DKPA : Stamp Calendar - Stamps Issued by India in November

Children's Day

Universal Children's Day is an occasion to renew our commitment to the cause of children and re-dedicate ourselves to fulfilling their basic needs and rights. Children's day was first celebrated worldwide in October, 1953, under the sponsorship of International Union for Child Welfare, Geneva. The idea of Universal Children's Day was mooted by late Shri V.K. Krishna Menon and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954. Ever since, 14 November is observed as Universal Children's Day. The Day also coincides with the birthday of India's first Prime Minister, late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The year's stamp, based on a painting by Phuhar Uppal which won the top honour in the Junior Category, depicts a child hugging a friendly elephant and carries the title "My Best Friend".

14-11-2000	300 P	Ovr Sz: 4.06 x 4.82 cm
Pr Sz: 3.6 x 4.4cm	40 stamps/sheet	Perf: 13.5 x 13.5
Photo Offset	No: 3 Million	Calcutta Security Printers Ltd

Maharaja Bijli Pasi

The Gupta empire (fourth to sixth century A.D.) as well as the empire of Harsha (seventh century) had brought the entire northern India under strong, centralised rule for a long period. However, the region saw a bitter struggle for domination between three powers, the Rashtrakutas, the Pratiharas and the Palas in the subsequent centuries. Maharaja Bijli Pasi who is credited with the founding of Bijnor, now a small town near Lucknow, was an enlightened ruler who appears to have consolidated his position and established his reign over a large tract of land in this region. He was a contemporary of Prithviraj Chauhan. He was an able leader of the "Pasis" , a fiercely independent people indigenous to the locality. He constructed 12 forts which is an indication of the prosperity of his kingdom as well as the power he wielded. Through this issue celebrating Maharaja Bijli Pasi, the Department of Posts invites attention to the reign of this legendary monarch, and tales of bravery, deified through folklore traditions.

16-11-2000	300 P	Ovr Sz: 2.9 x 3.9 cm
Pr Sz: 2.6 x 3.55 cm	40 stamps/sheet	Perf: 13.5 x 13.5
Photo Offset	No: 0.4 Million	Calcutta Security Printers Ltd

Two definitives were released on 20-11-2000, Amaltaas and the Butterfly.

Amaltaas (Cassia fistula)

Amaltas Sonhali (Hindi), Bandarlathi Sonhali (Bengali), Konnel (Tamil), Aragvadha (Sanskrit), Kakkemar Konnemaran (Kannada), Garmala (Gujarati), Pudding Pipe Tree, Purging Cassia (English).

A moderate sized tree 3.5m - 5m in height. Bark is greenish-grey or brick red, Leaves are pariprinnate. The flowers are bright yellow, in long pendulous racemes. The tree flowers from May to August. Fruit ripens during February to April.

Cultivated as an ornamental plant for attractive yellow blossoms in pendant racemes and grows in many parts of India. The tree is also known as Golden Showers. It is one of the most widespread of forest trees in India. Usually occurring in deciduous forest, ascending to 1200 m in the sub-Himalayan tract, common in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and South India.

Butterfly

Butterflies … not quite birds, as they were not quite flowers, mysterious and fascinating as are all indeterminate creatures - Elizabeth Goudge (1900-1984), British novelist.

Butterflies and Moths, members of an insect order Lepidoptera are characterized by two pairs of large, scale-covered, membranous wings. Approximately 148,000 species are known worldwide. Nearly all butterflies fly during daylight, but some tropical species fly at dawn or dusk, and a few are nocturnal. The largest butterflies have wingspreads of up to 25 cm (10 in); the smallest may barely exceed 1 cm (0.4 in). A few butterflies, including the well-known monarch (Danaus plexippus), migrate thousands of kilometres to spend the winter in large groups at select sites.