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Avid collector of stamps on Father of the Nation

COLLECTOR'S CHOICE: S.V. Ummer Farook with his collection.

More than five decades ago German-born American theoretical physicist Albert Einstein wrote about Mahatma Gandhi in his anthology `Out of My latter Years': " Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth."

As the nation observes the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation on October 2, stamp collector S.V.Ummer Farook from Kuttichira in Kozhikode city speaks about his collection of Gandhi stamps.

The 37-year old treasurer of the Calicut Philately Club has stamps on Gandhiji brought out by almost all countries in the world. " I don't know how many I have with me. It could be a few thousands," he said.

Farook has a total collection of 1.25 lakh stamps. "Over a 100 nations across the globe have brought out stamps honouring Gandhiji with India topping the list of the countries. Perhaps no other personality in the world has figured in the stamps of such a large number of countries, " he says.

Farook started his hobby 20 years ago after getting inspiration from a philately exhibition held in Kozhikode. His early collections were mostly on Gandhiji. "I specialised in personality collection, stamps on Jawaharlal Nehru, John F. Kennedy and Vladimir Lenin. But my heart was with Gandhiji," he said.

His collections on Gandhiji have won accolades at various exhibitions held at the State level. "Twice I secured the silver medal and once bronze. The display was on the Gandhiji's life history from his school days till his death, " says Farook, who has conducted 500 exhibitions.

Most of his Gandhiji collection are those brought out by India during his centenary as well as commemorative stamps of India Post. Apart from the pictorial postmark and pictorial cancellation Farook's favourites are the stamps on Gandhiji hailing him as the Man of the Millennium.

Hundreds of others are definite stamps, which are printed for postal use. First Day Covers are also part of his collections. The preacher of non-violence was a much-loved personality in the stamps of Mauritius, Tanzania, Antigo and Barbuda, Gibraltar, Uganda, Russia, Turkmenistan, Malta and Gulf countries, Farook says. Like all philately enthusiasts he feels that stamp collection is the king of hobbies and hobby of kings. "Actually it is more than a hobby. Stamp collection helps to comprehend history. Through the stamp collections of Gandhiji, I have a better understanding of Indian history and events associated with the struggle," he says. Has the use of the Internet and its applications such as e-mail affected this hobby among the younger generation?

"Of course not. In fact, it has given a boost. Stamp collectors can order stamps and view them on the Internet now," Farook says.

Biju Govind

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