Petroleum Philately of India: Indian Oil

Indian Oil in the History of Stamps

This article of mine titled 'Philately - the King of Hobbies and Indian Oil in the History of Stamps' was published as cover story of IndianOil News (Vol XXXXI No. 3 Mar 2004), the house journal of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. The story is reproduced here for the benefit of readers. However, it is to be kept in mind that facts and figures date back 2004.

The word ‘Philately’ originated by combining two Greek words ‘Philos’ which means ‘Love’ and ‘Ateles’ which stands for ‘Tax free’. A stamp collector, hence is called a ‘Philatelist’ and the hobby of stamp collection is often termed as ‘King of Hobbies and the Hobby of Kings’. As a hobby it offers knowledge, imparts education and top of all, provides satisfaction to the collector. Philately is not only collection of postage stamps but also the gathering of information about these stamps and the background of it. A stamp collection cannot be built up overnight, it has to be nurtured with patience. For senior stamp collectors, the hobby generally spans 30/40 years or even a life-time. Such treasures of collection of precious stamps are passed on from one generation to another.

Philately is also known as the ‘Hobby of Kings’ because several kings, queens and state heads were bitten by the bug of philately. Some of them were King George IV, King George V, Queen Elizabeth II of England, King Faud of Egypt, Franklin Roosvelt - former President of USA etc.

Former American President with his stamp album

"Stamp collecting dispels boredom, enlarges our vision, broadens our knowledge, makes us better citizens and, in innumerable ways, enriches our lives." - Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882 – 1945), the 32nd president of the United States of America.

The conceptualization and introduction of postage stamp is credited to Sir Rowland Hill (1795 - 1879) of England. The first stamp was issued in England on 6^th May 1840. There was a profile of Queen Victoria on the stamp and original denomination was one penny. To connoisseurs, it is famous as ‘Penny Black’. Today, an envelope with Penny Black in good condition, in the international market, is traded at mind boggling price of GBP 45,000 (about INR thirty lakhs). Since Great Britain was the first to introduce the postage stamp, the country is honored with a rare privilege of the country’s name not being printed on its stamp. All other countries of the world have their names printed on every stamp.

Famous Penny Black (Picture source Internet)

The first postage stamp of India was issued on 1^st July 1852, in the province of Sind (now in Pakistan). Though the first stamp of the world Penny Black was square in shape, the first stamp of India was circular in shape. Since it was issued in the province of Sind, they are known as ‘Scinde Dawks’. While the original denomination was half anna, these days each of the used piece of scarlet variety on Shellac wafer costs about INR 3.5 lakh while the unused one simply has a price tag of INR 12.5 lakh!

Scinde Dwak - Red variety (Picture source - Internet)

The first postage stamp of India, in the post-independence era, was issued on 21^st Nov 1947. It carried a replica of the national flag of India and the denomination of the stamp was three and half anna. 

First stamp of Independent India

Since then, every year Government of India issues several postage stamps of various denominations either for common use of postage (known as definitive stamps) as well as to commemorate several events, occasions etc. (called commemorative stamps).

Among such wide varieties of thematic collection, there is one category, which is Petroleum. The spectrum of thematic collection of stamps on Petroleum ranges from oil exploration, drilling of wells, oil refining to storage and handling infrastructure of petroleum business. In other words, a stamp with any feature on it that relates petroleum industry in some way or other is in the wish list of petroleum philatelists. Countries having rich reserves of petroleum viz. Gulf countries, Russia, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico etc., have been issuing stamps on petroleum since ages. In India, the number of stamps issued on petroleum so far is about six, compared to approximate 1600 issued by the Government of India from 1947 to 2002.

On 14^th Aug 1982, a postage stamp was released to commemorate the oil exploration activities in India. 20 Lakh stamps were printed at India Security Press, Nasik and were issued through the postal channel. The stamp carries a picture of Sagar Samrat which is India’s oldest jack-up type deep-water oil drilling rig, procured by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Japan during 1973. Since then, till date, this rig is operating at Bombay High irrespective of rain and shine.

Sagar Samrat Rig of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd.

