Stamp of solidarity

Holding a national philatelic exhibition is perhaps more demanding than having 10 weddings in the same family at the same time, commented Vispi Dastur, president of the Empire of India Philatelic Society (EIPS) and chairman of the Inpex-Empirepex 2001 National Philatelic Exhibition in his welcome address on December 22, 2001. The five-day exhibition in Nasik (known as "The city of stamps” where Indian stamps have been printed since 1926) was not only the first national philatelic exhibition ever held in a non-metropolitan city or a non-capital of a state but also the largest national philatelic exhibition held in a city, according to a report of the proceedings.

There were almost 950 frames in the exhibition with the exhibits in the invitee class including those from the National Postal Museum, Mumbai High Court, India Security Press and individual collections. There were 230 entries in various competitive classes with Dr Jamshed Madan winning a vermeil medal and the P. M. Medhora Memorial Award for his "Boxer Uprising Mail;” Cyrus Sidhwa winning a silver bronze medal for "First Day Covers of United States;” and Noshir Lam a certificate for his "Stamps Centenaries.”

The Exhibition was organized "to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the EIPS; to expand and develop friendly relations and close cooperation among philatelists and philatelic societies in India and with the Department of Posts; to promote national integration and conditions of peace in the country.”

Founded on December 18, 1941 at Bombay, Sir S. D. Saklatvala, Kt, had served as the EIPS’s founder president and Jal Cooper as its founder secretary. The other Parsis on the first governing council included P. F. Laly, M. R. Billimoria and R. A. Dubash. Barring Dr M. U. Mascarenhas who was the mayor of Bombay, all the presidents of the Society to date have been Parsis: Minoo Polson, Medhora, D. R. Mistry, mentions the present president Dastur.

Above Madan (left) receiving award from Dastur. Left: Special cover released at Inpex-Empirepex 2001

The special cover released on the second day of the Inpex-Empirepex 2001, referred to as EIPS Diamond Jubilee Day, shows the Cooper stamp released by the Department of Posts at Indepex 97 World Exhibition, portraits of Saklatvala, Medhora and D. N. Jatia, governing council member of the EIPS for more than 25 years, with a copy of India’s Stamp Journal bearing the J. R. D. Tata stamp. The special cancellation is in the shape of a diamond to mark the diamond jubilee of the Society.

The other highlights of the Exhibition sponsored by Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited and the Tata Group of Companies were the Mahatma Gan-dhi Day, the Philatelic Congress of India Day and the Youth Day. Painting contests for different age groups and distribution of First Day Covers, folders and stamps to the children created an awareness among them. An estimated 80,000 persons including 30,000 children are believed to have visited the Exhibition. The Department of Posts, The Philatelic Congress of India, the philatelic societies, philatelists and dealers from all over the country had made possible this Exhibition, stated Dastur. The Committee of Honor included the mayor of Nasik Shobha Bachhav, secretary, department of posts, B. N. Som and former president of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber Jamshed Guzder. A special Exhibition souvenir carries interesting articles including one from Dastur titled "Fascination of India Used Abroad in the Straits settlements.”