ROTARY INTERNATIONAL stamp released on 23 02 2005
Denomination :500p
Stamps Printed :0.8 Million
Date of Issue :23-02-2005
Theme:Organisation
Rotary International is the pioneer voluntary service organization providing humanitarian service, encouraging high ethical standards in all vocations, and helping to build goodwill and peace in the world. Formed on 23 February 1905 by Paul P. Harris of USA, Rotary has earned acclaim for nurturing ideals of service to mankind through the medium of diverse community projects, at international, national, regional, district and town levels. There are over 1.2 million Rotarians in 33000 clubs in 165 countries and 35 geographical regions worldwide.
Scrupulously adhering to its motto, “service above self’, Rotary strives to bring together people of all races, religious faiths, and political beliefs.
Rotary International is involved in multifarious activities such as eradication of polio, community service projects in different parts of the world, rehabilitation and total health care, rainwater harvesting and many more socially relevant projects.
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a ‘not for profit’ corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian programmes. It is supported totally by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.
In 1988, Rotary International embarked upon a very ambitious programme to eradicate polio from the face of the earth by the year 2005. As the leading key non-government partner in this programme along with national governments, WHO, UNICEF and CDC, Rotary has not only provided major funding over US $ 600 million for the polio eradication initiatives but has also mobilized volunteers to help carry out mass immunization campaign. It is all because of the cooperation and co-ordination between various international and national agencies towards polio eradication initiatives that the number of polio endemic countries has come down from 125 to 6 and more than four million children have benefitted.
Rotary came to India in 1919 and formed its first club in Kolkata. It has been aiming to serve the needy and underprivileged sections of the society. Rotary is spread all over India with more than 1 lakh members in 2500 clubs. It is also dedicated towards eradication of polio in India.
Rotary began to address the pressing global issues of environmental degradation with the formation of the Preserve Planet Earth Programme in 1990. It also focussed on issues concerning the problems of illiteracy & drug abuse and welfare of the elderly and the children.
The Department of Posts, is happy to issue a commemorative stamp on Rotary International in its centennial year.
STATE BANK OF INDIA stamp released on31 08 2005
Denomination :1500p
Stamps Printed :0.8 Million
Date of Issue :31-08-2005
Theme:Organisation
State Bank of India
The State Bank of India, the premier banking institution of the country, has an unparalleled history spanning two centuries. The Bank through its several incarnations has played a pioneering role in the development of Indian banking, commerce, finance and industry. As the standardbearer of Indian banking, the history of the State Bank of India encapsulates the economic history of India.
It all began with the Bank of Calcutta on the 2nd June 1806, which was later renamed as the Bank of Bengal in 1809, becoming the first of the Presidency Banks under the East India Company. The Presidency Banks of Bombay and Madras were established in 1840 and 1843 respectively. These three Presidency Banks heralded the onset of modern banking in India. They continued to issue currency notes till 1862, when this function was taken over by the Government. From 1866 they were given formal central bank status till the creation of the Reserve Bank of India in 1935. Under the Imperial Bank of India Act, the three Presidency Bank were amalgamated in 1921 to form the Imperial Bank of India, which was nationalized on the l st July 1955, resulting in the creation of the State Bank of India.
The State Bank of India began with a mandate for rapid expansion and within 5 years of its creation, it doubled its network with the opening of 416 new branches. Through 14 Local Head Offices and only 50 Zonal Offices, the system functions in a decentralized manner. Today with over 9000 branches, the State Bank of India has retained dominance over the Indian banking horizon.
In 1959 and 1960, the State Bank of India acquired eight banks, two of which were later merged into one. These seven Associate Banks today form an important part of the State Bank Group.
1980 onwards the State Bank of India has created subsidiary companies, which have undertaken Merchant Banking, Leasing, Mutual Funds, Home Finance, Gilts, Factoring, Life Insurance, Credit Cards, and Debit Cards etc. thus transforming itself into a financial service conglomerate. It also has over 50 Offices and several banking subsidiaries in foreign countries.
The Bank has particularly been serving through its rural and semi-urban network, promoting agriculture and small-scale industries.
The Bank has been actively participating in the employment generation and poverty alleviation schemes sponsored by the Government such as Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna, Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojna, Swarnjayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojna, scheme for liberation and rehabilitation of scavengers etc.
The Bank has been the convener of State Level Bankers’ Committee in eleven states and two union territories and is the lead bank in 190 districts, mostly in hilly and backward areas.
