Indian postal journey

 200 Years of Indian Origin Tamils in Sri Lanka Indian Origin Tamils (IOT) of Sri Lanka are Tamil people of Indian origin, also known as Malayaga Tamilar, who predominantly descend from workers sent from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka in the 19th & 20th centuries to work in coffee, tea and rubber plantations. They are instrumental in the development of the plantation sector. These Tamilspeaking people mostly live in the central highlands, also known as the Malayagam or Hill country. The first group of Indian Origin Tamils (IOT) arrived in Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon, in 1823 as labourers to work in coffee and then tea, rubber, and cocoa plantations in the hilly regions of Sri Lanka. Later in the 1900s, substantial numbers of Tamils from India also came to settle in Ceylon as financial entrepreneurs and grocers. They were the trading community of IOT, which was not part of the plantation economy and who had come to Ceylon since then. After the British takeover of the administration ...

 50 Years Pandit Jasraj's Pt.Motiram Pt. Maniram Sangeet Samaroha Ancient Indians were deeply impressed by the spiritual power of music. Ragas have the power to heal the human mind and body. It is out of this understanding, that Indian classical music was born. Classical music involves single-minded devotion and lifelong commitment. Indian classical music is scientific in nature and learning it, is like learning a language. In Indian classical music, once you have learned the basic notes, you are introduced to ragas (which are like musical themes), and then you are encouraged to start improvising and making your own melodies. Pandit Jasraj was born in Hisar, Haryana on January 28, 1930, to a well-known Mewati Gharana, where his grandfather, father, uncles, brothers – all of them were renowned singers. Immersed in a musical family, he was surrounded by musical treasures, masters, instruments and learning since his childhood.His father, Pandit Motiram initiated his basic learning. In...

 125 Years of Ramakrishna Mission 1 May 2022 marked the 125th anniversary of the Ramakrishna Mission, a social service organization with a spiritual outlook. It was founded in 1897 by Swami Vivekananda, the seer of modern India, to work for the all-round development of India. Swami Vivekananda, known in his pre-monastic life as Narendra Nath Datta, was born in an affluent family in Kolkata on 12 January 1863. By the time he graduated from Calcutta University, he had acquired a vast knowledge of different subjects, especially Western philosophy and history. Born with a yogic temperament, he used to practise meditation even from his boyhood, and was associated with Brahmo Movement for some time. In November 1881, Narendra went to meet Sri Ramakrishna, his spiritual guru, who was staying at the Kali Temple in Dakshineshwar. Apart from removing doubts from the mind of Narendra, Sri Ramakrishna won him over through his pure, unselfish love. Thus began a guru-disciple relationship which ...

 2800th Nirvan Kalyanak of Bhagwan Parshvanath In the historical city of Varanasi, 2900 years ago, King Ashvasen and Queen Vamadevi were blessed with a son in the midnight of Paush Krishna 10/11. The boy child was named Parshva Kumar. In due course, his education started and with sharp intelligence, he was praised by his teachers. He also excelled in horsemanship and weaponry. Gifted with three types of Gyan (Knowledge) —Mati (sensory knowledge), Shruti (scriptural knowledge), and Avadhi (clairvoyance) since birth, he realized the transitory nature of worldly comforts. Therefore, he decided to embrace asceticism. On Pausha Krishna Ekadasi, Parshva Kumar, standing under a Ashoka tree in Varanasi, plucked out five fistfuls of his hair, and initiated himself into monkhood. Immediately upon his initiation, he attained the fourth knowledge— Manahparyaya Gyan (a kind of telepathy).  On the eighty-fourth day of his spiritual journey and completing an eight-day fast, he achieved Omni...

 Atal Bihari Vajpayee Birth Centenary Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one of India’s most respected and beloved leaders, a towering figure in Indian politics whose vision, eloquence and dedication to public service shaped the course of the nation. Born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, into a humble family, he rose to become a statesman of international repute. His father, a school teacher, instilled in him the values of discipline and integrity, qualities that Vajpayee Ji would carry throughout his life. An exemplary student, he pursued his Bachelor’s degree in Arts from Victoria College, Gwalior (now known as Laxmibai College), and later earned an M.A. in Political Science from DAV College, Kanpur. His academic pursuits laid the foundation for a lifelong interest in governance, public policy and international relations. Vajpayee Ji’s political journey began during his student days when he participated in the Quit India Movement of 1942, a landmark campaign in India’...

 2900th Janm Kalyanak of Bhagwan Parshvanath 2900 years ago, in the historic city of Varanasi in Bharatvarsha, King Ashvasena ruled with compassion and justice. His queen, Vamadevi, carried within her a magnificent soul, heralded by 14/16 divine dreams. During her pregnancy, Queen Vamadevi had the vision of a snake by her side in the dead of the night. Acting swiftly, she informed the King, ultimately saving his life from imminent danger. When the time came, she gave birth to a son at midnight on the 10th/11th day of the dark fortnight of Pausha, under the Vishakha constellation. The boy was named Parshva Kumar. In celebration of his birth, King Ashvasena organized a grand tenday festival, distributing abundant donations of food, clothing, and wealth to the people. From an early age, Parshva Kumar demonstrated fearlessness, intellectual brilliance, and a natural inclination towards religious life. His education was marked by diligence, enabling him to excel in knowledge as well as ...

