DKPA : Stamp Calendar - Stamps Issued by India in January

First Sunrise of the Millennium Greetings 1-1-2000

A new day begins when it is 00:00 hours at Greenwich meridian. It has been confirmed that the at that time the first sunrise will be at 8 degrees latitude and 93.09 degrees longitude. This place is a small island 174 sq. km area called Katchal in the Andaman Nicobar group in the Bay of Bengal. Katchal is called the Sunrise Island today as it witnessed the first sunrise of the Millennium. The stamp depicts this glorious event.

1-1-2000	Rs 3.00	Ovr. Sz.: 3.91 x 2.9 cm
Pr Sz.: 3.55 x 2.54 cm	35 stamps/sheet	Perf: 13 x 13
Photogravure	No: 2 Million	India Security Press, Nasik

Defence Research and Development Organization - AGNI - II

DRDO was established to develop new technologies to aid the Indian Defence Forces. DRDO was responsible for the AGNI-I and AGNI-II missiles. Offshoots of this defence research has been in development of cheaper equipment in the field of Medicine and Communication. The stamp depicts AGNI-II and the pigeons flying around capture the objective of our country's defence programme "peaceful deterrence".

1-1-2000	Rs 3.00	Ovr. Sz.: 2.9 x 2.9 cm
Pr Sz.: 2.54 x 2.54 cm	40 stamps/sheet	Perf: 13.5 x 13.5
Photo Offset	No: 1 Million	Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

50 Years of Republic of India - Gallantry Award Winners

(from left to right)
Subedar and Honorary Captain Karam Singh, PVC was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry Award for his courageous action during the 1948 operation of the Indian Army in the Jammu and Kashmir. Under enemy fire and heavy shelling wounded Karam Singh went from bunker to bunker encouraging and motivating the Jawans to fight. He got together a small group of men and launched a counter offensive and threw out the enemy in a hand to hand fight. This courageous action was largely responsible for the gallant stand at Tithwal.

Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid, PVC was posthumously awarded the PVC for his gallant deeds during the 1965 war. CQMH Hamid attacked a enemy regiment of Patton tanks in a jeep with a recoilless gun. He knocked out two tanks before he went down under enemy shells. His sacrifice motivated others to beat back the heavy tank assault.

Lance Naik Albert Ekka, PVC was posthumously awarded the PVC for his conspicuous valour and sacrifice during war for the liberation of Bangladesh. During an attack on the enemy defence positions at Gangasagar, Lance Naik Ekka charged the enemy bunkers and silenced several machine gun position with minimum causalities. The objective was met but India lost a brave soldier.

Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC took off from a runway under attack and engaged 6 enemy aircraft at tree top level single handedly. He shot down 2 planes but the sheer weight of numbers was too much for him and his plane crashed killing him. He was posthumously awarded PVC in 1972 for his heroic action of December 14, 1971.

Captain (IN) Mahendra Nath Mulla, MVC was in command of anti submarine frigate INS Kukhri during the 1971 war. On the night of December 8, 1971 the frigate was struck by three enemy torpedoes. The Captain of the ship was quick to realize the extent of damage and ordered his men to abandon ship. He supervised the safe escape of his men and even gifted his personal safety gear to a sailor. Captain Mulla along with his officers and men gave up their lives for the defence of India. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.

28-1-2000	Rs 3.00 x 5	Ovr. Sz.: 3.91 x 2.9 cm
Pr Sz.: 3.91 x 2.9 cm	35 stamps/sheet (7 sets)	Perf: 13 x 13
Photogravure	No: 0.4 Million	India Security Press, Nasik

29-1-2000	Rs 3.00 x 2	Ovr. Sz. : 7.82 x 2.9 cm
Pr Sz.:7.45 x 2.54 cm	14 Setenant	Perf: 13x13
Photogravure	No:1 Million	India Security Press, Nasik

Endangered Species : Turtles

The Department of Posts released these two stamps on the occasion of Millipex-2000, the national philatelic exhibition at Bhuvaneshwar. The stamps depict the two Indian turtles on the brink of extinction.

Olive Ridley is the common sea turtle found in the Gulf of Kutch, coastal Kerala, Andamans and coastal Orissa. It is protected under the Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Their number is dwindling due to pollution and sea coast projects. Since 1990 mass nesting has become restricted to Orrisa Coast.

Batagur Baska is found in fresh, brackish or even salt water. They usually prefer the shallow tidal regions of river mouths. They were very abundant in the Hooghly river mouth but for several years there was no report of their presence. During March 1998 they were rediscovered in Sundarbans and it is hoped that the protection accorded to the habitat by Sundarbans Tiger Project the species will successfully breed.