By S. Janaki
The Department of Posts has brought out Commemorative Postage Stamps of eight stalwarts of Indian classical music. The album was released by the President of India Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the morning of 3rd September 2014. Stamps celebrating the two Bharat Ratnas – Pandit Ravi Shankar and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi are in the denomination of Rs. 25. The stamps featuring vidushis D.K. Pattammal (C-vocal) and Gangubai Hangal (H-vocal), Ali Akbar Khan (H-sarod), Vilayat Khan (H-sitar), Kumar Gandharva and Mallikarjun Mansur (H-vocal) are in the denomination of Rs.5. The stamps will be exhibited in the newly opened Museum of the Rashtrapati Bhavan which is open to visitors.
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The President congratulated the Department of Posts for their initiative and said the stamps will serve as a reminder of a golden era in the history of sastriya sangeet in India. He said the release of the stamps was a celebration of the life, work and matchless legacy of the eight maestros who not only achieved personal perfection but had made extraordinary contributions to the development and evolution of the schools of music in which their talents were nurtured and honed.
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The President said it is comforting and invigorating to pause and reflect on our unique cultural heritage while facing the challenges of a globalized world, for music is spiritual nourishment for the soul and is at the core of our cultural and secular heritage.
The set of eight stamps was released in the evening in various cities across the country – in Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. T. Murthy, Chief Postmaster General, Tamilnadu Postal Circle, released the stamps album and the First Day Cover at the Brahma Gana Sabha in Chennai. It was received by noted art patron and industrialist Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, in the presence of Mervin Alexander, Postmaster General, Chennai.
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The colourful stamps were printed at the Security Printing Press, Hyderabad. The Tamilnadu Postal Circle also issued a Special Presentation Pack priced at Rs. 400. Its novelty is that when you open the bright red folder with D.K. Pattammal’s picture, you can listen to a clip of nagaswaram and tavil music. It was apt that the function opened with a song rendered by young Tanujasree (daughter of Nityasree Mahadevan), fourth generation in the DKP family. The stamp release was followed by N. Vijay Siva’s vocal concert that was as classy as the first day cover.
The President congratulated the Department of Posts for their initiative and said the stamps will serve as a reminder of a golden era in the history of sastriya sangeet in India. He said the release of the stamps was a celebration of the life, work and matchless legacy of the eight maestros who not only achieved personal perfection but had made extraordinary contributions to the development and evolution of the schools of music in which their talents were nurtured and honed. 
The set of eight stamps was released in the evening in various cities across the country – in Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. T. Murthy, Chief Postmaster General, Tamilnadu Postal Circle, released the stamps album and the First Day Cover at the Brahma Gana Sabha in Chennai. It was received by noted art patron and industrialist Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, in the presence of Mervin Alexander, Postmaster General, Chennai.
