Commemorative Postage Stamp on Salem C. Vijiaraghavachariar The commemorative postage stamp issued in memory of Salem C. Vijiaraghavachariar honors one of the early architects of India’s national movement during the pre-Gandhian era. A respected lawyer, reformer, and political leader, he played a key role in shaping the early Indian National Congress and in advancing progressive […]
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On June 8, 1998, India Post issued a ₹5 commemorative stamp featuring London's iconic Big Ben to celebrate the golden jubilee of India's first international flight. Fifty years earlier, when Air India launched its maiden voyage from Mumbai to London, the post office had celebrated with a unique twist: they released a special 12-anna stamp featuring the Lockheed Constellation plane making the journey, but it was only valid for mail carried on that exact flight, on that single day. People from all over the country rushed to get their letters sent to Mumbai just to be part of the historic trip, where each envelope received a special flight mark. The 1998 anniversary issue—a side-by-side pair featuring London's Big Ben and Mumbai’s Gateway of India—wasn’t just celebrating an airline route; it was looking back at a brilliant moment when a single, one-day-only postage stamp proudly announced to the world that a newly independent India had officially joined the global skies.
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On June 8, 1998, India Post issued a ₹6 commemorative stamp featuring Mumbai's iconic Gateway of India to celebrate the golden jubilee of India's first international flight. Fifty years earlier, when Air India launched its maiden voyage from Mumbai to London, the post office had celebrated with a unique twist: they released a special 12-anna stamp featuring the Lockheed Constellation plane making the journey, but it was only valid for mail carried on that exact flight, on that single day. People from all over the country rushed to get their letters sent to Mumbai just to be part of the historic trip, where each envelope received a special flight mark. The 1998 anniversary issue—a side-by-side pair featuring London's Big Ben and Mumbai’s Gateway of India—wasn’t just celebrating an airline route; it was looking back at a brilliant moment when a single, one-day-only postage stamp proudly announced to the world that a newly independent India had officially joined the global skies.
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On June 8, 1998, India Post issued a se-tenant commemorative stamp set titled Golden Jubilee of International Flight to celebrate 50 years of India’s first international air service. Fifty years earlier, when Air India launched its maiden voyage from Mumbai to London, the post office had celebrated with a unique twist: they released a special 12-anna stamp featuring the Lockheed Constellation plane making the journey, but it was only valid for mail carried on that exact flight, on that single day. People from all over the country rushed to get their letters sent to Mumbai just to be part of the historic trip, where each envelope received a special flight mark. The 1998 anniversary issue—a side-by-side pair featuring London's Big Ben and Mumbai’s Gateway of India—wasn’t just celebrating an airline route; it was looking back at a brilliant moment when a single, one-day-only postage stamp proudly announced to the world that a newly independent India had officially joined the global skies.
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On June 5, 1998, India Post issued a ₹2 commemorative stamp in its "Jnanpith Award Winners" series, paying tribute to the titans of Bangla literature. Released on World Environment Day, this issue beautifully symbolized the nurturing of the nation's cultural ecosystem through the written word, honoring authors who drove social reform and political awakening. The collection celebrated four Bengali literary giants whose works challenged orthodoxies and left an indelible mark on Indian consciousness. Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay was recognized for epic fiction like Ganadevta, which brilliantly chronicled the socio-economic transitions and traditions of rural Bengal. Bishnu Dey brought a rich, modernist consciousness to the craft through his avant-garde Marxist poetry and literary criticism. Ashapoorna Devi made history as the first woman to win the Jnanpith Award for her masterpiece Pratham Pratisruti (The First Promise), which powerfully explored early feminist awakenings and women's resilience. Finally, the issue honored Subhash Mukhopadhyay, the revered "Padatika" (Foot-Soldier) poet, whose robust verses fiercely championed working-class justice. By weaving universal humanism and preserving regional heritage, these distinguished voices continue to inspire generations. Today, this 1998 commemorative issue remains a highly prized asset for thematic philatelists specializing in literary and cultural history.
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On May 25, 1997, India Post issued a ₹2 stamp honoring the INA Stalwarts, a collective tribute to the legendary officers of the Indian National Army: Colonel Prem Kumar Sahgal, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, and Major General Shah Nawaz Khan. While the stamp is often associated with the 50th anniversary of India's independence, it specifically commemorates the brave resistance and patriotism of these three men who were the face of the historic Red Fort Trials of 1945. The stamp recognizes their extraordinary courage in joining Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s fight for freedom. After the end of World War II, the British attempt to court-martial these three officers for treason backfired, instead igniting a wave of nationalist fervor across the country. Their defense, led by legal luminaries like Bhulabhai Desai and Jawaharlal Nehru, became a turning point in the independence movement, proving that the Indian military's loyalty was firmly with the nation rather than the colonial crown. This issue honors their sacrifice and the "Azad Hind Fauj" (Free India Army) spirit of unity, which transcended religious and regional lines. For collectors, the stamp serves as a powerful symbol of the military's role in the struggle for independence and a reminder of the "Chalo Delhi" call that echoed through the final years of the British Raj.
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On May 21, 1998, India Post issued a ₹2 stamp to honor Omeo Kumar Das, affectionately remembered as Lokanayak (Leader of the People). A stalwart of the freedom struggle in Northeast India, Das was a devoted follower of Mahatma Gandhi and played a critical role in mobilizing the masses of Assam during the Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, and Quit India movements. The stamp pays tribute to his multifaceted legacy as a social reformer and statesman who served as a minister in the Assam government after independence. He is particularly remembered for his pioneering work in labor welfare, specifically his efforts to improve the lives of tea garden workers, and his commitment to the prohibition of opium in the region. A man of deep intellectual caliber, he also translated Gandhi's autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, into Assamese, bringing the Mahatma’s philosophy to the local doorstep. This issue celebrates a life defined by "Simple Living and High Thinking." For collectors of Indian history and regional leaders, it represents the spirit of sacrifice and the tireless pursuit of social justice that helped build a modern and inclusive Assam.
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On 15 May 1998, India Post issued a ₹2 commemorative stamp honoring Muhammed Abdurahiman Sahib (1898–1945), a respected freedom fighter, journalist, and social reformer from Kerala. Known for his fearless voice during India’s independence movement, Muhammed Abdurahiman Sahib dedicated his life to national unity and social progress. Through his journalism and public leadership, he inspired people to stand for freedom, education, and reform during a crucial period in Indian history. Born in Kodungallur, Kerala, he became one of the prominent Muslim leaders who actively supported India’s struggle for independence while promoting harmony and public awareness. This stamp is more than a tribute to one individual—it reflects the important role journalists and reformers played in shaping modern India. A small stamp, carrying the legacy of courage and patriotism across generations.
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Issued on 3 May 1998 — the 29th death anniversary of Dr. Zakir Husain — this ₹2 India Post stamp honours a towering statesman born in Hyderabad on 8 February 1897. A PhD economist from Berlin, founding Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, and architect of the Nai Talim education policy, he received the Padma Vibhushan (1954) and Bharat Ratna (1963). As India's third President (1967–1969), he was the first Muslim and first President to die in office — a life defined by intellect and service.
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India’s 1998 Narayan Ganesh Goray stamp (Rs. 2 / 200, issued 1 May) is a commemorative tribute to the socialist leader, freedom fighter, and social reformer from Maharashtra, widely known as Nanasaheb Goray. Born on 15 June 1907 in Hindale, he spent his life championing independence, democracy, equality, and social justice, and this Rs. 2 stamp, released a few years after his death in 1993, preserves his dignified sepia portrait as a lasting, nationwide reminder of his contributions to building a free and equitable India.
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