stamps issued in 2001

february

In 1853 Railways made a modest beginning in India when the first train was flagged off from Bombay (Mumbai) to Thane covering a distance of 34 km. By issuing a stamp to commemorate the centenary of the Church gate building in Mumbai, the Department of Post focuses attention on a colourful aspect of the rich inheritance of the Indian Railways - its heritage buildings. Church gate building was originally the headquarters of the erstwhile Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railways (BB&CI), one among the famous railway companies in British India. BB&CI was incorporated in 1855 to start a railway route from Surat to Bombay to ensure regular supply of cotton grown in Gujarat area. The Headquarters was originally located at Surat and later shifted to Mumbai. Construction of the Headquarters Building at Church gate was started in 1894 and completed in 1899 under the direction of one of the most famous Victorian architects in Bombay, Mr. Frederick William Stevens. Today, the headquarters of the Western Railway is housed in the Church gate building.

The Population Enumeration of the Census of India 2001 began as scheduled on 9th February 2001. The enumeration of the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister and their family members on 9th February 2001 marked the beginning of the Census Operations in the country. A commemorative postage stamp on Census of India 2001 was released by the Communication Minister Shri Ramvilas Paswan in a function held for the occasion in the conference hall of Ministry of Home Affairs at the North Block. The stamp depicts the logo prepared by the Census of India 2001. The icon was designed by Shri Prashanto Kumar Ray of the Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. The design artistically depicts both the phases of Census, the House listing as well the Population Enumeration. The Census organisation shows its sensitivity to the gender issues through the well designed Stamp. It shows a household of four members with the mother in the lead followed by two children and the father. It also reflects the current goals of achieving of stabilizing the population through a Total Fertility Rate of 2.1 as envisaged by the National Population Policy. Thus, the stamp is able to link the census process with the population issues.

Census of India website http://www.censusindia.net/

The review of a Nation' s fleet of Warships, by the Head of State is a long prevalent Naval tradition. It is an opportunity for the Head of State to satisfy himself on the operational readiness of his ships. Reviews are also held to mark events of historical importance. The President of India, in his capacity as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, usually reviews the Indian fleet as the Head of the Republic, once during his term in office. The present review is thus the 8th review of the Indian Fleet. To commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Indian Republic, the review was given a wider scope and was an International Fleet Review (IFR-2001 ). A number of foreign countries were invited on behalf of the Government of India to participate, by sending their warships. The Presidential Yacht sailed past the Fleet. Typically the Review had the theme "Bridges of Friendship". The Department of Posts issued a set of 4 stamps on 18th February 2001 to commemorate the event.

The first stamp depicting the potsherd painting of a boat belonging to Mohanjodaro period, is part of the official logo of IFR-200I. The Pal and Qalbat, two types of ships that have participated in the fleet Reviews of the Maratha Navy in the l8th century in the port of Ratnagiri are depicted in two of the stamps. The portrayals are from the painting of "Ships of the Maratha Period", c. 18th Century. The 'Pal' was a three masted fighter with guns peeping on the broadsides.

The fourth stamp shows the Sail training ship, Tarangini, of the Indian Navy.