President's Fleet Review 2022 - Visakhapatnam

FDC with Visakhapatnam Cancellation

Date of Issue: February 21, 2022

India Post issued a commemorative stamp of Rs.5.00 denomination on the occasion of President's Fleet Review held at Visakhapatnam.

President Ram Nath Kovind

President Ram Nath Kovind conducted the Fleet Review off the Visakhapatnam coast in the Bay of Bengal. As many as 60 ships and 55 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft participated in the mega event.

As the Supreme Commander of our armed forces, every President of India reviews the Indian Naval Fleet once during their term.

The Fleet Review is aimed at assuring the country of the Indian Navy’s preparedness, high morale and discipline.

This is the 12th Fleet Review and the theme was ‘Indian Navy - 75 years in Service of the Nation’, commemorating the Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

After a 21-gun salute and ceremonial guard of honour, the President embarked on the Presidential Yacht, INS Sumitra - an indigenously built naval offshore patrol vessel. Received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, Kovind sailed past 44 ships anchored in four columns in the Bay of Bengal and received the ceremonial salute from each of them.

The crew of each ship presented a salute with the traditional ‘Three Jais’, a symbolic act called “Man and Cheer Ship,” in a demonstration of the unconditional allegiance of Navy personnel to the country and the Supreme Commander.

Along with the ships, there was a Parade of Sails, comprising two Laser Bahia, six Enterprise Class and six Indian Naval Sailing Vessels Mhadei, Tarini, Bulbul, Hariyal, Kadalpura and Neelkanth.In addition to the naval warships, ships from the Indian Coast Guard, Shipping Corporation of India and Ministry of Environment Sciences also participated in the review.

Marine Commandos (Marcos) from the Special Operations unit INS Karna on the eastern seaboard, performed combat free-fall water jumps from the Para Dornier aircraft over a designated drop zone from a height of 6,000 feet.

The President also witnessed demonstrations in the form of a composite flypast by 55 aircraft including Chetaks, ALH, Sea Kings, KAMOVs, Dorniers, IL-38SD, P8I, Hawks and MiG 29K.

Info Courtesy: newindianexpress.com, onlinewiki.in

President's Fleet Review, Mumbai 2011

Date of Issue: December 19, 2011

Fleet Review: A fleet review is a traditional gathering of ships from a particular navy to be observed by the reigning monarch or his or her viceroy, a practice allegedly dating back to the 15th century. Such an event is not held at regular intervals and originally only occurred when the fleet was mobilized for war or for a show of strength to discourage potential enemies.

However, since the 19th century they have often been held for the coronation or for special royal jubilees (indeed, since Edward VIII it has been regularly held at each coronation, though the one scheduled in the United Kingdom for Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee was cancelled due to costs. Also, since the 19th century, fleet reviews increasingly often include delegates from other national navies.

President's Fleet Review, India:  The President of India is entitled to inspect his/her fleet, as he/she is the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces. The first President's fleet review by India was hosted by Dr. Rajendra Prasad on October 10, 1953. President's reviews usually take place once in the President's term. In all, ten fleet reviews have taken place, including in February 2006, when former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam took the review. The latest, on December 20, 2011, when President Pratibha Patil set sail in a warship INS Subhadra (P51) to take the 10th Fleet Review.

Presidents Dr Zakir Hussain, N Sanjiva Reddy and Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma did not review the fleet during their tenure.

India Post issued a set of four stamps and a First Day Cover to commemorate this historic event. I would like to thank my friend Mr. Amit Surana, Mumbai for helping me to get the FDC with Mumbai postmark, where the event held.

The first stamp shows, I think an Indian Coast Guard boat. (blog readers are welcome if they know more details).

