31 August 2014

Red Cross - XIXth International Conference at New Delhi 1957

The 19th International Conference of the Red Cross, was held in New Delhi, 28 October–7 November 1957. The following important resolutions were passed at the conference :-

(a) Resolution XIII. Draft rules for the limitation of the dangers incurred by the civilian population in time of war.
(b) Resolution XX. Reunion of dispersed families.
(c) Resolution XXIX. Young people and the Geneva Conventions.
(d) Resolution XXX. Practical means of spreading knowledge of the Geneva Conventions among young people.

30 August 2014

First War of Independence - Centenary 15.8.1957

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the cantonment of the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to present-day Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, northern Madhya Pradesh, and the Delhi region. The rebellion posed a considerable threat to East India Company power in that region, and was contained only with the fall of Gwalior on 20 June 1858. The rebellion is also known as India's First War of Independence, the Great Rebellion, the Indian Rebellion, the Indian Mutiny, the Revolt of 1857, the Rebellion of 1857, the Uprising of It also led the British to reorganize the army, the financial system and the administration in India. The country was thereafter directly governed by the crown as the new British Raj.  

Other regions of Company-controlled India – such as Bengal, the Bombay Presidency, and the Madras Presidency – remained largely calm. In Punjab, the Sikh princes backed the Company by providing soldiers and support. The large princely states of Hyderabad, Mysore, Travancore, and Kashmir, as well as the smaller ones of Rajputana, did not join the rebellion. In some regions, such as Oudh, the rebellion took on the attributes of a patriotic revolt against European presence. Maratha leaders, such as Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi , became folk heroes in the nationalist movement in India half a century later; however, they themselves "generated no coherent ideology" for a new order. The rebellion led to the dissolution of the East India Company in 1858. 

Commemorating the Centenary of this heroic struggle for Independence, two stamps were issued. 15 naye paise stamp shown on the FDC features The Rani of Jhansi on Horse back, and a 90 naye paise stamp symbolically a sapling of Independence planted 100 years ago. 

29 August 2014

Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak - Birth Centenary 23.7.1956

Bal Gangadhar Tilak (or Lokmanya Tilak, 23 July 1856 – 1 August 1920), born as Keshav Gangadhar Tilak, was an Indian nationalist, journalist, teacher, social reformer, lawyer and an independence activist. He was the first leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities called him "Father of the Indian unrest." He was also conferred with the honorary title of "Lokmanya", which literally means "accepted by the people (as their leader)".

Tilak was one of the first and strongest advocates of "Swaraj" (self-rule) and a strong radical in Indian consciousness. He is known for his quote, "Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it!" in India. 

28 August 2014

2500th Buddha Jayanti - 24.5.1956

India commemorated the 2500th Buddha Jayanti with the two impressive stamps on the First Day Cover. A folder was also issued by the Postal Department as shown. It has two pages with the commemorative stamp on each page. I got them cancelled with the special cancellation also.

Vesākha, Wesak or Vesak, also known as Buddha Purnima and Buddha Day, is a holiday observed traditionally by Buddhists on different days inNepal, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and vthe South East Asian countries of Philippines,Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Indonesia, and other places all over the world. Sometimes informally called”Buddha’s Birthday”, it actually commemorates the birth, enlightenment (nirvana), and death (Parinirvana) of Gautam Buddha   in the Theravada or southern tradition.

The exact date of Vesak is based on the Asian lunisolar calendar and is primarily celebrated in Vaisaka month of the Buddhist Calendar and the Hindu calendar, and hence the name Vesak. In India and Nepal, which is considered the birth-country of Buddha, it is celebrated on the full moon day of theVaisakha month of the Hindu calendar, and is traditionally called Buddha Purnima, Purnima meaning the full moon day in Sanskrit. In Theravada countries following the Buddhist calendar, it falls on a full moon Uposatha day, typically in the 5th or 6th lunar month. In China and Korea, it is celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. The date varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar, but usually falls in April or May. In leap years it may be celebrated in June.

The name of the observance is derived from the Pali term vesākha or Sanskrit vaiśākha, which is the name of the lunar month in the Hindu calendar falling in April–May (seeVaisakha). In Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the holiday is known by its Sanskrit name (Vaiśākha) and derived variants of it. 

