Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The District Level Philatelic Exhibition, ‘CSNPEX 2026’, has emerged as an ideal platform to explore the multifaceted life and legacy of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, through rare and historic postage stamps and covers on display. Coinciding with the observance of Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary on January 30, the exhibition offered visitors a meaningful tribute to the global icon of peace and non-violence.
Elaborating on his rare philatelic collection dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, 85-year-old philatelist Abdul Majid Zakeriya from Jalgaon (Khandesh) said, “I have been an ardent philatelist for the past 50 years and possess a special collection of postage stamps and covers issued in honour of Mahatma Gandhi. He is truly an apostle of peace, remembered across the world on his death anniversary on January 30. Inspired by this occasion, I decided to showcase my collection at the exhibition.”
His display, spread across five frames, features stamps dating back to 1937 and highlights various stages of Mahatma Gandhi’s life. The collection includes stamps issued by several countries such as Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Zambia, South Africa, Panama, Scotland, Cuba, Britain, Bhutan, Mexico, Afghanistan, and others.
Another notable and informative display was presented by noted philatelist Deepak Modi from Jalna. His collection includes postage stamps issued to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi; the first anniversary of India’s Independence; a stamp and cover released to mark Gandhi’s birth centenary on October 2, 1969; a special cover celebrating 50 years of the Dandi March on October 2, 1980; stamps and covers marking the 50th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi; the 50th anniversary of the Quit India Movement on August 9, 1992; and stamps and covers featuring Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru issued to mark 25 years of Indian Independence on August 15, 1973, among others.
A third display on Mahatma Gandhi, featuring miniature sheets, souvenir sheets, definitive stamps, service stamps, and commemorative stamps, also drew considerable attention from visitors. This collection includes stamps issued in 2017 to mark 75 years of the 1942 Quit India Movement; stamps commemorating the centenary of the Champaran Satyagraha; issues released in 2015 to mark 100 years of Gandhi’s 21-year stay in South Africa; stamps issued in 2005 to commemorate 75 years of the Salt Satyagraha; and the world’s first Khadi postage stamp on Mahatma Gandhi, released in 2011.