The other stamps show MiG-29 fixed-wing aircraft, INS Shivalik (F47), and INS Sindhuvijay (?) (S62)

Text Source: Wikipedia

The Punjab Regiment - 250 Years - Galley Insignia

Date of Issue: October 12, 2011

The Punjab Regiment is one of the oldest infantry regiments of the Indian Army. The first battalions were raised between 1761 and 1798. The Regiment has the proud privilege of earning 35 pre-independence battle honors and 14 post-independence battle honors besides eight COAS unit citations and 13 Army Commander Unit citations.

The Regiment insignia is a Galley, an ancient Greek or Roman warship. It is perhaps the only Infantry Regiment with an insignia of a naval vessel in the world.

Commissioning of INS Shakti (A57)

Date of Issue: October 01, 2011

A Special Cover commemorating Commissioning of INS Shakti was issued by Andhra Pradesh Circle of India Post.

INS Shakti (A57) - a Deepak Class Replenishment Fleet Tanker built by Fincantieri, Italy, can carry 15,000 tonnes of different varieties of fuel for ships and aircraft and 500 tonnes of dry cargo, including ammunition and provisions for the fleet to take up multiple ship replenishment operations simultaneously. It also has workshop facilities to provide frontline support to fleet ships and can operate heavy helicopters.

It is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors an electronic warfare suite, most of it being indigenous. It was designed to operate as a command platform, according to the Navy.

Commanding Officer of the ship Capt. Ravi Malhotra read out the ‘Commissioning Warrant' and the naval ensign was hoisted on board for the first time and breaking the commissioning pennant as the National Anthem was played, marked the formal commissioning of the ship.

Text Source: The Hindu - October 2, 2011

Special Cover: INS Hansa Golden Jubilee (1961 - 2011)

Date of Issue: September 05, 2011

The Goa and Maharashtra Circle of India Post issued a Special Cover to commemorate 50 golden years of service to the nation by INS Hansa - India's Premier Naval Air Station, now located near Dabolim, in Goa.

INS Hansa was commissioned on September 05, 1961 at Sulur, near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It was initially co-located with the Sulur Air Force Base of the Indian Air Force. It was initially home to INAS 551 squadron, operating de Havilland Vampire aircraft, as well as training establishments for Hawker Sea Hawk and Breguet Alizé aircraft.

After the liberation of Goa from Portuguese occupation, Dabolim airfield was transferred to the Indian Navy. INS Hansa was then moved to Dabolim on June 18, 1964.

Over 2000 naval personnel and 1000 civilians are employed at INS Hansa. It is home to 8 Indian Naval Air Squadrons (INAS).

Among the units based here are:

INAS 300, operating BAe Sea Harrier fighter aircraft
INAS 303, operating Mikoyan MiG-29K fighters
INAS 310,operating Dornier Do 228 aircraft in electronic warfare roles
INAS 315, operating the Il-38 anti-submarine warfare aircraft
INAS 321, operating HAL Chetak helicopters for search and rescue
INAS 551, operating HAL HJT-16 Kiran jet trainers
INAS 552, operating Harrier T-60 trainers

The Crest of INS Hansa depicts Hamsa (from Sanskrit हंस haṃsa) is an aquatic bird, often considered to be a goose or sometimes a swan. The cachet design shows various air crafts of the Indian Navy.

Click here to read more interesting information about INS Hansa.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Beypore Harbor - Permanent Pictorial Ship Postmark Inauguration

Date of Issue: May 17, 2006.

This is a special cover issued on day of inauguration of permanent pictorial postmark at Beypore Harbour.

Beypore is a small coastal town in Kozhikode district in the state of Kerala, India. The place was formerly known as Vaypura / Vadaparappanad. Tippu Sultan named the town “Sultan Pattanam”.  Beypore port is one of the oldest ports in Kerala from where trading was done to the Middle East. 

Beypore was an important trade and maritime center during the days of the early Arab and Chinese travelers and later the Europeans. Soon after gaining prominence as a port and trade center, Beypore slowly began to flourish as a center for shipbuilding, since ships were in great demand by merchants from Western Asia. The shipbuilding yard at Beypore is famous for its traditional construction of the Uru or the Arabian trading vessel. This tradition of shipbuilding is nearly 1,500 years old, and the craftsmanship of the workers here is exceptional.

