| Postal Stamp Image |
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 |
| Stamp Issue Date |
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28/07/1981 |
| Postage Stamp Dinomination |
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1.00 |
| Postal Stamp Serial Number |
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1013 |
| Postal Stamp Name |
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STYLISED HOCKEY PLAYER |
| Stamp Information |
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The first Asian Games were officially opened in the national Stadium at New Delhi on 4 March 1951. the opening ceremony was performed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of India. The majestic ramparts of Purana Qila vibrated as 21 guns boomed in salute. Amidst the fan-fare of fifteen trumpets the flags of eleven competing Nations were hoisted. Eleven hundred pigeons and thousands of coloured balloons fluttered into the sky in a splendid show of gaiety and vivacity aroud the flag of the Asian Games Federation. Thus began the sports rendezvous of Asia which has been bringing together the nations of the continent in a spirit of friendliness and cooperation.
Looking back at the history of asian sports one finds in it the undaunted struggle of the spirit of Asia to blossom forth amidst a variety of obstacles. As far back as 1913 Philippines took the lead to host the Far Eastern Championship Games. But after holding the games ten times by turn at Shanghai, Tokyo and Manila, these were discontinued with the dissolution of the Far Eastern Athletic Association. However, the delegates who assembled at Manila in 1934 for the final Far Eastern Championships decided to establish the Orient Championship Games and decided to have the first meeting in Tokyo in 1938. but the Second World War shattered the scheme. Similarly in India, in 1934 the First Western Asiatic Games were organised in which India, Afghanistan, Ceylon and Palestine participated. The Second Western Asiatic Games scheduled to be held in 1938 had also be abandoned bue to the War.
It was G.D. Sondhi, the well known Indian sportsman and promotor of sports who put forward the idea of Asian Games in its present form; and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru lent his whole hearted support. In 1949 representatives from Burma, Philippines and India, and observers from Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, ceylon, Afghanistan and Indonesia met is New Delhi and formed the Asian Games Federation. The five signatory countries to the constitution of the Federation were Afganistan, Burma, India Pakistan and Philippines.
Yadavendra Singh of Patiala and A. S. De Mello were the prime movers behind the First Asian Games held in New Delhi from 4 to 11 March 1951. there were a total of 489 contestants, of whom 31 were women, from Afghanistan, Burma, Ceylon, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The Second Asian Games were held in Manila in 1954, the Third in Tokyo in 1958, the Fourth in Jakarta in 1962. the Fifth, Sixth and Eight Games were held in Bangkok in 1966,1970 and 1978. the Seventh Games were held in Teheran in 1974.
New Delhi will host the IX Asian Games in 1982. To commemorate this momentous event, Indian Post & Telegraphs Department will bring out a series of stamps during 1981 and 1982. The first set of two stamps in the series depict the Mascot and the Logo of the Games, Jantar Mantar (astronomical observatory) located in New Delhi has been graphically represented in the Logo of the Games. It has been chosen for the reason that it is one of the unique monuments of the host City. Architecturally it is purely Indian and it represents the quest for knowledge and perfection. The Logo also incorporates the sun, symbol of Asian Games. The Mascot of the Games is a dancing Indian Elephant with the sun symbol of the Games as a Bindiya on its forehead.
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| Philatelic Stamp Description |
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The stamp depicting the Logo was designed by the India Security Press. Madhusudan Chaudhury designed the stamp showing the Mascot. First day cover was design by Madhusudan Chandhury and the cancellation by Charanjit Lal. |
| Stamp Currency |
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R |
| Stamp Type |
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COMMEMORATIVE |
| Stamp Language |
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English |
| Stamp Overall Size |
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3.91 X 2.90 cms |
| Postal Stamp Print Size |
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3.55 X 2.5 cms. |
| Number of Stamps Per Sheet |
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35 |
| Stamp Perforations |
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13 x 13 |
| Postal Stamp Shape |
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Horizontal |
| Postage Stamp Paper |
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Unwatermarked adhesive Gravure coated stamp 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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Multicolour |
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