On World Post Day on Tuesday, October 9, 65-year-old Dhanbad philatelist Amrendra Anand is going down memory lane to dig out his stamp collection for the India Post philately exhibition scheduled for October 12 at the coal town’s GPO.
World Post Day is celebrated every year on 9 October, to mark the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in Bern.
A retired LIC officer, Anand won awards in his professional life, but his biggest joy is his collection of old, rare and curious stamps, postal stationery, coins, currency notes that are rare or with errors, cheques, hukum namas, hundis and khari hundis (traditional financial instruments) and rare cards.
Many he inherited from his father late Ramjivan Prasad, Anand, whose family is originally from Darbhanga in Bihar, smiled. “My father was deeply interested in philately,” he said. “And when we were growing up, there was no email or WhatsApp. Letters were the easiest way to connect with the world, so we held stamps and postal stationery in the highest esteem.”
He keeps his stamp collection — including from the times of Queen Victoria and King George VI, from erstwhile princely states of India such as Gwalior, Jaipur, Hyderabad, a series on Mahatma Gandhi, post-Independent commemorative stamps, and the likes — in neatly bound files. “There are over 2,000 stamps here,” he smiled.
He added there was much to learn from stamps. “For example, youngsters can see how Indian princely states had their own postal systems during the British era. Or how different commemorative stamps honour great leaders, scientists, soldiers, among others. Or how in 2007, Valentine’s Day stamps perfumed with roses or sandal, were released.
He added his collection included the invitation card of Delhi Durbar of 1911 issued for the arrival of King George V to mark his coronation a few months earlier, as well as another for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth-II in 1953 in London. “I also have the invitation card issued for the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II in 1961 in India,” he said.
“I also have a registered letter of the Nizam of Hyderabad, an envelope belonging to the era of King Edward VI, a post card from Queen Victoria’s time, among others,” Anand said.
Coming to coins and notes, Anand has coins from Kushan and Mauryan empires and Sultanate periods as well as from Ujjain and Vijayanagar estates, to name a few, handmade Tibetan notes, rare notes with print errors or unique digits.
Asked what are his most prized possessions, he said thought briefly and said, “All.” After some prodding, the elderly man smiled, “This is very personal, but after my marriage in 1981 (to Kiran Anand), we had to live separately in two cities for over five years for my career, and I wrote my wife a letter every day. If you ask me, those letters are very precious today.”
If you collect stamps, share your passion with us at ttkhand@abpmail.com