The Knotted Gun - Non Violence Sculpture

Date of Issue: 2 October 2018

In recognition of this year’s International Day of Non-Violence, the United Nations Postal Administration  issued three new definitive stamps featuring images of the Knotted Gun sculpture, officially known as the Non-Violence sculpture.  

The General Assembly, in June 2007, decided to observe the International Day of Non-Violence on 2 October, which is also the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.

The Non-Violence sculpture was created in 1980 by the Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd as a tribute to John Lennon. It has become a symbol for peace and non-violence, with more than 30 sculptures placed in strategic locations worldwide, including the UN Headquarters in New York, the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, and the Peace Park in Beijing.

The artwork for the 1¢ definitive stamp is an engraving by Martin Mörck of Norway. The € 0,90 and € 2,30 definitive stamps are painted knotted gun sculptures which are part of the Non-Violence Art Project.

The € 0,90 stamp features artwork by Swedish environmental explorer, Johan Ernst Nilson.

The € 2,30 stamp features artwork by English musician, song writer and actor, Ringo Starr of the band The Beatles. 

The Non-Violence sculpture is used as a symbol by the Non-Violence Project Foundation, a non-profit organization promoting peace and social change through education, to inspire, motivate and engage young people to understand how to solve conflicts peacefully.

To quote Mahatma Gandhi: “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.”

World Post Day

9 October - World Post Day

World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October. The event was declared by the 1969 Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo as a means to mark the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union's (UPU) creation in 1874.

The purpose of World Post Day is to bring awareness to the Post's role in the everyday lives of people and businesses, as well as its contribution to global social and economic development.

As a result, the UPU's member countries are encouraged to organize their own national activities to celebrate the event, including everything from the introduction or promotion of new postal products and services, to the organization of open days at post offices, mail centres and postal museums.

World Tourism Day

27 December - World Tourism Day

New Special Cover from Karnataka Circle

A special cover was released on World Elephant Day, 12th August  by Karnataka Forest Department with Karnataka Postal  circle This cover is made of Elephant Dung paper.

: Jagannath Mani - Bangalore

World Music Day

21 June  - World Music Day 

 World Music Day is an annual music celebration that takes place on 21 June. On Music Day the citizens of a city or country are allowed and urged to play music outside in their neighborhoods or in public spaces and parks. Free concerts are also organized, where musicians play for fun and not for payment.

The first all-day musical celebration on the day of the solstice was originated by the French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, and by Maurice Fleuret, and was first celebrated in Paris in 1982. Music Day later became celebrated in 120 countries around the world.

International Day of Yoga

21 June - International Say of Yoga

New stamp from India

To commemorate World Environment Day a Miniature sheet with 4 stamps of Rs 5 denomination was released by Prime Minister  Narendra Modi on 5th June 2018 in a special function on World Environment Day at New Delhi. India was the host country and the theme of this year was " Beat Plastic Pollution".

World Environment Day

World Environment Day 2018 

Host Nation India Focuses On 'Beat Plastic Pollution' Theme

To raise awareness about protecting the environment, United Nations (UN) has designated June 5 as World Environment Day.Each World Environment Day is organised around a theme that focuses attention on a particularly pressing environmental concern. The theme for the World Environment Day 2018, "Beat Plastic Pollution".

New Special Covers

International Women's Day 

International Women's Day is celebrated across the world every year on March 8. 

WSSB Employees Association commemorated this event by releasing a special cover on International Women's Day 2018

 U.R.Rao - Archiect of India's Science Programme

Prof Udupi Ramachandra Rao, born in the year Neutron was discovered, went on to become the nucleus of India's Space Programme. As one who strongly believed in 'Science for the Society', it is not at all surprising that early space missions focused on weather forecasting, telecommunication and prospecting the rich natural resources of India, As Chairman of ISRO as well as of Space Commission, Prof Rao indigenously built the necessary rockettechnology for all the space missions. This spirit continues to this day. 

In recognition of his monumental work, the Government of India awarded the prestigious 'Padma Bhushana' in 1976 and the 'Padma Vibhushana' in 2017. 

Sri Siddeshwara Sankramana Jatra Centenary

Sri Siddeshwara Samstha was founded in the year 1898 and this institution is serving the society through its religious, social, academic and cultural activities. The institution has set up one "Go Raksha Kendra" and "Prashanth Ashram" in Kaggod Village on 31.03.2014. The institution is celebrating Sri Siddeshwar Sankramana Jatra, annual fair of Sri Siddeshwara Temple on Makara Sankranti day every year. The Centenary year of Jatra Mahothsav is being celebrated in 2018. 

-Suresh.R , Bangalore

World Food Day 2017 stamps from UNPA

16 October - World Food Day

Date of Issue : 16 October 2017

UNPA issued a set of 6 stamps on 16th October 2017 to commemorate World Food Day.

World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. The day is celebrated widely by many other organisations concerned with food security, including the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

12 October - National Philately Day

12 October is celebrated as Philately Day by India Post. Stamp exhibitions and other philatelic activities are organized by Deptt of Post on this day.

Philately Day Celebrated on Gorakhpur (UP)

Photo Courtesy : Ashwani Dubey, Gorakhpur

Philately Day in  Philatelic Bureau GPO Lucknow

Photo Courtesy : Ramesh Chandra Prajapati, Lucknow

Philately Day in Mumbai

Photo Courtesy : Surendra Kotadia, Mumbai