Jayadeva and Geetagovinda FDC from INDIA

FDC Name:Jayadeva and Geetagovinda

Issue Date:27th JUL'2009

Details:The Gita Govinda (Sanskrit गीत गोविन्द) (Song of Govinda) is a work composed by the 12th-century poet, Jayadeva, who was born in Kenduli Sasan near Puri in Orissa. It describes the relationship between Krishna and the gopis (female cow herders) of Vrindavana, and in particular one gopi named Radha. This work has been of great importance in the development of the bhakti traditions of Hinduism.
The Gita Govinda is organized into twelve chapters. Each chapter is further sub-divided into twenty four divisions called Prabandhas. The prabandhas contain couplets grouped into eights, called Ashtapadis.

The first English translation of the Gita Govinda was published by Sir William Jones in 1792, where Kalinga (ancient Orissa) is referred to as the origin of the text. Since then, the Gita Govinda has been translated to many languages throughout the world, and is considered to be among the finest examples of Sanskrit poetry.

Yasodhara Menon, Chief Post Master General, Orissa Circle of India Post released a set of 11 stamps on Jayadev & Gita Govind at a state level function held at Jayadev Bhawan, Bhubaneswar on July 27, 2009. The album containing these stamps was presented to the chief guest, Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Orissa. Prafulla Samal, Minister for Panchayati Raj, Information and Public Relation, Orissa, Prasanna Patsani, Member of Parliament, Aravind Dhali, Member of the Legislative Assembly and Tarunkanti Mishra, IAS, Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Orissa were present on the occasion.

A spectacular and colorful Orissi dance performance on Dasavtar followed the stamp release function. The Chief Minister also inaugurated a photographic exhibition on the paintings on Jayadev. A Philatelic counter was opened during the function. In spite of heavy rain philatelists from different parts of Orissa as well as local people turned up in large numbers.

You can have more details about Jayadeva and Geetagovinda from http://www.guruvayurappantemple.org/pdfs/Dashavatara_Stotra_Sanskrit.pdf

Sankha Samanta 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. India Security Press, Nasik printed 1 million stamps by photogravure process. The miniature sheet is printed in the quantity of 1 million.

Remark:Jayadeva and Geetagovinda with 11 stamps this is the largest rather the longest commemorative set of stamps ever issued by India Post.But The FDC was too small for the all 11 set of stamps so I posted the 3 FDC to my friends with 11 stmps set by speed post/Registered post.India Post needs a lot to learn for issuing long sets. The ideal situation would have been if it was produced in a set of 12 sheetlets of 11 stamps individually and mixed. 11 miniature sheets containing one stamp only and a First Day Cover large enough to accommodate 11 stamps should have also been issued.They should learn from China Post having 2 different FDC for stamps and M/s or from Royal Mail,Great Britain(GB) having the stamp size design to be fit in to the FDC.As Jayadev is from our state we are delited to have such large issue of stamps by Indiapost.