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The World’s Smallest Postal Service…

 

Hi ! In today’s post just wish to share a wonderful forward with all of you which I recently received from one of my friends….Its related with mini letters…posted  with a magnifying glass for identifying the mailing address.

The World’s Smallest Postal Service was created by San-Francisco- based postmistress 
Lea Redmond, who decided to put the crazy idea into practice as soon as it popped into her head. She just strapped her small desk to her back, hopped on her bicycle and set-up shop in one of the local cafes. Since then she came to realize many other people are simply charmed by her miniature postal service.

At the Worlds Smallest Postal Service, your letters are written in tiny letters, carefully wrapped and sealed with a miniature was-stamp bearing the senders initial. To make sure the tiny messages don't get lost in the traditional mail, they are packed in transparent envelopes equipped with a magnifying glass for identifying the mailing address.

 

For Valentines Day the mailing rates at the Worlds Smallest Postal Service are: $8 plus shipping for letters, and $10 plus shipping for small packages containing an antique china button and a note saying You are as cute as a ....

 

 

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Centenary of First UK Airmail to be celebrated by Royal Mail…

 

To be issued on 9 September 2011

 

Royal Mail is issuing a miniature stamp sheet and prestige stamp book on 9 September 2011, as a tribute to the pioneering aviators who made philatelic history through the UK’s first aerial post service a century ago.

Gustav Hamel’s 15-minute flight from Hendon Aerodrome to Windsor Castle on 9 September 1911 was part of the celebrations of the coronation of King George V.  It was the first of 16 aerial post flights carrying commemorative postage to mark the coronation.  The flights took place until 26 September 1911 and are recognised as the world’s first scheduled airmail service.

Now exactly 100 years on, Royal Mail marks the event with a miniature sheet, featuring a border that replicates the design of an original publicity poster for the inaugural flight.  The four-pane prestige stamp book written by Peter Lister, President of the British Air Mail Society includes a pane comprising four 50p Windsor Castle stamps, re-issued from the 2005 set of high-value definitives stamps printed by intaglio.

The Aerial Post Miniature Sheet tells the story of this historic flight; featuring original photography of key events from the day; from Hamel receiving the first mail bag (1^st Class), sitting in the cockpit of his Blériot XI monoplane at Hendon Aerodrome (68p), and his arrival in the grounds of Windsor Castle (£1.10). The fourth £1 stamp features Clement Greswell, another of the pilots who helped deliver the UK’s first aerial post.

 

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Pineapples from Papua New Guinea..

 

 

Date of Issue : 25 May 2011

PINEAPPLE FRAGRANCE

“Pineapples, Papua New Guinea”. It doesn’t ring-a-bell. The both may not have anything in common economically or culturally significant that is known to the world, but a trip to any local market in Papua New Guinea from the months of November to January will certainly change one’s perspective if pineapples were introduced.

Nearly every subsistence farmer has them in their gardens. In fact, its popularity over the years has made it the common fruit for dessert in restaurants and at tribal feasts all over Papua New Guinea.

Relating to the resemblance of the pineapple, the fragrance it gives out and the vowel sound in the name that landed with it (pineapple), different tribes came up with their own version of the name.

The Kitava Islanders, in the Trobriand group of Papua New Guinea call it “Painapa”. The thorny specie is referred to as “Painapa kagonigouni” while the Hawaiian (thornless Specie) as “Painapa Kaigadobu”.

Pineapple Fragrance - 2011

The pineapple, as it is known today, was given “Ananas comosus” as the botanical name. Native to South America, it was named for its resemblance to a pine cone -- the pine cone reference first appearing in print in 1398.

History has it that Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering the pineapple on the island of Guadeloupe in 1493, although the fruit had long been grown in South America. He called it piña de Indes meaning “pine of the Indians.”

South American Guarani Indians cultivated pineapples for food. They called it nanã, meaning “excellent fruit.”

The pineapple, being a favorite fruit to most Papua New Guineans, the Post PNG Philatelic Bureau, in its quest to produce innovative products have subsequently incorporated the actual fragrance to the postage stamps.

The following are denominations assigned:
K1.05 - The African Queen specie sliced and arranged in a horse-shoe K1.05 - An African Queen and one Hawaiian species sliced open.
K5.00 - Two African Queen and one Hawaiian specie displayed.
K7.00 - One Hawaiian and two African species contained in two tradidional baskets format.
K10.00 - A display of a three part slit African pineapple specie.

 

: Post PNG Ltd.

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New Special Cover from Lucknow…

 

 

A special cover was issued  on 25 June 2011 by UP Postal Circle on 200 years celebration of Hazratganj.

