New Picture Postcards

5 Postcard Sets issued during Benglurupex 2025 on 5 November, 2025.

dedicated to Heritage,  Art & Culture, Science and Sports, Environment and Women of Karnataka

- Col. Akhil Kumar, Bengaluru

Book Review

 

Guardians of Heritage

Exploring The World of GI Tag Products of India

-      Senthilkumar Chandrasekaran

Guardians of Heritage : Exploring the Wold of GI Tag Products of India by Senthilkumar Chandrasekaran : First Edition 2025 : Published By Mohanapriya Senthilkumar : ISBN 978-93-342-5045-9 : Copyright : Senthilkumar Chandrasekaran : Pages: 280 : Size A4 : Type Hardbound : Price: INR 1950: Author email : csenthilkumar78@gmail.com

 

A new book “Guardians of Heritage by Senthil Kumar Chandrasekaran” is an excellent book on different philatelic items related to Geographical Indications.  A geographical indication (GI) is a name used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country). India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which came into effect from 15 September 2003.

GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) as: "indications which identify a good as originating in the territory of a member, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin.

India, with its vast cultural and ecological diversity, has given GI recognition to a variety of products ranging from the agricultural products, food products Handicrafts which promote the tapestry of culture and craftsmen, Manufactured products which show case the indigenous capability, to the natural products of India like the Makrana Marble. India Post has issued stamps, special covers, cancellations and other postal memorabilia to promote these GI Tagged Products of India. 

This book is based on author’s collection of philatelic items related to Geographical Indications. The book is a tribute to the GI Tagged Products. The author has shown different philatelic items  like Stamps, Miniature sheets , Special Covers, Special Cancellations, Permanent Pictorial Cancellations, Picture Postcards, Meter Marks, and other items issued by Deptt of Posts. related to GI products .

The author has given separate chapters to Agriculture Products Food Stuffs, Manufactured Products, and natural Products. The description of each product is given in detail.

 

A special chapter has been given in the book on special and specific Products from other countries like Czech Republic, Thailand, Japan, Peru, Chile, France, UK, Mexico, Portugal, Italy and Greece. This is a very interesting part of the book. It covers textile, Agriculture. Cheese, alcoholic beverages and other products from these countries.The list of State wise GI Tag Products and Alphabetical Index of GI Products has been given in the book which makes easy for reference.

The printing and layout of the book is excellent. There are about 600 multi coloured images covering different philatelic items from India and other countries. The book is very useful for all thematic collectors as well as for non philatelists too as it gives a comprehensive information on a variety of special GI Products of India. The author has given details about each item very systematically so it is a very good refence book for everyone..  The book will prove to  be an asset for all philatelists and book lovers. This book is specially recommended for School and college libraries as it has lot of information on a variety of interesting products from different parts of India and other countries. It will enrich the knowledge of students about many special products and the rich heritage of our country. Thematic philatelists will find this book very interesting as the author has tried to show different types of philatelic items in the book which are part of a thematic exhibit,  I recommend this book for every thematic collector as well as people from all walks of life of every age group. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Senthilkumar Chandrasekaran is a Chemical Engineering Graduate from renowned AC Tech Campus of Anna University, Chennai, India. He is currently employed in an Indian multi national company specialised in Water and Wastewater Treatment as General Manager & Head of Engineering Function.

He was collecting stamps during his school days and restarted his philatelic interest during 2010 and became a very active collector cum exhibitor since 2019. His collection interests includes Water, Olympics, Gandhi, Joint Issue, Indian Heritage, Indian Postal Stationary and GI Tags.

He is a Life member of South India Philatelists’ Association (SIPA), Philatelic Congress of India (PCI), Ananthapuri Philatelic Association (APA) and Madurai Philatelist and Numismatist Association (MAPNA). He had participated in various State and National level exhibitions and won medals in different categories including Thematic, Postal Stationary, Literature and One-Frame.

