Vi KALYANASUNDARANAR stamp released on 21 10 2005
Denomination :500,p
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.
KAVIMANI DESIGAVINAYAGAM PILLAI stamp released on 21 10 2005
Denomination :500,p
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.
PRABODH CHANDRA stamp released on 24 10 2005
Denomination :500,p
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.
M S SUBBULAKSHMI stamp released on 18 12 2005
Denomination :500 p
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.
JAWAHARLAL DARDA stamp released on 02 12 2005
Denomination :500,p
Stamps Printed :0.6 Million
Date of Issue :22-11-2005
Theme: Personality
Jawaharlal Darda
Shri Jawaharlal Darda was a veteran freedom fighter and a committed journalist who laid the foundation of people-oriented journalism in Maharashtra.
Shri Jawaharlal Darda was born to Shri Amolchand and Smt. Kusumba in Babhulgaon village of Yawatmal district in Maharashtra on July 2, 1923. At the tender age of 17, he joined the freedom struggle. He also undertook a 400-mile long `padyatra’. He actively participated in the `Quit India’ Movement in 1942 and was imprisoned by the colonial rulers.
In 1947 Shri Jawaharlal Darda Launched `Nave Jag’, a weekly newspaper from Yawatmal to foster the spirit of nationalism. Later he launched `Lokmat’, a Marathi weekly in 1952 which was transformed into a daily in 1971. Now this newspaper is published from 13 cities of Maharashtra besides editions in English and Hindi.
Shri Jawaharlal Darda was elected as the President of the Yawatmal District Congress Committee from 1944 to 1956. A large area of land was donated in Yawatmal district during Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Movement. He was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council between 1972 and 1995. He made a mark in the governance in Maharashtra by his admirable handling of the portfolios of energy, industry, irrigation, health, food and civil supplies,sports, youth affairs, textiles and environment as a minister.
Shri Jawaharlal Darda was actively involved in cooperative and agricultural movements in the state. He set up the Amolchand Darda Mahavidyalaya, which runs several colleges and other educational institutions in the Vidarbha region. He was also the Chairman of Maharastra State Housing Finance Corporation.
Shri Jawaharlal Darda, popularly known as ‘Babuji’, took effective steps for upliftment of the poor and the oppressed. To expedite the development in the energy sector, he launched the expansion of the Koradi Thermal Power station near Nagpur. A new industrial policy came into force due to his keen interest during his period. His efforts put Maharashtra on the forefront of Indian economy, earning him the title ‘Vikas Purush’.
He breathed his last on 25th November, 1997 at Mumbai. His ideals of constructive social service will inspire the generations to come.
The Department of Posts is proud to issue a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Shri Jawaharlal Darda.
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.
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..
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.
SARDAR PRATAP SINGH KAIRON stamp released on 01 10 2005
Denomination :500p
Stamps Printed :0.6 Million
Date of Issue :01-10-2005
Theme:Personality
Sardar Pratap Singh Kairon
Sardar Pratap Singh Kairon is generally acknowledged as the architect of modern Punjab. A colourful figure who dominated the political life of Punjab in his time, he combined a vision for the future with a rare will and determination to usher in the changes needed to shape a prosperous and progressive Punjab in the post-independence era.
Born on 1″ October 1901, in the village of Kairon in Amritsar district of Punjab, into a farming family of modest means, his father Nihal Singh was also a pioneer of women’s education. While still a student of the Khalsa College at Amritsar, Pratap Singh Kairon left home for the United States of America. There he had to earn his way by working on farms and in factories, while also concerning himself with the problems back home, and working with groups determined to advance independence for India. He eventually took a Master’s Degree in Political Science form the University of Michigan. Influenced by the American way of life he also came to believe that affluence on farms was within the reach of the Punjabi villagers.
Returning to India in 1929, Pratap Singh Kairon started a progressive weekly paper in English “The New Era”, the first issue of which appeared on 13′h April 1931. Soon thereafter he entered active politics and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal, a party of Sikh activists. As the Indian National Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal then worked together, he became General Secretary, and later President, of the Punjab Provincial Congress. Later on, when the Congress and the Akalis parted ways, Pratap Singh Kairon stayed on with the Congress. In 1932 he participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement and was imprisoned for five years. In 1938, he was imprisoned again, this time for leading the Kisan Agitation against “Abiana”. He was also imprisoned during the 1942 “Quit India” movement.
Pratap Singh Kairon was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1936, and again in 1946. In 1946 he also became a member of the All India Congress Committee, as also a member of the Indian Constituent Assembly. Inducted into the Punjab Cabinet in 1947, he became Minister for Rehabilitation in 1948, and was faced with the challenging task of resettling millions of refugees who had poured into Punjab from Pakistan. Instead of giving them doles, he gave them land to work upon and financial loans, thus encouraging employment and productivity. In 1952 he became Minister for Development and Consolidation of Land, and was instrumental in carrying out significant land reforms. By imposing ceilings on land holdings, surplus land was made available for distribution among the Harijans and the landless. In 1956 he became the Chief Minister of Punjab and remained so till 1964. While working for the all round development and prosperity of Punjab, he was able to handle many sensitive issues with rare courage and resolve. During the national emergency, caused by the Chinese aggression on India in October 1962, Punjab under his leadership played a leading role in the defence of the nation, whether by way of collection of defence funds or by way of raising recruits for the army as well as the home guards.
Pratap Singh Kairon was convinced that no real progress could be achieved without education. So he made primary and middle school education free and compulsory. He also gave a boost to technical education. While this was made free upto the school standard, he opened three engineering colleges, a polytechnic in each district, and a number of industrial engineering institutions. He also established the Kurukheshtra University, Karnal, the Punjabi University, Patiala and the Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, apart from four medical colleges, as well the Post Graduate Institute at Chandigarh, which is one of the biggest and best Medical Research Institutes in India.
While striving to organize agriculture, dairy, and poultry farming on modern scientific lines. Pratap Singh Kairon also worked to place Punjab on the industrial map of the country. Under his stewardship Punjab attained an enviable position in the country’s small scale industry sector. The industrial township of Faridabad, and the planned garden city of Chandigarh were both his brainchild. He also gave special attention to the development of infrastructure like roads, power, and irrigation, etc. which are so necessary for progress and development.
On 6t’ February, 1965, Sardar Pratap Singh Kairon was assassinated near village Rasoi on the National Highway while travelling in a car back to Chandigarh from Delhi. But his abiding legacy lives on.
The Department of Posts is proud to issue a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Sardar Pratap Singh Kairon.