New Stamps from India

PC Sorcar - 23 February 2010

PC Sorcar - The King of Magic

P C Sorcar (Senior) was known worldwide as `Jadusamrat` or emperor of magic for his achievements in the art of magic . He was an internationally active magician throughout the 1950s and 1960s, performing his "Indrajal" show before live audiences and on television.

P C Sorcar (Senior) was born on 23rd February 1913 in the small village of Ashekpur in Tangail district presently in Bangladesh. He was attracted to magic at very early age. Ganapati Chakravarti had been the Guru for him. His education began at the local Shibnath High School. While still at school, he started performing in magic shows. However, this did not interfere with his education. In 1929, he passed the Entrance examination in the first division. In 1933 he graduated with honors in Mathematics. After completing his education, he took up magic as a profession. At the age of 58, Sorcar died of a heart attack in Ashaikawa, Hokkaido, Japan, on January 6, 1971. He went to perform there. P C Sorcar (Senior) has been succeded by three sons animator, director, and laserist Manick Sorcar and magicians P.C. Sorcar, Jr. and P.C. Sorcar, Young.


In 1934 P C Sorcar (Senior) first went abroad. He subsequently toured about 70 countries, including the United States and the USSR. P C Sorcar (Senior) won many prizes for his magic at home and abroad. For best stage magic he twice earned the `Phoenix Award` in the United States. He also won the `German Goldbar` and the `Golden Laurel Garland` awards and the `Dutch Tricks Prize`. In 1964 the Indian government honored him with the "Padmashri". In 1937, P C Sorcar (Senior) donated all the money he had earned in Japan to the cause of the Indian freedom movement.

P C Sorcar (Senior) was a member of the societies of magicians in France, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Japan. He was a member of the International Rotary Club and life member of the Royal Asiatic Society in London. The Calcutta branch of the International Society of Magicians of USA was named after him. A number of well-known writers of Europe have written books on him, the most famous being "Sorcar: Maharaja of Magic".

A Technicolor motion picture has been produced on his magic. The All India Magic Conference published a photographic album on him on his 50th birthday in 1963. A long-playing record on him was released by `His Master`s Voice`. For his achievements in the art of magic he was known worldwide as "Jadusamrat" or emperor of magic.

The Bible Society of India - 21 February 2010

Club News

Indian Stamp Popularity Poll 2009

Stamps of India presents the Stamp Poll 2009 to select the best stamp of 2009, best miniature sheet of 2009, and best sheetlet of 2009. The results shall be announced based on the most number of votes polled.

You can send as many ballots as you wish. Please select from the issues of 2009 as shown at http://www.stampsofindia.com/lists/stamps/2009stamps.htm and vote for the best stamp, miniature sheet, and sheetlet of 2009 in your opinion. Also write your name, City, email id, and philatelic interests on the ballot and email your ballots to: stamppoll@stampsofindia.com

The last date to receive the ballots at Stamps of India is February 28, 2010. Incomplete ballots shall not be considered.

Several attractive philatelic prizes will be given away. The winners will be decided by draw of lots. Individual & Societies are welcome to sponsor for prizes, please contact admin@stampsofindia.com

in this regard.

Stamp Exhibitions in Himachal Pradesh

13-14 March SIMPEX 2010 Shimla

Venue : Gaiety Theatre, Shimla

22-23 March 2010 KulluPex 2010 Kullu

Venue : Deb Sadan, Kullu

March 2010 Distt. Stamp Exhibition, Dharamshala

For more details the concerned GPO/HPO may be contacted.