Special cover on ‘Olive Ridley Turtles’ released at GOAPEX 2019

“Philately is considered as a king of hobby. In the next 20 years, the communication revolution will take this planet by storm, be it in the form of artificial intelligence, robotics or high-speed transportation. No country will create stamps in another two decades. Every stamp that you see today, printed by the countries of postal union, will become just mere objects of heritage.” said Assistant professor, department of botany, Nandkumar Kamat. He was speaking at the three-day district (North and South Goa) level philatelic exhibition ‘GOAPEX 2019’, at Institute of Menezes Braganza, Panaji.

Post stamps provide us with a tremendous amount of knowledge. It has given us insight regarding our election commission, the judicial system, railways, Indian civilisation and army and defence forces which are the monuments of the Indian democracy, added Kamat.

Highlighting the effort of the forest department Kamat said that, “the effort of the forest department of Goa for the protection of Olive Riddley turtles is appreciated internationally. This effort will be more fruitful if communities from Morjim, Galjibag, Agonda, and Ashvem come together and show compassion towards these species, which are not produced artificially and, whose ecology or biology is understandable to us. By releasing a special cover today we have sent a loud message to the whole world that we care for Olive Riddley turtles.”

Giving insights on the exhibition, postmaster director general, Goa region, N Vinod Kumar said that, “Normally it is a district level exhibition, but this time we have upgraded it to a zonal level as, at district level only 50-100 frames are on display but at zonal level we have close to 203 frames. This time the participation is on a bigger scale as 11 schools have also participated in the exhibition.”

Special covers are considered to be 2nd in rank to postage stamps as stamps take nearly a year to release as it has to be approved by the philately advisory committee and a lot of other procedures to be followed. “We will be launching 3 special covers on each day; on Olive Riddley turtles, on forts of Goa and the state percussion instrument– Ghumot. These special covers will have a pictorial cancellation on them”, added Kumar

Speaking about the Goa’s first permanent postcard cancellation, which was launched in the month of November at Loutolim post office with a picture of Sant Meerabai, Kumar said, “there are certain places of interests in Goa which can be added as permanent postcard cancellation, but as of now nothing has been thought off but we are open to suggestions.”

Also present for the occasion were, Principal chief conservator of forests and chief warden wildlife, Goa, Santosh Kumar and Senior superintendent of post offices, Goa division, Archana Gopinath.

(The exhibition will be held from February 9 to February 11 at Institute of Menezes Braganza, Panaji from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. A souvenir containing a catalogue of exhibits, the programme of exhibition and articles on Philately will be published on the occasion.)

Pics Credit - Shivang Mishra I NT GOGOANOW.COM