Philatelic Tribute to Great Legend - Mohd. Rafi

Hi Readers ! It's Rafi's Day, 31st July the death anniversary of great singer of Indian Cinema, Mohd. Rafi. A special stamp was issued by India Post on 15 May 2003 alongwith three other stamps and a M/S on Golden Voices of Yesteryears. The other three famous singers are Kishore Kumar, Mukesh and Hemant Kumar.This post is dedicicated to the great singer of Hindi Cinema whose melodious voice will remain favourite in the hearts of Music Lovers for ever. While writing this Post, I also remember Ishmeet Singh, the young upcoming singer of Ludhiana who recently became winner of Star Voice of India Contest, met with a premature death at a young age of 19 years. I pay my tributes to him. Ishmeet is not with us but his velvety voice will always be remembered by the lovers of music.In the sweet memories of these great singers I just can say..... Have a Nice & Melodious Day ! Till Next Post.... Happy Collecting !.....

Ishmeet, we will always miss you !

Golden Voices of Yesteryears

Mohammad Rafi

Mohammed Rafi was one of the greatest Indian playback singer. He sang in many Indian languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Putjabi, Marathi, Sanskrit, Bhojpuri, and Telugu, but he is primarily remembered for his songs from Hindi cinema . His songs are very popular in the Indian subcontinent and also amongst the emigrant Indians globally. Along with Mukesh and Kishore Kumar, he was one of the three leading male Bollywood playback singers from the 1950s to the 1970s.Mohammed Rafi was born at Kotla Sultan Singh (or Kotla Sultanpur), a town near-by Amritsar in Punjab . Rafi established himself as the number one playback singer in Bollywood with the songs of Baiju Bawra (1952) The songs from Baiju Bawra, O duniya ke rakhwale and Man tarpat Hari darshan ko aaj established Rafi's credentials.
In 1950s and 1960s, Rafi became the favorite singer of other composers too, notably O. P. Nayyar, Shankar Jaikishan and Sachin Dev Burman. S D Burman patronized Rafi as the singing voice of Dev Anand in 1950s and 1960s. Rafi's notable songs with S. D. Burman included songs from the movies Tere Ghar ke Saamne (1957), Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Guide (1965), Aradhana (1969) and Abhimaan (1973). O P Nayyar was so impressed with Rafi that he got Rafi to sing a song Man mora baawara for singer-actor Kishore Kumar, in the movie Raagini. Rafi sang for Kishore Kumar in many other movies such as Baaghi, Shehzaada and Shararat. O. P. Nayyar used Rafi and Asha Bhosle for most of his songs. The team created many hit songs in early 1950s and 1960s for movies such as Naya Daur (1957), Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) and Kashmir Ki Kali (1964). Rafi sang a total of 197 numbers (56 solo) for O P Nayyar. The team of Shankar Jaikishan and Rafi is noted for the songs picturized on Rajendra Kumar. Rafi sang a total of 341 numbers (216 solo) for Shankar-Jaikishan.
Rafi got his first Filmfare Award for the title song of Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), composed by Ravi. He got his first National Award for the song Babul Ki Duaen Leti Ja from the film Neel Kamal (1968), also composed by Ravi. Ravi and Rafi produced several other hit songs, in the films such as China Town (1962), Kaajal (1965), and Do Badan (1966). Madan Mohan was another composer whose favorite singer was Rafi. Rafi's first solo with Madan Mohan in Ankhen (1950) "Hum ishq mein barbad hain barbad rahenge" was a great hit.They teamed up to produce many hit songs including Teri Aankhon ke Siva, "rang aur noor ki baraat", Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil and Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho. The composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal also patronized Rafi as one of their leading singers since their first released film, Parasmani (1963). Both Rafi and L-P won the Filmfare Awards for the song Chahoonga main tujhe saanjh savere from Dosti. Rafi sang a total of 369 numbers (186 solo) for LP. In 1965, he was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Sri award and got most prestigious Filmfare awrard six times for best male playback singer.

From Se-tenant Album of Shrikant Parikh

Music

Golden Voices of Yesteryears- 15 May 2003

This is Karnataka

Sandalwood Art work

Hi Readers ! In Today's Post I have a very beautiful set of Post Cards issued by Karnataka Postal Circle. I received this set of 28 Post cards from Mangalore Philatelic Bureau few days back. I have written briefly about them in one of my earlier posts. But I came to know about the real beauty of these cards when they just came in my hands. I can say in few words about these cards that they are magnificent & very fine. I have some of them to show you here. They depict the real picture of Karnataka, a beautiful state of India with full of art, rich culture, fauna & Flora. These cards actually travel through Karnatak's lush green forests and hills to the sea and run through heritage sites and monuments. These are beautifully printed and cased in a nice pack, whichs show its finest quality. I congratulate Karnataka Postal Circle to bring out this ideal gift for the philatelists. But if all of these cards were printed with the mark of Karnataka Postal Circle, India Post, it would have been much better. As in this way these could be easily distinguished from other normal picture Post Cards and philatelically these would have become more important. For a philatelic item it is necessary that it should have some mark that shows it has been issued by a postal authority. What readers have to say about my opinion, please post your comments. This discussion is about all the picture postcards, issued by different postal circles of India Post. In the regular series, some Se-tenants from the album of Mr. Shrikant Parikh on Post Office theme.

