There is a group of 200-odd people in the city who, in this age of e-messaging, unfailingly receive a post card every month informing them about the agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the Madurai Philatelists and Numismatists Association (MAPNA). Come what may, rain or sunshine, national holiday or personal engagement, there is at least 50 per cent attendance on third Sunday of every month at Victoria Edward Hall. This meeting has been silently taking place uninterrupted since February 19, 2006, and shaping young and old enthusiasts to take pride in their prized collection of stamps and coins.
“Only the first meeting of the year is symbolically conducted at the Head Post Office, near the Railway Station,” says T.J.Shanmughalal, the secretary of the Association, who can’t hide the fact that even if it is only one new member walking in each month, the years have seen more and more people connecting meaningfully.
People may think collecting coins and stamps is waste of time and money but, he says, ask those who are lovers of these treasured pieces of world history. “You can’t miss their passion!”
Shanmughalal himself holds a collection of 2,500-plus special covers, Meghdoot Post Cards, and miniature sheets and has won medals at World Philately exhibitions, the last one being a Bronze at Mumbai expo-2012. One among the 20 founder members of MAPNA who were brought together by S V S Palanichamy, a retired LIC agent who passed away at the age of 82 last year, Shanmughalal says friends and fans of philately are still an undiscovered lot in the city. To stoke the passion in young minds for collecting rare items, the association periodically mounts philately exhibition in city schools and the members talk to the students on the importance and necessity of such an endeavour and how to collect and preserve stamps.
“When you start collecting and curating, it helps you to focus. The level of concentration gets tremendously enhanced as there is a procedure to be followed,” says C.Madhavan, the treasurer. He works in the Textile Department but collecting thematic stamps is a huge hobby for him.
“My best collection is that of world Parliaments and it includes stamps of 200 countries. It won me the gold medal at the Coimbatore Philately expo last year,” says Madhavan, whose collection also boasts of 2,000-plus stamps under 10 different themes including Nobel Prize winners, transport, animals, birds, sports, mother and child.
In many homes, people sit on priceless gems for decades without knowing. When the members meet every month, they get to hear some special talk on anything related to postal and philately and it creates awareness. Some of them also showcase their collections. “Sometimes people tell us they have extra loads of old coins or medals and don’t know what to do with them. This is a good platform to exchange as well,” says Shanmughalal, adding that buying new stamps at the local post office is a good way to lay the foundation for an enviable collection.
Ardent collectors make up the bulk of the stamp market and some of them spend a bomb on their collection. “Stamp collection is a quiet wealth,” says Shanmughalal and jokes how he can sell some of his rare sets at international philately exhibitions and buy a car with that money! “But none of us is into this hobby to make money or for business,” Madhavan chips in. “The idea is not to allow our childhood collections or inherited collections gather dust on the shelves. Instead we can all learn something extra and useful,” he adds.
But stamps and coins are actually increasing in value. Always in demand are the stamps carrying portraits of Swami Vivekananda and former President Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam, inform the MAPNA members. Or, the newly introduced surya namaskar strip released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Yoga Day that has already gone out of stock. Most of the stamp lovers these days buy on e-bay or from the authorised dealers. “We pay minimum 10 times more than the original cost of the stamp along with the cover depending on the rarity of the piece,” says Shanmughalal, whose most valued stamp cover is of Kamaraj released in 1972 and costed 15 paise then. He is also crazy about buying notes that carry the birthday or wedding day in dd/mm/yy sequence. “I buy them in any denomination available and frame them as special gifts for family and friends,” he says.
Surge of interest
Of late there is a surge of interest in stamps from local collectors, says Dr.M.Swamiappan, retired scientist from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and the MAPNA president. Being an entomologist, he has been collecting stamps for the past 15 years with photos of insects, especially butterflies, from all over the world.
“I adore the ethereal quality of stamps,” he says. The fact that they have travelled around the world makes them more fascinating. I always file them neatly and given their exquisite gifts of colour and composition, I enjoy my collection, browsing through them during my free time. I keep studying them for their beauty,” he adds.
Dr. Swamiappan however, rues the declining interest of the young in stamp collection. According to him, it is mostly a hobby of the older people.
“We need to engage students. Stamp collection releases tension and teaches you to systematically gather literature and other study material on the stamp. When you meticulously curate them following the rules and guidelines, it helps you to focus,” he says.
Given Madurai’s historicity, he feels, it is an excellent destination for collectors of collectables. To create more awareness and mark its 10th year, MAPNA is planning to host a district level exhibition and competition for philatelists this year end.
Quote:
Philately broadens one’s horizons, brings people together and widens the knowledge of history, geography, science and technology. Postage stamps are unique and endless source of knowledge about events, places, sites, people, culture and traditions.
Especially in children, the hobby arouses curiosity, stirs imagination, develops the tendency to analyse subjects, cultivates the habit of patience and fosters friendships.” – J.Charukesi, Post Master General, Southern Region.
How it works
The Senior Post Master of the Head Post Office is usually an honorarium member of MAPNA. Though it is a private body of stamp lovers, the Government postal department often works in tandem with the association to showcase rare and exquisite stamps – often found from amateur collections – to create awareness.
To promote philately among all age groups, the India Post -- with its monopoly in stamps, souvenir and miniature sheets, first day and special covers, sheet-lets, information brochures and commemorative Stamps – encourages people to open Philately Deposit Account (PDA) by remitting Rs.200 and getting their supply of new products on request against the advance payment.
The Madurai Philately Bureau allows philatelists to hold mini thematic exhibitions every month. This month’s theme is endangered birds. The bureau periodically releases city-specific special covers to generate and sustain interest of people in postal products.
The bureau will soon be launching a SMS-campaign and whatsapp messaging to students’ community to give them information about new philatelic products. More philatelic workshops will be conducted in city colleges and rural schools. ‘My Stamp’ stalls will be set up in malls, multiplexes and educational institutions. My Stamp is the brand name for personalised sheets of commemorative postage stamps which can carry images of artwork, heritage buildings, famous tourist places, wildlife, historical cities, logos of institutions and customer images.
