MAPPEX 2022: A philatelic journal

Madhya Pradesh Postal Circle organized State level philatelic exhibition titled MAPPEX 2022 on the theme of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and India’s Cultural Heritage at Jabalpur from 15th September 2022 to 17 September 2022. This was the 13th State level Philatelic
Exhibition by MP Circle. MAPPEX 2022 was held at the UTSAV COMMUNITY HALL, WCR, MADAN MAHAL, Nearer to MADAN MAHAL RAILWAY STATION JABALPUR 482001.

1st Day (15.07.2022):

On the first day of the exhibition 7 special covers released on freedom fighters and institutions of importance.

100 years of Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur

Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh was founded in the year 1922 with six students only. This college got affiliation in 1928 to one of the nation’s leading universities, Senate of Serampore College (University). In 1970, Mother Teresa visited this college to start Sisters of Charity (Nirmal Hrydaya) at Jabalpur. In 2022 the college is celebrating its prestigious centenary. The motto of the college is “Equipping Divine Personalities to Serve Humanity.” The father of nation Mahatma Gandhi ji visited this college on 7th December 1933 & addressed teachers and students.

Pandey Hospital Pvt. Ltd. is a 55 bedded multi specialty unit founded in the year 1958 by Dr. Tripti Pandey and Prof. Dr. S.C. Pandey as one of the pioneer surgical and obs/gynae set up of central India. Which was updated and upgraded by the eminent gastroenterologist and laproscopic surgeon Dr. Anoop Pandey. Now this institution is being run by Dr. Amarendra Pandey is at the helm of affairs.

Anant Laxman Kanhere

oung revolutionary Anant Laxman Kanhere was born in 1891 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. From childhood he was very much influenced by revolutionary ideology. The organization ‘Abhinav Bharat’ also used to work to awaken the light of revolution. Anant Laxman Kanhere also joined this organization. Ganesh Savarkar was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1909 for writing an article against the British government. In protest, Anant Laxman Kanhere shot dead the District Collector of Nashik, Jackson on 21 December 1909. The British government captured Anant Lakshman Kanhere and he was hanged at the young age of 19.

Maharana Bakhtawar Singh

Maharana Bakhtawar Singh was born on 14 December 1824 in Amjhera town of Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. Maharana Bakhtawar Singh had to take over the reins of the princely state at the young age of just seven. Since childhood, he was restless to take revenge from the British. Maharana Bakhtawar, who became the flame of revolution in the freedom struggle of 1857, and his revolution army killed many British officers. Maharana Bakhtawar Singh made a revolution to drive out the British from entire Malwa and adjoining Gujarat and captured many important cantonments. The British government fraudulently arrested Maharana Bakhtawar Singh. On 10 February 1858, the 34 year old Amjhera king was hanged on a Neem tree in Indore.

Lal Padmadhar Singh Baghel

Young revolutionary Lal Padmadhar Singh Baghel was born in 1913 in village Kripalpur Gadhi of Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. On 08 August 1942, as a result of Gandhi’s call for the Quit India Movement, a large number of students had joined the movement. Lal Padmadhar Singh Baghel, taking an active part in the Quit India Movement on 12 August 1942, led a rally of Allahabad University students with the tricolor in his hands. He was shot by the British to suppress this rally, but he did not let the tricolor fall from his hand. Thus a young revolutionary made the supreme sacrifice of his life for the freedom of the motherland.

Charanpaduka Massacre – 14th January, 1931

From the year 1930 to 1931 the freedom struggle was at its height. The wave of boycott of English goods and Swadeshi swept in the whole country. On 14 January 1931, a peaceful meeting was held in Charan Paduka, a town in the princely state of Chhatarpur. In this meeting, an appeal was being made to use indigenous goods and not to pay land revenue. The British army opened indiscriminate fire on the peaceful protesters on the orders of the British Colonel Fischer without giving any prior warning. In this firing, 21 freedom fighters were martyred and other 26 fighters were injured. The Charan Paduka Massacre is also called the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of Madhya Pradesh.

