The history of India since Independence can be traced in the albums of Anil Kumar Pujara, who has been collecting postage stamps for half-a-century now.

The 55-year-old employee of the Union Bank has laboriously collected almost all stamps issued since August 15, 1947, including the first one with a picture of the Tricolour and priced then at three-and-a-half annas. The enthusiastic philatelist, however, is worried about the decline of interest in the popular hobby.

“To encourage philately, the postal department should conduct workshops in schools and colleges,” said Jha, who collected his first stamp when he was five.

He added: “Earlier, the department used to advertise the release of every new stamp. Now, they don’t do that anymore. Every new stamp should be given proper publicity.”

On Sunday, Jha and other philatelists like him attended the philatelic meet and staff get-together at the philatelic bureau and conference hall of the General Post Office. Its purpose was to encourage youth to take up philately and to promote philatelic products.

Chief postmaster K.K. Jha said: “The Philatelic Club of Patna has around 5,000 active members. They have philatelic deposit accounts.”

Members of the club can open accounts with the philatelic bureau by depositing Rs 200. The department delivers new stamps to the home of the members and deducts the price from the account balance.

“The meet today (Sunday) was organised to encourage youths and inactive members to open philatelic accounts,” said Jha, adding that the department had issued a number of special covers and postcards to promote philately.