The Bank is also focusing on core infrastructure sectors like power, telecom, petroleum, oil, gas, paperboards, hotels etc. The Bank is planning increased penetration in auto components, rice mills, brassware, agro pump sets, etc. In retail, the Bank is greatly focussed on contract farming. Customized products have been introduced for tourism.
State Bank of India is the only Indian bank, to be among the top ten banks in the world. The State Bank of India and its predecessors have always effectively combined their roles as important instruments of public policy with their commercial status, competing successfully in the market and earning consistent profit throughout their existence. State Bank of India can truly represent the Indian economy in the global markets. Its activities not only touch everyone in India, but also lend strength to Indian economy on a global platform.
The Department of Posts is happy to issue a ‘commemorative postage stamp on the bicentennial year of the State Bank of India.
300 YEARS OF 15 PUNJAB (PATIALA) stamp released on 13 04 2005
Denomination :500p
Stamps Printed :0.8 Million
Date of Issue :13-04-2005
Theme: Armed Forces
300 Years of 15 Punjab (Patiala)
One of the oldest and the most decorated battalions of the Indian Army, 15 Punjab (Patiala) was raised on 13th April, 1705, by Baba Alla Singh, founder of the Patiala State. By virtue of its bravery and valour, the battalion has earned acclaim and glory. Serving in different geographical locations, bracing hostile climate in difficult terrain, the battalion displayed gallantry in different parts of the globe as well as in the country. During World War I, it took part in operation in Middle East (Suez, Gallipoli and Palestine). In 1932 it was redesignated as 1 st Patiala Rajindra Sikh Infantry.
During the Second world War, the battalion fought in Waziristan and then went to Burma where it fought the enemy advancing towards India. It sailed to Port Dickson for action in Malaya and Batavia (now Java). In 1948 the battalion fought in Chhamb, Nowshera and Jhanghar. The finnest moment was at ‘Zojila’ pass where, ill-equipped and unacclimatized. PATIALAS achieved resounding success, earning eight Mahavir Chakras (MVCs), eighteen Vir Chakras (VrCs) and seventy two awards, including the Battle Honour “Zojila”. In 1951 the unit was integrated into the Indian Army and was redesignated as 15 PUNJAB (PATIALA).
During 1971 war the battalion fought heroically at Hussainiwala. In 1988 the battalion evicted the intruders from Dalunang Sector and was awarded one Yudh Seva Medal, one Mentioned-in-despatched and eight Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Commendation cards. The battalion showed exemplary performance during the Counter Insurgency Operations in Baramulla Sector during 1992 to 1995, earning fifty awards including one Kirti Chakra and two Shaurya Chakra. For its excellent performance at Sunderbani (J&K) during ‘OP VIJAY’ in 1999, the Battalion was Awarded one Vishisht Seva Medal along with other awards.
India Post is proud in issuing a commemorative postage stamp on the tercentenary of 15 PUNJAB (PATILA), and joins the nation to pay homage to its gallantry and trail blazing history.
KRISHAN KANT stamp released on 23-02-2005
Denomination :500p
Stamps Printed :0.6 Million
Date of Issue :23-02-2005
Theme:Personality
A true Gandhian and an eminent parliamentarian, Shri Krishan Kant was born on February 28, 1927 in the northern State of Punj ab in a family of freedom fighters. His father, Lala Achint Ram was a member of the Constituent Assembly and a Member ofParliament. He was also a prominent Congress leader and a pillar of the Bhoodan Movement in Punjab. His mother Smt. Satya Vati, now hundred years of age, is among the oldest living freedom fighters.
Shri Krishan Kant was educated at DA. V College, Lahore and Benaras Hindu University where he obtained his Master’s degree in Technology. He began his career as a scientist with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. He was a strong votary ofintegrating science with spirituality.
Inspired by his parents, he joined the freedom struggle at the tender age of 15, when he was jailed by the British for his active participation in the Quit India Movement. After independence Shri Krishan Kant was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1966 and remained a Member of the Rajya Sabha for 11 years, and subsequently, a Member of the Lok Sabha till 1980.
A versatile personality and a fine orator, he was known popularly as one of the’Young Turks’.
Shri Krishan Kant’s distinctive contribution lay in his consistent endeavour to evolve a consensus within the country on various divisive issues. He also organized ‘Sanjh Samagams’ in Punjab, focussing on the state’s rich commonality of culture.
