The stamp as the storyteller

Post haste quintessential india

Author: BG Verghese

Publisher: Westland, Rs 1295

BG Verghese’s book Post Haste Quintessential India describes the landmark events in Indian history and traces the country’s development through postage stamps, observes DIVYA KAUSHIK

The first Sultan of Delhi, Qutb-ud-din Aybak ruled for only four years (1206-1210) but he is known to create a messenger post service here. This service was extended by Alauddin Khilji with dak chowkis, horses and foot runners introduced in 1296. It is possibly because of the easy availability of cheap labour that the number of harkaras (also doots or kasids), drawn from lowly classes or tribes as messengers, increased and were employed to deliver messages in the far-flung areas. These dak runners were trained from their youth. They would speed bare-foot carrying a staff with tassels and tinkling metal bells to announce their arrival and scare away animals. The Mughal empire was said to be served by a network of 4,000 imperial harkaras. Interestingly, Rudyard Kipling paid a tribute to these sturdy men who braved extreme weather conditions and wild animals to deliver mail in one of his verses.

Is the torrent in spate?

He must ford it or swim

Has the rain wrecked the

road?

He must climb by the cliff

The service admits not a

but, or an if,

While the breath’s in his

mouth, he must bear

without fail,

In the name of the Emperor,

The “Overland Mail”

You will find abundant information on the introduction of postage stamps and services in India. But there are interesting facts hidden in the mammoth text available as research and surveys. BG Verghese’s book Post Haste Quintessential India brings out these interesting facts while talking about the development of India. While describing the journey of postage stamps, he mentions important events and personalities who have contributed in making India what it is today.

It is interesting to note that in the last few months there have been some books on postage stamps. Another book which was launched nearly the same time as Verghese’s was A Stamp is Born by CR Pakrashi, a stamp designer. Pakrashi’s book comes with 56 commemorative stamps describing his first-hand experiences with all stages of production of the stamp, from conception to final execution and printing. The author focusses on how designing plays a pivotal role in the entire process. While Pakrashi’s book comes across as a personal account highlighting the technique of production of stamps, Verghese’s book takes a kaleidoscopic look at India’s rich heritage, its diverse faiths, its wandering minstrels, travellers and philosophers. It also highlights what is integral to modern India — the freedom struggle, the framing and unpacking of the Constitution, the building of institutions — and takes critical note of many ills and contradictions that assail an inegalitarian nation that boldly turned political history on its head to renew itself through a remarkable democratic exercise.

The author mentions in the introduction that the book is a thumbnail account of India which tells young people and their elders things they never learnt at their mother’s knee or at school or what they might easily read within single covers in the library. In this regard, Verghese has successfully painted a perfect picture that can serve as a background of research. Divided into sections like ‘Dak Lore and Allure’, ‘India, A Rainbow Country’, ‘Towards Freedom’, ‘The Constitutional Promise’, ‘Warriors, Defenders, Guardians, Builders’ and so on, the book touches upon many topics and subjects, but some are summed up in a line or two.

While reading it, you may have to connect many facts, established through postage stamps, to unfold a story narrating geographical, historical or a personal account. Perhaps, the author realises this and therefore he mentions that the book offers no more than a hint of the colour that decorates the bouquet called India. It tells enough to arouse curiosity and makes readers want to know more.

Verghese’s book is of special interest to those who relate to the time when stamp collection and trading was the most flaunted interest and hobby. Those who did so, aimed for a collection maintained by the likes of John Lennon, founder of the Beatles, Anatoly Karpov, the Russian chess champion and Maria Sharapova, the tennis star. Freddie, a celebrated rockstar and a lead singer with the London group Queen, collected stamps, too. He died of AIDS in 1991 and his father sold his son’s stamp collection to the Royal Mail in the UK which donated the proceeds to an AIDS charity. Interest in stamps and philately was at its peak in the 80s when many clubs, journals, societies sprouted to draw mostly children. The Indian Philatelic Society was established in 1887.

But stamps are no longer in vogue now. Verghese’s book, therefore, comes at a right time and can be a medium to draw youngsters to trace development of the country through postage stamps, that went through many makeovers and registered the change.

Mention of how India saw a dance renaissance with the introduction of Western ballet techniques by Uday Shankar, how classical music has been an integral part of our culture and how other art and folk forms developed over years, makes the book a composite package. But in case you are looking or details in this package, you will only be disappointed. This book can be a perfect introduction to many facts and accounts but you might have to dig the details from other sources.