THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Coronation of King George VI as the King of the United Kingdom and Emperor of India, was the most dramatic event in 1937.
India which was the crown jewel of the British Empire commemorated the event with a series of stamps bearing the picture of the new king. A 4-anna stamp that depicts a portrait of King George VI and a 4-6-2 steam loco of East Indian Railways along with mail cars, was one of them.
This rare stamp is among many others on display at 'Life Line Of India' philatelic exhibition on Platform No 1 of Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway station. The exhibition is being conducted in connection with the 62nd Railway Week.
The evolution of Indian Railways, which played a major role in the development and integration of the nation from pre-independence era to metro rail age, has been chronologically displayed on the right side of the information counter. The exhibits are from the personal collection of Toneesh Thomas who is the Chief Ticket Inspector in Ernakulam.
Like the stamp of 1937, each exhibit has a different story to tell. Toneesh has taken great pains to give a brief description of the exhibits.
According to him, the philatelic exhibition aims to give the public an understanding about the history of Indian Railways. The four sections have been broadly classified as stamps, personalities, first day covers, special covers.
There are 50 stamps on display, including those bearing pictures of personalities associated with railways. It includes former Prime Minister and Railway Minister Lal Babhadur Shastri, who set an example by quitting the railway potfolio following a railway accident, Lalit Narayan Mishra, the Railway Minister who was killed in a bomb blast, A B Walawalkar, a railway engineer, who is regarded as the founder of Konkan Railway, Jaganath Shunkerseth, who played a crucial role in bringing railways to the country etc.
First day covers include ‘century of Indian Railways’ released by the prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Trivandrum Central station is featured in the special covers section.
The cover was released when Railways commemorated its 75th anniversary in 2005. Toneesh got hooked to his hobby when he was just eight. “Philately is a good hobby if one has time. I started as an eclectic collector,” he said.
His hobby has helped him to become an avid quizzer. A native of Muvattupuzha, he is married to Caroline. The couple has two sons, Ryan and Ronald.The exhibition will conclude on Wednesday.