The Department of Posts, India, is bringing out a series of special stamps to herald lndia-89, World Philatelic Exhibition, to be held at New Delhi in January 1989. The first set of two stamps in this series depicted the Logo and the venue of the Exhibition. The second set of four stamps depicts four historical monuments of Delhi, the city where India-89 will be held.
Delhi needs no introduction. Few cities in India or in the world have enjoyed the status and continuity which Delhi can claim. As Jawaharlal Nehru remarked, “Delhi is the symbol of old India and new even the stones here whisper to our ears of the ages long ago and the air we breathe is full of dust and fragrance of the past as also of the fresh and piercing winds of the present. We feel the good and bad of India in Delhi. The tradition of millenia of our history surrounds us at every step and the procession of innumerable generations passes before our eyes.” So Delhi continues pulsating, from the legendary Indraprastha to the vital and vigorous New Delhi.
DESCRIPTION OF DESIGNS
The Iron Pillar, in the courtyard of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in the Qutab Minar complex, is a silent tribute to the metallurgical skill of the ancient Indians. What makes it exceptional is that it shows no signs of rust despite constant exposure to the atmosphere for nearly fifteen hundred years. It has an inscription in Gupta script and is built in memory of Chandragupta II, probably in the first half of the 5th century.
India Gate was at the heart of Sir Edwin Lutyens vision of New Delhi, along with the Viceregal Palace which is now the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by the Duke of Connaught on 10.2.1921. It was originally dedicated to the 70,000 soldiers who died during World War I. Today a flame bums constantly at its base as a tribute to the unknown soldier.
The Diwan-i-Khas, or Hall of Private audience, in the Red Fort belongs to the days of the magnificient Mughals. It was constructed during the reign of Shah Jahan who moved into the Red Fort in 1648 with his court. A delicately constructed pavilion of white marble with pillars of the same material, it is richly ornamented with ‘Pietra Dura’, inlay work in serrri-precious stones. It represents the opulent architecture of the times.
Purana Qila stands on the site of the legendary Indraprastha where Humayun had rebuilt the Dinapanah. Sher Shah in his turn strengthened the citadel, calling it Shergarh during his reign (1540-1545 A.D.). It is difficult to say how much of the construction can be attributed to Humayun’s and to Sher Shah’s periods, but Sher Shah’s reconstruction has retained for us a splendid symbol of Delhi’s continuity and resilience.
All the four stamps have been designed by Shri Pulak Biswas. The First Day Cover is designed by Smt. Alka Sharma and the cancellation by Miss Nenu Bagqa.
Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India