A commemorative postage stamp on the 47^th Death Anniversary of Vallabhbhai Patel, 1^st Deputy Prime Minister of India (1947-50), founding father of the Republic of India :

Issued by India

Issued on Dec 15, 1997

Issued for : The Department of Posts is privileged to issue a special commemorative stamp to mark the 47^th death anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Design : The First Day Cover design depict Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel alongwith Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in the All India Congress Committee meeting held in Bombay in July 1946.

Credits :
Stamp : Sankha Samanta
First Day Cover : Book on ‘Mahatma Gandhi & His Life in Picture‘
Cancellation : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Block of 4 Stamps, Mint Condition

Colour : Single Colour

Denomination : 200 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Indegenous un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated Stamp Paper in reels 47 cms.

Stamps Printing : 0.4 Million

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel

Born on Oct 31, 1875 at Nadiad, Gujarat, Bombay Presidency, British India

Died on Dec 15, 1950 at Bombay, Bombay State, India

About : 

• Sardar Patel became Chairman of the Congress Parliamentary Sub-Committee in 1936 and ably guided the functioning of the Congress ministries in various provinces. An active participant in the Individual Satyagraha in 1940, he joined the “Quit India” movement in 1942 and was detained in Ahmednagar Fort and Yeravada Jail. A very able negotiator, he played a vital role in the discussions with Cripps in 1942, in the Simla Conference in 1945 and during the Cabinet Mission talks in 1946.
• Joining the Interim Government in September 1946, Vallabhbhai became the Minister in charge of Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting. In the disturbed months that followed it was his firm hand, more than anything else, that maintained order in the country. In Independent India, he became the Deputy Prime Minister and looked after the Home and the States Departments.
• The Sardar‘s finest hour was when he accomplished the integration of the Indian States with the Union. For him, integration meant not only accession by the rulers but also transfer of their power to the people. India has been unified as never before, and the saga of this achievement has passed into history.
• A stern realist and a great organiser, the Sardar was a man of iron will who never allowed personal sentiments to interfere with his duties to the nation. His country was his first love and in the words of his daughter, ‘To the last, he was thinking of the nation.‘

Related posts:

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel 1975 National Unity Day – Salute to the Unifier of India SVPNPA, Hyderabad Vallabhbhai Patel 1965 Manoharbhai Patel Joachim and Violet Alva