14 Punjab(Nabha Akal) FDC from India

FDC Name:14 Punjab(Nabha Akal)

Issue Date:21st JULY 2008

Details:

This battalion was formed out of irregular forces maintained by the ruler of Nabha. These forces fought against Mughal armies at Muktsar and Sirhind in 1708 to help Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of Sikhs. Hamir Singh, the then ruler, formed a regular brigade group out of these forces in 1757.

The 1st and 2nd battalions were named 1st and 2nd Nabha Akal Infantry. Maharaja Hira Singh reorganized the Nabha Brigade and in 1878 and Nabha Akal Infantry was named Hira Bera. It was once again renamed 1st Nabha Akal Infantry in 1889. The Nabha Contingent was reorganized as Imperial Service Troops.

The 1st Nabha Akal Infantry saw action in Basra in April 1918 during World War 1. The battalion was called upon to proceed on active service for the British Crown against General Nadir Khan of East Persia in 1919. The battalion took active part in operations during World War 2 and came out as victors of Italian campaign.

After the independence of India the unit was integrated with Indian Army in 1951. It was designated as 14 Battalion (Nabha Akal) of Punjab Regiment on January 26, 1954. The battalion took part in action in Fazilka sector in 1965 war and in Garibpur (Bangladesh) in 1971 war.

The battalion carried out counter insurgency operations in North East Frontier Area in 1974-1976 and in Manipur in 1998-2000. The battalion was part of United Nations Peace Keeping Force UNAVEM III in 1995-1996. It has recently returned victorious from a hazardous high altitude area of Jammu & Kashmir where it was deployed.

• Kamleshwar Singh designed the Stamp and the First Day Cover.
• Alka Sharma designed the pictorial first day postmark.
• Brochure containing write-up and technical data was issued on the occasion. The First Day Cover and the Brochure are priced at Rs 2 each. Security Printing Press, Hyderabad printed the stamps by wet offset in the quantities of 0.8 million each.

Remark:It is very unfortunate that now days the FDC and stamps are not available in the local Philatelic Bureau on the issue date.So it is impossible to send this FDC by registered post to the philatelic friends worldwide.Today after 5 days the stamps & FDC came to the post office.IN INDIA NOBODY LISTEN TO THESE DIFFICULTIES,A great postal history was lost.