Please stop phila politics

Two days SIKKIMPEX 2019 ended in a happy note and I would like to thank every individual involved in making the event a success.

But sad to say not everyone is happy with this reborn Sikkim Philately. I did not wanted to write on this topic but being associated with Sikkim Philately since last twenty years I could not stop myself.

Since last few days, I have received many calls from philatelists from different parts of India complaining about Sikkim philatelists being invited to other exhibitions but them not being invited here this time. And why and how was a stamp collector from Kolkata only invited? Please don’t make politics on it. Please don’t create controversy. We are stamp lovers and we are not interested in phila-politics. What do you expect from us where we have only three genuine stamp collectors since last twenty years?

A philatelic exhibition was held at Sikkim after more than ten years. It was the greatest pleasure for the Sikkim’s stamp collectors. No one better than I know how hard it is for us to promote philately in our locality where the last stamp exhibition was held way back in 2009. We don't have philatelic bureau and we even don't have a proper philatelic dealers.

SIKKIMPEX 2019 was a non competitive exhibition for the Sikkim’s philatelists. Members of Sikkim Philatelic and Numismatic Society were the only participants at the exhibition. And they were only twenty one participants. Except for me, Ganesh Pradhan, Roshan Prasad, Deepen Pradhan and CP Raya, most of them were new collectors. It was decided by the Postal Department to invite a senior philatelist as an invitee guest whom they decided to call upon Mr. Souvik Roy and her wife Eeshita Basu Roy from Kolkata.

Sikkim is preparing to re-start promoting philately in the state; it was a need of time for every philatelist across the country to support us. But I am very sad to hear all these unwanted troubles. Sorry to say, I am deeply hurt!!