Special Cover release ceremony

 

 

On the occassion of 200 years celebration of Hazratganj,Lucknow,a Special Cover released by CPMG.U.P.Shri.Kamlesh Chandra, Dr.R.K.Pachauri  at Sangeet Natya Academy, Gomti Nagar,Lucknow on evening of 25-06-2011.

( Dr Pachauri was elected Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and The IPCC shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore )

For cover exchange Sandeep Chaurasia may be contact at email : sandeepchaurasiagkp@gmail.com

: Sandeep Chaurasia – Gorakhpur

Hazratganj

Hazratganj  is situated in the heart of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.It was built by Amjad Ali Shah.The Hazratganj road in Hazratganj was earlier called Queens Way, and was open only to British carriages before Independence.

It is a major shopping area of Lucknow. It houses showrooms and retail stores of almost all major consumer-goods manufacturers in India. From car-dealers to jewellery stores to antiques, one can shop for almost anything at Hazratganj. Hazratganj also has got many shops selling the famous Lucknow Chikan material.

On 200 years celebration of Hazratganj, In 2010-11, a major beautification drive took place in Hazratganj  and the market now resembles a Victorian era walkway with bright lamps, benches and fountains.

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Pride of India Collection…

 

 

Hi ! Here is the recent issue from Pride of India Collection featuring national animal of India, the Royal Bengal Tiger . It’s a gold plated replica of the stamp. The stamp was originally issued on 7 October 1963 . This is one of 25 best selected stamps for the series of Pride of India Collection jointly launched by India Post & Hallmark Group.This is all for this evening..…Till Next Post…….Have a Great Time !

ROYAL BENGAL TIGER

Original Stamp Issue Date : 7 October 1963

 

For more details log on to : http://www.prideofindiacollection.com/

Royal Bengal Tiger

Scientific Name: Panthera tigris

Habitat and Distribution
Tigers are widely distributed from the alpine Himalayas to the rain forests of southern Western Ghats and from the dry forests of Rajasthan to the moist forests of north-east India.

Unique Characteristics
The tiger is one of the largest and most awesome predators in the world. This species undoubtedly fascinates every eye it meets. The body length of the majestic male ranges from 275-290 cm and of the female around 260 cm. The size and colour vary according to the geographic location and climate. Tiger is solitary and territorial and the territory of an adult male may encompass territories of two to seven females. It is carnivorous and hunts for prey primarily by sight and sound. It feeds on deer, wild pig, bovid and sometimes even other predators like leopards and bears.

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New stamps on architecture…

 

Date of Issue : 9 June 2011

Art Deco Stamps

This new set of stamps issued by  Canada Post on 9 June 2011, features five Canadian structures built during the Art Deco period.

Emerging in France between the two world wars, Art Deco was a creative response to the dull austerity of the First World War that permeated the design of furniture, household goods and textiles. Still, the movement made its most lasting contribution to early 20th century architecture. Beginning between 1908 and 1912, Art Deco gained mainstream exposure at the exposition from which it took its name: the Exposition des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Moderne in Paris, France in 1925, and the period continued well into the Great Depression. In fact, several prominent Canadian Art Deco buildings were constructed as a result of federal employment initiatives

According to designer Ivan Novotny of Taylor | Sprules, "Many of the great (Art) Deco buildings across this country have very distinct silhouettes that were defined by the principles of the movement. It's the commonly overlooked extraordinary details that adorn these great spires that demand a closer look."

In addition to dramatic black and white photography, Novotny adds that the stamp design "uses bold geometric forms and vibrant colours, to capture each building's unique character."

According to Alain Leduc, Stamp Design Manager, "With stamps, it's the details that count, that elevate the design to something more than merely representative. For that reason, the emphasis on detail on the Art Deco period was so very inspiring. It's the details that allow an architect to take a functional structure and make art of it."

The stamps show  Burrard Bridge, R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant, Cormier House, Supreme Court of Canada and Dominion Building.

Metz - FFPA Congress stamp from France

The French Post has issued a stamp dedicated to the city of Metz which welcomes in 2011 the 84th Congress of the FFPA (French Federation of Philatelic Associations).

An important Gallo-Roman city, Merovingian capital of the Austrasia kingdom, birthplace of the Carolingian dynasty, cradle of the Gregorian chant, and one of the oldest republics of the common era in Europe, Metz has a rich 3,000 year history. The city has been steeped in Romance culture, but has been strongly influenced by Germanic culture due to its location and history.

The stamp illustrates one of the largest Gothic buildings in Europe, St. Stephen's Cathedral, built from 1220 to 1522. On the vignette, the Gate of Germans (12th-15th century), remnants of the old medieval fortification could be seen.

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