Philately king of hobbies: Postal Director Ashoke Pal
Our Correspondent
Itanagar: Philately or stamp collection is known as king of hobbies as stamps are known as paper ambassadors, Arunachal division postal services director Ashoke Pal said here on Tuesday.
Addressing the inaugural session of the district level Arunachal Philately Exhibition at Science Centre in Indira Gandhi Park here, he said stamps which record history, culture and traditions of a nation widen the knowledge horizon, particularly of stamp collectors.
He exhorted the participating students of 13 schools of Capital Complex to adopt stamp collection as a hobby to reap its numerous benefits.
He lauded senior journalist Pradeep Kumar who worked as extra department postmaster for about five years and a enthusiastic stamp collector.
Terming philately as a science and arts, Kumar in his address said an in-depth research is conducted to choose subject of the stamp making it a art while, its design, reflecting the essence, make it science.
Highlighting the history of India’s postal service, he said it has been recording rich culture, history encompassing all aspects of this sub-continent nation since its inception in 1837.
“The foundation of the present Itanagar head post office worth Rs 1.63 crore was laid on February 2, 2010 by then Union Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot in presence of then MP Takam Sanjoy and State PWD & UD Minister Nabam Tuki.
However, postal services was extend to the state since NEFA days as there was a post office at Damin in 1965, Kumar disclosed.
Postal service, known as ‘Hill Dak’ as postman used to take even a month to reach very far-flung areas without road connectivity, has undergone sea changes from ‘Hill Dak’ to IT age but still it continues to offer invaluable services to the state, Kumar.
Pointing out that there are few postal stamps on Arunachal Pradesh, the scribe urged the Postal Department to make stamps on Donyi-Poloism, founder of Talom Rukbo as a homage to the great social reformer.
Informing that the French word philately was coined by Geroge Herpin in 1864, Capital Complex DC Prince Dhawan said philately, a combination of phil (o) (means an attraction or affinity for something) and ateleia (means exempt from duties and taxes).
“Postal charges used to be paid by the recipient of a letter before introduction of stamps but became free of charge since introduction of postage stamps,” Dhawan informed.
Postal superintendent K Kharshandi earlier highlighted the objective of the exhibition.
Also read: Arunachal News
