Leap Year 2008 comes to an end - an eventful, tumultuous year in which all hell broke loose- a year many of us would like to erase from our memories but a year which historians would not allow us to forget.

As I try and recollect the important events of 2008 the following flash in my mind:

It was a year in which BSE Sensex scaled 21000 and also came below 8000.

It was a year in which crude touched US$ 150/barrel & then fell to US $ 30/barrel

It was a year in which financial heroes turned to zeroes. Institutions like Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs, AIG, Bear Sterns, Merrill were forced to bite the dust with many collapsing like pack of cards.

It was a year in which credit/ economic crises gripped the world and USA went on an over-drive of nationalizing the key industries.

It was a year in which Fed Reserve and Bank of Japan cut interest rate to zero.

It was a year in which USA for the first time in their history elected an Afro-American as the President.

It was a year in which China hosted the Olympics and also faced one of the worst earthquakes.

It was a year in which Bindra won the first individual gold medal in Olympics and did India proud. It was also the year in which Dhoni & his team had a dream run in Cricket.

It was an year in which India faced terrorist attacks in cities like Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Delhi culminating in the worst form of terror attack in Mumbai with Tajmahal & Oberoi - two landmark hotels of Mumbai being under seize leading to several innocent lives being lost.

It was a year in which the sight of smoke billowing from the tower of Tajmahal Palace Hotel telecast continuously for 60 hours by the Indian electronic media aroused the educated & elite from their slumber and they cried in unison: “enough is enough”!

It was a year in which another Indian beauty came close to winning the coveted Miss World title.

It was a year in which an Indian spaceship landed on the moon.

It was a year in which Singh became the king - whether it was Manmohan, Jaspal, Yuvraj , Harbhajan or Akshay Kumar.

With 2008 behind us, let us welcome 2009 with open arms with new hope for a better world & better times ahead!

Stamps Printed :0.6 Million

Date of Issue :21-10-2005

Theme:Post: Personality

Vi. KALYANASUNDARANAR

Vi Kalyanasundaranar, popularly known as Thiru Vi. Ka. was one of the prominent figures in Indian political life. He was an eminent scholar in Tamil, a prolific writer, a fiery speaker, a trade union leader, and a freedom fighter as well.

He was born on 26th August 1883 to Virudhachala Mudaliar and Chinnammal. After completing his education in Wesley High School, Royapettah, he joined as a teacher in the same school. He worked in several companies run by the English, but inspired by the ideals of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and the prevailing nationalist sentiments, he gave up his job and joined the freedom struggle. For this he was put under house arrest.

In 1983, Vi. Kalyanasundaranar was closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi. Whenever Gandhiji came to Chennai and addressed public meetings, Vi. Kalyanasundaranar translated his speeches in Tamil language. It was he who started addressing Mahatma Gandhi as ‘Gandhi Adigal’. He did not hesitate from addressing the gatherings in Tamil. This encouraged others to feel proud of expressing themselves freely in their mother tongue i.e. Tamil while addressing public meetings at that time.

He started a labour union in 1918 in Chennai. He organized a confederation of labour unions in 1920.

He started a newspaper ‘Desa Bakthan’ but it was banned by the British. Then he started another newspaper’Nava Sakthi’ and worked for the growth of Tamil language and for propagating nationalist ideals

.

A great scholar, Vi. Kalyanasundaranar authored more than fifty books, the most popular being ‘The Greatness of Women’ in which he spreadd the ideals of national freedom, the growth of Tamil language and literature, and social reforms, particularly emancipation of women in all walks of life.

His career was marked by his nationalism, spiritual discipline, courage and compassion. He passed away on 17th September 1953, but his legacy lives on.

The Department of Posts honours the life and works of Vi. Kalyanasundaranar through the issue of a commemorative postage stamp.

Stamps Printed :0.6 Million

Date of Issue :17-11-2005

Theme:Events national and International

World Summit on the Information Society

The digital revolution in information and communication technologies has created the platform for a free flow of information, ideas and knowledge across the globe. This revolution has made a profound impression on the way the world functions and is critical to both the developed world as a business and social tool and the developing world as a passport to equitable participation, as well as- economic, social and educational development.

World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is a formal United Nations Summit at the level of Heads of State and Government. It is the result of an initiative by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) further endorsed by the United Nationals General Assembly (Resolution 56/1983) in 2001. Its aim is to develop a common vision and understanding of the Global Information Society and to draw up a strategic Plan of Action for concerted development towards realizing this vision. The purpose of the World Summit on the Information Society is to ensure that these benefits are accessible to all while promoting specific advantages in areas such as e-strategies, e-commerce, e- governance, e-health, education, literacy, cultural diversity, gender equality, sustainable development and environmental protection.