On 7′ February, 1990 Shri Krishan Kant was appointed the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, where he espoused the cause of the Dalits, Women’s empowerment and prohibition. He initiated bold sociospiritual experiments by founding Satya Mandirs where people could assemble and solve their problems in the overarching edifice of Truth and Love.
Shri Krishan Kant held the office of the VicePresident of India and Ex-officio Chairman of the Ra jya Sabha from 2V August, 1997 until his demise on 271 July, 2002. As the Chairman, his unique style of defusing tense moments in the house with his witty remarks and his complete sense of fairness and impartibility became legendary.
Shri Krishan Kant was very sensitive towards social, political and cultural issues. He was the Founding General Secretary ofthe People’s Union for Civil Liberties and Democratic Rights. He was also the President of the Servants of the People Society, established by Lala Lajpat Rai.
A connoisseur of Urdu Poetry, Shri Krishan Kant was a prolific writer who contributed profusely to prominent dailies and periodicals on issues relating to national and international politics, culture, science, defence and foreign policy.
The Department of Posts is proud to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Shri Krishan Kant who epitomized Gandhian ideals of service and sacrifice.
PADAMPAT SINGHANIA stamp released on 03 02 2005
Denomination :500p
Stamps Printed :0.6 Million
Date of Issue :03-02-2005
Theme:Personality
An industrialist with a nationalistic fervour who believed that road to true freedom goes through industrial liberation, Padampat Singhania, Head of J.K. Organization, was one of India’s pioneering entrepreneurs, and a philanthropist as well.Born on 3rd February 1905, to Kamalapat Singhania and Ram Pyari, Padampat Singhania played a significant role in India’s constitutional history as a member of the Constituent Assembly and as a signatory to the Constitution.
Padampat Singhania did not receive formal educational qualifications at any school. He learnt the lessons of life outside educational institutions.
Even at a tender age, Padampat Singhania showed tremendous maturity and business acumen. He was barely 16, when he began to shoulder major responsibilities in the newly established J.K. Cotton Spinning and Weaving Mills in the true spirit of the Swadeshi Movement. He managed the business remarkably well after his father’s death. Padampat Singhania possessed great nationalist convictions. In 1942 at the peak of the Quit India Movement, he was approached by such eminent freedom fighters as Mahamana Madan Mohan Malviya and Shri Balkrishna Sharma for funds. He was also a party to the execution of a secret undercover operation.
Although conferred with Knighthood by the British in the year 1943, he continued his support to the Swadeshi Movement and the freedom struggle through generous financial assistance. Padampat Singhania significantly influenced the Indian industrial scenario in the post independence era through his industrial empire. Today, there are over 70 units in India and abroad with activities ranging from conventional products to cotton textiles, jute textiles, woolen textiles, rayon, nylon, iron & steel, cement, shipping, air transportation etc.
In 1969, he was conferred “D.Litt” (Honoris Causa) by the University of Kanpur.
His simplicity and devotion to the service of humanity won him laurels. His entire career was dedicated to the service of his countrymen. Padampat Singhania took active part in promotion and upliftment of various public bodies and founded Merchants’ Chamber of Uttar Pradesh, Kanpur.
He was also a member of the Legislative Assembly and the Constituent Assembly.
He was a believer in social and religious reforms and a staunch follower of the tenets enshrined in the Gita. He built many educational, medical and religious institutions for the good of the people, but he left for the heavenly abode on 18th November 1979.
The Department of Posts honours the spirit of nationalism and entrepreneurship with the issue of a commemorative postage stamp on Padampat Singhania.
BANDUNG CONFERENCE 1955 stamp released on 18 04 2005
Denomination :1500p
Stamps Printed :0.8 Million
Date of Issue :18-04-2005
Theme: Events National and International
Bandung Conference 1955
Bandung Conference, the first meeting of the newly independent states of Africa and Asia was a clarion call for the independence of the subjugated people. Marking the germination of the ideas of South-South Cooperation, this Conference was a collective effort by the AfroAsian nations to assert their presence on the world stage.
The Conference was a path-breaking meeting, convened upon the invitation of the Prime Ministers of Burna (now Myanmar), Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), India, Indonesia and Pakistan, and was attended by 24 other countries of Africa and Asia. Held in Bandung, Central Java, Indonesia in April 18-24, 1955, this Conference brought together some of the towering personalites of that time who envisaged a global order based on equality among nations, territorial integrity, sovereignty and development for all. The leaders were concerned not only with the great issues of the day - freedom, economic and political, fundamental human rights etc. but were gifted with a vision for the combined future of entire community. Emerging from the yoke of colonialism and the ravages of the Second World War into a world divided between conflicting ideologies, the leaders gathered at Bandung steadfastedly refused to join any pre existing and dominant alignments.
