2022-08-25 Thu

The world’s beloved canine friends are not only known for their companionship but also for their bravery and a natural instinct to protect their masters. Dogs hold a special place in Indian history and commemorative stamps have been issued featuring some of the most loved Indian breeds.

India has one of the oldest canine cultures. As early as the end of the Mesolithic period the dog was domesticated and ever since the dog has been like a hunting companion rather than a showpiece. Oriented to speed and action, Indian dogs are all outdoor dogs. The Indian sub-continent is the largest conglomeration of various breeds of dogs in the world. Through a long process of evolution, each geographical region in India has produced a distinctive breed, adapted to the local environment.

While Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal have BHOTIAS, Kumaon Hills have SHIKARIS, RAMPUR HOUNDS abound the Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana, etc. and MUDHOL Hounds are found in Koyana Gulbarga of Karnataka and Maharashtra. The RAJAPALAYAMS come from Tamil Nadu and TRIPURIS are found in the Lushai Hills of Assam. Due to their usefulness and association with the human habitat, dogs remain man's best friends.

Known for their sturdiness and loyalty, there is a need for the creation of awareness about the variety of the canine population in India. The set of stamps depicts four Indiancanine breeds viz. the Himalayan Sheep Dog, the Rampur Hound, the Mudhol Hound, and the Rajapalayam.

Image Courtesy: istampgallery.com