The process is divided in two phases and the first phase of the summit was held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003, where the foundations were laid by reaching agreement on a Declaration of Principles and a plan of action which form the basis for a global common approach towards the Information Society of all United Nations Member States where the Declaration of Principles presents a vision of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). At WSIS Geneva in December 2003, World leaders declared “our common desire and commitment to build a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society, where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge, enabling individuals, communities and peoples to achieve their full potential in promoting their sustainable development and improving their quality of life, premised on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and respecting fully and upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

The Road to Tunis entails a process of monitoring and evaluation of the progress of feasible actions laid out in the Geneva Plan and a concrete set of deliverables that must be achieved by the time the Summit meets again in Tunis on 16 to 18 November 2005. Efforts are now being made to put the Plan of Action into motion and working groups are being set up to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance and financing mechanisms.

United Nations Summits have been held on a variety of issues that have commanded the attention of the world, including the pioneering World Summit for Children (1990), the Earth Summit on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), the World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna, 1993), the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994), the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, 1995), the International Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995, and the Financing for Development Conference (Monterrey, Mexico, 2002). The Millennium Summit (New York, 2000) brought together world leaders in a unique display of solidarity to achieve far-reaching development goals by 2015.

The objective of the WSIS is to effectively assist the United Nations in fulfilling the goals of the Millennium Declaration. The ultimate objective is to turn the vision of an inclusive and equitable Information Society into reality. This is only possible when the digital revolution is harnessed into extending the frontiers of the global village as well as facilitating the free flow of knowledge and information for economic and social development.

India Post is pleased to issue a postage stamp to commemorate the World Summit on the Information Society, Tunis, 2005

Stamps Printed :0.6 Million

Date of Issue :21-10-2005

Theme:Post: Personality

KAVIMANI S.
DESIGAVINAYAGAM PILLAI

In the annals of 20th century Tamil literature, the name of S. Desigavinayagam Pillai occupies a special place.

Born to Sivathanupillai and Adilakshmi at Theroor in the Princely state of Travancore now known as Kanyakumari District in Tamilnadu on 27th July 1876, Desigavinayagam Pillai had his early school education in Theroor and attended college at Nagarcoil. He started his career as a school teacher and after serving in one or two schools in Kottar and in Trivandrum, he joined Maharaja’s college at Trivandrum as a lecturer in Tamil.

He composed his first Tamil poem at the age of 19. He wrote many songs for children which were published in’Malarum Malayum’ (Flower & Garland) in 1938. Asiya Jothi (Light of Asia), Nanjil Nattu Marumakkal Vazhi Manmiyam (a satire on society) and the translation of the work of Omarkhayyam are his master pieces. Even now, his poems are taught in schools and colleges. His poems are marked by nobility of intent and simplicity of language. He had a good command over Malayalam and English and translated the work of some selected authors from English to Tamil. In 1940 the Tamil S angam at its 7th annual conference held at Madras honoured Desigavinayagam Pillai with the title’Kavimani .

He was also an epigraphist and studied many stone inscriptions in and around Kanyakumari and Nagarcoil. His research work “Kandalur Salai” was very famous and was reprinted in the year 1953. Desigavinayagam Pillai adopted simple living and high thinking as his guiding principle. In 1948 Kavimani was offered the post of the Laureate which he refused and recommended the name of a contemporary Tamil poet for this post. He also showed unwillingness for the post of Honorary Professor of Tamil offered by Shri Raja Muthiya Chettiyar, the pro-chancellor of Annamalai University.

A devout follower of Gandhiji, he always wore khadi and use to spin the Charkha. He was deeply concerned with the upliftment of the downtrodden.

The South Travancore Hindu College was the brain child of Kavimani Desigavinayagam Pillai. He retired from service early back in 1931 but even after retirement he worked as a member of text book committee of Travancore state and also as a consultant for Tamil lexicon prepared by Madras University.

He breathed his last on 26th September 1954 at the age of 78 but till today kavimani S. Desigavinayagam Pillai lives in the hearts and minds of people because of his noble deeds and legendary qualities

.

The Department of Posts honours the memory of Kavimani Desigavinayagam Pillai through issue of this commemorative postage stamp.

Stamps Printed :0.6 Million

Date of Issue :24-11-2005

Theme:Post: Personality

Prabodh Chandra

Prabodh Chandra was a great freedom fighter and a visionary leader.

