Mahatma Gandhi
This stamp was released August 15, 1948 as part of the Memorial Issue. Originally the government of India wanted to do a collection of postage stamps in honor of Gandi's 80th birthday (Mehta). The planning began in January of 1948. These post stamps were set to honor memorable moments in Gandhi's life. Some of these moments included the fast for communal unity day in 1924, the Dandi march of 1930, and the fast for communal peace in Delhi. Unfortunately Gandhi was assassinated in late January and the message that was going to be sent about the postage stamp series was changed to be more of a mourning series (Mehta). There was some confusion when the images on the stamps were sent to print about which images should be shown featuring Gandhi. Still in 1948 there was a series of stamps featuring the great late Mahatma Gandhi.
Mahatma Gandhi has long been a great symbol for the people of India. All over the world he is known for being a political leader and thinker. Many in India believe that Gandhi's approach to life did not simply end with his death but was carried on through numerous avenues. This could be see through the passive resistance the Norwegians applied to Nazi occupation or to the great civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. India recognized the influence that Gandhi had on such people and other leaders who were similar to his beliefs by featuring them on other postage stamps. People such as Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. are seen on postage stamps that appear later in the 20th century. Although many of Gandhi's attempts to bring innovative change to India were not accepted by the Indian government he still managed to put together successful "volunteer experiments". To the people of India, this did not matter as they honored him as a man who represented what could be done in a post-colonial world.
India honored Gandhi by deciding to place him on postage stamps in one of the first years after India had received independence, prior to the knowledge of Gandhi being assassinated. Although the message changed slightly with Gandhi's death, the original intentions of placing him on postage stamps for a newly independent India are still visible. Gandhi is by far the most honored man in India for his work. There are more monuments and statues of Gandhi than anyone else in India. To the people of India Gandhi represents not only a national symbol but a transnational symbol. He is someone who crosses multiple borders and shows the strength that India possesses in carrying its ideas all over the world. Gandhi represents a person who shows the strength of India. People of India are able to see the impact of one of their best known countrymen in other people all over the world. Whether it is the resistance conducted by a woman against the Burmese military or the involvement done by people in "Beijing Spring", Indians are able to witness the strides that Gandhi has mad for them and establishing India as a significant place on the map.
Mahatma Gandhi seemed to be an obvious choice for the new Indian government. Gandhi assisted in establishing the break of colonial rule that England held over India. Not only was Gandhi seen as a great mediator in India and throughout the world but he was also known for being a proactive leader in the independence of India. The Memorial Issue of postage stamps was a great way for India to begin a foundation for itself in honoring the great leaders of India. This postage stamp series demonstrated to other countries, and England especially, that India was capable of supplying its own leaders which would legitimize India as its own country.
What is interesting about this series of stamps that featured Mahatma Gandhi is that many other countries in the world also have some type of series which feature Gandhi. It may be a series of postage stamps featuring solely Gandhi or they may include other peace keepers who Gandhi greatly influenced such as Martin Luther King Jr. It is also intriguing because of these countries who later did produce a series of Gandhi stamps was Great Britain. It is noted that of all the countries who produced such a series featuring Gandhi, England's is by far one of the most exquisite in terms of artistry. This stamp is also one of the only stamps that does not feature a monarch on the postage stamp, making this series of the stamp a very special honor. This adoration shown for Gandhi by the British government proved a sincere recognition of India's triumphs as an independent country free of British colonial power.
There was also another Gandhi series of postage stamps printed in the United States to celebrate India's Republic Day as a part of the Champions of Liberty series the U.S. put out. The United States was the first country other than India to place Gandhi on a postage stamp. The recognition from Great Britain spoke volumes about the respect for Gandhi and India as a whole but on a different level the United States acknowledgement of the work Gandhi put forward as well as India also for the achievement of a free country. This series of Gandhi stamps instituted India as a successful nation. With the assistance of Gandhi, India was able to settle new boundaries for their country and this is recognized throughout the world.
Mahatma Gandhi has long been a great symbol for the people of India. All over the world he is known for being a political leader and thinker. Many in India believe that Gandhi's approach to life did not simply end with his death but was carried on through numerous avenues. This could be see through the passive resistance the Norwegians applied to Nazi occupation or to the great civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. India recognized the influence that Gandhi had on such people and other leaders who were similar to his beliefs by featuring them on other postage stamps. People such as Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. are seen on postage stamps that appear later in the 20th century. Although many of Gandhi's attempts to bring innovative change to India were not accepted by the Indian government he still managed to put together successful "volunteer experiments". To the people of India, this did not matter as they honored him as a man who represented what could be done in a post-colonial world.
India honored Gandhi by deciding to place him on postage stamps in one of the first years after India had received independence, prior to the knowledge of Gandhi being assassinated. Although the message changed slightly with Gandhi's death, the original intentions of placing him on postage stamps for a newly independent India are still visible. Gandhi is by far the most honored man in India for his work. There are more monuments and statues of Gandhi than anyone else in India. To the people of India Gandhi represents not only a national symbol but a transnational symbol. He is someone who crosses multiple borders and shows the strength that India possesses in carrying its ideas all over the world. Gandhi represents a person who shows the strength of India. People of India are able to see the impact of one of their best known countrymen in other people all over the world. Whether it is the resistance conducted by a woman against the Burmese military or the involvement done by people in "Beijing Spring", Indians are able to witness the strides that Gandhi has mad for them and establishing India as a significant place on the map.
Mahatma Gandhi seemed to be an obvious choice for the new Indian government. Gandhi assisted in establishing the break of colonial rule that England held over India. Not only was Gandhi seen as a great mediator in India and throughout the world but he was also known for being a proactive leader in the independence of India. The Memorial Issue of postage stamps was a great way for India to begin a foundation for itself in honoring the great leaders of India. This postage stamp series demonstrated to other countries, and England especially, that India was capable of supplying its own leaders which would legitimize India as its own country.
What is interesting about this series of stamps that featured Mahatma Gandhi is that many other countries in the world also have some type of series which feature Gandhi. It may be a series of postage stamps featuring solely Gandhi or they may include other peace keepers who Gandhi greatly influenced such as Martin Luther King Jr. It is also intriguing because of these countries who later did produce a series of Gandhi stamps was Great Britain. It is noted that of all the countries who produced such a series featuring Gandhi, England's is by far one of the most exquisite in terms of artistry. This stamp is also one of the only stamps that does not feature a monarch on the postage stamp, making this series of the stamp a very special honor. This adoration shown for Gandhi by the British government proved a sincere recognition of India's triumphs as an independent country free of British colonial power.
There was also another Gandhi series of postage stamps printed in the United States to celebrate India's Republic Day as a part of the Champions of Liberty series the U.S. put out. The United States was the first country other than India to place Gandhi on a postage stamp. The recognition from Great Britain spoke volumes about the respect for Gandhi and India as a whole but on a different level the United States acknowledgement of the work Gandhi put forward as well as India also for the achievement of a free country. This series of Gandhi stamps instituted India as a successful nation. With the assistance of Gandhi, India was able to settle new boundaries for their country and this is recognized throughout the world.
