stamps issued in 2001

may

Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849) was a composer from Poland, regarded by many as the greatest of all composers of music for the piano. The musical talent of young Fryderyk became evident in his childhood. Performing in local salons and giving public charity concerts, "little Chopin" became a sensation of sorts in Warsaw, where he grew up. He even came to be compared to the childhood genius of Mozart. Chopin gave his first concert as a piano virtuoso in 1829 in Vienna. Concerts in Vienna and Warsaw during 1829-30 led to increased critical and public acclaim. He died of tuberculosis in October 1849, in Paris. Chopin is admired most for his originality in exploiting the piano. The rhythms and melodic traits of Polish folk music continued to inspire him even in the far away Paris. Chopin's music, romantic and lyrical in nature, is characterised by exquisite melody of great originality, refined harmony, subtle rhythm and poetic beauty. The Fryderyk Chopin international piano competition which began in the nineteen twenties and is held annually in Warsaw, has become a great musical event and contributed to popularisation of the music of the great Polish composer.

Suraj Narain Singh (1908-1973) was the foremost revolutionary nationalist in Bihar for almost two decades, during a tumultuous phase of lndia's struggle for independence. Suraj Narain was drawn towards the national movement at a very young age, and soon found himself removed from his school for having participated in the non-cooperation movement of 1921. Undeterred, he moved to Varanasi and completed his education from Kashi Vidyapith, a centre of nationalist education. The execution of Bhagat Singh was a turning point in his life; it motivated him to plunge into revolutionary activities. He was arrested and sentenced to jail on many occasions. In the post-independence period he was an active presence in the political scene of Bihar, as an important leader of the Praja Socialist Party as well as a member of the Legislative Assembly. He denounced the caste system as well as the exploitative tendencies in the established religions of the world. He disapproved the western system of education and advocated national education in its place.