Hobby is an extremely vital tool of life and philately, as a hobby, reduces stress levels, said Director of Odisha Postal Circle Pawan Kumar Singh while inaugurating a seminar on “Stamp Collection: The King of All Hobbies” jointly organised by the Vanihar Old Students Association-92 (VOSS=92) and the India Posts here on Saturday.
Singh said that now as part of the My Stamp Collection scheme, an individual not only can have a stamp with his own photograph, he can also have his marriage ceremony , thread ceremony or any other important occasion made into a stamp. He informed that the Odisha Postal Circle would hold a philately exhibition from August 22 in Bhubaneswar.
Senior Superintendent of Bhubaneswar Postal Division Subash Chandra Barik recalled that once former American President Franklin R Roosevelt had said stamp collection not only reduces boredom, it also enriches one’s life and helps people become good citizens. While earlier, stamps were issued after a person’s death, now anybody can have a stamp with his own photograph as part of My Stamp Collection. Now even, one can acquire stamps sitting at home after opening an account with the India Posts for Rs 200.
Eminent philatelist Bibhudatta Mishra made a power-point presentation on different types of stamps. Among others, philanthropist Shanti Swarup Rath, VOSS-92 members like Dharnaidhar Nanda Manish Acharya also spoke at the function, which was presided over by Gadhadhar Rath.