There was overwhelming response from the young and the old alike for Manipal University Philately and Numismatics Club launched here on Sunday.
While the older lot was keen to see the collection of stamps and coins on display at the Interact building of the university, the younger ones showed interest in getting started with the hobby.
According to a press release issued here on Monday, H. Vinod Bhat, Vice-Chancellor of Manipal University, who is a philatelist himself, with a fairly large collection of stamps on medicine and space, launched the club and hoped that it would encourage people of the region to take it up as a hobby.
“It has been my dream for a long time to start this club and today it has come true,” he said. “The club will promote philately as a hobby among youngsters,” he said. “Those interested in stamp and coin collection should meet at least once a month to talk, discuss and exchange stamps,” Dr. Bhat said.
Some of the finest collectors of the region displayed their stamps and coins. Prabhakar M. Kamath, president of the Dakshina Kannada Philatelic and Numismatics Association, who inaugurated the exhibition, had a collection of stamps on Falkland Islands, which is a national awards winner. Philatelist M.K. Krishnayya’s collections, which have won more than 15 national awards for flags and two national awards for postal stationary, were on display. Mr. Krishnayya is curator of the Corporation Bank Heritage Museum in Udupi.
Vishvesh K., his son, who is the first secretary of the club, had his collection of primates, elephants, hoofed mammals and cynofelidae (wild dogs and cats).
Jayaprakash Rao’s collections were of pre-Independent India. He also presented coins from the Mughal period and post and pre-Independent India. Baikady Srinivas Rao displayed stamps on butterflies.
He also had army postal covers. Nagendra Pai, a philatelist who won international award in Brazil for a one-frame collection on global warming last year and his recent Gandhi collection, were an attraction. Ratish Udupa, a pediatrician, had his exhibits on Children’s Day.
Daniel Monteiro’s collection of birds and water fowls, which have won 10 international awards and holds a Guinness record for the most number of bird collection, was yet another interesting display. He also collects stamps on monuments of India which too were displayed.
Mansoor Hussain’s country collections on Russia and G.G. Laxman Prabhu’s stamps on Rotary and elephants were the other attractions.
