A V MEIYAPPAN STAMP released on 22nd Jan 2006
| Denomination :500 Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million Date of Issue : 22-01-2006 Theme : Personality |
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A V MEIYAPPAN, popularly known as “AVM” and the founder of AVM Studios, was born on 28-7-1907 at Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu. His father ran a provisions store in Karaikudi, named “AV & Sons”, and sale of gramaphone records was a part of its business. AVM joined his father’s business as a teenager, but he soon foresaw a great future in entertainment business and decided to produce graphone records. He promoted Saraswathi Stores now in Chennai and produced gramaphone records. AVM’s love affair with the silver screen started with the advent of the talkies in the 1930s. November 1945 saw the birth of the famous AVM Studios in AVM’s home town of Karaikudi. With its very first film, ‘Naam Iruvar’, and its patriotic and emotional songs by Mahakavi Bharathiar, AVM Studios became a hosehold name. Since its inception AVM has produced films in various languages like Kannada, Telegu, Bengali, Hindi and Sinhala, besides Tamil and has introduced prominent artists like Shivaji Ganesan, Raj Kumar and Kamal Hasan, among others, to the Indian public. Through years AVM films have been very popular with the audience winning great public acclaim, apart from critical accolade including Certificates of Merit from the Government of India and various State Governments. AVM also funded charitable institutions to provide education and health care. Shri.AV Meiyappan died on 12th August 1979, but his legacy lives on. India post is proud to issue a commemorative postage stamp on AVM.
PRESIDENT’S FLEET REVIEW, VISAKHAPATNAM STAMPS RELEASED on 12th Jan 2006
| Denomination :500, 500, 500, 500 (ps) Stamps Printed : 0.8 Million Date of Issue : 12-01-2006 Theme : Armed Forces |
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A Naval Fleet Review is a long standing tradition followed by Navies all over the world. It is a grand occasion when every operational ship is spruced up, proudly displaying its crest and its company in a spirit of loyalty and allegiance to the country. The idea of Review was perhaps conceived as a show of naval might or an inspection of readiness for battle at sea. It still has the connotation, but assembling of warships for peaceful purposes is now the norm in modern times. Later reviews were used as a celebratory demonstration for victories in battle or for other special occasions. Post independence, traditionally, the President, as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces reviews the Fleet once during his venture.
In this most formal of naval ceremonies, ships, submarines and aircrafts from all the Naval Commands, ships from the Indian Coast Guard and vessels from the merchant navy are ceremonially dressed up with families embarked, and anchored in lines at the precise spot allotted to them.
The present Fleet Review, which is the 9th review, is being held on the East Coast for the first time, all earlier being off Mumbai on the West Coast. The Department of Posts is happy to issue a se-tenant set of four stamps commemorating the occasion.
Pongal Stamp released on 12th Jan 2006
| Denomination :500 Stamps Printed : 0.8 Million Date of Issue : 12-01-2006 Theme : Festival |
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Pongal, one of the most important festivals, particularly of the Tamil people, is a thanksgiving ritual for a bountiful harvest which is celebrated with great joy one and all. This festival follows a solar calendar and is celebrated on the same days each year. The actual festivities of Pongal begin on 13th January and lasts for four days. From an astronomical standpoint, this is an important period because this is the time when the sun enters the Northern Hemisphere. The sun traverses from the Tropic of Capricon to the Tropic of Cancer via the Equator from 14th January to 14th July, and this movement is termed as Uttarayan(Summer solstice). The festival also marks the withdrawal of the North East Monsoons. In essence, the festivities of Pongal mark a reaffirmation of traditional values revolving around family and sharing. The Department of Posts honours this great tradition and also shares in the happy festivities by issuing this commemorative stamp on Pongal.