Post Card Folder

Udupi Festival

Bandipur National Park

Birds Sanctuary, Ranganathittu

Yakshagana- the dance drama



Talacauvery, Madikeri



Coffee Berries



From Se-tenant Album of Shrikant Parikh

Post Office Theme

Date of Issue- 15 December 1997

150 Years of India Post - 4 October 2004

Field Post offices - 8 December 2006

Club News

Visit South Asia

Hi, I am back here after the weekend. It was really a shocking news about serial blasts in Ahmedabad. I have a good number of readers in Ahmedabad, I just pray and hope that all of them and their families are safe and fine. None of them are affected by this serious and diastrous accident.Today in the news, meet our two new members from Pune and Kochi. One more issue on Taj by a foreign Postal administration depicting famous tourist places of South Asia. Some interesting Miniature sheets on joint issue of India-Cyprus sent by our ditinguished member Mr. Shrikant Parikh. These items mentioned below will be thrilling for collectors of Miniature sheets as the Specimen M/S bears the number 00000 which is the rarest of rare items as a specimen.In our series of Se-tenants of India some letter Boxes from the Album of Mr. Parikh. Just enjoy this Post & Have a very Nice Day......

1. Normal MS issued by Cyprus-Post with Nr.08946

2. M/S issued by India-Post

3. Close-up of stamps with SPECIMEN printed in red.

4. Folder of Cyprus-Post on Cyprus-India joint issue

5. Specimen M/S issued by Cyprus bearing No. 00000

It is a joint issue involving India and Indian Folk Dance,and that too on a SPECIMEN Miniature Sheet with no.00000, carries much interest for collectors all over the world !! A Miniature Sheet with Nr.00000 as a SPECIMEN seems to be the rarest one....???

Members

16. Pratisad Neurgaonkar, Pune
I am a collector from Pune and I collect Postal Stationery of Pre & Post Independence India. I also collect stamps and my thematic collection is on Millennium stamps. I have a collection from 140 countries on this subject. Pratisad Neurgaonkar 884, Bhandarkar Road,14, Patil Terraces, Pune 411 004 E-Mail : pratisad@hotmail.com

17. K. Prathapachandran, Kochi
My interests are Post-Independence, India-Block-of-Four, GB & USA. P.K. Prathapachandran,Chartered Engineer & Registered Valuer, 32/2601, Perayil House, Palarivattom P.O, Kochi, 682 025. E-Mail : pkprathapachandran@gmail.com

Recent Special Cover

'Hero of Batalik'- Major M. Saravanan- Veer Chakra

Major Saravanan Memorial Trust, Tiruchirapalli- 26 July 2008

Courtesy- V.K. Sabharwal, New Delhi

From Se-tenant Album of Shrikant Parikh
Letter Box

Date of Issue : 18 October 2005

" Pair with blank-field from MS"

Flying High

Hi Readers, In today's Post some issues on Air Displays. Flying high is a thrilling experience. So just have some thrill through these nice stamps issued by UK on 17 July 2008 on Air Displays.One more new issue to thrill you by its beauty i.e.Our Taj on a foreign stamp. In the regular series of Se-tenants some more sets from the album of Shri Shrikant Parikh on Air-crafts. Enjoy the Post & Have a nice Holiday !

Air Displays
Farnborough, in Hampshire, has a long history of involvement with aviation. In fact it probably can claim to have a closer, more continuous association with man’s conquest of the air than anywhere else. On the stamps, here are six images that illustrate just some of the displays enjoyed in the UK.

The Red Arrows: First Class and 50p
A well-loved highlight of national celebrations and airshows both in the UK and abroad, the RAF aerobatic display team, the Red Arrows, feature on both the first class and the 50p stamp. Formed in 1965 as the public face of the RAF and a powerful recruitment vehicle, the Red Arrows dramatically demonstrate the skills of Britain’s finest pilots.

The First Class stamp features the Red Arrows flying at the Dartmouth Air Show in 2006 with their trademark blue and red vapour painting the sky. The 50p stamp features a young fan awe-struck before a classic Red Arrow Hawk aircraft formation fly past.