27 August 2014

India Postage Stamps - Centenary - 1st October 1954



On 1st October 1954, India completed 100 Years of the issue of its First Postage Stamp, which also coincided with the placing of the Post Offices under the centralised control of a Director General. India has the unique honour of being the first country in Asia to issue postage stamps. Many  ideas were mooted to celebrate the Centenary, by the Director General of Posts, which gave birth to many controversies. Details of such controversies are recorded in India’s Stamp Journal (1954 issues). One of the controversies was, about the venue for the Centenary Exhibition. Calcutta had a claim because the First Indian Stamp was printed at the Surveyor - General’s Office at Calcutta. Bombay had also a claim because Bombay was the hub of philatelic activities in India. But the Government of India decided to hold India Postage Stamp Centenary and International Stamp Exhibition at Eastern Court, Queensway, New Delhi, from 1st to 15th October 1954. Both Bombay and Calcutta were not happy with the decision and decided to hold independent stamp exhibitions at Bombay and Calcutta in October and December respectively. 

Department issued an attractively bound printed Souvenir Album containing facsimile reproductions in original colours of all postage stamps issued during the last 100 Years The album contains 24 plates housing all 206 stamps issued in between 1854 and 1954, together with a brief write up of stamps. The sale price was Rs.25/- only. This volume was prepared and printed by Nasik Security Press, by the photogravure process. It appears that India is the first country in the world to have produced such a representative record of stamps issued during the past 100 Years.

Another Souvenir Album containing India’s Post Independence Postage Stamps in mint condition was also issued for Rs.65. A Book on the history of Indian Post Office along with the history of India Postage Stamps was also brought out. It was edited by Sri Mulk Raj Anand and was priced Rs.15/- only.

To celebrate the historic occasion of the Centenary of India Postage Stamps on 1st October 1954, the Department issued four commemorative stamps, in denominations of 1 anna, 2 annas, 4 annas and 14 annas depicting the different modes of carrying mails during these 100 Years.

26 August 2014

Conquest of Everest - 02.10.1953





The 1953 British Mount Everest expedition was the ninth British mountaineering expedition to attempt the first ascent of Mount Everest, and the first confirmed to succeed. Led by Colonel John Hunt, it was organized and financed by the Joint Himalayan Committee.  
On 27 May, the expedition made its second and final assault on the summit with the second climbing pair, the New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norkay from Nepal. Norkay had previously ascended to a record high point on Everest as a member of the Swiss expedition of 1952. They reached the summit at 11:30 am on 29 May 1953, climbing the South Col route. Before descending, they stopped at the summit long enough to take photographs and to bury some sweets and a small cross in the snow.
James Morris, the correspondent on the spot of The Times newspaper, heard the news at Base Camp on 30 May and sent a coded message by runner to Namche Bazaar, where a wireless transmitter was used to forward it as a telegram to the British Embassy in Kathmandu. The conquest of Everest was probably the last major news item to be delivered to the world by runner. Morris' encrypted message to his paper read: "Snow conditions bad stop advanced base abandoned yesterday stop awaiting improvement". "Snow Conditions Bad" was the agreed code to signify that the summit had been reached, while "Advance Base Abandoned" referred to Hillary (Evans's phrase was "Ridge Camp Untenable" and Westmacott's "Assault Postponed"). This was received and understood in London in time for the news to be released, by happy coincidence, on the morning of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation on 2 June.

25 August 2014

Gandhiji's Birth Anniversary - October 1951

Before I proceed further with first day covers, I would like to display before you a set of five pictorial postcards issued in 1951.
First pictorial and / or commemorative Post Card of Independent India was issued this day, with pictures of our “Father of Nation” - Mahatma Gandhi.
 
Actually, post cards bearing the super inscription in Hindi (Devnagari Script) were put on sale in post offices on and from 2nd October 1951 - Mahatma Gandhiji 82nd Birthday. The new Hindi post cards were similar in design as the existing ones with English superscription except that the words “Post card” and “Address Only” were inscribed in Hindi. A special feature of these post cards is that the words “name, address, post office and district” are printed in Hindi on the address side thereof for facility of writing up the address correctly.

