Hundred Thousand Post Offices, 1968

Stamp Name: Hundred Thousand Post Offices
Stamp Issue Day: 01/07/1968
Stamp Denomination: 20 paise
Stamp Type: Commemorative

On the first of July 1968, the hundredth thousand post office at Brahmpur Chaurasta, Bihar was opened. Starting from 701 post offices in 1854 and 22,000 during the time of independence, this was a matter of great pride for the Indian Post Office, who decided to commemorate this journey of theirs. Around half of these post offices also act as savings banks and were at that time responsible for accounts worth Rs 1,500 crores.

Amrita Bazar Patrika Centenary, 1968

Stamp Name: Amrita Bazar Patrika Centenary
Stamp Issue Day: 20/02/1968
Stamp Denomination: 15 paise
Stamp Type: Commemorative

This stamp commemorated hundred years of completion of the Bengali weekly Amrita Bazar Patrika. The paper was started as a mouthpiece of the downtrodden. During the independence struggle Shishir Kumar Ghosh helped the peasants protest against the injustice by the indigo planters and the antipathy of the government. Post that along with his brothers he founded Patrika at Jessor. After three years they shifted the paper to Calcutta. The government tried to repress the outspoken paper, however the Patrika bounced back. For example when the Vernacular Press Act was introduced, it changed from a Bengali weekly to an English one. In 1891 the paper became a daily.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 1968

Stamp Name: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
Stamp Issue Date: 01/02/1968
Postage Stamp Denomination: 15 paise
Stamp Type: Commemorative

The Second United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was held in New  Delhi between the 1st of February to the 25th of March, 1968. Around 1,400 delegates from 132 countries participated in the conference along with U.N. specialised agencies and bodies. The conference was held to review the world’s economic situation and the progress of the recommendations put forth in the first conference held in 1964.

For India, this conference was significant as the country was at the crucial stages of a developing economy. The conference helped further strengthen international ties and co-operation in trade and commerce from other participating countries.

II International Conference – Seminar of Tamil Studies, 1968

Stamp Name: II International Conference – Seminar of Tamil Studies
Stamp Issue Day: 03/01/1968
Stamp Denomination: 15 paise
Stamp Type: Commemorative

The International Conference- Seminar of Tamil Studies was instituted to research all aspects of Tamil studies. The second International Conference – Seminar on Tamil Studies was held at Madras in January 1968. The highlight of the seminar was the putting forward of the proposal to establish a research institute for Tamilology. The then cheif minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru C.N. Annadurai supported the idea and sent the proposal to UNESCO. In accordance to the proposal sent, in 1970 the International Institute of Tamil Studies was created.

International Year for Human Rights, 1968

Stamp Name: International Year for Human Rights
Stamp Type: Commemorative
Stamp Issue Date: 01/01/1968
Postal Stamp Denomination: 15 paise

The United Nations general assembly named the year 1968 as the International Year for Human Rights. This was because it marked the twentieth anniversary of the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was approved on the 10th of December 1948. According to then secretary general U Thant it ranks second to the Charter of United Nations when it comes to human rights.

The theme of the year was – “Greater recognition and full enjoyment of the fundamental freedoms of the individual and of human rights everywhere.” Hence, aiming at universal respect for and observance of human rights for all, without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, language or religion. In 1968, the Government of India joined the celebrations of the International Year for Human Rights. A national committee was instituted to co-ordinate the celebrations all over the country.

Diamond Jubilee Scout Movement

Stamp Name: Diamond Jubilee Scout Movement
Stamp Type: Commemorative
Stamp Issue Date: 27/12/1967
Postage Stamp Denomination: 15 paise

The Scout Movement, also known as Scouting is a universal youth movement. Started in 1907 by Robert Baden-Powell, Lieutenant General in the British Army at Brownsea Island, England, the purpose was to support young people in their physical and mental development along with ensuring they play an active role in society. This was implied by Baden-Powell’s statement - "Security is a game for boys, under the leadership of boys, in which elder brothers can give their younger brothers healthy environment and encourage them to healthy activities such as will help them to develop Citizenship."

In India scouting started with three major associations – The Boys Scouts Association in India, The Hindustan Scouts Association and The Girl Guides Association in 1910. They were united under the name The Bharat Scouts and Guides in 1950. The scouts section was affiliated to the Boys Scouts World Bureau and the guides section to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

The movement imparts training and offers practice in carrying out its ten laws - honour, loyalty, usefulness, friendship, courtesy, kindness, thrift and cleanliness. Along with that the scouts and guides need to pledge – “To do my duty to God and my country. To help other people at all times. To obey the scout/ guide law.”