 Celebrating India and Oman’s Friendship India and Oman are linked by geography, history, and culture and enjoy warm and cordial relations. While people-topeople contact between India and Oman can be traced back to 5000 years, diplomatic relations were established in 1955, which got upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2008. After that, the political engagement between the two countries has taken on a more strategic shape.   As a mark of this special friendship, India has extended an invitation to the Sultanate of Oman to participate as a guest country during India’s Presidency of the Group of 20 nations (G-20). This is a symbol of the time-tested friendship between India and Oman and opens up new possibilities for deepening cooperation between the two countries. To commemorate the long historic friendship and cultural similarities between India and Oman, India Post and Oman Post agreed to the issuance of India-Oman Joint Stamp. An MOU in this regard was signed by the D...

  Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati, was born on Falgun Krishna Dashami Vikrami Samvat 1981 (February 12, 1824) in Tankara village, Maurvi district of present Gujarat. His father’s name was Karsan Ji Tiwari and mother name was Amritbai. His birth name was Moolshankar. While fasting on Shivratri and witnessing rituals in the Shiva temple, the curious child Moolshankar attained enlightenment and left his home at the age of 19 years to attain the darshan of the devout God and set out on a journey of purity. He went to Mathura and got the education of grammar, vedas and scriptures from Guru Virjanand Dandi and learned from his philosophy that the main reason for the dilemma in the present condition of the country is the prevalence of wrong meanings instead of the correct meanings of the Vedas. During his journey, he saw the web of religious pomp, superstition and social evils spread in the society and understood why we are slaves of others in our own country. Seeing the country’s poverty, il...

 Centenary of Tansen Samaroh In the melodious atmosphere of Gwalior, where classical music weaves its magical influence, the Tansen Samaroh has emerged as one of India’s most revered classical music events. Held annually at the Samadhi of Music Emperor Tansen in Gwalior, this festival marks its 100th year in 2024, making it perhaps the only classical music festival in India celebrated continuously for a century. Organized by the Madhya Pradesh Government, the festival is a symbol of respect for Tansen, whose legacy is central to Indian classical music. Tansen, born in Behat village near Gwalior, revolutionized Indian classical music. His compositions and mastery over ragas earned him the title of Music Emperor at the Mughal court under Emperor Akbar. His legacy, immortalized in the “Veer Bhanuday Kavya,” is encapsulated in the lines: “There has been no musician like Tansen, nor will there be one in the future.” His influence still resonates in the music of today, inspiring generati...

 Rani Abbakka Devi Due to the entry of the Portuguese in the 16th century, Tulunadu became a hotbed of unrest. When more than fourteen sub dynasties like the Bangas, Ajilas, Chautas, Sawantas, were engaged in conflict amongst themselves. It then inevitable that they had to fight against the Europeans as well. The political centres of the Banga dynasty were Belthangady, Uppinangady, Nanadvara and Mangalore, and the Chautas were Ullala, Puttige and Mudabidre region. These dynasties belonged to the Jain community. The Chautas of Ullal rose to power during the 12th century. The names of elder Rani Abbakka Devi (1554-1588) and younger Rani Abbakka Devi (1594-1640) shine like the brightest stars in Indian history. The elder Rani Abbakka Devi was married to Kamaraya II, and her daughter, the younger Rani Abbakka Devi was married to Lakshmappa Bangarasa, the IV. Both Kamaraya and Lakshmappa belonged to the Banga dynasty. The motherdaughter duo held great expertise in warfare and other stat...

 75 years of UNICEF with India Since its inception in the aftermath of World War II, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has focused on a single compelling mandate: to protect and support children and young people at risk – no matter who they are and where they live. What mattered to UNICEF was reaching every child in need, and protecting children’s rights to survive, thrive and reach their full potential. From the ashes of war to the global challenges that affect millions today, our mandate has never wavered. UNICEF has consistently worked to protect the rights and well-being of all children. Whoever they are. Wherever they live. UNICEF began its journey in India in 1949. Since then, UNICEF has partnered with the government and people of India promoting and protecting the rights and wellbeing of children in India. Steadfast in providing development and humanitarian assistance over the past 75 years, UNICEF has been part of India’s history. UNICEF has been a committed and t...

  The Ministry of Culture, Government of India is organising India Art Architecture Design Biennale 2023, as its flagship programme to invigorate the cultural space & creative economy, with its first iteration at Red Fort, New Delhi (declared as a Cultural Space by Hon’ble PM in January 2020) from 8th-15th December 2023. This is in line with the government’s aim to develop & institutionalize a Global Cultural Initiative at par with International Biennales at Venice, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney, Sharjah, Jeddah, and Art Fairs at Dubai, London, Basel and Design Week at Berlin. The India Art Architecture Design Biennale 2023 (IAADB -23) will be the country’s unique endeavour with global & pan-India outreach, similar to other international biennales, art fairs and other such event. Fulfilling the mandate of Jan Bhagidari, IAADB will see the inclusion of students, emerging & established artists/architects/ designers, folk & rural practitioners across genres & re...

  ASHTALAKSHMI MAHOTSAV The Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, an annual event initiated by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), is a landmark celebration dedicated to showcasing the vast cultural and economic potential of Northeast India. As the eight states of the Northeast—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura—are often referred to as the ‘Ashtalakshmi’ or eight forms of prosperity, this event aptly captures their essence, highlighting their contributions to India’s economic, cultural, and social fabric. One of the major highlights of the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav is the textile exhibition, which includes specialized pavilions for Muga and Eri Silk. These two silk varieties are not only integral to the region’s economy but are also symbols of its sustainable and eco-friendly practices. Muga silk, with its natural golden sheen, is unique to Assam, while Eri silk is celebrated as the only “vegan silk” in the world, as it is p...