The neo independent countries participating in this meeting firmly believed that another world order was not only conceivable but also possible. Envisaging an independent frame of moral power as a counterweight to the bipolar world, the leaders wished to work together to see the new world order emerge.
Bandung initiated the process of the nations of the South coming together, to renew their ancient links - economic, cultural, political and social - that had been severed under colonialism, and to cooperate through exchange of experts & know-how, through establishment of national and regional technical institutions, promotion of joint-ventures, collective actions to safe-guard the interests etc. The Conference was the harbinger of many economic ideas such as diversification of export baskets, value addition to exports, intra-regional economic and commercial links and exchange of commerical information.
The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Bandung Conference, 1955.
ABDUL QUIYUM ANSARI stamp released on 01 07 2005
Denomination :500p
Stamps Printed :0.6 Million
Date of Issue :01-07-2005
Theme:Personality
Abdul Qaiyum Ansari
Abdul Qaiyum Ansari was a distinguished patriot, an eminent leader and administrator, and a social reformer with a firm commitment to national integration, secularism and communal harmony.
Born at Dehri-on-Sone in Bihar on 1st July, 1905, he was the second son of M. Abdul Hag and Safia Begum. After studying at Sasaram and Dehri-on-Sone High Schools, he went on to attend Aligarh Muslim University, Calcutta University, and Allahabad University, though his education was interrupted from time to time due to his active involvement in the struggle for India’s freedom. He got caught up in the movement at a very young age when he, along with others, left the government run school at Dehri-on-Sone, to establish a national school for the students who had boycotted government schools in response to the call of the Indian National Congress. Arrested and imprisoned at the young age of 16 for taking part in the anti-British Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movements, he remained closely associated with the Indian National Congress throughout his years as a youth leader and took part in the students’ agitation against the allwhite Simon Commission during its visit to Calcutta in 1928.
Abdul Qaiyum Ansari opposed the communal policies of the Muslim League and its demand for the creation of Pakistan by dividing India, as also its claim to represent the Muslims of India. He, therefore, started the Momin Movement in 1937-38, to counteract the policies of the Muslim League, and for the social, political, and also economic emancipation and upliftment of the backward Momin community which made up at least half of India’s Muslim population. Under his leadership the All India Momin Conference supported the Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi which he perceived to be fighting for freedom for a united India, and for the establishment and development of social equality, secularism and democracy. He also worked for the economic welfare of weavers and other artisan communities, and for the development of the handloom sector in the textile industry of the country.
In the general elections of 1946 held on the basis of separate electorates, his party won six seats in the Bihar Provincial Assembly against the Muslim League. He became the first Momin to become a Minister of Bihar. Later on, in consultation with his party, he signed the Congress pledge and dissolved the Momin Conference as a political body, and made it a social and economic organization. He was a Minister in the Bihar Cabinet for about seventeen years and held various important portfolios and discharged his responsibilities most ably, building up a reputation for selfless service and integrity.
He was the first Indian nationalist Muslim Leader who condemned the Pakistani aggression on Kashmir during October, 1947, and strenuously worked to rouse the Muslim masses to meet such aggressions as true citizens of India. He also founded the Indian Muslim Youth Kashmir Front in 1957 for liberation of Pakistani occupied areas of Kashmir. Subsequently, he also exhorted the Indian Muslims to support the Government of India in the anti-Indian uprising of the Razakars in Hyderabad during September, 1948.
A champion of the poor and downtrodden, Abdul Qaiyum Ansari worked for the spread of education and literacy and the first All India Backward Classes Commission was appointed by the Government of India in 1953 largely at his initiative.
Widely read and traveled, with a formidable understanding of national and international affairs Abdul Qaiyum Ansari was associated with numerous public and government bodies in his lifetime. He was also an accomplished journalist, writer and poet, and editor of Urdu weekly “Al-Islah” (The Reform) and an Urdu monthly “Musawat” (Equality) in the preindependence days.
A man of the people, Abdul Qaiyum Ansari died in their service on 18th January, 1973, at village Amiawar of Bihar, while inspecting damages caused to the village due to the collapse of the Dehri-Arrah canal and organizing relief to its homeless people.
The Department of Posts is privileged to issue a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Abdul Qaiyum Ansari..