It appears that the ordinary post card issued with Gandhi Pictorial post card was the issued in 9 pies post cards with HINDI inscriptions. Actually, 9 pies post card with Hindi inscription was issued for the first time on 2nd October 1951, where Hindi inscription were printed above the line. But Hindi language is always written below the line. Therefore, the Postal Department issued another post card in Hindi language whee printed below the line. The used examples of this post cards addressed to me and my family are displayed here. A limited number of above referred post cards, which were issued on 2nd October 1951 had been printed with pictures depicting some aspects from Mahatma Gandhiji’s life. There were four picture postcards in this set. The first card shows a portrait of Mahattma Gandhi the other three are as follows:- 

(a) Gandhiji with a child.
(b) With his favourite charkha. 
(c ) With his wife Kasturba or "Ba" as she was affectionately known.

24 August 2014

Indian Telegraph Centenary 1.9.1957

The first telegraph line was opened in October 1851 in India between Calcutta and Diamond Harbour, a distance of 30 miles (48 kms.). But official inauguration of this line took place on 1st November 1851. By 1854, Calcutta was linked with Agra, Bombay and Madras by telegraph network.
Tall iron rods supported by bamboo posts, linked by copper wires, dotted the country side. That telegraph line was eyed with suspicion, as an emblem of Imperial rule.
Till 1912, telegraph was administered by independent department. From 1st April 1914, the telegraph was amalgamated with postal department. From 1st January 1985, the telegraph was separated from postal department. Then in 2000, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) took over the telegraph service.
By 1985, the use of telegram was at its peak, but from 1990, the decline started due to the introduction of internet and mobile phones. Today BSNL is posting loss of 9 million rupees per year. Therefore, BSNL decided to discontinue the telegraph service from 15th July 2013. Thus 162 years old telegram is going to rest in peace for ever. Long Live Telegrams in the hearts of Indian.
1851-1951,  


Miniature Sheet of Indian Telegraph Centenary 1951. Issued by Idian Posts & Telegraphs Departmet, turned out to be the first minisheet of sorts issued by the postal department in India. I was lucky to get it at the exhibition grounds itself. The FDCs were given to me by a friend in Lucknow.



23 August 2014

Railway Centenary Day 16.4.1953

The Indian Railway Centenary Day celebrations were held on April 16, 1953 in the Railway Exhibition grounds at New Delhi. Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri, Minister for Transport & Railways; Mr. 0. V. Alaggesan, Deputy Minister; Mr. Shah Nawaz, Parliamentary Secretary; Members of the Railway Board and senior railway officials received Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the Vice-President, at the New Delhi ceremonial platform. Dr. Radhakrishnan deputised for Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the President, who was indisposed. After inspecting the guard of honour provided by the Northern Railway, he was conducted to the special train arranged to take the party to the exhibition grounds, where a large audience including Cabinet Ministers, diplomats, and senior officials awaited.

The novel plan for the introduction of a rail system, transformed the whole history of India. This innovative plan was first proposed in 1832; however no auxiliary actions were taken for over a decade. In the year 1844, private entrepreneurs were allowed to launch a rail system by Lord Hardinge, who was the Governor-General of India. By the year 1845, two companies were formed and the East India Company was requested to support them in the matter. 

The credit from the UK investors led to the hasty construction of a rail system over the next few years. On 22nd Dec' 1851, the first train came on the track to carry the construction material at Roorkee in India. With a passage of one and a half years, the first passenger train service was introduced between Bori Bunder, Bombay and Thana on the providential date 16th Apr' 1853.  This train with 14 railway carriages, 3 locomotives Sindh, Sultan and Sahib, and 400 guests left Bombay at 15:35 hours. This was India's first rail run. The train left Bori Bunder for Thane with a 21-gun salute and the Governor's band to see it off. The journey took an hour and fifteen minutes. Vulcan Foundry, England manufactured the locomotives used on this run. This rail track covered a distance of 34 kms (21 miles). Ever since its origin, the rail service in India never turned back.

And hence, a special postage stamp was issued on 16th April 1953 to commemorate the Centenary of the Indian Railways.
Unfortunately, no official FDC was issued for 2 anna stamp of Indian Railway Centenary. However, official cancellation on 16-04-1953 was given and marked on Plain or Private covers in red, black or violet ink.

