On republic day 1962, the Posts and Telegraphs Department is issuing a special postage stamp in honour of the late Madame Bhikaiji Cama. She was born on September 24, 1861.her father was Framji Sorabji Patel, a businessman of Bombay. She studied at the Alexandera Parsee Girl's school in Bombay and was married to Shri K. R. Cama, a leading solicitor.

From an early age she took keen interest in social and political work. In 1902, because of falling health, she left India for Europe, spending a year each in Germany, Scotland and France before settling down in London. She came in contact with many Indian revolutionaries and also met Shri Dadabhoy Naoroji. She worked for the letters election to the British Parliament and from him she imbibed the idea of Swadeshi. Her revolutionary speeches in the cause of India brought the wrath of authorities. She started her own paper, the Bande Mataram.

On August 18, 1907, Madame Cama addressed the international Socialist Congress at Stuttgart, Germany. She gave an inspiring speech about the plight of her country. At the end of her speech she unfurled a Tri-colour flag in green, yellow and red with the words 'Bande Mataram' written on it, which she called the Indian national flag. Later she left for America where she sought help for the political emancipation in India. In a speech in America, she declared, "We are peaceful, we do not want a bloody revolution, but we do want to teach the people their rights and through off despotism." She continued her campaign in Europe, making speeches and producing leaflets to be sent to India. In a message to the youth of the country, she said: " March toward, friends, and lead the helpless, dying, down - trodden children of motherland to the goal of swaraj in its right sense. Let our motto be: 'We are all for India and for the Indian'." She believed in the principle of non- cooperation and exhorted Indians not to accept any office, however high, under the British government.

She also preached the gospel of unity. "Relations between countrymen", she declared, "should be firm and resolute without bringing in the question of religion." The authorities looked upon her as a dangerous revolutionary and her movements were closely followed. She found it safer to move to Paris in 1909. Despite the vigilance of the British Government, she managed to reach her leaflets and parcels to India. During the First World War, she was under surveillance and was interned. After the war, she had to remain in exile and was allowed to return to India only when her health was completely broken down in 1935. She died in Bombay on August 30, 1936.

The birth centenary of Madame Cama was celebrated a few months ago. The stamp now being issued bears a portrait of the great woman leader who dedicated her life to the cause of Indian freedom. The posts and Telegraphs Department feels pride in paying tribute to a person who made such valuable contribution to the cause of Indian-Independence whose ideals she summed up in her famous words: "India must be free; India must be a republic; India must be united."

INDIAN POSTS & TELEGRAPHS Designed and produced by the Directorate of Advertising & Visual Publicity, Ministry of I. & B., Govt. of India, for the Posts & Telegraphs Department and printed by Asia Press Delhi.-6 4-12-61-P. III English 7,500 Jan, 1962. Designed by: Staff artist of the India Security Press

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India