DANDI MARCH stamp released on 06 04 2005
Denomination :500,500,500,500p
Stamps Printed :0.8 Million each
Date of Issue :06-04-2005
Theme: Events National and International
“As the march continued, as days broke into dawn and dawn ripened into dusk, we saw before our very eyes the history of the
world changing. We saw the whole of India rising up with rekindled enthusiasm and, faith. ”
- Sarojini Naidu
Dandi March was one of the most inspiring chapters in the history of the Indian freedom struggle. Although every political act of Mahatma Gandhi was rich in symbolism, Dandi March was an outstanding example as it fired a people to believe collectively as a nation and to come together on a common platform.
Mahatma Gandhi believed firmly in opposing all that was morally unjustifiable, and he would, in his own inimitable way, give expression to such a protest. His opposition to the Salt Tax imposed by the British, was thus elemental and yet effective in rousing the nation,. Announcing the decision to launch the Salt Satyagarha, Gandhiji wrote to Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India, “I regard this Tax (on salt) to be the most iniquitous of all from the poor man’s standpoint. As the independence movement is essentially for the poorest in the land, the beginning will be made with this evil.” The Salt Satyagraha was a masterstroke in political mobilization which also conclusively established that civil disobedience, as a means to achieve freedom was a viable political medium.
On March 12, 1930, Gandhiji started the historic march from Sabarmati Ashram with 78 volunteers to Dandi on the Gujarat Coast. The 25-day long march through dusty and muddy tracks, sometimes through knee-deep waters, culminated on April 6, 1930. Gandhiji picked up a small lump of natural salt, thereby giving the signal to hundreds of thousands of people to similarly defy the law, since the British exercised a monopoly on the production and sale of salt. This was the beginning of the civil disobedience movement. Gandhiji had said in the young India, “I know that the Salt Tax has to go and many other things with it. ”
Gandhiji’s polities was always dictated by a moral logic that went beyond the immediate political priority. To tax salt, a necessity of even the poorest ofthepoor, was to deprive the poor of his basic necessity.
The symbolic struggle to control manufacture of salt soon become a larger statement on what freedom meant.
The effects of the Salt Satyagraha were felt across the country. Thousands of followers were hauled into jail but it was only on May 4, 1930 that the Viceroy’s police arrested Gandhiji under a regulation of 1827.
This period is to be considered the apex of Gandhiji’s political appeal, as the march mobilized many new followers from all sections of the Indian society and with this, the nation had unshackled itself and achieved a symbolic emancipation.
This set of four stamps along with a miniature sheet tries to capture the historic moment and its varied facets. The first stamp (clockwise) catches a glimpse of the marchers, led by Mahatma Gandhi on the move. The second stamp shows Mahatma Gandhi while the headlines in “Bombay Chronicle” of March 13, 1930 announce the beginning of the “Great March for Liberty”. The third stamp shows lines written by Mahatma Gandhi on April 5th, 1930, “I want world sympathy in this battle of Right against the might”.
And finally, the last stamp, while showing the course traversed during the march, has Gandhiji picking up a lump of salt, a simple act, which forever become the powerful symbol of the Salt Satyagrah
.
The miniature sheet extends the idea encapsulated in the stamps with artistic depictions ofthe route taken during the commemoration of 75 years of Dandi March, while showing the historical footage of the followers of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Department of Posts joins the nation in commemorating the 75th anniversary of Dandi March and is privileged to issue this set of stamps on this occasion
100 YEARS OF COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT IN INDIA stamp released on 08 05 2005
Denomination :500p
Stamps Printed :0.8 Million
Date of Issue :08-05-2005
Theme:Events National and International
100 Years of Cooperative Movement in India
The concept of cooperation can be traced to our ancient Vedas and Upanishads. It was embedded in our past as an economic form of governance.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the problems of rural indebtedness and the consequent conditions of farmers created an environment for the cooperative societies. The farmers found the cooperative movement an attractive mechanism for pooling their meager resources for solving common problems relating to credit, supplies of inputs and marketing of agricultural produce. The experience gained in the working of cooperatives led to the enactment of the first cooperative law of India, ‘The Cooperative Credit Societies Act, 1904′ and the `Agricultural Credit Cooperative Society’ of Kanaginahal Village of Gadag District in Karnataka was the first cooperative society formed under this Act. This was launched on 8th May 1905 by the villagers of Kanaginahal under the leadership of Shri Siddanagowda Sannaramanagowda Patil with the initial share capital of rupees two thousand. His efforts led to formation of cooperative societies all over the country. In the post independence era with the adoption of economic planning, cooperative movement was recognized as an important and preferred institutional framework for economic development and social justice.
