| Postal Stamp Image |
: |
 |
| Stamp Issue Date |
: |
23/03/1981 |
| Postage Stamp Dinomination |
: |
0.35 |
| Postal Stamp Serial Number |
: |
1001 |
| Postal Stamp Name |
: |
FLAME OF MARTYRDOM |
| Stamp Information |
: |
India?s struggle for freedom was a long drawn-out battle. Though it actually began in the second half of the 19th century, isolated attempts were made in various parts of the country about a century earlier. It took over 100 years for the struggle to gain full momentum. During the period (1757-1857) the country was seldom free from civil or military disturbances and there was plenty of opposition, often from substantial sections of the common people. The uprisings of the Chuars in 1799, revolt of Rani Channamma of Kittur in 1824, and the rebellion of Santhals in 1855 were some of the earliest attempts to drive out the British. However, the Great Revolt of 1857 was the first organised attempt for the emancipation of our country. It became a symbol of inspiration and sacrifice for the posterity. The Wahabis carried on relentless struggle against the British which could only be suppressed with difficulty. Similarly, the stiff resistance od the Kukas in the Punjab (1872) resulted I many casualties and the deportation of their Guru to Rangoon.
The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885. With its founding the mainstream of Indian nationalism flowed gently. However, the partition of Bengal in 1905 lit a spark of revolutionary fervour which ranged into a conflagration almost all over the country. Independence of the motherland was the declared aim of the revolutionaries. They were not diffident to use arms to achieve their aim. The movement gained new dimension when centres of agitation were set up not only in the French enclaves in India but also in coutries like Afghanistan, Canada, France, U.S.A., U.S.S.R. etc. These were dedicated persons who set the example of sacrificing even their life at the altar of freedom. The repressive measures of the British failed to crush the spirit of revolutionaries. Theirs was a life of suffering, imprisonment, inhuman torture and death.
These revoltionaries had two objectives, to awaken the masses and to paralyse the administration. They achieved these objectives to a large extent which eventually helped in the liberation of the country. Many made the supreme sacrifice in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Non-Co-operation, Civil Disobedience and the Quit India Movements under the Leadership of the Father of the Nation. Another well organised group of freedom fighters was the Indian National Army which fought against the British during the Second World War.
On the 50 the anniversary of the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru, Sukhdev, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Hari Kishan and Mallapa Dhanashetti, Indian P& T Department joins the Nation in Paying homage to all the men and women, know and unknown, who laid down their lives so that India may be free.
(Text by P. N. Chopra) |
| Philatelic Stamp Description |
: |
The stamp and first day cover were designed by Dipok Dey; and the special cancellation by Charanjit Lal. |
| Stamp Currency |
: |
P |
| Stamp Type |
: |
COMMEMORATIVE |
| Stamp Language |
: |
English |
| Stamp Overall Size |
: |
4.06 X 2.75 cms |
| Postal Stamp Print Size |
: |
3.70 X 2.4 cms. |
| Number of Stamps Per Sheet |
: |
40 |
| Stamp Perforations |
: |
14,1/2x14 |
| Postal Stamp Shape |
: |
Vertical |
| Postage Stamp Paper |
: |
Unwatermarked P.G. Matt coated paper |
| Indian Stamp Process |
: |
Photogravure |
| Number of stamps printed |
: |
25,00,000 |
| Stamp Printed At |
: |
India Security Press |
| Indian Stamp's Color |
: |
Multicolour |
|
|