Indian Themes on foreign stamps….
- Kenneth Sequeira
Kenya Post released this stamp in 2006, featuring famous Jaipur Foot of India .
Jaipur Foot
The Jaipur Leg also known as the Jaipur Foot is a rubber-based prosthetic leg for people with below-knee amputations, produced under the guidance of Dr. P. K . Sethi by Masterji Ram Chander in 1969 for victims of landmine explosions.
Designed in and named for Jaipur, India, the prosthetic leg was designed to be inexpensive, quick to fit and manufacture, and to be water-resistant. The Jaipur Foot is fitted free of cost by Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahyata Samiti, founded by Devendra Raj Mehta. It costs approximately U.S. $30. Dow India supports Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahayta Samiti with polyurethane which is the new material used in the production of the prostheses. The new material increases the durability and the convenience of the leg. Dow India also supports BMVSS with financial assistance to carry on the work done by the non government organization.
Sethi was awarded the Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1981, and the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1981
- Kenneth Sequeira - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Club News
Issue of Special Cover on Siachen Glacier and Khardung La on 4 Oct 2011
Launch of the Special cover on Siachen Glacier by Lt General K T Parnaik, Army Commander Northern Command and Shri John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, Jammu & Kashmir Circle at a function organised at Siachen Glacier FLB
Special Cover on Siachen Glacier, FLB...The first in the world.
This is the first time in the world that a Post office cover is released atop Siachen Glaciers, at a height more than 20000 feet, covered with snow. Lt General K T Parnaik, Army Commander Northern Command and Shri John Samuel Chief Postmaster General, Jammu & Kashmir Circle issued the ‘Special Cover’ on Siachen Glaciers at a special function organized at Siachen Glacier, FLB. During the function Sh. John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General remarked that “Post Office delivers mail anywhere and everywhere”.
Siachen Glacier is one of the longest glaciers in the world outside the Polar region. With fully covered snow; the Siachen Glacier presents an amazing view. Interestingly the world ‘Siachen’ means the ‘land of roses’. This glacier is enclosed by Saltoro to the West, Karakoram to the East and North. The temperature in the region dips as low as minus 75o C with wind speeds touching up to 50 knots. At 70 km long, it is second-longest in the world’s non-polar area that sometimes called the “Third Pole”.
During the function a ‘Carried Cover’ was also released on Siachen glacier, FLB. This cover was carried by Lt General K T Parnaik, Army Commander Northern Command and Shri John Samuel Chief Postmaster General, Jammu & Kashmir by ALH helicopter from Leh to Siachen base camp and in Cheetah helicopter from Siachen base to Siachen Glacier, FLB. This is the first time that a carried cover is released in Jammu and Kashmir Circle since independence. The ‘Carried Cover’ has very high philatelic value. Post Office has been involved in the delivery of mails to the Army through Army Postal Services and the ‘Carried Cover’ demonstrates the capability of the Post Office in delivering the mails at such altitude and in tough terrains.
Special Cover on Khardung La:
A philatelic exhibition was organized at the Siachen Base Camp which was inaugurated by Lt. Gen. K. T. Parnaik, Army Commander, Northern Command. He encouraged the jawans to continue with letter writing, as an effective method of communication with their family members. A special cover featuring Khardung La was released on this occasion by Lt General K T Parnaik, Army Commander Northern Command and Shri John Samuel Chief Postmaster General, Jammu & Kashmir Circle. General Officer Commanding in Chief appreciated the efforts of J&K Circle in delivering mail to remote locations through Army Postal Service. During the function Shri John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, J&K Circle said “ with 155000 Post Offices across India, the India Post is the largest network in the world.” Lt. Gen. Ravi Dastane, Corps Commander and other Officers of the Army were also present in the function.
Khardung La is at the height of 18380 feet above sea level is the highest motorable road in the world. This pass on the Ladakh Range lies north of Leh and is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys. The Siachen Glacier lies partway up the latter valley. Built in 1976, it was opened to motor vehicles in 1988 and has since seen many automobile, motorbike and mountain biking expeditions. Maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, the pass is strategically important to India as it is used to carry supplies to the Siachen Glacier. A large number of tourists are visiting Nubra Valley via Khardung La pass.
Leh is located in the Indus river valley at a crossroads of the old trading routes from Kashgar, Tibet, and Kashmir. Siachen Glacier and Kardungla are prominent spots in Ladakh region which attracts tourists from all over the world. Sh. John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General said that by issuing the special covers on Siachen Glacier and Khardung La will boost the tourist flow to the State of Jammu & Kashmir especially Ladakh.
Jammu and Kashmir Postal Circle has been focusing on tourism, and many Special Covers and ‘MY Stamp’ on major tourist destination of Jammu and Kashmir were issued at the Philatelic Exhibition held at SKICC last week to promote tourism in the state.
For Philatelists the Carried Cover and Special Covers on Siachen Glacier is a very good opportunity to add up to their collections. They can be ordered from Post Master, Floating Post Office, Srinagar along with Money order, cheque or draft payable to Post Master Srinagar GPO 190001