Born at Rawalpindi (now in Pakistan) on 24th October 1911, to Satya Dev, Headmaster of a Government High School and Durga Devi, he did his matriculation from the Government High School, Gujarat in 1927 and his Intermediate as a private candidate in 1930 before completing his graduation and Post Graduation from the F.C. College, Lahore (now in Pakistan). An admirer of Subhash Chandra Bose, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad and the Zutshi sisters, he was also influenced with the lives of Shivaji and Garibaldi. He started his political career at the age of 16 and formed the Multan Student Union in 1927. He was closely associated with the Lahore Revolutionary Party and was arrested in connection with the Multan Bomb case in 1929. He was first jailed in 1930 and 1936, and again from 1942 to 1945. He laid the foundations of the students’ movement in Punjab, and was Chairman of the AllIndia Students’ Conference in 1936. He was also selected as the sole representative of the Indian students to the World Youth Congress in Budapest in 1938 which he could not attend.

Later on he joined the Indian National Congress and was a member of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.

He was elected a Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1946. After independence, he remained Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1952, 1960 and 1962.

He held the august office of the Speaker, Punjab Legislative Assembly from March 1962 to March 1964. He served as a Minister of Education, Health and local Self Government in the Council of Ministers of Punjab. He was also a Member of Parliament from 1971 to 1977. He was associated with numerous public and Government bodies in his lifetime.

A man of the masses, Prabodh Chandra always strove for the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. He emphasized on social equality. He was the supporter of cottage industries, although he was not against the heavy industries either.

He was also an accomplished writer and editor of on English Monthly `The Students’ Tribune’ at Lahore in 1936. He also contributed articles to the ‘Contemporary India’, a quarterly journal: `Student’s Movement in India’ (1939), `Sixty Year’ of Congress’ (1946) were his popular publications.

He died on 8th February 1986.

The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Prabodh Chandra.

Stamps Printed :0.8 Million

Date of Issue :14-11-2005

Theme: Childrens Days

Children’s film society

The concept of an exclusive cinema for India’s children was mooted by our First Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, whose affection for children is well known. Children’s Film Society, India, was established and registered as a society on 30th April, 1955 under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. The avowed objective of the society was to undertake and organize production, distribution and exhibition of feature films for children, provide them healthy and wholesome entertainment, enhance their knowledge, develop their character, and broaden their perspective.

The first governing body of Children’s Film Society consisted of 13 members, headed by Shri H.N. Kunzru, who was designated as President of the Society. This society is an autonomous body, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.

The Chairperson, who is an eminent personality in the field of Cinema, heads the society. The Chairperson is also the head of the Executive Council and the General Body, member of which are nominated by Government of India.

Children’s Film Society produces full-length feature films, featurettes, TV serials, short documentaries and also animation and puppet films for children. Procuring the exhibition rights of outstanding foreign films and serials is also done by Children’s Film Society, India. It dubs its films in all major Indian languages. In the last 50 years, Children’s Film Society has made more than 100 feature films, 30 short animations, 9 puppet films, as well as 52 short documentaries and news magazines which are presently available in both the film and video formats.

The exhibition of films is held at several levels -from screenings to telecasts. State and District level Children’s Film Festivals are organized in remote areas in close collaboration with State/District authorities and NGOs. The films are shown on Doordarshan network and private satellite channels. At present, more than 8000 shows were organized benefiting more than 361akhs children.

Films made by the Children’s Film Society such as Yeh Hai Chakkad Bakkad Bumbe Bo, Heda Hoda, Malli, etc. have entered various International Competitive Film Festivals and have won several awards during the past years. The Children’s Film Society also bagged various National awards for films such as TORA (Assamese), JEO AUR JEENE DO (Hindi) etc.

The Children’s Film Society conducts a wide variety of workshops so as to encourage a whole new brand of writers and filmmakers to create the children’s cinema of tomorrow. It conducts 15 such workshops in a year.

The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on the Children’s Film Society on its GOLDEN JUBILEE.

Stamps Printed :0.8 Million

Date of Issue :16-11-2005

Theme:Organisation

PHD Chamber of Commerce And
Industry

Established in 1905, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the apex Chamber of North India, actively serving the interests of trade and industry in ten states viz. Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar pradesh, Himachal pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh. Uttaranchal and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Since its inception, the Chamber has been a harbinger of change and economic growth as also contributing to the promotion of trade and industry in the region for more than nine decades.

