A commemorative postage stamp on Balwant Rai Mehta, 2^nd Chief Minister of Gujarat (1963-65) [part of series ‘Personalities : Socio-Political (Birth Centenaries)] :

Issued by India

Issued on Feb 17, 2000

Issued for : The Department of Posts issues this set of three commemorative postage stamps to pay homage to outstanding contributions in the socio-political arena by some great leaders : Shri Balwantrai Mehta, Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab and Arun Kumar Chanda whose birth centenary celebrations are being observed.

Credits :
Stamp design : Based on materials furnished by sponsors.
FDC : Sankha Samanta
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 300 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.90 Cms.

Printing size : 2.55 x 3.60 Cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

Name : Balwantrai Mehta

Born on Feb 19, 1900 at Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India

Died on Sep 19, 1965 at Suthari, Kachchh, Gujarat, India

About : 

• Balwantrai Mehta (1899-1965), former Chief Minister of Gujarat was a valiant freedom fighter, social worker and a pioneer of the concept of Panchayati Raj. He participated in the Satyagraha Movement, launched at Nagpur under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and courted arrest and in 1927 joined the Servants of the People Society founded by Lala Lajpatrai, with missionary zeal. Later he became the President of this society. Under the inspiration of late Shri A.V. Thakkar popularly known as Thakkar Bapa, Shri Mehta founded The Harijan Ashram at Bhavnagar, devoting himself actively to this cause. He was a ‘soldier’ in the famous satyagraha of Bardoli. Shri Mehta’s greatest contribution was in the sphere of States’ Peoples’ fight for self-rule. For years, he was the Secretary of the All India States Peoples’ Conference of which he became vice-president subsequently. Shri Mehta was elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1947. He was also elected an M.P. in the general elections of 1952 and 1957 from Gohilwad. He was also the Secretary of the Congress Parliamentary Party and the Chairman of the Estimates Committee. The name of Shri Balwantrai Mehta was conspicuously linked with democratic decentralisation. The revolutionary programme of what is popularly known as Panchayati Raj, being implemented in the country is based on the recommendations of Balwantrai Mehta Committee. During his stint of two years as the Chief Minister of Gujarat which was abruptly terminated on account on his untimely death, he provided dynamic leadership to all-round development of the state.
• Text : Based on Dictionary of National Biography edited by S.P. Sen and materials furnished by sponsors.

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