Sikkim Philately at a glance-2

Ever since Sikkim became part of the Indian Union, four major state-level Philatelic exhibitions had been held organized by the Department of Post. Little is known about the first philatelic exhibition SIKKIMPEX-82 except that among the many participants on the exhibition one of the participants was Late Ganga Kaptan, a legendary figure in Nepali literature. The three-day exhibition had three special covers released. Sikkim Philately had to wait for two decades to have the next major exhibition. Twenty years later in 2002, a three-day exhibition was held at White Hall. It was for the first time the people of Sikkim took a keen interest in that gummed piece of paper. 

Dr Pawan Kumar Chamling, the Chief Minister of Sikkim was the Chief Guest on the occasion. The exhibition was a huge success. The occasion helped introduce Dipok Dey, a renowned stamp designer from Kolkata and the only Indian to design a United Nations Stamp with the young and eager stamp collectors of the state. Among the noted winners in the exhibition was Ganesh Pradhan in the senior category while Ruben Pradhan and Debasish Basnet both were first and second in the junior category. Around 20 stamp collectors participated in the three-day show. Three separate pictorial special cover cancellations were released on each day.

 First Special Cover from Sikkim (1982)

Ruben Pradhan and Debasish Basnet, the two junior category winners were later among the 16 children included in the Indian contingent that participated in the Arizona Stamp exhibition in the United States. This exhibition opened the door for the young philatelists of Sikkim beyond the state. Sikkim Philatelists had over the years participated at exhibitions at Jalpaiguri, Berhampore, Siliguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and Kolkata. Another person behind the grooming of these young stamp collectors from Sikkim had been Surya Kanta Biswas from Berhampore and Padam Parajuli from Siliguri. 

It is Surya Kanta Biswas, Padam Parajuli, and Dipok Dey who helped groom the young philatelists from Sikkim explaining every small query in the process. Dipok Dey for a specific reason had always provided basic information on stamps and the workout process in the exhibitions. Dipok Dey is also credited for designing most of the special covers released from Sikkim over the years.

 

Special Cover on Orchid released on International Florishow at Saramsa (2008)

In 2003, a unique post was started from Gangtok helipad which was called Helicopter Post. Though the functioning of the Helicopter post had been stopped now those covers are of delight. TNA School at Gangtok in 2005 hosted the Palbheu Stamp Exhibition that saw participants from far places like Cooch Bihar, Berhampore, Gangarampur, Siliguri, Darjeeling, and Jalpaiguri. V Rama Roa, the Governor of Sikkim inaugurated the first-day function with the release of a special cover.

Shital Pradhan from Sikkim won the gold medal in the senior category and also the Post Master General Trophy for the best philatelist in the exhibition. Ganesh Pradhan stood second in the senior category. The exhibition saw an increase in the number of students and private collectors participating in it. Four special covers were released on the occasion. Sikkim Philatelic Club was founded on the same event to promote philately in the state.

Special Cover on Guru Padmashambha (2009)

The year 2005 was eventful for the philately lovers in the state as 17 Mountain Division held its first philatelic exhibition Black Cat Philex 2005 in Sikkim. The exhibition was held at Helipad Ground, New Cant, Libing on January 15 and 16. For the first time in 63 long years of the division, such an organization was held in India. On the occasion, a Special Cover of the 17 Mountain Divisions was released depicting the picture of Mount Kanchenjunga on the envelope cover. The exhibit displayed in the exhibition was from different places of Malda, Cooch Behar, Gangarampur, Kalimpong, and Sikkim. The chief guest of the event was a known philatelist of the hills, Udaya Mani Pradhan.

The year 2005 also saw four philatelists from Sikkim participating at the Kolkata State level Stamp Exhibition. Stamp Show at Kolkata saw a release of a special cover jointly by Sikkim, West Bengal, and Andaman, and Nicobar. The recognition for the so-called rise of philately in the small state of Sikkim without a doubt goes to one man, John Samuel, former Postmaster General of North Bengal and Sikkim. During his tenure as the PostMaster General of North Bengal and Sikkim between 2002-2006, he encouraged students towards philately and regularly held philately exhibitions and workshops on philately in Sikkim.

Another noteworthy event that concluded in 2005 was the organizing of the two-day philatelic exhibition at Gangtok coinciding with the celebration of the 50^th year to the ascent of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Present on the occasions were climbers from different parts of the world that had reached the summit of Mt. Kanchenjunga including the first two Norman Hardie and George Band. Two Special Covers were released to commemorate the occasion.

Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Tadong hosted the Tashi Targay Philately Exhibition 2008 organized by the Department of Post that had Shital Pradhan winning the first prize followed by Ganesh Pradhan and CP Raya respectively. The same year during the first International Florishow held at Saramsa, a special cover on Orchid variety was released.

For the last couple of years, Sikkim Philatelic Club had been helping the Postal Department of the State in organizing exhibitions and workshops on philately in a different part of the state. Ganesh Pradhan, senior philatelist of the state had been attending the entire workshop and encouraging the youngsters towards the beauty of the world of philately. This year a Namchi Philately Mahotsav was organized at Namchi which had a solo exhibition of Ganesh Pradhan. On the occasion, a special cover of Guru Padmashambha was issued.