Postage stamp on Kausani’s poet Pant released
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, December 23
Governor KK Paul released a memorial postage stamp on renowned Hindi poet Sumitranandan Pant at Raj Bhawan here today.
He said the day was dedicated to expressing gratitude towards the great poet and philosopher.
This was the first postage stamp released on a literary figure of Uttarakhand and also the first postage stamp on any personality of Uttarakhand after the creation of the state.
The Governor said it was the responsibility of society to honour “tapasya” of writers and poets. “I have been thinking about various steps that need to be taken to develop Kausani, the birthplace of Pant, as a retreat for writers and poets. This memorial stamp is the first step towards preserving and honouring his memory,” he said.
He paid rich tributes to the great Hindi ‘Chhayawaad’ poet.
The stamp has been personally designed by the Governor and was sent to the Central Government along with the proposal. The design is a synthesis of a mountain landscape that inspired his poetry and a picture of the poet.
The Governor quoted from Pant’s famous poem “Almore ka Vasant” and said ‘Chhayawad’ was deeply linked to nature and the environment. “I call upon all people to get closer to natural surroundings and protect nature. He mentioned that the IIT, Roorkee, had taken its institute song from Pant’s work “Jayati Jayati Vidya Sansthan”.
He said Sumitranandan Pant’s poetry was an eternal inspiration for every generation.
Vidhan Sabha Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal said Pant’s contribution to the Hindi literature was memorable and the world of literature would always be indebted to him.
Sumita Pant, the adopted daughter of Sumitranandan Pant, expressed gratitude to the Governor for the unique honour given to her father. She quoted from the poem “Meri Beti Sumita”, an emotional poem of Pant whom she called “Daddu”.
Earlier, welcoming the guests, Chief Post Master General Uday Krishan said it was an important day for Uttarakhand’s history and culture and also for the Department of Posts. He said it was due to the inspiration of the Governor that this had happened.