Sehore Massacre – 14th January, 1858

As soon as the first struggle for freedom broke out in 1857, the wave of 3 rebellion swept across the country. The Sehore district of Malwa was the headquarters of the British Political Agent. The soldiers here also 5 revolted against the British and on ue August 1857, the secular 75 government of Sepoy Bahadur was established. Two flags “Nishane Mohammadi” and “Nishane Mahaviri” were raised to show the rebel government. The government of Sepoy Bahadur remained in power about 6 months. To suppress this, the British General Hugh Rose captured 356 revolutionaries on the banks of the Siwan river in Sehore near Chandmari ground and fired them point blank with bullets on 14 January 1858.

2nd Day (16.07.2022):

Platinum Jubilee of Jabalpur Engineering College, Jabalpur

Jabalpur Engineering College, Jabalpur was established on 07 July 1947 by the then Principal Dr. S. P. Chakravarti with the name of “Government Engineering College, Jabalpur”. This institute is a leading institution in imparting education in various disciplines of engineering, which has made its own identity at the national and international level. In 1997, the golden jubilee celebration of the college was held in the prime hospitality of the then President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma. Presently this institute is affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal. In the year 1997-98, it was given autonomy by the Madhya Pradesh Government.

94th Foundation Day of Historical Gurudwara Marhatal, Jabalpur

Gurudwara Marhatal, Jabalpur is a holy place where the holy feet of Guru Nanak Dev Ji lay in 1564 Vikram Samvat. Here was terror of the cannibal Kodda Rakshas. Guru Ji’s companion Bhai Mardana was caughten by Rakshas to eat him. Then Mardana remembered Guru ji in his heart, and Guru Ji reached at time and got rid him from Rakshas. Guru Ji taught the true way of life. Then Kooda Rakshas became Kooda Bhagat. Mata Gurji Mahila Mahavidyalaya accredited by NAAC A+ and Guru Gobind Singh Higher Secondary School are running in the premises of Gurudwara by Guru Gobind Singh Educational Society Langer Seva is also done at some time. Prakash Parab of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is also celebrated every year and teaches Sikh Dharam.

186 Years of Govt. Science College, Jabalpur

Government Science College Jabalpur, affiliated to R.D. University Jabalpur, is a pioneer education institution of Central India, which started its journey in the year 1836. Learning of Science began in the year 1896 and the year 2022 is the 126th year of Science education. It was named ‘Robertson College’ in 1916. After independence in 1947, it was named Mahakoshal Mahavidyalaya. Science faculty started independently as Govt. Science College in the year 1962, Department of Higher Education, Govt. of MP awarded ‘Model Status’ in the year 1985 & UGC conferred the Autonomous’ status in the year 1988. The Govt. of MP chose this college as ‘Centre of Excellence for Science Education’ in 2002. UGC selected this college as ‘College with Potential for Excellence’ in all the three phases – 2004, 2010 & 2014. NAAC Accreditation was done in 2002, 2011 & 2019 and awarded ‘A’ grade in all the three cycles, College was also selected for DST-FIST grant twice. In 2015 UGC selected this college for ‘Special Heritage Status’, the only college in the Central region (M.P.. CG & Rajasthan). In 2018, the College was declared as “Institute for Excellence in Higher Education” by M.P. Govt. This College offers UG, PG courses and has 07 recognized research centres.

Moti Mahal, Ramnagar, Mandla

The capital of the Gond kings used to be Garha of Jabalpur and Chauragarh in Narsinghpur district, but in 1651 Pahar Singh Bundela attacked Chauragarh and took it under his control. At this time the Gond king Hriday Shah was in ruling. In this situation, King Hriday Shah made his capital at Ramnagar, 17 km from Mandla, in the picturesque environment amidst the forests and on the banks of the holy river Narmada. King Hriday Shah built many palaces and temples in Ramnagar, Moti Mahal is one of them. On 24 April 2018, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi started the Tribal Development Five Year Plan from this Ramnagar.

