Hasthampatti PPC

 Hasthampatti Permanent Pictorial Cancellaion

Hasthampatti, a small town near Salem City, Tamil Nadu, holds historical significance as the residence where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during his visit in 1934. Now housing the Hasthampatti Post Office since the 1980s, the building's room where Gandhi stayed has been converted into the Mahatma Gandhi Philately Museum since 1997. 

The cancellation mark from this post office features a hand-spinning wheel (Charkha) and the title 'Bapu' in both Tamil and Hindi, symbolizing Gandhi's legacy of Khadi cloth spinning. 

Image of Charkha

Charkha stamp issued by India Post in 2015

However, there's a discrepancy in the Tamil inscription on the new postmark, as it displays "UPபு" instead of the correct "பாபு." Can anyone shed light on this matter?

This cancellation is available at Hastampatti Post Office - PIN 636007.

For my other PPC collections, please visit

https://philateli.blogspot.com/2022/07/permanent-pictorial-cancellations-of.html

Centenary of Gandhi's First Visit to Madras - Special Cover and Cancellation

Gandhiji stayed in Chennai, the so called Madras Presidency that time, for about 3 weeks(from April 17, 1915 to May 8,1915) along with his wife.  He stayed in Mr. G.A. Natesan's house in Thambhu Chetty Road.  Incidentally in the year 2003, January 26, The Hindu covered Gandhiji's Chennai visit in a different context. Gandhiji had visited Chennai earlier as well - though not related to India's Independence struggle - for e.g. in 1896.

The special cover as well as Special cancellation were released at the Chennai GPO, Mount Road, on 17th April 2015 at 10.00 A.M.  Mr. Mervin Alexander, Mr. Pandiyan and Mr. Balakrishna Das were some of the dignitaries who presided over the function.

Mr. Anup Kumar Goyal, was instrumental in bringing out this cover.

In the above cover Gandhiji's picture is woven with Kancheepuram silk. Kancheepuram is a city next to Chennai and its silk is famous all over the world.

   

The back side of the cover carries the embossed picture of "Central Railway Station" where Gandhiji arrived.

The special cover also carries the below insert.  The insert has covered the detailed program of Gandhiji's Chennai visit.

Front side of the inside card.

Back side of the inside card.

SIPA April 2015 meeting Update

After a very long time I attended the SIPA meeting on 12th April. It started with Mr. Balakrishna Das' welcoming speech and he informed all the members about the Special Cover and Special cancellation they are going to bring out on April 17th on the occasion of Golden Jubilee year of Gandhiji's first visit to Chennai as a National Icon / Freedom fighter.

Then Mr. Anup Kumar Goel discussed about the new releases of Indian Stamps since the last meeting and he shared the list of special covers released during the month of March.  Quite surprisingly it was indeed a lengthy list, but the good part is there is  something of interest for every collector. Among the all special covers and special cancellations Nainipex's cancellation should grab collectors attention for its fine details.

Mr. Anup who is instrumental in bringing out the Gandhiji's Special Cover told some interesting facts about Gandhi's visit to Chennai.

Gandhiji stayed in Chennai, the so called Madras Presidency that time, for about 3 weeks(from April 17, 1915 to May 8,1915) along with his wife.  He stayed in Mr. G.A. Natesan's house in Thambhu Chetty Road.  Incidentally in the year 2003, January 26, The Hindu covered Gandhiji's Chennai visit in a different context. As Mr. Anup pointed out, Gandhiji had visited Chennai earlier as well - though not related to India's Independence struggle - for e.g. in 1896.

The special cover as well as Special cancellation releasing function is going to take place at the Chennai GPO, Mount Road, on 17th April 2015 at 10.00 A.M.

Mr. Mervin Alexander, Mr. Pandiyan and Mr. Balakrishna Das are the some of the dignitaries who is going to preside over the function.

Myself and my sister spoke briefly on how the new CBSE curriculum book for 4th standard has couple of references to Philately as a hobby.

As always, Mr. Hemachandra Rao provided some valuable insight into different historical survey points scattered around Chennai on Church tops, Lighthouses etc.

There was a healthy conversation towards the end where concerns around timely release of new issues, availability, quality of printing and choice of themes.

Khadi Stamp: India

India Post issued the world's first Khadi postage stamp on Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of INDIPEX-2011.  The face value of this stamp is 100Rs, but it comes as a presentation pack priced at Rs.250.

Khadi is a hand woven cotton cloth which is made using hand-spun thread. Gandhiji described this hand-spun thread as "the thread of life" and he propagated the use of self-spun khadi to defy the economic exploitation by the British Government. Khadi along with the "Charkha" or spinning wheel became a symbol of Indian patriotism, self-reliance and national pride during the freedom struggle.

Since a khadi cloth depicting Gandhiji and Charkha is glued on the ordinary stamp, it can be glued like an ordinary stamp.

Below is the miniature sheet issued on 12th February 2011.