The RAF Falcons: 48p
The 48p stamp features the RAF Falcons performing one of their breathtaking precision, parachute formation displays at Biggin Hill in 2006. Based at RAF Brize Norton as part of the No1 Parachute Training School, all the Falcons are RAF Parachute Jumping Instructors specifically trained to perform highly skilled freefall and canopy maneuvers at speeds of up to 180mph.
Avro Vulcan Prototypes and Avro 707s -56p
Part of the RAF’s V bomber force acting as a nuclear deterrent against the Soviet Union during the Cold War, the subsonic Avro Vulcan delta wing bomber was operated by the RAF from 1953 until 1984. In this time it was also used as a conventional bomber during the Falklands conflict. Only one example of this type of aircraft remains in flying condition. The Avro 707 was an experimental aircraft built to test the delta wing concept which was later incorporated into the Vulcan. The stamp features a shot of both aircrafts taken at Farnborough in 1953.




WB Moorhouse – 81p
This stamp features a photograph taken in around 1912, featuring the aviator WB Moorhouse flying in an air race at Hendon. Moorhouse went on to become the first pilot to be awarded a Victoria Cross in 1915 during the First World War.

From the Se-tenant Album of Shrikant Parikh

Air-Crafts

Diamond Jubilee of Indian Air Force - 8 October 1992

Platinum Jubilee of Indian Air Force - 8 October 2007

Club News

In the Club news, first of all I want to show the Pride of India , the beautiful Taj on a foreign stamp. I have some more Taj issues which I recently added to my collection, will come in my later posts. Some latest news related with philately recently published in the Dailies I read. It is just to share with you as published in the Newspaper however the news is old. A new Blog I came across through net surfing & latest available information about forthcoming issues of India. Although we are never sure about the date of Indian issues but still it is just for your information if you want some cancellations on your desired pictures to get a Max card of your personal choice, you can prepare yourself. In the last part some Se-tenants from the album of Shri Shrikant Parikh who has been contributing tremendously for you. Enjoy the Post... & ...Have a Nice Time !...

Clippings from the Newspapers

Hindustan Times 23 July 2008

Dainik Bhaskar 24 July 2008

New Blog on Philately
I have just come across a new blog with the typical Indian name through globe trotting. I admire the taste of the Blogger who just chose a unique name with Indian touch 'Indian Stamp Ghar' for his blog. Those who don't know Hindi I just want to tell 'Ghar' means House.The blog is full of information about Indian & foreign issues. It also gives the latest philatelic news about the Stamp world. The blog will be enjoyed by all stamp lovers of every age group. To see this blog just visit : http://www.indianstampghar.com/

Proposed Forthcoming Indian Issues

31 Jul : Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi

2 August : M/S & Set of 2 Stamps on Giant Tortoise

8 August : 4 stamps on Olympics

From the Se-tenant Album of Shrikant Parikh

Space-Aircraft

Space Programme - 29 September 1998

Air - India 8 June 1998

Aero India - 5 February 2003

Painted Eggs

Eggs are favourite all over the world for their use in bakery products and preparation of different cuisine and of course, as an easily prepared breakfast. But one more thing that is related to egg shells is nice painting done on them by the people. All of us must have painted some egg shells during our school days for fun. But here are some very beautiful egg shells with colorful designs on stamps issued by my favourite postal administration, Poland. The designer of the stamps & FDC needs lot of appreciation for the beautiful design. I will again say that the stamps issued by Poland are the best in the world.These were issued on 29 February 2008 for easter Greetings. In the last part of this post some butterflies which are the natural symbol of colours too from the album of our distinguished member Shri Shrikant Parikh. Have a Nice & Colorful Day ! Till next Post..... Happy Collecting .....

Easter Greetings

The most important in the Catholic Church holiday, the day of Jesus Christ's resurrection, in calendar coincides with the beginning of spring, and therefore its symbolism, although Christian, includes the traditional springtime elements as well. In order to enrich the holiday correspondence Poland since 1997 issues each year the special Easter stamps. The stamps feature usually religious scenes, folk customs and different symbols of the life reborn, such as painted eggs, chickens and the flowers and green plants.

The stamps and FDC envelopes

The stamps are presented in the spring and holiday tones. On both of them there is shown a composition of painted eggs and paper cut-outs; similar cut-out in two colours, decorates the FDC envelope.

The contemporary Easter eggs

Such eggs as shown on the stamps do not necessarily copy the traditional patterns. Nowadays they are rather unique creations of the individual artists, depending on their own invention. Among them one may find all conceivable painting techniques, applied to the ostrich or geese eggs. There are also carved shells of blown eggs or the eggs "dressed" in laces or knitted wool.

