Commemorative Coins Journey of history, that never ends

INTRODUCTION

Smt. Indira Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s illustrious daughter and the charismatic leader of the people of India, was adedicated crusader for international Peace and Brotherhood. The concept of one world and one people was the abiding principle in all her foreign policy pronouncements. Indians policy under her stewardship was to solidate friendship where it existed and to build bridges of understanding and interest where there indifference or even hostility. The endeavour was to enlarge areas of operation with other nations through collaboration and friendship rather than by competition and rivalry. Solutions to bilateral problems were sought through discussions, avoiding recourse to armaments. The Simla Pact and other bilateral agreements with our neighbours for regional cooperation and harmony remain shining examples of the urge for peace and under standing that has marked Smt. Gandhi’s policies. Smt. Gandhi believed that the achievements of Peace were more glorious than the laurels of war.
             Under her inspiring leadership, India's voice for sanity and peace in the troubled areas of Asia, Africa and Latin America was heard with respect and India’s advice was sought by anxious nations for lessening international tensions.

           Smt. Indira Gandhi spoke for the developing countries and as Chairperson of the Non-Aligned Movement, she tried to ease world conflict and bring warring nations to a common platform for discussion and settlement of mutual problems. Under her leadership, India’s voice for Peace was a voice for survival. She believed that India's peace was not due to any superior virtue but because peace is indispensable for progress. Ether, the world progresses towards non-violence or rushes to its doom.

           In her keynote address at the Session of the 20th Anniversary of the First Summit Conference of the Non-Aligned Countries at New Delhi in February 1981, Smt. Gandhi quoted the famous poetess Sarojini Naidu, who said, "True peace is not the peace of negation, not the peace of surrender, not the peace of the coward, not the peace of the dying, not the peace of the dead, but the peace militant, dynamic, creative: the human spirit which exalts".

           It was indeed a sombre omen for international polity that a frail woman who steadfastly strove for world peace should have herself fallen victim to terrorism. The Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, always emphasised that wrong means do not lead to right ends.

          Our world is getting increasingly turbulent and insecure. International economic relations continue to be characterised by inequality, domination and exploitation. Deployment of force has become a familiar international occurrence. Peace is in peril, even when we know that there can be survival and development only in peace and in an atmosphere of good-will among Nations.

          Disarmament, Peace, Independence and Development are closely interrelated. There can be no peace alongside nuclear weapons. The desire for peace is universal, fortunately, even within the countries which themselves produce weapons of unimaginable destruction.

            Like righteousness, peace protects us, when Peace needs to be tended and safeguard, we protect it.

             Smt. Gandhi believed that, only with coexistence can there be e>stence. This perhaps was the spirit behinc .il her endeavours. 8/essed indeed are the peacemakers, /or they shall be called the children of God. Smt. Ga ndhi did not just preach Peace, she prac tised it

            The Indian Posts & T jraphs Department pays its homage to a World Leader and Statesman, Smt. Indira Gandhi : Crusader for World Peace.

             The 200 p. multicolour stamp has been designed by Shri Romi Chopra. The first day cover has been designed by Shri Arvind Saxena. The cancellation design has been prepared by Nenu Bagga.

              The life of Smt. Indira Gandhi, twice Prime Minister of India, was a saga of service to the nation. She endeavoured to bring to India fruits of development, modernity and progress and ultimately laid down her life in the cause of unity and integrity of the country. The immense challenges as presented by a country of India's size, population and diversity were successfully met by Smt. Gandhi, who served to weld this country as a modern nation, occupving a place of honour in the comity of ions.

              Smt. Gandhi became the Prime Minister of India in January 1966. But for a brief spell of three years from 1977 to 1980, she continued to lead the country to her cherished goal of social and economic justice and all round progress and prosperity till her death in 1984. During her tenure as Prime Minister she took bold and pragmatic steps like the Nationalisation of Banks and Abolition of Bonded Labour. A firm believer in socialism, equality and secularism, she worked tirelessly for advancement of the weaker sections and the minorities and took special care in safeguarding their cultural, religious and linguistic rights and traditions.

              The policies of Smt. Gandhi gave India a stable economic and industrial base and opened new vistas for prosperity all round. India achieved remarkable progress in the fields of science and technology due to her keen encouragement. During her tenure, India had the honour of putting her first man in space, launching communication satellites for mass education and testing her first nuclear device for peaceful purposes. India, under her stewardship, went all out in a big way in offshore drilling to achieve near self-sufficiency in oil. The expedition to Antarctica was a landmark of her time.

            Smt. Gandhi always laid emphasis on youth welfare and education as essentials to nation building. Her interest in moulding the youth through sports manifested itself in India hosting the Asiad in 1982. For her contribution to development of sports, the Gold Order of the International Olympic Council was conferred on her. Proud of India's rich cultural heritage, she conceived of the Festivals of India. The first Festival was inaugurated by her in Great Britain.

           Realising that over-population was the root cause of many of India's problems, she made strident efforts in the area of family planning and was awarded the UN Population Award in 1983. Smt. Gandhi was totally committed to the cause of better environment and ecological preservation. She pleaded passionately in international forums to take concrete measures to avoid thoughtless plundering of nature and desecration of our environment.