22 August 2014

Indian Saint Poets 1.10.1952

This is one of the most sought after stamp issues in India. It honours six of India's most revered and renowned saints and poets. Kabir, Tulsidas, Mira Bai, Surdas, Ghalib and Rabindra Nath Tagore. It is not my intention here to describe these saints and poets, suffice it to say that reams and reams have been written about them. The folder shown below has six pages with a page devoted to each of these great personalities.

Cancellations in both Hindi & English were. Normally different variations are not found in cachets of FDCs issued by Indian Post & Telegraph Department. However, it is noteworthy to see variations in engraved design of the FDCs of stamps of Saints & Poets, which are the first issues printed by 'Photogravure' in India and were released on 1-10-1952. The English cancellation month is shown in letters as '1 OCT 1952'. While in Hindi cancellation it is shown in numeric as '1-10-1952'.

21 August 2014

2nd Republic Day of India - 26.1.1951


The importance of this postmark with the dove of peace symbolises the ethos of this country. This postmark symbolised all that India stood for on the 2nd Anniversary of our Republic Day. The 9ps stamp depicts the Trimurti. This stamp is part of the Archeological series of definitives mentioned earlier in this blog.

20 August 2014

First Asian Games 1951, New Delhi 4.3.1951


I was only ten years old when the Games came to Delhi. It really was a Godsend for me and my friends because we were officially allowed to bunk from school every afternoon. And so for a week we were at the Stadium regularly. I stayed a little over a km from the stadium so it wasn’t too difficult running there after lunch. I still remember India’s great Levy Pinto win the sprint double, and who can forget Mewa Lal our football captain. There were many others who helped India achieve the second spot in the Games.

I still fondly remember how I got this First Day Cover. The postal department had set up a counter at the stadium for our foreign friends who had come from far and near to watch the games. With, a little pleading the man at the counter agreed to sell us the covers and stamps. But for some strange reason he refused to give us the postmarked covers to take home. He insisted that I write my name and address on the cover and he would do the posting and I could only get it through the normal postal channels. Fortunately, I did get it after two days, and here it is.

The 1951 Asian Games, officially known as the First Asian Games, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Delhi, India from 4 to 11 March 1951. The Games received names like First Asiad and 1951 Asiad by the president of the organising committee Anthony de Mello. A total of 489 athletes representing 11 Asian National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in 57 events from eight sports and discipline. The Games was the successor of the Far Eastern Games and the revival of the Western Asiatic Games. The 1951 Asiad were originally scheduled to be held in 1950, but postponed until 1951 due to delays in preparations. On 13 February 1949, the Asian Games Federation was formally established in Delhi, with Delhi unanimously announced as the first host city of the Asian Games. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) member Guru Dutt Sondhi and the Maharaja of Patiala, Rajpramukh of Patiala and East Punjab States Union and president of the IOA HRH Yadavindra Singh played a significant role in the inception of Asian Games and in organising the 1951 Asiad. The organising committee of the Games invited almost all the independent Asian countries of the time except Soviet Union and Vietnam, due to the political structure of those nations.

The stadium was built in 1933 as a gift for Delhi from the Maharaja of Bhavnagar, it was originally multipurpose stadium and named the Irwin Amphitheatre. It was designed by Anthony S. DeMillo and opened by Lord Willingdon.  It was renamed National Stadium just before the 1951 Asian Games,
National Stadium was used as the venue for all the events of the Games. The official logo of the First Asiad depicted a bright sun in red with 16 rays and a white circle in the middle of the disc of the sun and eleven rings, representing each participating nation, on a white background, symbolising peace. Japanese athletes won the most golds and overall medals, with 24 and 60 respectively; while the host nation India had the 15 golds and 51 overall medals with most bronzes (20) and finished at second spot in a medal table. The next Asian Games organised by India were the 1982 Asian Games, some 31 years later.
On 4 March 1951, the First Asian Games were officially opened. The list of the guests included— India's first President Rajendra Prasad, first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, cabinet members of Indian Government, diplomatic corps and representatives of participating Asian NOCs. The National Stadium was filled with an estimated 40,000 spectators. A 31-gun salute was fired from the ramparts of the Purana Quila (Old Fort), adjacent to the National Stadium, in the honour of guests and participants of first Asian Games. After a speech by the president of Asian Games Federation, HRH Yaduvendra Singh, President Rajendra Prasad officially opened the Games.