Over the years, cooperative movement has achieved phenomenal growth with multi-dimensional development of cooperatives in almost all conceivable area of‘ economic development. Today, Indian Cooperative Movement is the largest in the world having more than half a million cooperative societies with a membership of about 230 million. The cooperatives have covered 100 percent of villages and 75 percent of rural households and have created a formidable base for themselves in various segments of the Indian economy reflected by credit and banking, marketing, processing, distribution, dairy, storage, handloom, handicrafts, fisheries, sugar, hospitals, tourism, housing, labour etc.
Cooperatives are disbursing 46 percent of total agricultural credit and are producing 28 percent of total fertilizer along with fertilizer distribution of about 36 percent. In the production of sugar the cooperative share of the market is about 59 percent and in the marketing and distribution of cotton they have a share of around 60 percent. In the field of housing as well, cooperatives are playing a dominant role especially in the urban areas. The consumer cooperatives are becoming the backbone of the public distribution system. In the field of milk production, India stands first in the world. This has been achieved mainly by following the cooperative methodology.
The National Cooperative Union of India is the apex organization promoting the cooperative movement in the country. The role of cooperatives has acquired a new dimension in the changing scenario of globalization and liberalization of economy and cooperatives, at all levels, are making efforts to reorient themselves according to the market demands. The Government of India has initiated several measures to strengthen and revitalize the cooperative structure in the country including constitutional amendment in order to ensure the autonomous, democratic and professional functioning of these institutions and ultimately to improve the quality of life of the people.
The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on the Centenary of the Cooperative Movement in India.
A M M MURUGAPPA CHETTIAR stamp released on 01 10 2005
Denomination :500p
Stamps Printed :0.6 Million
Date of Issue :01-10-2005
Theme:Personality
A.M.M. MURUGAPPA CHETTIAR
Shri A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar was one of India’s pioneering entrepreneurs and a philanthropist, whose role in building up the economic and industrial infrastructure of the country in the post independence era cannot be forgotten.
Son of Dewan BahadurA.M. Murugappa Chettiar, Shri A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar was born on 22nd January 1902 at Pallathur in Ramnad District in Tamil Nadu. From a tender age, Shri A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar showed tremendous maturity and business acumen. He realized the importance of promoting light and medium engineering industries in India in those days. This vision resulted in the establishment of the wellknown Tube Investments India Limited in collaboration with the famous British group, Tube Investments Ltd., Birmingham. His T.I. Metal Sections, Wright Saddles of India, T.I. Diamond chain Ltd. and T.I. Miller Ltd. contributed in the production of the world famous brand of Hercules,, Phillips and BSA cycles, bicycle components, electric resistance welded tubes, bicycle and industrial chains, dynamo lamps etc. Yet another well-planned industry that was developed by A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar was the Carborundum Universal Ltd. in Chennai, in collaboration with the Carborundum Company Ltd. of U.K. for production of abrasives and grinding stones. He was also instrumental in starting several other industrial ventures like the Coromandal engineering Co. Ltd. etc.
Together these industries have resulted in a business conglomerate actively engaged in such diverse fields as abrasives, Building material, Engineering. Farm Inputs, Food Processing, Financial Services, Marketing Services, Plantation, Sugar, Bio-Products and Chemicals, and provide direct employment to over 28,000 persons.
He was honoured with the Directorship of several industrial, commercial and educational establishments. He became a member of the all tridia. Council for Tixhnical Education, a member of the Senate of the University of MKIras, also President of the Southern India Chamber of Commerce. He was the first Indian elected as the President of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce Industry.
At the same time he retained a firm sense of service to his countrymen and particularly the poor and needy. To further this end he set up a charitable trust called A,M,M. Charities Trust (now A.M,M, Foundation) which has been responsible for establishing and administering various institutions such as the A.M.M. Hospital, Murugappa Chettiar Memorial Polytechnic, Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar Higher Secondary School, VeIlnyan Chettiar Higher Secondary School, Sir Ivan Stedeford Hospital, etc,
Shri A.M,M, Murugappa Chettiar passed away in 1965 after leaving an indeIible imprint on Indian Industry and commerce
The Department of Post honours his spirit of entrepreneurship with the issue of a commemorative postage stamp on Shri A.M,M, Murugappa Chettiar.