21 June,2021 05:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal Ashar
The pictorial cancellation designed to become a collector piece
In what is one of the largest philatelic commemorations, India Post has issued a special cancellation at more than 800 locations across the country to mark International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2021, on June 21 (today).
A cancellation is a postal marking which is used to deface a stamp to prevent its reuse. Such cancellations are valued as collectibles and become subjects for philatelic studies.
The Department of Posts special cancellation to mark the essence of IDY is sure to enthuse philatelists. It will be one amongst a slew of initiatives, both public and private, to mark the commemoration of the 7th International Day of Yoga. The Indian Post will issue this special cancellation with a pictorial design through its 810 Head Post Offices across India. Usually, one has an ordinary, round stamp cancellation, but this one is unique.
Neeraj P S, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices Mumbai City North Division, said, "Collectors may come in on Monday to get this cancellation. These philatelists are a close-knit group and are in touch with the postal staff. There is sure to be some excitement at this release."
The officer said the cancellation is one of several initiatives to mark Yoga Day, all being done at the individual divisional and higher levels. Mumbai is divided into six divisions when it comes to postal services. "Our division will also have a webinar on Monday, hosted by a yoga expert from within the division. The Maharashtra Postal Circle that has been arranging a series of digital video lectures in Covid times like on Ayurveda, Photography and Ecology will also have a lecture by a yoga acharya," he finished.
P N Ranjit Kumar, former Post Master General Mumbai and present spokesperson of the Ayush Ministry, said, "The postal department has done a variety of pictorial cancellations through the years. There are two rungs to stamp collectors, one are those who collect stamps for the sheer joy of it and the other, those who have moved to more serious collecting. Philatelists will be enthused by pictorial cancellations because these are more than a mark defacing a stamp on a booking. They are the lens through which they tell the history or stories of a day and age. I can imagine some collectors going into post offices with their envelopes and stamps to get this special cancellation."
Yoga and IDY have been popular subjects for philatelic commemorations. In 2015, the Department of Posts brought out a set of two stamps and a miniature sheet on IDY. In 2016, PM Narendra Modi released commemorative stamps on Surya Namaskar. In 2017, the UN Postal Administration issued a set of stamps showing 10 yoga asanas to mark IDY. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed June 21 as International Yoga Day in their resolution adopted on December 11, 2014. Since 2015, this day has caught the international imagination, with participants in a host of countries proving they have the courage of their yogic contortions and affirming this day through asanas.
A cancellation is a postal marking that is used to deface a stamp to prevent its reuse. Such cancellations are valued as collectibles and become subjects for philatelic studies.