              On the international front, she voiced the concern for world peace and social justice on behalf of the developing countries. The Non-Aligned Meet of which she was made the chairperson in 1983 and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in India were some of the important highlights, which will go down in history. She made constant efforts to develop friendly relations with neighbouring countries in order to maintain peace in the sub-continent and for preserving Indian Ocean as a zone of peace. For her untiring, unmatched service to the nation she was awarded the Bharat Ratna.

             Department of Posts pays its humble tribute to the great leader who laid down her life in the cause of unity of the nation by issuing this third postage stamp in her honour the solemn occasion of her first dea anniversary.

            The stamp has been designed by India Security Press, Nashik Road. The First Day Cover has been designed by Kashi Nath Raha. The cancellation has been designed by Nenu Bagga.

            Born on November 19, 1917 at Allahabad, Indira Priyadarshini as she was named by her father Jawaharlal Nehru and her mother Kamala Nehru, got her early education in Switzerland and at Oxford, and in India at Bombay, Pune and at the Vishwa Bharati, Shantiniketan.

           Even in her early childhood, young Indira involved herself in the struggle for freedom and founded the Bal Charkha Sangh, and in 1930 the 'Vanar Sena' ot.children to help the Congress Party during the Non-Cooperation Movement. Indira Priyadarshini was married to Feroze Gandhi On March 26, 1942. Soon after, she and Feroze Gandhi were imprisoned in Seotember, 1942, for their association with the Non-Cooperation Movement. Smt. Indira Gandhi ca in close contact with various eminent natiorwi leaders through her father and her family. She was greatly influenced by the ideals of Mahatama Gandhi - and worked in the riot affected areas of Delhi under Gandhiji’s directions in 1947 Smt. Indira Gandhi and Fero; Gandhi haa two sons Rajiv and Sanjay. Sanjay died prematurely in an aircrash at Delhi.

           After Independence, Smt. Indira Gandhi was the official hostess to her father Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. She accompanied Pandit Nehru on his tours in the country and abroad and picked up the art of statecraft and diplomacy from her famed father. From 1955 she was actively associated with the working of the Indian National Congress and was elected as its President for the term 1959-60. She was made the Minister for Information and Broadcasting in 1964 in the cabinet of Late Lai Bahadur Shastri After the sudden demise of Lai Bahadur Shastri, Sml. Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister of India in January, 1966. She continued to lead the country through various challenges and trying situations upto March, 1977 when in the elections she was defeated However, she was back as the Prime Minister of India in January, 1980 and since then provided dynamic leadership to this country of over 700 million people of various religions, languages and customs, till she breathed her last. She was associated with a very large number of welfare and cultural organisations and institutions. On an average she used to work 17 to 18 hours a day. Her work provided her the source of recreation and relaxation. Smt. Gandhi was fond of the mountains, wherefrom, she derived inspiration and strength. Being a lover of nature she took active interest in all ecological preservation efforts.

            True to her socialistic ideals Smt. Indira Gandhi took a number of bold steps like abolition of privy purses and nationalisation of banks. She had a special corner in her heart for the poor and the downtrodden as also for the disabled. She launched the twenty point programme for the removal of poverty, 'Garibi Hatao', and for the all round progress of the nation. On the international front, India got a place of rare honour and respect at all forums, thanks to her keen understanding and appreciation of the international situation.

           Smt. Indira Gandhi has been conferred with a number of honorary doctoral degrees from the Universities and .Institutions around the world, she was also awarded a very large number of prestigious national and international awards including the Bharat Ratna in 1972. In 1971 she was acclaimed to be the most admired woman according to a poll conducted by the French Institute of Public Opinion. Smt. Gandhi travelled all over India and the larger part of the world, and wherever she went she won numerous friends and admirers. Busy as she was with all her myriad responsibilities Smt. Gandhi enjoyed reading on a variety of subjects, She has also written a number of books and reminiscences which include Eternal India, Ma Varite, My Truth, Peoples and Problems and a few more. Not only was Smt. Gandhi acclaimed as a connoisseur of the arts, she was also an ardent advocate of scientific and technological advancement. India's Space and Nuclear Research programmes owe their growth and development to the ion and foresight of Smt. Indira Gandhi.

             It was her encouragement which earned the Asian Games held in Delhi in 1982, worldwide fame. The successful hosting of the Non-Aligned Summit et and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in New Delhi under her leadership made every Indian proud. It was an honour for her and for the country when she was elected chairperson of the Non-Aligned Meet in 1983.

            Smt. Indira Gandhi worked relentlessly for the integeration, unity and progress of the country till the very last. In one of her last speeches she said:

            "Every drop of my blood, I am sure, will contribute to the growth of this nation and make it strong and dynamic."

            The nation lost a charismatic leader with a rare vision, and the world a remarkably fore-sighted statesman, when Smt. Indira Gandhi was assasinated on the morning of the 31st October, 1984 bringing to a close a most eventful era in India's history.

            The Indian Posts & Telegraphs Department offers its humble tribute, to this illustrious leader of our country, a legend of our times -Smt. Indira Gandhi.

            The 50 p. two colour stamp is designed by Charanjit Lai. The first day cover is based on a design prepared by Badar Makhmoor. The cancellation has been designed by Alka Sharma.

This list was prepared by Dr. Jinadatha