The Chamber was originally established as the Punjab Chamber of Commerce. With the attainment of independence and in the aftermath of partition, when Delhi became a separate territorial unit with a large population, the Chamber adopted the new name of Punjab and Delhi Chamber of Commerce, in 1952. Over the years, however, as the manufacturing sector gained in importance and more members of the Chamber came to be engaged in industry, the term ‘Industry’ was added to its name, in 1964, in order to reflect the true character of the Chamber. Finally, with the expansion of its servicing jurisdication, the Chamber adopted the name “PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry” in the year 1981. The acronym PHD signifies Progress, Harmony and Development.

The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry has a membership of more than 1500 corporate entities reperesenting a wide spectrum of industrial, servicing, and trading activities, including chemicals, engineering, textiles, food processing, automobile components, consumer goods, financial and management consultancy, etc. In addition to direct membership, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry also serves 112 Association Members. These Association Members represent 35,000 commercial and industrial organizations. Offering varied services in tune with the requirements of its constituents, the chamber provides a common platform for meetings between representatives of trade, business and industry with the Government and lends valuables input for policy formulations The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also represented in several Advisory/Consultative bodies of the Central and State Governments.

The Chamber is managed by a Managing Committee comprising of senior industrialists of the region. It operates through Expert Committees and Task Forces consisting of nominees of member-companies, representing varied interests, who pool their knowledge and experience for the overall benefit of the business community. At present, apart from its Head Quarters in New Delhi, the Chamber has Regional offices at Chandigarh, Lucknow, Jaipur, Shimla and Bhopal.

The Chamber’s Secretariat provides services through specialized Divisions such as Northern Regional Development, Infrastructure, Economic Affairs, International Affairs, Corporate Affairs & Taxation and Financial Services sector. The Chamber has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with several foreign Chambers of Commerce/ Organizations with the objective of creating an institutional framework for the exchange of information on business opportunities, for promoting trade as well as technical and economic cooperation.

Over the years the Chamber has diversified its operations in order to improve the quality of life of the masses through various developmental activities in fields such as family welfare and family planning, social forestry, audit education, self employment opportunities, etc. Indeed, its motto, ‘In community’s life and part of It’, reflects the Chamber’s mission of promoting development and safeguarding the interests of business, there by contributing to the economy of the country.

The Department of Posts is proud to issue a commemorative postage stamp to mark the centenary of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Stamps Printed :0.6 Million

Date of Issue :19-11-2005

Theme:Organisation

KolKata Police Commissionerate

The beginning of policing in Kolkata can be traced in 1704 when a decision was taken to protect the life and property of the people by setting up a watch and ward unit for the township. In 1720, the East India company formally appointed the Zaminder of Calcutta to be in- charge of both civil and criminal administration who was assisted by Indian functionary. In 1778, the strength of the police in Calcutta was raised which was controlled by Thanadars and Naibs under a Superintendent.

In 1829, a six-member Committee was appointed by Lord William Bentinck for enquiry and advice on police reforms. Subsequently, in 1845 another Committee headed by Mr. Patton was appointed by the Government. This Committee recommended the appointment of a Commissioner of Police with powers of a justice of peace, which were necessary for the preservation of order and prevention and detection of crime. The recommendations of the Patton Committee resultedd in Act XIII of 1856 after receiving the assent of the Governor-General on 13 June 1856. Calcutta Police for the first time was treated as a separate organization and S. Wauchope, the then Chief-Magistrate, was appointed as the First Commissioner of Police on November 1856.

Starting with a modest strength, Kolkata Police, has grown into an organization comprising of more than twenty-six thousand police personnel. With its jurisdiction spread over 104 sq. Km, with a population of over 5 million and an additional floating population of over 2.5 million, policing in Kolkata is a unique challenge.

Kolkata Police has served the city with sincerity and dedication. Be it in the maintenance of law and order, prevention and detection of crime, controlling communal violence, disaster management or in providing internal security. Quick action springing from purposeful direction is achieved by the Police Commissionerate Systemm with a unitary chain of command and control.

In 1720 the Police establishment was located on the east of Norton’s Buildings. in 1784, The polish establishment, including the police force, was shifted to another building, “Harmonic Tavern.” Subsequently, the entire police office was relocated to the house of John Palmer. In 1835, The Government purchased the building for the Calcutta Police Head Quarters, demolished it in 1914 to facilitate construction of new premises. In Nov’ 1918, the present day Kolkata Police headquarters popularly known as “Lal Bazar” was completed.