Close up of  oil droplet shaped cancellation

However, the first stamp of India on petroleum was issued much earlier. It was about the commissioning of the Gauhati Refinery of Indian Oil. 

First refinery of Indian Oil

Rhino is the state animal of Assam where Gauhati refinery is located

The Department of Post & Telegraph had issued the commemorative stamp on the historical event of the formal commissioning of Gauhati refinery on 1^st Jan 1962 by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Jawaharlal Nehru - first Prime Minister of independent India

In 1882, the Assam Railway and Trading Company (AR&T & Co.) while laying railway tracks for connecting Margheritta, which was the head office of AR&T Co., with Dibrugarh noticed the presence of liquid black gold on the earth’s surface. Exploration started and in 1889 oil was struck at Digboi, which was the first commercial crude oil well in India.

Well No. 1 at Digboi, Assam, India

In those inhospitable terrain, elephants were extensively used.

100 Years of oil industry in India

To commemorate 100 years of oil in India, a commemorative stamp was issued on 29^th Dec 1989. A total of 15 lakh number of this stamp was released in the market. The oil field of Digboi, which had erupted fountain of crude oil a century ago, is still producing today, much to the surprise of petroleum experts all over the globe. The latest issue of stamp on petroleum of India has also featured Indian Oil. It was issued on 18^th Dec 2001 to commemorate the centenary of Digboi refinery of Indian Oil.

Both stamp and cancellation represent oil derrick of bygone era

In 1893, Assam Oil Syndicate installed a small refinery at Margheritta. In 1899, AR&T Co., in order to diversify into petroleum business, promoted another company - Assam Oil Company. This company erected a new refinery at Digboi in 1901. In 2001, Digboi Refinery completed 100 years of successful operation. To commemorate the event, Government of India released a stamp which was printed on imported un-watermarked paper. A total number of eight lakh copies of the stamp were released. A few of this stamp have been used in the postage across the country and some might have found their way in the albums of avid collectors across the globe. 

Information about 100 years of Digboi oilfield

While releasing the stamp, the Department of Post had stated -

“Petroleum has revolutionized our lives as a source of energy for domestic, industrial and transport sectors and as a feed stock for agricultural, chemical and other industries. Over the past 100 years, the petroleum industry of India with Digboi refinery as its nucleus, has been an integral part of country’s march towards self-reliance.”

Centenary of Digboi refinery of Indian Oil

Commemorative stamp issued on centenary of Digboi refinery

Detailed information issued by Department of Post

A major aspect of petroleum logistics is the transportation of oil by various modes. The most economic mode for crude oil and finished product transportation is by flat-bottom vessels i.e ocean going tankers. A picture of an oil carrier tanker was used in an Indian stamp, issued on 14^th Oct 1969 in connection with the celebration of the 10^th anniversary of Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO). A total 35c lakh such stamps were issued on that particular day.

Starting from oil exploration of north East sector to offshore activities in Bombay High have been depicted through postage stamps. Celebrations of centuries of first oil field of India to that of Digboi refinery has been given due honour in philately. Along with consumption of oil, adequate significance was accorded to Oil Conservation as well. The first stamp of India on Oil Conservation was issued on 18^th Feb 1995 under definitive series. Even prior to that there was a Special Cover with Special Cancellation during observation of the 4^th Oil Conservation Week (03-09 Jan 1994). Thus the spectrum of the oil industry of India has been glorified in Indian philately.

Oil conservation stamp

As philatelists worldwide are collecting stamps on petroleum, people of oil industry are also having keen interest in philately. John E. DuPont of DuPont, the multinational giant which deals with petroleum refining and distribution along with other diversified business, had purchased the so far most expensive stamp the “Penny Megenta’ of Mauritius at an auction held in 1980, at a staggering price of USD 935,000. However, the price tag of this tiny marvel on a piece of paper has further scaled new heights. ‘Sweden 1855 Treskilling Yellow’ stamp, the first stamp of Sweden with the error of orange-yellow colour instead of normal blue-green colour of issue was sold at an auction held last year for USD 2.27 million! The Yellow 3 skilling of Sweden, 1855, one of the world's most expensive stamps. A unique example of a colour error.

