| Postal Stamp Image |
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 |
| Stamp Issue Date |
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09/05/1982 |
| Postage Stamp Dinomination |
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0.35 |
| Postal Stamp Serial Number |
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1042 |
| Postal Stamp Name |
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DURGABAI DESHMUKH |
| Stamp Information |
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DURGABAI DESMUKH
Born : 15 July, 1909
Died: 9 May, 1981
A 'Mother of Social Work in India' and a "Legend among women in her lifetime", Dr (Mrs) Durgabai Desmukh was at once a freedom fighter, planner, administrator, educationist, social reformer and parliamentarian.
Born in a middle class Andhra family, even at the tender age of 12, she came under the magic spell of Mahatma Gandhi, boycotted English-teaching school, made a bon-fire of her foreign clothings, took to charkha and joined Hindi Rashtra Bhasha Prachar Movement. She started Balika Hindi Pathshala in 1922. Moved by the plight of Devdasis and Burqa-clad two men of Kakinada, she led hundreds of them to Bapuji. Her capacity to lead and an indomitable spirit to fight oppression was once again tested during the Salt Satyagraha in Madras in 1930's, when she succeeded Shri T. Prakasham as its 'dictator', organised processions, was lathi-charged and thrice jailed.
On her release in 1933, she took her education and obtained B.A. (Hons) and M.A. (Pol. Sc.) and B.L. degrees. In 1937, she founded Andhra Mahila Sabha in Madras, which today runs two hospitals, an orthopedic centre, two colleges, three High Schools and functional literacy projects. As President of Blind Relief Association, Delhi, she set up a school-hostel and a light engineering workshop for them. She carried her fight for the poor and weak as a Member of parliament by getting enacted a number of social laws and mustered support for a national policy on social welfare in the Planning Commission as its Member; the result was the setting up of the Central Society Welfare Board on 13th August 1953; she became its founder Chairman and mobilised thousands of voluntary organisations and workers to carry out the programmes of the Board, aiming at education, training and rehabilitation of the needy women, children and the handicapped. Another feather in her cap is the founding of Council for Social Development at New Delhi.
On 22nd January, 1953 she married Dr C.D. Deshmukh, the then Finance Minister, Government of India.
She was honoured for her outstanding contribution to the cause of Peace, Social Welfare, Literacy and work among the downtrodden by national and international agencies. She won Nehru Literacy Award, UNESCO Award for outstanding work in the field of Literacy and was decorated with PADMA VIBHUSHAN.
Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a commemorative stamp in her honour,
(Text by courtesy: Central Social Welfare Board). |
| Philatelic Stamp Description |
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Description of Designs
The stamp has been designed by India Security Press, Nasik. First day cover shows the Literacy House Auditorium, Hyderabad. Cancellation has been designed by Charanjit Lal. |
| Stamp Currency |
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P |
| Stamp Type |
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COMMEMORATIVE |
| Stamp Language |
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English |
| Stamp Overall Size |
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4.06 X 2.7 |
| Postal Stamp Print Size |
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3.70 X 2.4 cms. |
| Number of Stamps Per Sheet |
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40 |
| Stamp Perforations |
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14 x 14,1/ |
| Postage Stamp Paper |
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Unwatermarked P.G. Matt coated paper |
| Indian Stamp Process |
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Photogravure |
| Number of stamps printed |
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20,00,000 |
| Stamp Printed At |
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India Security Press |
| Indian Stamp's Color |
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Light Blue |
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