Health in stamps, this blog post site turns three today. It was 10th July 2022, when the site was live with its first post. In fact it was borne out of sheer boredom in the preceding months. I had binge-watched one show after another on OTT platforms, swiped one reel after another on instagram, and had even read all the fake news items on facebook. Flurry of activity in the two COVID years of 2020-21 was over, and finally all the doomsday predictions on Whattsapp posts had also died out. There did not seem much to do, except for pretending to be busy, without any interesting work.
After every few months, my desk is a witness to some chaos. Small and big pieces of paper from my pocket, find their way on the table-top. This time however, the clean-up process led me to a forgotten stamp album from my school days. This was the only one left, as I had distributed many others a long time ago. This one had about three dozen postage stamps on health – probably from an abandoned idea quarter of a century ago. An awakening was fast setting in.
Internet came handy, and one website had a list of philatelists in India, classified by place of their residence. It had only three from Madhya Pradesh, and one from Bhopal where I stay. This listing from a pre-privacy era also had mobile numbers, phone call was answered, and a visit planned. It was sheer joy to see a collection, after so many years. I was too eager to lay my hands on all the health related stuff I could find. A few more internet searches and a couple of visits later, my thematic stamp count was in three digits. By July of 2022, these would all fit in a box – ready to be sorted out.
Many years ago, when I was still in school, it was fun to slip out and queue up at a local philately bureau. First one was at GPO Shimla, and later at Dak Bhavan in Delhi. A new stamp release day was no less than a festival. I would read all the brochures, and often dream looking at the image on the stamp. Stamp image stirred all imagination, made me time travel, and wander out into unseen spaces. That would be my twitter handle in the internet era rj_wanderer.
Internet has almost killed interest in stamps, as information and images overflow all around us. Gone are the days when physical letters would proudly show postage stamps, quite like gallantry medals. However, nostalgia is a powerful emotion. I could rekindle my love for the small colorful pieces of paper, and was now using internet to find more about each one of them. Soon I was flowing with information scribbled on sheets of paper. This is where I moved from content consumer, to content organizer and creator.
A home scanner, some basic subscriptions, a domain registration, and first write-up all quickly lined up. First blog was live, and then another-one a few days later. My daughter designed me a logo, and my wife would put up with my numerous Eureka moments. Friends would point out some typos, and others would have many more helpful comments.
So three years later, the blog count is 177. One in a week, and sometimes two. The box from July 2022, is now an almirah. Thematic stamps and stationary in my collection has expanded, and keeps on growing. I only display images of material that I physically have in my collection. As I add a physical stamp, I also update my virtual space. Often it is a struggle just to keep pace.
In the process, I have made new friends. Every city I visit, takes me to its post-office, either in search of a stamp, cover, cancellation, or just to meet some people. There are many social-media friends, am yet to meet. The number of philately WA groups on my phone has also grown, and each swipe now is a meaningful message. So with no OTT shows to binge-watch, and only a limited reels to swipe. My new found gratification comes from website metrics, especially when a new country appears on the “has-watched” list. Stamp lovers are indeed a global community.
So this blog is to register a birth, quite like the meghdoot postcard-messages in different Indian languages. For a parent, children have never grown enough. So, a three year celebration are still early days, with hope to keep up the steam, and color the entire world green !!!
Wonderful message sir, about your journey of post stamp collection. It give us motivation that not consume but create and share the useful content to public for new thought or insight to society. Post stamps are totally different world one can never think that such huge hidden information in this and even in healthcare. How the Dakseva address the burning issue of health for public awareness. Thank you so much sir, for bringing such concept to public.
Very inspiring to read about your journey which unfolded from random boredom to such a captivating creativity sir! Hearty congratulations on completing the Triennium of this unique philately sir… Wishing many more informative and fruitful years of your exciting exploration sir.. !
Such a wonderful contribution to philately and great to hear about your candid views on setting up the journey. You are truly a combination of a good philatelist, physician, and person I have come across. Best wishes.
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