Guardians of Heritage
Book Launch Event – Guardians of Heritage
Geographical Indication tag serves as a mark of authenticity and recognition, safeguarding the intellectual property rights of artisans, farmers, and communities while promoting their distinctive heritage globally.
India, with its vast cultural and ecological diversity, has bestowed GI recognition upon a wide array of products ranging from
the agricultural products which bring fame from the farms like the world famous Basmati Rice
food products which celebrate the culinary heritage of India like the renowned Hyderabadi Haleem
Handicrafs which promote the tapestry of culture and craftsmen like the celebrated Kanchipuram silk sarees of Tamil Nadu
Manufactured products which show case the indigenous capability and capacity like the ever fragrant Mysore Sandal Soap
to the natural products of India like the Makrana Marble
India Post has issued a variety of philatelic materials like stamps, special covers, cancellations and other postal memorabilia to promote these GI Tagged Products of India. There are many collectors who collect these items as part of their thematic collection and the author of the book Shri. Senthilkumar Chandrasekaran is one among them.
Based on his collection of such philatelic items, the author has compiled this book as a tribute to these GI Tagged Products. Through these philatelic materials this compilation brings to light the unique legacy of India’s marvellous indigenous products which guards the heritage titled aptly as “Guardians of Heritage”
There are also Global icons with GI Tag registration in India like the Parmigiano Cheese from Italy, Tequila from Mexico, Lamphun Brocade Thai Silk - a separate section in this compilation covers such global products with appropriate philatelic material from those countries.
As on 31st March 2025, 697 products are registered with GI Tag in India. Out of these 402 items are covered in this compilation with appropriate philatelic items.
Prepared in A4 Size with 130 GSM Art Paper, these compilations runs into 280 pages with 600 multi-coloured images covering a variety of philatelic materials from India and other countries. It will serve as a reference material not only for philatelists but also for general public who would like to enrich their knowledge about our heritage.
This book was launched on 28th May 2025 at Anna Centenary Library . Smt. Mariamma Thomas, IPoS, Chief Post Master General, Tamilnadu Postal Circle, India Post released the first copy of the book in the presence of Mr. G Amarchand, Past President of South India Philatelists’ Association and Mr. Rolands Nelson, President of South India Philatelists’ Association.
Senthilkumar Chandrasekaran is a Chemical Engineering Graduate from renowned AC Tech Campus of Anna University, Chennai, India. He is currently employed in an Indian multi national company specialised in Water and Wastewater Treatment as General Manager & Head of Engineering Function.
He was collecting stamps during his school days and restarted his philatelic interest during 2010 and became a very active collector cum exhibitor since 2019. His collection interests includes Water, Olympics, Gandhi, Joint Issue, Indian Heritage, Indian Postal Stationary and GI Tags.
He is a Life member of South India Philatelists’ Association (SIPA), Philatelic Congress of India (PCI), Ananthapuri Philatelic Association (APA) and Madurai Philatelist and Numismatist Association (MAPNA).
He had participated in various State and National level exhibitions and won medals in different categories including Thematic, Postal Stationary, Literature and One-Frame.
