After 4 long years of waiting Odisha postal circle organised 11th state level philatelic exhibition, OPHILEX 2022 in silver city, Cuttack. The three day long exhibition was held in Ravenshaw Convention Hall in the historic Ravenshaw University campus from 23rd September, 2022 to 25th September, 2022. The aim of this blog is to provide details of all the philatelic releases during these three days.
A total of 7 special covers, 1 carried cover, 16 picture postcards, 2 maxim cards and 3 special pictorial postmarks released during this mega event with the help of different Government and private organisations and the philatelists. Total 494 frames were exhibited in different class of the exhibition.
The exhibition was inaugurated on 23rd September on the august presence of Mr. Sundhansu Swain, IPoS (CPMG, Odisha Postal Circle), Dr. Sudhansu Sarangi, IPS as Guest of Honour and Prof.(Dr.) Sanjay Kumar Nayak, Vice Chancellor, Ravenshaw University as Chief Guest.
Drone Carried Cover
The first philatelic release of the exhibition was a drone carried cover. The cover was posted from Cuttack GPO to the Vice Chancellor, Ravenshaw University through drone. It was a first of it’s kind in Odisha philatelic history. The cover depicts the Cuttack GPO building and contains the signature of the drone operator.
The uniqueness and printing in limited quantity made this cover very popular among philatelists across the country. Only 1000 such covers were prepared at the face value of Rs. 100.00.
Special cover on 75 years of Philatelic Bureau, Cuttack
On 15th August 1948, the philatelic bureau opened at the then capital city of Odisha, Cuttack vide Postal Notice no. 31, dated 06.08.1948. (Ref 1) To commemorate 75 years of it’s inception a special cover released on the first day of the OPHILEX 2022. The cover was printed in limited quantity of 1000 pcs with the face value of Rs. 15.00.
Special cover on Indian Roller, the State Bird of Odisha
Blue Jay or Indian Roller, is considered as the “State Bird” of Odisha because of its brilliant colour, attractive rolling behaviour and strong auspicious belief of Odia people. Besides Odisha, it is the state bird of 3 more Indian states i.e. Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It is listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List. This proponent of this special cover is Eastern India Philatelic Association. Total 2000 covers were printed with the face value of Rs. 15.00.
Maxim Card on 2nd International Tiger Forum
The 2nd International Tiger Forum took place on 5 September – the opening day of the Eastern Economic Forum. The Forum provided an opportunity to present the outcomes of implementation of the Global Tiger Recovery Programme adopted in 2010 and outline further goals and concrete actions to ensure the conservation of a sustainable global tiger population. The Vladivostok Declaration on Tiger Conservation has become the main outcome of the 2nd International Tiger Forum. All tiger range countries signed it. The 13 tiger ranges countries include India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Lao PDR (People’s Democratic Republic), Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, Viet Nam, China and Indonesia.
The maxim card released was featuring the enlarged image of the stamp issued by Department of Posts on 1st September. The face value of the maxim card with the cancelled stamp is Rs. 20.00.
Special Pictorial Postmark on OPHILEX 2022
A pictorial postmark depicting the logo of the exhibition issued on the first day.
Picture postcard on Ravenshaw University
A set of 16 picture postcards released on Ravenshaw University. The postcards featuring different places events of importance related to university campus. The artistic and creative work by Ritesh Seth are great enough to bring nostalgia feeling for any alumni of this historic university. The limited edition postcard set was printed in 400 numbers with the face value of Rs. 150.00.
Special cover on Mohan Sundar Deb Goswami
Mohan Sundar Deb Goswami, also known as Father of Odia Cinema was a Guru of traditional Rasa theatre born on 8th August 1892 in Puri, Odisha. Mohan was a legend who dared to dream making the maiden Odia film even before Odisha was carved out as the first linguistic state in the country. Mohan Sundar delivered the same to the Odias through the first Odia full length feature film Sita Bibah in 1936 – the year of Odisha’s birth. The cover was printed by department itself with the face value of Rs. 15.00.
Special cover on Sunanda Patnaik
Sunanda Patnaik (1934-2020) is an Indian classical singer of Gwalior Gharana from Odisha, born and brought up in Cuttack. Popularly known as “Guru Maa”, she is considered one of the great dames of Hindustani music. She is the daughter of noted legendary Indian poet Baikunthanath Patnaik. She will be remembered always for her immortal “Jeevan Patra Mo Bharicha” song. Sunanda Patnaik was awarded with Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1970, 1971 and the highest Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja award in 1991. She was the recipient of Central Sangeet Natak Akademi award (Tagore Akademy Puraskar) for the year 2012. The cover was printed by department itself with the face value of Rs. 15.00.
Special cover on Alaka Ashram Centenary Celebration
Alaka Ashram: the Sabaramati of Odisha, also known as the breathing ground of freedom fighters was established to spread message of Mahatma Gandhi on freedom struggle across Odisha by involving youths, intellectuals and common people. It was established during Noncooperation Movement, reached at every corner of Odisha during Civil Disobedience Movement and banned by British during Quit India Movement. Most of the eminent freedom fighters from Odisha including Gopabandhu Chaudhury, Rama Devi, Bhagirathi Mohapatra, Sarala Devi, Nabakrushna Chaudhury, Malati Devi, Pranakrushna Padhihary and others started their journey from this historic institution. The proponent of the cover is Alaka Ashrama, which was being sold at the face value of Rs. 15.00.
Special cover on Rourkela Steel Plant
Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) is the first integrated steel plant in the public sector in India. It is also the first steel plant in SAIL and the only one presently where 100% of slabs are produced through the cost-effective and quality-centric continuous casting route. It is SAIL’s only plant that produce silicon steels for the power sector and high quality pipes for the oil & gas sector.. Its wide and sophisticated product range includes various flat, tubular and coated products. While we are celebrating 50 years of incorporation of SAIL, a special cover issued on RSP at the face value of Rs. 15.00.
Special Pictorial Postmark on Silver City, Cuttack
A pictorial postmark depicting culture and heritage of Cuttack, the Silver city. The postmark features Orissa High Court Building, Baliyatra and Barabati Fort.
Maxim Card on National Flag of India
A maxim card released on the tricolor flag of India. The stamp used is of The National Flag of India issued in 2022 of denomination Rs. 75.00. The maxim card was being sold at the face value of Rs. 100.00 including the postage stamp.
Special cover on RMIT Group of Institutions
RMIT Group operates 3 educational institutions in the field of technical education. Holy Institute of Technology, Rajiv Memorial Institute of Technology and Rajiv Memorial Industrial Training Centre are providing quality education from years in the Silk City, Berhampur. A special cover released to commemorate the institutes at the face value of Rs. 15.00.
Special Pictorial Postmark on Ravenshaw University
A pictorial postmark depicting the building of Ravenshaw University.
The strange thing about all the pictorial postmarks is neither department released them by guest during function nor they informed the fellow philatelist at the venue about the said postmark.
Did you get a chance to visit the exhition ? If yes, why not share your experience in comments…