[gallery td_gallery_title_input="Gandhi as versatile personality who inspired several world leaders" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" size="medium" ids="89716,89715,89713,89714"]
By N.A. Mirza
MUCH has been said and written about India’s Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma and ‘father of our nation’, about his role in India’s freedom struggle, as well his ideals of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (Truth), which is relevant even in the current global scenario. He is indeed a legend, a great soul, and a versatile personality who inspired several world leaders like President John F. Kennedy, President Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and many others.
No other leader is being remembered the way he has been and he is the only personality on whom commemorative stamps and other postal stationery were issued by over 91 countries between 1948 and 2016 — rather till today, many on the eve of his birth centenary in 1969.
This is the largest issue on any personality in the 176-year-old history of philately and includes an embossed plastic stamp from Bhutan, six British post offices issuing commemoratives, First Day Covers and Brochures and even US with two commemoratives, an FDC and a brochure.
One of the special covers at the recent World Stamp Show held between May 28-June 4, 2016 in New York is on Gandhi. The latest is the special Picture Post Card series by Agra Circle of India Post on Oct. 02, 2016, the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti (marking his birthday) to commemorate the spirit of Swachh Bharat (clean India drive). The eight-post card series a limited number print with only 250 sets relate to Gandhi and Swachh Bharat.
Gandhi’s journey from Mohandas to Mahatma was not a flash in the pan but a calculated strategy. After being thrown out of a first class compartment from a train in South Africa by a white man, an angry Barrister Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi just did not fume in anger and protest. But allowed his anger to grow further not only to avenge the insult but to end colonialism.
And he succeeded. Westerners are known for their planning but Gandhi’s planning puts them to shame even today. Modern written history has no other example to produce.
Stamps on Gandhi are a study on Gandhi’s life, his ideals and views on universal brotherhood, communal harmony and social upliftment; his vision of peaceful coexistence, end to colonial exploitation and enduring peace in the world; major events in his life as a tough and man of conviction and a believer in non-violence.
Apart from having philatelic importance as a theme, these stamps also highlight Gandhi’s memorable quotes like “Hate the sin, love the sinner”; “I have discovered that man is superior to the system he propounds” and “... I am slow to see the blemish of fellow beings, being myself full of them and, therefore, being in need of their charity” etc. etc.
These stamps have visual effects too. They depict India’s heritage and rural life like the Taj Mahal, spinning wheel (charkha); Ashoka’s Lion capital and Gateway of India; the Natraj image and Charminar etc.
They also portray Gandhi’s different profiles like Gandhi at the spinning wheel that depicts his war against European market (Dominica); Dandi March, salt collection and Satyagraha, which portrays him as a defiant man ( and through him the personification — India).
A limited edition special cover to commemorate the 86 years of Satyagraha has a 3D Motion Lenticular Picture, apart from limited special covers to commemorate 76 years of his last meeting with Netaji (1940-2016); 84 years of his attending the 2nd Round Table Conference (1931–2015), and 101 years of route to India (1914–2051) as well arrival to India (1914 – 2016)
Indian Mint too has issued commemorative and silver coins on Gandhi commemorating his Return from South Africa – Centenary commemoration; 75 Years of Dandi March and other events.
Gandhi in stamps and coins is indeed a new dimension, which surpasses volumes of all kinds of writings ever written on him. These stamps, sheetlets, souvenirs and miniatures depict his image as the dynamic and a multidimensional personality who asserted Hindu ethics; discarded Western ways; practiced asceticism; defied the Raj, launched civil disobedience movement and went to jail; campaigned for non-violence and passive resistance, and fasted unto death in the post-Independent India as a political weapon to force the Nehru government to restore peace and order when independent India was in turmoil in the aftermath of the partition. He was shot dead on Jan. 30, 1948, while on way to attend a prayer meeting in Delhi.
Stamps and coins on Gandhi may inspire rather provoke researchers to search for the truth when history is being distorted.
Gandhi has become the only personality on whom most post offices have been issuing special covers highlighting different aspects of his life during the freedom struggle. These FDCs include covers manufactured with raw papers; covers with a new printing technology highlighting the selected areas with Gloss UV and Matt UV effect; innovations like Gandhi holding a broom and wooden stick etc.
100 years of Gandhi’s return to India was widely celebrated. Many stamp exhibitions were held, new special covers with very limited editions were issued. The most spectacular is a limited edition of 12-silver-plated medals/capsules set, printed in Germany and issued from Kolkata between Oct. 2, 2014, and August 2016.
All, with one antique bronze while other on Salt Satyagraha with 3D-effects are unique, eye-catching and give historical details on the events. Each capsule accompanies a very useful, comprehensive and historically authentic information sheets. They were not easy to get in view of their limited edition (only 500 sets).
These medals take us into history and enrich a collection on Gandhi, who was fondly called by Indians as Bapu (father). They are very artistic and worth preserving. The details on both the information sheet with hologram and reverse of the medals are comprehensive; researched and much said in few words.