Ajaygarh Fort

The fort of Ajaygarh is 80 km from Khajuraho. This fort is situated on the top of Vindhya hills. The fort has two entrances. There is a gate in the north of the fort and Tharauni gate in the southeast. It takes 45 minutes of steep rock climbing to reach the doors. There is a lake named Ajay Pal ka Talab in the middle of the fort. The remains of Jain temples are scattered at the end of the lake. Some ancient temples established on the banks of the lake can also be seen. The fort of Ajaygarh, situated on the flat mountain of Vindhyachal mountain range, remains a mystical and focal point of attraction for the people even today.

Pataleswara Temple

According to mythological beliefs, a Shivling was enshrined here by Aade Shankaracharya. This temple was constructed by King Karan Dev Of Kalachuri dynasty in 1041-1072 CE. This temple is considered as the best example of temple architecture of Kalachuri period. There is provision of a sanctum (garbhagriha), antral (the connecting pathway between sanctum and pavilion) and Pavilion (mandapa) in this temple. The floor of the sanctum is 1.40mtr below in comparison to the floor of Mandapa. This is probably the reason why this temple is called the Pataleshwar Temple.

Karma Dance

The Karma dance is very common among the Gonds and Baigas tribes of Madhya Pradesh. This form of dance is performed essentially during Karma festival that falls in the month of August. The Majhwars of Sarguja districts perform karma in the beginning and the end of the rainy season. The Gonds and the Baigas of Mandla and Bilaspur districts perform it at any time they wish.

Aheer Folk Dance

Spreading the petrichor of Bundelkhand and Crown of Mahakoshal Zone “Aheer Folk Dance” is performed in various districts of Madhya Pradesh like Sagar, Jabalpur, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Damoh, etc. People of Yadav caste who consider Lord Shri Krishna as their adoration and believe themselves to be the descendants of Lord Shri Krishna. The descendants believe that the Ahir folk culture is being carried out by them since time immemorial. Ahir folk dance is mainly performed from the second day of Deepawali, by the people of Yadav Caste, by making groups and going door to door. It is known as Baredi dance in some parts of Bundelkhand.

Postcards on Waterfalls of Madhya Pradesh

3rd Day (17.09.2022)

On the second day of the exhibition two special covers released.

Women’s Philately Club, Jabalpur

PINK GALLERY was introduced at Jabalpur (M. P.) during MARBLEPEX-2019, the district level philatelic exhibition on 3rd & 4th October 2019. India Post had organized this 100 frame exhibition. A lady Philatelist of Jabalpur Mrs. Mokshada Khodiyar had submitted a proposal that a separate gallery should be established for the female exhibitors. President Organizing Committee & Senior Superintendent of Post Offices Mr. Atul Tiwari accepted the proposal. This Pink gallery showcased a unique stamp collection of the 10 members of the Women’s Philatelic Club, Jabalpur.

Freedom Fighter Dr. Seth Govinddas

Freedom Fighter Padma Bhushan Dr. Seth Govinddas was born on 16 October 1896 in Jabalpur. On the call of Mahatma Gandhi, he sacrificed his royal family and devoted himself to the freedom struggle and suffered imprisonment for 8 years and 2 months. In 1923, he was elected a member of the Central Legislative Assembly. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly of independent India. He remained a lifelong member of Lok Sabha after independence and also chaired the lower house numerous times. In 1948, he was elected the President of Akhil Bhartiya Sahitya. He was bestowed upon with “Padma Bhushan” by the first President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1961. In the memory of the martyrs, “Shaheed Smarak Bhawan” was constructed in Jabalpur.

All these newly issued materials were very easy to collect due to organized behaviour of the staffs of MP Postal Circle. Though the special covers are very beautiful, it would be better if they focus more on English and Hindi translation along with spelling mistakes, which is not expected from government institutions.