UNIQUE: Meera Datta, L. Shantha Kumari and Ram Mohan Ray at a function to release perfumed stamps in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: The next time you receive a postal envelope, do not be surprised if it has the fragrance of sandalwood. The Department of Posts has released a commemorative postage stamp and the fragrance of these stamps will last for a year.

Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran released the stamp in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The stamps, in the denomination of Rs. 15. have the "Sankha Samanta" design, which is based on the material provided by Cauvery Karnataka State Arts and Crafts Emporium, New Delhi. Printed at the India Security Press in Nashik, these stamps are embossed with sandalwood powder. That is why you get sandalwood fragrance every time you rub the stamp, claimed Chief Postmaster General of Karnataka Postal Circle Meera Datta.

To mark the release of the stamp, the Karnataka Postal Circle presented the stamp albums to Chairman and Managing Director of Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited L. Shantha Kumari, Principal Chief Conservators of Forests P.J. Dilip Kumar and Ram Mohan Ray at a small function on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Datta said India had now joined the group of countries such as New Zealand, Thailand and Switzerland, which have perfumed stamps. She pointed out that the Brazilian Government had released a stamp with the smell of burnt wood in 1999 to mark the depletion of forests in that country.

The First Day covers, miniature sheets and information brochures will be available at the Philately Bureau of Bangalore general post office and at all the head post offices of Mysore, Belgaum, Mangalore and other cities.

Mr. Dilip Kumar made a presentation on sandalwood. Ms. Shantha Kumari and Mr Ram Mohan Ray spoke.

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