19 August 2014

1951 - Centenary of The Geological Survey of India 13.1.1951


One of the premier organisations of earth science survey and research in the world, having more than 160 years of experience - the principal provider of geoscientific information and services to the government, industry and public.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is a government organization. GSI is the prime provider of basic earth science information to the government, industry and the general public. The main services/information provided by GSI are
  • Surface Mapping
  • Offshore Survey and Exploration
  • Mineral and Energy Resources Exploration, etc.
The Geological Survey of India was established in the year 1851. To commemorate the centenary of GSI a special was released on 13-Jan-1951The stamp depicts extinct Stegodon Ganesa. Stegodon means roofed teeth. This extinct species comes under the elephant family. It is said that these species lived about 11.6 mya (million years ago) to 4100 years ago. Stegodon Ganesa type were found in the Asian region.

18 August 2014

Inauguration of The Republic of India 26.1.1950

A special set of 4 stamps were issued on 26th January 1950, to commemorate the inauguration of the Republic of India. The designs of the stamps are simple and symbolic. The first 2 annas stamp is intended for inland postage, depicts children watching procession of cavaliers carrying flags and blowing trumpets which herald India’s attainment of full Nationhood. The second 3½ annas stamp is intended for foreign Sea Mail, depicts a quill and an ink pot against the back ground of Mahatma Gandhiji’s favourite hymn “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram.”, symbolize Nation’s Education. The third 4 annas stamp intended for registration, depicts an ear of grain and a plough, symbolize Bharat as an Agricultural Country. The last 12 annas stamp intended for foreign Air Mail depicts Charkha, symbolize of Bharat Cottage Industry.

Home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. Four world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism—originated here, whereas Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam arrived in the 1st millennium CE and also helped shape the region's diverse culture. Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of the British East India Company from the early 18th century and administered directly by the United Kingdom from the mid-19th century, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by non-violent resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi.

The Indian economy is the world's tenth-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). Following market-based economic reforms in 1991, India became one of the fastest-growing major economies; it is considered a newly industrialised country. However, it continues to face the challenges of poverty, corruption, malnutrition, overpopulation, inadequate public healthcare, and terrorism. A nuclear weapons state and a regional power, it has the third-largest standing army in the world and ranks ninth in military expenditure among nations. India is a federal constitutional republic governed under a parliamentary system consisting of 29 states and 7 union territories. India is a pluralistic, multilingual, and a multi-ethnic society. It is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats.


17 August 2014

Universal Postal Union (U.P.U) - 75th Anniversary 1949

The next lot of stamps that came into my possession was the UPU series of four stamps issued to commemorate its 75th Anniversary.
Date of Issue :
10 October 1949
Occasion :
75th Anniversary of formation of Universal Postal Union (U.P.U)
Description:
Symbol of UPU & Ashokan Pillar
The Universal Postal Union (UPUUnion postale universelle) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration (CA), the Postal Operations Council (POC) and the International Bureau (IB). It also oversees two cooperatives including the Telematics and EMS Cooperatives respectively. Each member agrees to the same terms for conducting international postal duties. The UPU’s headquarters are located in Bern, Switzerland.
French is the official language of the UPU. English was added as a working language in 1994. The majority of the UPU's documents and publications – including its flagship magazine, Union Postale - are available in the United Nations' official languages.

16 August 2014

3rd Independence Day and Issue of Archeological Series of Stamps 15.8.1949

A new series of postage stamps depicting sites of Archeological and Historical interest was issued on 15.8.1949 being the second Independence Anniversary of India. These definitive stamps were the first definitives issued after Independence. They were intended to replace the British Monarch King George VI stamps. It was decided that  both would be sold till the stocks of the old stamps were exhausted.

A special Independence Day Cover was also issued and was available for purchase from 8.8.1949. It was postmarked with a very impressive elephant cancellation.

The archeological stamps were, 3pies Ajanta Panel, 6pies Konarak Horse, 9pies Trimurti, 1anna Bodhi satva, 2annas Nataraja,3 annas Sanch Stupa,  3 ½ annas Bodh Gaya, 4annas Bhuvaneshwara, 6annas Gol Ghumbad, Bijapur, 8 annas Kandarya Mahadeva Temple, 12annas Golden Temple Amritsar,  1Rupee Victory Tower Chitorgarh, 2Rupees Red Fort Delhi, 5Rupees Taj Mahal Agra,  10Rupees Qutub Minar Delhi, 15 Rupees Satrunjaya Temple Palitana.