The folk cut-outs

The paper decorations made by cutting out the holes precisely in the piece of paper, folded many times, what results in highly symmetrical patterns. This kind of holiday decorations is popular in Poland mainly in Masovia (region of Kurpie and vicinities of Łowicz and Opoczno) since the end of the 19th century, as earlier the paper was not available universally. The cut-outs, originally white and only later in different colours, used to be affixed to the peasants houses' walls before all the major holidays. Their motifs range from the abstract geometrical forms to the plant or animal representations. Their precision attains sometimes amazing level considering that they were made frequently with the sheep shearing scissors.

From Se-tenant Album of Shrikant Parikh

Fauna- Butterflies

Endemic Butterflies of Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Date of Issue : 2 January 2008

Man's Best Friend

Today I am going to dedicate my post to Man's loveliest & Best friend, the dog. I have some very beautiful stamps on these smart creatures from Australia, United Kingdom and India.The set of five stamps issued by Australia on 10 June 2008 looks the important roles that "man's best friend" plays in protecting and supporting our current lifestyle. Originally, the primary roles for domestic dogs were in guarding the home and livestock, and in hunting. Our canine friends have since developed to meet our own needs and enable us to take advantage of the intelligence and natural instincts unique to these animals. The dogs featured on the above stamps issued by Australia are: German Shepherd, Australian Cattle Dog,, Beagle ,Border Collie & Labrador. All are in the denomination of 50c. While writing about these smart creatures, how can I forget to write about my own lovely pet 'Snowy' who is so cute, smart and absolutely a hero. I hope you dont mind if I write something off philately. Sometimes I can take this liberty just for a break. If you have a lovely pet at home, you are never alone. He is always there to greet you when you return home and comes for a 'see off ' through his longing eyes when you leave home. He makes your home always lively like your own kids. Here is my Snowy who is favourite of all, my family, my kids, friends and all those visiting us. Meet my pet and also some other smart ones on Stamps of United Kingdom issued on 5 February 2008.! In the last part some nice and very smart Indian breeds from the se-tenant album of Shri Shrikant Parikh.

I am the best....I am the best ....Yes I am....


Working Dogs

The Working Dogs stamp issue by UK on February 5, 2008, celebrates the centenary of the introduction of the first trained police dogs in Hull in 1908.The Working Dogs stamp issue comprises of six stamps designed by the Scottish design consultancy Redpath with photography by Tim Flach. The stamps show six different kinds of working dog in action.

1st Class – Assistance Dog
Throughout the UK, there are a range of charities shrewdly using dogs to help disabled people to lead fuller, more independent lives. These include people suffering from epilepsy, deafness or mobility problems, who rely on specially trained dogs to raise the alarm or help with a range of everyday tasks, from opening and closing doors, switching on lights, retrieving slippers or keys, helping someone dress and undress – even taking the laundry out of the washing machine.

46p – Mountain Rescue Dog
The intrepid Search and Rescue Dogs Association was set up by Scots mountaineer Hamish McInnes in the 1960s. It trains dogs to ‘air scent’ – picking up a human scent blown towards them by the wind or air currents, a technique which has proved highly effective in pin-pointing lost or injured unfortunates. And not a St Bernard bearing a cask of brandy in sight.

48p – Police Dog
The first British police dogs didn’t cut the mustard. A pair of Bloodhounds conscripted to track down the notorious Jack the Ripper in 1888, they bolted after one of them bit the Metropolitan Commissioner. But today, several hundred highly trained animals provide valuable canine back up to police forces up and down the country, helping to apprehend criminals, uncover evidence, keep unruly crowds under control, as well as sniffing out explosives and drugs.

54p – Customs Dog
It takes around three months of intensive ‘hide and seek’-based training until a customs dog has the nose and expertise to uncover anything from hidden contraband and banknotes to illegal immigrants. Reporting for duty at our ports and airports, these determined animals are a boon to national security, ably inspecting passengers, cars, freight vehicles, aircraft, shipping and any other nooks and crannies that arouse the suspicions of their handlers.

69p – Sheepdog
The sheepdog has become synonymous with the familiar black-and-white Border Collie, popularised by the long-gone TV programme One Man and his Dog. With a fierce intelligence and steely glint in their eye perfect for intimidating their bovine charges, working border collies can be directed by voice and whistle at long distances. And they’re capable of herding more than sheep… they’ll happily take on cattle, poultry, deer and even the odd ostrich.

78p – Guide Dogs
Dogs have led the blind since Roman times, though the modern guide dog programme was introduced in Germany for veterans who lost their sight during WWI. The system relies on close partnership between dog and owner, in which both parties are carefully matched and rigorously trained. There are some 4,700 guide dogs in the UK, provided by Guide Dogs for the Blind for a nominal 50p.

From Se-tenant Album of Shrikant Parikh

Fauna- Indian Breeds of Dogs

1.Himalayan Sheep Dog 2. Rampur Hound 3. Mudhol Hound 4. Rajapalayam
Date of Issue : 9 January 2005