Bhubaneswar : The five-day National Philatelic Exhibition, ‘Amritpex 2023’, which was held at the Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from the 13th to the `16th Feb drew a large number of participants from all over the country. School-children flocked to see the exhibits.
The exhibition was spread across a floor area of 1,00,000 square feet and had 1,400 frames which had over one lakh stamps collected by 300 participants. The exhibition showcased 20,000 exhibits in 13 categories and featured workshops, panel discussions, and cultural programs. The exhibits displayed 5000 years of India’s history, culture, art, and heritage through stamps and pictorial collections.
The National Philatelic Exhibition included themes such as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and New India, Nari Shakti, Yuva Shakti, Nature and Wildlife, and India’s Culture and History, which marked the celebrations of the diversity of the country and its growing “Aatma Nirbharta” in all sectors and rising stature of India in the world.
More than 40 philatelists from Odisha participated in the National Exhibition. The philatelists from Odisha won 04 Vermeil + one Special Prize, 09 Large Silver, 10 Silver + One Special Prize, 5 Silver Bronze, 06 Bronze, One Certificate of Participation, Four in One Frame Exhibit and 05 in AKAM Class. Odisha has the largest haul of medals from among all the States.
Both Ajit Kumar Dash and Shanti Swarup Rath were awarded Vermeil for their exhibits on Dogs and Tigers respectively. Meera Biswal was given a Vermeil and Special Prize for her collection of Pre-Independence India Postage Stamps. Nikhil Patnaik’s Indian Classics too was awarded a Vermeil. Biswanath Mishra’s exhibit on Horses was awarded a Large Silver. Five members of the Eastern India Philatelic Association were awarded in the Azaki Ka Amrit Mahastov Category. They are Ajit Kumar Raut, Manorama Dash, Rahul Ganguli, Arun Kumar Behera, and C. Madhavan. A book on the Special Covers Of Odisha, written by Dr. Bhibhudata Mishra, and published by the Eastern India Philatelic Association was released on the 14th Feb at the Venue.
According to Anil Dhir, who is a Fellow of the Philatelic Congress of India and has written multiple books on Philately, Odisha is now the Philatelic Capital of the nation. There are eight Philatelic Clubs with around 300 members in the State. Philatelists from Odisha have been making their name by getting awards in both National and International exhibitions. Both Bijoyshree Routray and Major Mohanty were doyens of Philately and have done a lot to promote the good hobby. This year the Philatelic Congress Of India has awarded Fellowship to B.K.Sinha and a Certificate of Appreciation to Anup Kumar Raut.