In this series a supplementary issue became necessary­­ as “Bodhi Sattva” statue was wrongly shown reversed (left hand raised instead of the right hand) in the 1 anna value, which was rectified by a fresh issue on 15.7.1950. A second supplementary issue became necessary, when foreign postal rates were increased for surface route from 1.12.1950. The rates for post cards was increased from 2 annas to 2 1/2 , and for letters from 3 ½ annas to 4 annas.


I have gleaned this information from a very interesting article by Mr. Ashok Kumar Bayanwala of Ahmedabad.

15 August 2014

Gandhi Memorial Stamps - 15th August 1948

Today is 15th August and India's 67th Independence Anniversary. I remember that 1st Anniversary many many years ago when I came into possession of the now famous Gandhi Memorial Stamps.
There is very little that I can add to the vast knowledge people already have about this Great Man. So, I will only talk a little bit about the Gandhi Memorial stamps, which My Father bought for me. I remember (I was just a tad less than seven years old then) going with him to the Post Office that day, stand in line for what seemed hours to me and getting this wonderful folder and the four stamps mounted on them. And it is these stamps that marked the beginning of my stamp collecting career, and the start of the finest hobby anyone can indulge in.

15th August 1948, the 1st Anniversary of India's Independence was commemorated by issuing postage stamps on "Mahatma Gandhi" in 4 denominations viz., 1 1/2 as. 3 1/2as., 12as. and 10 Rupees. The first 3 lower values are in Sepia-brown (Brown), Purple- blue (Violet), Dark-green (Grey -green) respectively. The high value 10 Rupees stamp is in Grey with a Reddish-brown background (Purple-brown and lake).  incidentally these are the only set of stamps printed outside India after independence. “COURVOISER S.A.,LA CHAUX-DE-FONDS of Geneva printed the set.

The clothing of Gandhiji in stamps, in no way approximated to the Indian grab or the way Gandhiji used to wear clothes. Actually the original photographs showed the Mahatma unclothed above the waist. However, the anglicised bureaucrats thought that it would be derogatory to portray of the 'Father of the Nation' in such a manner. So they asked the Swiss Printers to adequately cover the naked portion of Gandhiji's body, but they couldn't reproduce it in the Indian Way.

Before concluding, I must admit that as Gandhiji used to glitter and eclipsed all other politicians during his lifetime and for all these decades even after his death, his 10 Rupee stamp is glittering in Indian stamps and have eclipsed all other Indian stamps.

13 August 2014

Air India International First Flight on June 8, 1948 on the Mumbai (Bombay)-London air route



In early 1948, a joint sector company, Air India International Ltd., was established by the Government of India and Air India (earlier Tata Airline) with a capital of Rs 2 crore and

a fleet of three Lockheed constellation aircraft. Its first flight took off on June 8, 1948 on the Mumbai (Bombay)-London air route. At the time of its nationalization in 1953, it was

operating four weekly services between Mumbai-London and two weekly services between Mumbai and Nairobi.  
The date was Tuesday, June 8, 1948 and Air India's aircraft - Malabar Princess, a 40-seater Lockheed L-749 Constellation, registration number, VT-CQS, with Captain K.R. Guzdar in command - was in the final stages of preparation for its 5,000 mile journey from Mumbai to London via Cairo and Geneva. The flight's time of departure was late in the evening and of the 35 passengers that were to board the flight, 29 were bound for London and six for Geneva.
Months of meticulous planning had finally paid off. General preparations for the flight had been under way for a long time. Air India had the requisite experience of flying on domestic routes. However, some extra effort had to be put in order to fly on an international sector. Carefully selected staff members were allotted to the new operation, new staff  were recruited and Air India offices were opened in Cairo, Geneva and London. The Cairo office was set up by Mr F. Nariman; Mr G. Bertoli took charge of the Geneva operations and London was headed by Mr M.A.S. Dalal where Air India had a very small set-up at London airport with the Operations and Engineering Departments housed in temporary hutments and the Traffic Department in a caravan which was parked somewhere behind the old control tower.