 

 

Rath Yatra , Puri

 

27 June 2025 : Rath Yatra Puri

Image courtesy : Kalinga TV

Ratha Jatra, the Festival of Chariots of Lord Jagannatha is celebrated every year at Puri,  Odisha. The presiding deities of the main temple, Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, with the celestial wheel Sudarshana are taken out from the temple precincts in an elaborate ritual procession to  their respective chariots. The huge, colourfully decorated chariots, are drawn by hundreds and thousands of devotees on the bada danda, the grand avenue to the Gundicha temple,  After a stay for seven days, the deities return to their abode in Srimandira.

The Ratha Yatra of Puri,  is considered the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival celebrated annually, on the bright half of the lunar month of Ashadh. India Post issued a commemorative stamp and a Miniature sheet to commemorate Puri Rath Yatra on 12 July 2010.

My recent cover

 

2 June 2025 : Ram Van Gaman : Ayodhya

Many Thanks to Mr. Rahul Ganguli, Prayag Philatelic Society

My Recent Covers

   

12 February 2025 : Maghi Purnima : Prayagraj

26 February 2025 : Nagvasuki Temple : Mahashivratri : Prayagraj

28 February 2025 : Celebrating 114 Years of First Air Mail Service : Prayagraj

Thanks  to Mr. Rahul Ganguli, Prayag Philatelic Society, Prayagraj

Greetings on Holi

 

Holi - Festival of Colors

Happy Holi

JAMPEX - 2025

 

JAMPEX2025

A district level philatelic exhibition was organised on February 22-23, 2025 by Department of Post, Singhbhum division, Jharkhand circle and supported by Jamshedpur Philatelic Society on the occasion of completing 50 years of the society.Exhibition was inaugurated by CPMG, Jharkhand on 22 Feb and awards were given by DPS, Jharkhand circle on 23 Feb.

Exhibits were displayed in 112 frames in which 36 frames had National Level exhibits by senior philatelist in invitee class, 54 frames in competitive class and 10 frames by 6 participants in youth class.Total 4 Bronze and 1 silver medal were awarded in Youth class whereas 8 Bronze, 5 Silver and 2 Vermeil medals were awarded in Senior class.Mrs Suchanda Banerjee was awarded a vermeil medal and Best exhibit award for her collection on “Rotary Movement”.

Specil Covers : JAMPEX - 2025

 23 February 2025 : Cultural Heritage of Jharkhand: Jamshedpur

22 February 2025 : JAMPEX - 2025

- Ashok Kumat Tiwari- Jamshedpur

- Pradip Jain - Patna

New Stamps on Maha Kumbh 2025

 

Maha Kumbh 2025

Date of Issue : 13 February 2025

India Post issued a set of 3 Stamps with a Miniature sheet on Maha Kumbh 2025. The commemorative postage stamps, designed by Shri Sankha Samanta, beautifully depict three prominent aspects of Triveni tirtha- Maharshi Bharadwaj Ashram, Snan and Akshayvat.

Release of Commemorative Postage Stamps on “Maha Kumbh 2025’ by Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Hon’ble Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region

My Recent Covers

 

Cover from Finland

Many thanks to the unknown sender from Finland. I always receive covers from Finland but never get the address of the sender. So plz send me your address so that I can personally express my gratitude for the beautiful covers from Finland by sending some covers from India. 

Fingerpori is Finland’s most popular comic. The stamps feature the Fingerpori character Heimo Vesa in several roles, and Rivo-Riitta makes a comment in one stamp in her straightforward manner.

Special / Commemorative Covers from Pratg Philatelic Society, Prayagraj

30 October 2024: Deepotsav - Ayodhya

PPC 13 .1.25 : Prayagraj HPO

Special Covers : Mahakumbh- Prayagraj

13 January 2025 :  Paush Purnima : Prayagraj

14 January 2025 : Makar Sankranti : Prayagraj

15 January 2025: Allahabad Fort: Prayagraj

27 January 2025 : Importance of Snan-Kumbh Mela : Prayagraj

29 January 2025: Divya, Bhavya and Digital Mahakumbh

Commemorative Cover: 15 January 2025: Allahabad Surkh Guava; Prayagraj

Commemorative Cover: 15 January 2025: First  Airmail: Prayagraj 

Many Thanks to Sh. Rahul Ganguli, Prayag Philatelic Society for the covers.