Courtesy: P.A. Sparre (1828-1921) - Placé sur le wikipédia en suédois par

Presently the petroleum industry of India is undergoing massive changes since the dismantling of Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM) with effect from 1^st Apr 2002. In that process, several new innovations are being made and new records are being created. Marketing of branded fuel, upgradation of refining technologies, new discoveries of reserves, exploration for oil in Russia, Sudan etc., - to quote a few. Petroleum philatelists of the world are waiting with bated breath for the release of new postage stamps of India to commemorate a few of these historic milestones of the Indian petroleum industry.

The price of stamps is not just limited to its age but also the uniqueness, errors, historical events etc., that determine the age during which the stamp was printed. Next time you get a stamp think again before throwing it away. It could be your legacy to the next generation.

 

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Scan of the published story

Cover page of the magazine

 

First page of the story

Second page of the publication

Third or final page of the story

Disclaimer:

The information provided in the article is for general informational purposes only. All information is provided in good faith. This is only for the sharing of knowledge of Philately with philatelist fraternity. No commercial angle, whatsoever, is involved.

Under no circumstances I shall have any liability for reliance on any information provided in the story.

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The famous female figurine of 300 BC

 

Standing tall at Patna Museum, Bihar, India (Source: Internet)

Qadam-I-Rasul has a very significant meaning. Qadam or Kadam stands for feet and Rasul is the Prophet. Thus, Qadam-I-Rasul means foot or footprint of the Prophet. It is said that one very pious person named Syed Shah Muhammad Noor Naqsh had brought the imprint of footprint of Prophet from holy Mecca. This has been preserved since ages at a mosque and logically the mosque is called Qadam-I-Rasul mosque.

Qadam-I-Rasul mosque is located at Didarganj of Patna, Bihar on the bank of river Ganges. People throng the mosque to have a look at the holy footprint, kept in the alcove or shelf on the western part. The flow of religious minded persons to the mosque and to the locality for pilgrimage varied from time to time.

A close look of the statue at Patna Museum, Bihar, India (Source: Internet)

But on 18 Oct 1917, suddenly there was brisk activity in the nearby area of the mosque with many people converging in. On the north-eastern side of the mosque, local villagers dug out a full length stone figurine of a beautiful lady. It was found out by chance.

It was full size statue of a beautiful lady standing on a pedestal. The height of the pedestal was one feet and seven and half inches. The length and breadth of the square pedestal was one foot and eight inches. The height of the statue alone was five feet and two inches. The statue was complete in all respect. She was holding a chourie in her right hand and left hand was broken. It was curved out of a single piece of Chunar Sandstone. The structure was self-supporting.

Once cleaned, the polished stone doll gleamed under the beaming sun rays.

Since it was found at Didarganj, it was named Didarganj Yakshi. As the lady was carrying a Chauri or flywhisk or Chamar (used for puja, worship etc), it was given a tag of ‘Didarganj Yakshi Chauri Bearer’. Chauri is said to be originally made with the tuft of hairs from the tails of Chauri Gai (cows). These cows are found in the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet.

A Chowri (Source: Internet)

Let us look back in the history of that area. The area which we know as Patna was erstwhile Pataliputra. Megasthenes, the Greek explorer and historian had visited (302 -288 BC) Pataliputra during the reign of Chadragupta Maurya (322-297 BCE) who was the founder of Maurya Empire and Pataliputra was its capital. 

A commemorative stamp was issued by India Post on emperor Chandragupta Maurya on 21 July 2001.

Emperor Chandragupta Maurya

Megasthenes had praised the architecture and beauty of palace of the emperor. According to him it was comparable with the magnificent architectures of Persian capital. His son - Dionysius, had visited Patliputra when one of the most powerful emperor of ancient India - Ashoka the Great, the grandson of Chadragupta was ruling the empire. 

India Post has issued a commemorative stamp on emperor Ashoka on 24 Aug 2015.

It was well established that during Maurya era stone masonry had excelled.

