Mahendra Nath Mulla
A commemorative postage stamp on Captain Mahendranath Mulla MVC, Captain-Commanding Officer of INS Khukri of Indian Navy, posthumously received Maha Vir Chakra after he died in 1971 Indo-Pakistani War [a part of the series ‘50 Years of the Republic of India : Gallantry Award Winners‘] :
Issued by India
Issued on Jan 28, 2000
Issued for : The Golden Jubilee of the Indian Republic provides the appropriate occasion to pay a grateful nation’s proud homage to the courageous soldiers who have won these awards through their outstanding deeds. On this occasion, the Department of Posts issues a set of 5 stamps to pay tribute to Gallantry Award Winners of the Indian Armed Forces.
Design : The issue commemorates gallantry award winners of the armed forces, on the occasion of fifty years of the Republic of India. The first day cover depicts a section of the First Republic Day procession marching towards India Gate.
Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Sankha Samantha
Cancellation : Alka Sharma
Type : First Day Cover
Colour : Multi Colour
Denomination : 300 Paise
Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.
Printing size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.
Perforation : 13 x 13
Paper : Un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated Stamp Paper in Sheets 50.8 x 53.5 cms.
Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million
Number per issue sheet : 35 (7 Sets)
Printing Process : Photogravure
Printer : India Security Press, Nashik
Name : Mahendra Nath Mulla
Born on May 15, 1926 at Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Died on Dec 9, 1971 at Arabian Sea, near Diu, Gujarat, India
About :
- The Indian Armed Forces, had an entirely different role to play, after India attained Independence. They now had the sacred purpose of defending the Motherland from aggression. Immediately after independence, they were called upon to safeguard India’s frontiers against the Pakistani invaders in Jammu and Kashmir. The jawans took up the challenge and performed remarkable deeds of valour, courage, endurance and self-sacrifice in repelling and defeating the invaders. In recognition of the supreme sacrifices made by the armed forces personnel, the Government of India instituted new Gallantry Awards for them, the highest being Param Vir Chakra.
- Capt. (IN) Mahendra Nath Mulla MVC was in command of the anti-submarine frigate INS Khukri which was on a hunter killer mission in the Arabian Sea in the 1971 war. In the night of 8/9 December about 40 miles off Diu, the ship was attacked by a salvo of three torpedoes fired by an enemy submarine and was fatally struck. The Captain of the ship was quick to realise the extent of damage and gave orders to abandon ship. With total disregard for his personal safety, he supervised the safe escape of his officers and men, gifting even his personal safety gear to another sailor. The ship sank in a matter of five minutes, the tragedy accounting for the supreme sacrifice of Captain Mulla along with his officers and 176 sailors. For this supreme sacrifice he was awarded posthumously, the award of the ‘Maha Vir Chakra’.
- Text : Based on material furnished by the Army Postal Service Corps.
