National Seminar on Philately

A national Seminar on ‘Philately’ was organized on November 26 and 27, 1967 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi in which large number of prominent Philatelists, Artists and Printing experts participated. The Seminar was addressed by the then Minister of Communications Dr. Ram Subhag Singh and Minister of State, Shri I.K Gujral. It was attended by a total of 113 persons which included 24 eminent philatelists, 17 leading artists (including Jamini Ray, M. F Hussain, Krishen Khanna and Satish Gujral) and 11 printing experts. The philatelists included Jal Cooper, N.C Chandra, D.E Wadia, M. P Polson, N. D Cooper, Dhirubhai Mehta and General (Retd.) K.M Cariappa.

Three Working Groups deliberated comprehensively on 3 different areas: (i) General matters relating to Philately; (ii) Designing and Printing of Stamps and (iii) Sales Promotion and Publicity. The Seminar came up with a series of recommendations on development and promotion of the hobby which wee implemented over the next few years. These included:
i)Regular meetings of the Philatelic Advisory Committee (PAC) presided over by the Minister to decide proposals and themes on which stamps are to be issued.

ii)Meetings of Design Sub-Committee under the PAC to consider and approve designs of stamps, FDCs, etc, and suggest steps to improve the designs of stamps;

iii) Steps to popularize and promote philately;

iv) Improve publicity of philatelic issues;

v) Improve and expand the network for sale of stamps, FDCs, etc. at home to reach a wider segment of population.

vi) Promote sale of Indian stamps abroad; and

vii) Augment revenues from sale of philatelic items.

The implementation of the above measures led to all-round and robust growth of Indian Philately in 1970’s and 1980’s.