Front view of the magnificent Lady at Patna Museum, Bihar, India (Source: Internet)

Archaeologists have identified the Didarganj Yakshi Chauri Bearer statue with Mauryan era with estimated Mauryan period (300 - 200 BC). The glittering lady speaks a volume about the skills of stone polishing of the artisans of the bygone era.

Back side view of the Lady at Patna Museum, Bihar, India (Source: Internet)

 The description of the stone beauty needs some choicest vocabulary. The lady has a well proportioned body and is holding the chauri in her right hand. Since the left hand is broken and could not be traced, nobody knows that what she was holding in her left hand. The  damage on the left side indicates that the there was some attachment.

She is eternally standing in a very graceful pose. She possesses round face with sharp lips and fleshy cheeks. In the neck, a necklace is dangling which has passed down below well developed pair of heavy spherical breasts. Though the beads of the necklace are clearly visible, the locket part is broken.

A close look of the 'cloths' & ornaments (Source: Internet)

Jewelry is adoring every part of her anatomy, from head to toe, barring bare slim waist. She has ornaments over her head as well as below her waistline. She has bangles in her arm which is holding the chauri. The lines of chauri has continued till her back. Hairs have been neatly knotted in the back but the forelock can not be missed. Ghungroos are tied to her feet.  

 

Broken left hand side of the beautiful Lady at Patna Museum, Bihar, India (Source: Internet)

Each fold of 'cloths' gives an impression of transparency and delicate chisel work. Cloths are held in place with designer ornaments. The nose is broken but that is different story for which we shall come back.

According to Hindu mythology, in the heaven there certain sects which are lesser than the Gods and Goddesses. Some of them are Gandharva (singer), Yaksha and Yakshi, Kinnara (musician) etc. Yaksha and Yakshi are empowered to protect Lord Indra and wealth. Yakshi or Yakshini is the feminine counterpart of Yaksha. Both are lesser divine.  

Now the story of the broken nose of the Yakshi. 

It was recorded that at the time of discovery, barring the right hand, the statue was intact. During one of the ‘Festival of India’, held during 1985 at USA (Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.), this rare piece of art, probably most beautiful and oldest surviving female figure on the earth, was sent for display purpose. On that occasion of Festival Of India, India Post had issued a postage stamp on that lady - Didarganj Yakshi on 13 June 1985. 

It was unfortunate that during the transit, the idol got damaged and nose broke! 

A close up of the broken nose (Source: Internet)

After the incident, the seriousness of irreparable damage done to the rarest of the rare archaeological artifact was realized. Subsequently, a decision was taken by the competent authority that in future this statue will not be participating in any of the overseas exhibition (Source: Wikipedia). It has been kept at Patna Museum, where it was shifted after discovery from the excavation site by Prof. J N Samaddar, the renowned archaeologist.

Visitors get awestruck to see the beauty of the marveling piece. Some try to imagine the skill and perfection of the sculpture. Others imagine the mortal look of the beautiful lady whom the sculpture has turned into stone.

Permanent Pictorial Cancellation of Didarganj Yakshi

In order to spread the awareness about this timeless beauty in stone and rich cultural heritage of ancient India, a Permanent Pictorial Cancellation of Didarganj Yakshi was introduced by India Post. 

Permanent Pictorial Cancellation on a Postcard

It is available at General Post Office (GPO), Patna, Bihar, India.

A close up of the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation

Acknowledgement:

For this story, the writer is indebted to Shri K J Karan, respected former senior colleague in Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. Even at this age of nearing eighty, he personally went to the HPO Patna to get the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation of Didarganj Yakshi for me. Besides, in the past also he has helped to enrich philately collection by contributing materials from abroad.

The author is also thankful to one of his daughters - Sheema. She has helped in getting certain authentic inputs from renowned historians from Patna for the write up.

In the electronic media, the story was published in the Ananthapuri Stamp Bulletin (Sept 2020). 

Disclaimer:

The information provided in the article is for general informational purposes only. All information is provided in good faith. This is only for the sharing of knowledge of Philately with philatelist fraternity. No commercial angle, whatsoever, is involved. No intention to infringe any type of copyright. Under no circumstances shall I have any liability for reliance on any information provided in the story.