When a youngster approached the Chief Post Master General of Andhra Pradesh B.V. Sudhakar and asked about the status of philately, he quoted the famous cartoon character Homer Simpson who once said in a TV show, “Son, stamp collecting is like life. It stopped being fun a long time ago."
Well that epitomises the hobby of stamp collecting -- ebbing with each passing year.
And that was quite evident at the Krishna Pex, a philately exhibition organised by the Postal Department here on Friday at the Institute of Engineers building, where most of the philatelists who exhibited their prized collections were beyond the age of 60.
Rare collectionVeerabhadra Sarma, a retired chief engineer of the Department of Panchayat Raj, who showcased a rare collection of stamps depicting birds and flora and fauna from across the world, said, “Stamp collection is unique as it gives a pictorial depiction of life and culture of people and places across the globe. There is a lot of information, and students can learn a lot just by collecting stamps.”
Prized collectionA particular collection of his showcased the birds that have become extinct such as the Dodo, the Giant Moa and the Broad Billed Parrot.
On why the hobby was losing its charm, the Post Master General of Vijayawada blamed it on the social media sites and the cell phone.
A better hobby“Today, children while away their precious time chatting mostly on the social sites. We organise these exhibitions to encourage them to take up the hobby,” he said.
True to its metaphor, any philately exhibition is a journey.
The thematic display such as India’s freedom struggle, 100 years of cinema and life of Gandhi were enchanting.
Mahatma’s lifeThe Gandhi collection by Bharani Aumar showcased the Mahatma’s life -- from his struggle in South Africa to the Dandi March. Similarly, B.S. Prakash’s collection of stamps portraying freedom struggle and unity in diversity was an enlightening journey.
