Children’s Day stamps from 1957 to 2013
I am sharing here an article by Deepak Modi on Children’s Day stamps issued over the years by India Post. The tradition takes a break and there is no special stamp issue today on children’s day. This is a special article for this day.
Children’s Day and Stamps Collecting…
Children's Day is recognized on various days in many places around the world, to honor children globally. Universal Children's Day takes place annually on November 20. In India, Children's Day is celebrated on 14 November, the birthday of the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru born in 1889.
Jawaharlal Nehru, who was fondly called Chacha Nehru (Uncle Nehru) by the kids, emphasized the importance of giving love and affection to children, whom he saw as the bright future of India. This day is known as Bal Divas in Hindi.
Many functions are organized in schools, offices and other organizations. All over the country, various cultural and social institutions conduct competitions for children. Children's Day is seen as a day for the kids to engage in fun. Children take part in many sports organized for them.
India Post also celebrates Children’s Day by releasing special postage stamp every year on 14th November. Stamps issued on this occasion are the only stamps which are not designed by professional stamp designers of India Post.
India Post holds a national drawing competition and the selected best entries get place as designs of the commemorative postage stamp, first day cover and various other such items which are issued on 14th of November by the name of that particular school student.
It was in the year 1957 when India Post issued a set of three stamps for the first time on 14th November. First of the stamp was depicting a boy eating a Banana. The price of the stamp was 8 Paisa. The stamp was created from a candid photograph of a 8 year boy Shekhar Borker. The photograph was selected from 10000 entries. Shekhar became famous as 'Banana Boy' after the stamp was issued. Until 1966, the Children's Day stamps were created using a photograph.
In 1971, instead of using a photograph, India Post started to use drawings and paintings by children, selected from all over India.
Until 1971 the stamps were printed in single color. From 1973, India Post started to issue multicolor stamps.
1957
“Nutrition” “Education” “Recreation”
1958 1959 1960
“Nurse exercising Polio “Boys awaiting admission to “Equal importance to study &
Afflicted child” Children’s home” recreation”
1961 1962 1963
“Vocational Training” “Passing the flag to youth” “School Meals”
1964 1966 1971
Obverse of 1r coin of “Infant & Dove Emblem” “Women at work”
Jawaharlal Nehru
1973 1974 1975
“Children at Play “ “Cat” “Cow”
1976 1977 – 1 1977 – 2
“Loyal Mongoose” “Cats” “Friends”
1978 1980 1981
“Two Friends” “Girls Dancing” “Toyseller”
1982 1983 1984
“Mother and Child” “Women & Child at Festival” “Forest”
1985 1986 1987
“School Girl using Computer” “Girl Rock Climber” “My Home”
1990 1991 1992
“Doll and Cat” “Happy Children in Colorful Dress” “The Sun”
1993 1994 1995
“I’CYP mascot Gajju & Children” “Me & My Pals” “Children in circle”
1996 1997 1998
“Indian Village” “Chaha Nehru with Child” “Empowered Girl
Empowered Society”
1999 2000 2001
“Let us Live Tomorrow” “My Best Friend” “Role of I.T. in bringing the
World together”
2002 2004 2005
“Holi Festival” “My Village” “Vijaya Dashmi Procession”
2006 2007
“My Mythological Hero - Krishna & Karna” “The Magic of The Night”
2008 2009
2010 2011
“ Dolls – Kite – Pin wheels – Puppets” “Save the Tiger”
2012 2013
“Future Post Office” “Holiday”
Design a Stamp Competition
India Post Organizes 'Design a Stamp Competition' for School children. The competition is organized at national level and thousands of school children from every corner of India take part in it. A theme is given to the competitors and they have to design it in ink, water color or oil paint. Winning design is selected to depict on Children's Day stamp. The competition is open for the student of Standard IV to Standard XII, and is divided in 3 groups. The winning entry from each group gets its place on Children’s day stamp, First Day Cover, Miniature sheet and various such other collectables by released by India Post every year on 14th November.
Many stamp collectors like to specialize themselves in a specific theme. Gandhi stamps are one of the most popular themes in the collectors of stamps. Now Children's day stamps also have become a popular theme amongst the collectors. It is notable thing that India post has issued a large number of stamps on both the themes.Stamps on this theme are displayed in most of the philatelic exhibitions in India.
I myself started collecting stamps in my school days and still its going on.
- Deepak Narendra Ji Modi,JALNA
email : Modi.philatelist@gmail.com
References: Articles in various news papers, internet and from personal collection.
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