Dr. Maria Montessori

The year 1970 has been designated by the United Nations as the International Education Year, aiming to assess the current state of education, initiate coordinated efforts to expand and enhance education, allocate greater resources, and strengthen international cooperation in this vital field. In honoring this significant initiative, the Indian Postal and Telecommunications Department seeks to pay tribute to a distinguished pioneer in child education: Maria Montessori.

Maria Montessori was born in Italy on August 31, 1870. Despite the societal norms of her time, which limited higher education opportunities for women, she made history by becoming the first woman to graduate from the University of Rome with a degree in Medicine and Surgery. Her journey in child education began in 1907 when she assumed responsibility for an institution located in a slum area of Rome. Working with children aged 3 to 6, Montessori applied her medical and psychological knowledge to support their natural development, focusing on their neglected physical and mental needs.

Through her innovative approach, Montessori observed remarkable outcomes, demonstrating that given the right environment and support, children’s potential could flourish. Her research expanded to children from various social backgrounds and countries, leading her to advocate that all individuals, regardless of race or background, pass through similar stages of psychological development. She emphasized the importance of providing children with freedom and an environment conducive to their physical and mental needs, which paved the way for the renowned Montessori method of child education.

During the tumultuous period of the Second World War, Dr. Montessori spent nearly a decade in India, where her work garnered admiration from esteemed figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore, both renowned educators. Today, Montessori training courses affiliated with the Association Montessori Internationale (A.M.I.) exist in India, offering diplomas for the application of Montessori education methods.

The global shift in attitudes toward early childhood education, recognizing the importance of nurturing a child’s natural development and providing an environment conducive to their growth, stands as a lasting testament to Maria Montessori’s legacy. Her principles and techniques have also been applied to the education of differently-abled children and adult education, further highlighting her profound impact on the field of education.

The Indian Postal and Telecommunications Department considers it a privilege to honor the memory of this visionary educator by issuing a special postage stamp on the occasion of her birth centenary, acknowledging her invaluable contributions to the field of education worldwide.