As a people-friendly force, Kolkata Police has a number of proactive programmes to involve people from all walks of life into its work. Community Policing programmes involve regular interaction between Police Stations and local communities on local issues and problems. There are women’s counselling centres to help women in distress from domestic violence, sexual harassment or oppression. The force has also reached out with the Nabadisha education programme for street children, the friendship cup for the youth, and regular blood donation programmes that involve men of the force as well as the community.

The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Kolkata Police Commissionerate on it 150 yeas of dedicated service.

Stamps Printed :0.6 Million

Date of Issue :18-12-2005

Theme: Personality

M.S. Subbulakshmi

Mudurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi popularly known as M.S. was a renowned carnatic vocalist. She was one of the great woman artistes of India who had been able to move the hearts of millions and millions of men and women and was the most beloved idol of the public in the recent annals of Indian Music.

Subbulakshmi was born on September 16, 1916 at Madurai to Smt. Shanmukhavadivu, a celebrated veena artiste of her times. At the tender age of 13, she made her maiden public recital with her mother, who was also her Guru. She studied under Srinivasa lyengar of Madurai who taught her upto the ‘varnam’ stage. In the later years she had the good fortune to learn from several great musicians like Musiri Subramanya Iyer and Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. In 1940, she married T. Sadasivam, a freedom fighter and a film director. She gained in him a friend, philosopher and mentor.

Two events brought Subbulakshmi early into national prominence. The first was her participation in the All India Dance conference in Mumbai in 1944 where her performance created a great sensation. The second was her appearance in the lead-role in the film ‘Meera’ produced by her husband where she sang and acted, which brought her instant all-India-fame. So overwhelming was her music that Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru crowned her as “Queen of Song” and Sarojini Naidu, a poet and leader of our freedom movement praised her for the beauty of her voice and the magic of her personality.

Subbulakshmi known for her extraordinary vocal range never exceeded the demand of the composition of the song. She breathed music twenty-four hours a day and was also deeply religious. Her famous renditions include Bhajagovindam, Vishnu Sahasranamam and Venkateswara Suprabhatham. Gandhiji loved her rendition of North Indian Bhajans and requested her to sing some for his 78th birthday on October 2, 1947. Gandhiji particularly wanted to hear “Hari Tuma Haro” whose haunting refrain translates, “Oh Lord, take away the pain from mankind”. Not knowing this bhajan, she suggested another singer, but he refused, saying that he would rather listen her speak the words than another sing them. Such was the influence of the divine voice of Subbulakshmi.

She was India’s cultural ambassador. She has traveled widely to places like London, New York, Canada, the Far East to give concerts. In 1963, Subbulakshmi was invited to participate in the most popular event ‘Edinburgh Festival’. In October 1966, Subbulakshmi sang at United Nations as India’s representative on the occasion of United Nations Day celebrations. Hers was the inaugural concert at the Festival of India in London in 1982 and in the Soviet Union in 1987.

Subbulakshmi has rendered more than 200 benefit performances in aid of several national, social, religious and cultural causes and raised over a Crore rupees. She has received several titles and awards the world over. She was awarded ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 1954, when the National awards were first instituted. She was also honoured with title ‘Sangeetha Kalanidhi’. She was awarded Ramon Magsaysay Award in the year 1974 and the entire amount of US $ 10,000 has been donated to the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai, the V.H.S. Hospital ,etc. She was honoured with ‘Padma Vibhushan’ title in 1975. She was conferred Doctorate Degree “Desikottama” by Visva Bharathi University, Shanthiniketan, in 1981. She was awarded ‘Bharath Ratna’, the highest civilian award of Govt. of India in the year 1998. In addition, she received many- other awards conferred Doctorate, the list of which will be exhaustive.

Subbulakshmi’s music was unique in that it had universal appeal. In addition to its technical perfection, it was full of devotion to God. She had the ability to harmonize strict standards and popular appeal to do justice to the Music of South and the North. She used to point out that Ragas and Bhajans have been composed for the “purpose of directing the minds of the listeners towards God and his manifestations” and that “one’s singing comes through one’s own experience and it is this depth of feeling that enables one to communicate with the audience”.

M.S. Subbulakshmi gave lot of importance to mastering pronunciation, proper intonation. She always believed in hard work and that there was no short cut and advocated gurukula system of learning. Subbulakshmi advocated compulsory teaching of music at all levels of education, from primary through University for she believed that just as the study of science leads to the growth of knowledge, the study of music would bring serenity of mind.

The great musician attained Lord’s abode on 11′ December 200.

The Department of Posts is proud to issue a commemorative postage stamp in honour of M.S. Subbulak him, who had mesmerized packed audiences the world over with her consummate mastery of carnatic music for almost six decades.

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.