The Indian Coast Guard has commissioned a station here in 2006.

The cachet design shows life at harbor in Beypore and the pictorial postmark showing traditional Arab dhow.

Source:  Wikipedia, Keralatourism.org

Bali Yatra - Festival of Boats

Date of Issue: November 02, 2009

This Special Cover was issued in Orissa Circle of India Post by District Council of Culture, Cuttack in association with Orissa Philatelic Association.

Bali Yatra literally means "journey to Bali". It is popularly known as Cuttack Bali Jatra. This festival is held in Odisha (formerly Orissa), in the city of Cuttack at "Gadagadia ghata" of the Mahanadi river, to mark the day when ancient Sadhabas (Odia mariners) would set sail to distant lands of Bali, as well as Java, Sumatra, Borneo (all in Indonesia), and Sri Lanka for trade and cultural expansion. They sailed in large vessels called Boitas.

The festival marks its beginning at the end of the Kartik Purnima in October and November, and goes on for a period of seven days right from the full moon. This is the specific time that was considered auspicious by the Sadhabas to begin their voyage in vessels called Boitas. The scientific cause of starting voyage on "kartika purnima" is to take profit of the wind blown this time. "Ajhala" or big fabrics were used to carry "boita" or vessels by wind.

In Cuttack, Bali Yatra is celebrated annually as a large, open, fair near the Barabati Fort area. It is said to be the largest fair of Odisha state. People from all over India come to experience it. In Bali Yatra, children float toy boats made of colored paper, dried banana tree barks, and cork in the Mahanadi river, ponds, and water tanks, to commemorate the voyage of their ancestors to Indonesia. These toy boats, that are usually launched after sunset with small oil lamps, lit and placed inside them, provide a very attractive sight during the festival. People sing a song "Aa ka ma bai, pan gua khai..."to remember the early maritime history of Odisha (Orissa). The song tells about four months that are important for marine merchants of Kalinga (early Odisha).

This festival is also celebrated with great fanfare in Paradeep. Bali Yatra bears testimony to the rich maritime legacy of ancient Orissa. It is also known as Boita Bandana Utsab, or the "festival of boats".

The cachet design shows colorfully illustrated boita, a boy floating toy boat with lamp. The postmark is of boita.

Source: Wikipedia

Paper Boat

Date of Issue: November 14, 2010

This beautiful and colorful FDC with stamps were issued by India Post on Children's Day, celebrated every  year on November 14, to honor the memory of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on his birth anniversary, and who never failed to express his love for children.

I am happy to present this FDC here as it brings nostalgic moments. I too have made a paper boat myself as a child, while at my grandma's home during the annual school holidays, making paper boats with cousins, enjoying the rain and leaving the boat in the small stream from rain water, nearby the house.

This also makes me remember the poem "Paper Boat" by India's noted poet, Rabindranath Tagore, (1861 - 1941) which I read sometime somewhere. I like to share the poem today with my readers.

The translated English version, from the original Bengali language:

"Day by day I float my paper boats one by one down the running stream.
In big black letters I write my name on them and the name of the village where I live.
I hope that someone in some strange land will find them and know who I am.
I load my little boats with shiuli flowers from our garden, and hope that these blooms of the dawn will be carried safely to land in the night.
I launch my paper boats and look up into the sky and see the little clouds setting their white bulging sails.
I know not what playmate of mine in the sky sends them down the air to race with my boats!
When night comes I bury my face in my arms and dream that my paper boats float on and on under the midnight stars.
The fairies of sleep are sailing in them, and the lading is their baskets full of dreams.

INS Vikrant

Date of Issue: February 16, 1986
Scott #: 1115

India Post issued this stamp of INS Vikrant to commemorate her Silver Jubilee on February 16, 1986.

INS Vikrant, (R11) formerly HMS Hercules, was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. The name Vikrant was taken from Sanskrit vikrānta meaning "stepped beyond", i.e. "courageous", "victorious".

