Petroleum Philately of India: Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), India

Offshore platform - Sagar Vikas

When you and I sign on a paper it is a signature. But the signature by a famous person or celebrity is a sought after item, as Autograph. Autographs by the renowned personalities are collected and preserved by his or her admirers or fans as a memento. People generally collect autographs from movie stars, famous singers and artists, players and athletes, country and state heads, religious and political leaders, writers and poets etc. Philography is the hobby of collection of autographs.

Philatelic Philography is a collection of autographs, on philatelic materials by the persons related to or somehow associated with that particular philatelic matter.

Being an Energy Philatelist, I collect autographs on energy theme. The energy theme ranges from petroleum (oil and gas) to renewable resources (solar, wind, hydro-electicity, geo-themal, tidal etc.).

Under ‘Philatelic Philography: Theme - Energy’ album, autographs have been collected from the signatories who are/were head of the institutions or companies or very senior officials of the organizations or somehow associated with the theme of the stamp on the First Day Covers or Special Covers or other philatelic materials on Energy theme. 

In the Part - I, we shall be featuring Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited of India.

Oil and Natural Corporation Limited

A humble Oil and Gas Division of Geological Survey of India was established under the directive of Keshav Dev Malviya, who was Minister of Mines and Fuel (10 April 1962 – 27 May 1964) and Cabinet Minister of Petroleum (10 Oct 1974 - 24 Mar 1977). He is regarded as Father of the Indian Petroleum Industry.

ONGC Sagar Samrat oil rig featured in Indian currency

Within a few months of operation, it was converted into Oil and Natural Gas Directorate, in order to boost the exploration and production activities of crude oil and natural gas in the country. On 14 August 1956, its status was raised to Oil and Natural Gas Commission and Keshav Dev Malviya was its Chairman. In October 1959, it attained the status of a statutory body. Further in February 1994, it became a publicly held company as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited.

Facing side of the currency

On 14 August 2006, India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp on Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, on completion of glorious 50 years. 

Place of cancellation: Dehradun, India

The First Day Cover was autographed by Subir Raha, the then Chairman and Managing Director (with effect from 25 May 2001 till May 2006, a tenure of five years) of the company. 

Author (in red cheque shirt) standing behind Subir Raha, with all smile

Autographed First Day Cover, Mumbai Cancellation

Autographed First Day Cover, New Delhi Cancellation

An Information Brochure connected to the stamp and first day cover, autographed by Subir Raha.

Front page of the Information Brochure

A letter from the office of Chairman and Managing Director of ONGC, autographed by Subir Raha.

Autographed by Subir Raha

On 1 February 2010, at the age of 61 years, he passed away in New Delhi due to lung cancer. 
An envelope received from ONGC office, with stamp of ONGC, through post

Courtesy Ashanendu Mandal, Ex-Chief General Manager, ONGC

On the occasion of 50th anniversary, ONGC had issued one Greetings Card for Happy New Year 2007. A card was received by post with ONGC stamp on it.

Carrying ONGC logo and stamp

Image of the Greetings Card

On the occasion of 50 years of glorious service, India Government Mint issued two commemorative coins, one each of INR 5 and INR 50.

Ceremonial gift pack of the coins (Courtesy Ashanendu Mandal)

The coins has nice stand for display.

Front view of the stand

Rear view of the coin holder

Coin of INR 50 Front (Identical look for coin of INR 5, size smaller)

Coin of INR 50 Reverse

Coin of INR 5 Reverse

A 'Management Game' was organized by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., my first employer, as a part of Management Development Skill. Being a winner of the game, I was awarded a certificate of appreciation, in an  official function, by Subir Raha. He was then General Manager (Human Resources) of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. The certificate bears his autograph.

Autograph of Subir Raha on the certificate

Receiving award from Subir Raha, looking on B Ashok (standing, later became Chairman Indian Oil)

Subir Raha was founding member of Petrotech Society of India.

Autographed by Subir Raha

I consider these as gems of my collection of autographs. This is a humble tribute from my side as Energy Philatelist to Subir Raha, under whose guidance I have climbed corporate ladder.