CHENNAI:In a bid to pay tribute to the late former President APJ Abdul Kalam, philatelists have urged the government to release a set of four stamps on Abdul Kalam during his birth anniversary, which falls in October.
Post Master General of Chennai region Merwin Alexander told Express on Thursday that South India Philatelists’ Association has submitted a request to release a set of four stamps on APJ Abdul Kalam on October 15, his birth anniversary.
He said the matter is being taken up with the postal directorate in New Delhi.
Alexander said the proposal to have four sets of stamps was due to the fact that Kalam was a multi-dimensional personality. He was a scientist, a teacher, President and was loved by children.
“The artist will decide on the proposal on which pictures to select,” said Alexander. “Usually a proposal like this takes six months but we hope that the government would give its nod in the next three months just before the birth anniversary,” the post master general said.
“The proposal is likely to be sent to Delhi on Friday and a decision to this effect would be taken up by Union Communication Minister. It would also be easier to select the kind of pictures required for the stamp from the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi as well as various other information,” said Alexander.
C G Bhaskar, the treasurer of the Philatelists’ Association, said that the idea was mooted as philatelists wanted to pay tribute to the People’s President.
“He is so popular that the whole city of Chennai was shut during his funeral as a mark of respect. He is a non-political man to have such a following. He is a common man with humble beginning and rose to such level,” said the philatelist.
“We wanted a set of four stamps similar to the ones released on the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March,” said Bhaskar.