The HMS Hercules was purchased by the Govt. of India on 1957 and the ship was commissioned as INS Vikrant on February 16, 1961. Her service to the country, particularly during Indo-Pak war on 1971 showed her real prowess and shall always be remembered. As the flagship of the Eastern Fleet, commencing on December 04, 1971, she launched strikes on Cox Bazar, Chittagong airfield and ships in harbor of Chalna, Khulna, and Mongla. The part played by Vikrant in the 1971 operations undoubtedly helped hasten the surrender of Pakistani troops.

The stamp is based on the art work prepared by Alka Sharma and designed by India Security Press, Nashik. The First Day Cover shows a Sea Harrier Aircraft ready for take off and Seaking Aircraft started upon either side of the deck ready for launch and the crest of INS Vikrant superimposed on it. The cancellation designed by Alka Sharma.

Vikrant was India's only carrier for over twenty years, but by the early 1990s she was effectively out of service because of her poor condition. Even following major overhauls she was rarely put to sea. She was formally decommissioned on January 31, 1997 and is preserved as a museum at Mumbai. She is the only World War II-era British-built aircraft carrier to be preserved as a museum.

Source: Wikipedia, India Post information brochure.

Commissioning of INS Car Nicobar & INS Chetlat

Date of Issue: February 16, 2009

INS Car Nicobar (T69) & INS Chetlat (T70), the first & second ship of the series of ten Water Jet Fast Attack Craft on-order with GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers), Kolkata , were commissioned by His Excellency, Shri Surjit Singh Barnala, The Governor of Tamil Nadu on 16 Feb 2009 at Chennai.

The ships will be cost-effective platforms for patrol and rescue operations at sea. The vessels are the first water-jet propelled ships of the Indian Navy and are based in Chennai under India's Eastern Naval Command.

The first vessel - Car Nicobar - has been named after the northernmost of the Nicobar Islands. The second vessel - Chetlat - has been named after the northernmost of the Lakshwadeep Islands.

Source: wikipedia and bharat-rakshak.com

I have spares of this cover for exchange. Anyone interested, contact my mail ID.

9th Asian Games - Delhi 1982

Date of Issue: November 25, 1982
Scott #: 997 and 999

These two stamps show the Sailing and Canoeing, two of the 21 sports events held during the 9th Asian Games at Delhi, November 19, 1982 to December 04, 1982.

The special cancellation on stamps depicts a man on windsurfing.

Wadia (1808 - 1877), Shipbuilder - India

Date of Issue: May 27, 1969
Scott #: 493
Printing Process: Photogravure
Printed at: India Security Press
Number of stamps per sheet: 50

Ardaseer Cursetjee Wadia (October 06, 1808 - November 16, 1877), son of Cursetjee Rustomjee, scion of the Wadia family of shipbuilders and naval architects, and master builder at the Bombay Dockyard (today, Mumbai's Naval Dockyard).

He was the first to build an ocean-going steam vessel in India. Ardaseer was one of the dignitaries from India who attended the wedding of queen Victoria.

He is also recorded as having introduced several (at the time) novel technologies to the city of Bombay (now Mumbai), including gas lighting, the sewing machine, steam pump-driven irrigation and electro-plating.

UN Conference on Trade and Development

Date of Issue: February 01, 1968

IMCO - 10th Anniversary

Date of Issue: October 14, 1969

10th Anniversary of Inter-Governmental Maritime Consulative Organisation

National Maritime Day

Date of Issue: April 05, 1965

Indian Coast Guard

Date of Issue: August 12, 2008

Trishna - First Indian Circumnavigation of World

(Click Image to view larger picture)

Date of Issue: October 01, 1987

President's Review of the Fleet - 1984

Date of Issue: February 12, 1984

International Fleet Review 2001

Date of Issue: 2001

Indian Navy: Reaching out to maritime neighbors

Date of Issue: December 04, 2008