2022-10-13 Thu

The original plan was to issue a set of stamps depicting Mahatma Gandhi ("Bapu", or "father" in Hindi), in January 1948. The India Security Press in Nashik was entrusted with the task of producing a set of 4 stamps. But before the stamps were issued, Gandhi was assassinated. The Indian Government decided to print these stamps as a memorial, using a photogravure press, and hence had to employ the services of the Swiss printers, Helio Courvoisier, Sa. Lascaux De Fonds, instead of the India Security Press. The word "Bapu" was printed on the stamp in Hindi and Urdu languages as a symbol of communal harmony. Four stamps with denominations 1.5 annas, 3.5 annas, 12 annas and 10 rupees were issued. One of the stamps of the set was issued with a very high price of 10 Rs. out of reach of the common populace in India. The stamps were issued on 15 August 1948, on the occasion of the first anniversary of India's Independence Day. Sevagram is the name of a town in the state of Maharashtra, India. It was the place of Mahatma Gandhi's ashram and his residence from 1936 to his death in 1948. Image Courtesy: https://stampsofindia.com/