Letters: The colour of money

Notes from the Mint” (August 28) by Gargi Gupta and Manojit Saha reminded me of a story about the Rs 20 currency note I had heard several years ago.

The article makes a passing reference to the orange colour of the Rs 20 note. This colour and shade selection has an interesting background.

How was this colour combination finalised and who selected it? Maharashtra’s former Chief Secretary P D Kasbekar told me this story. It has been recorded by me for audio-visual documentation. The story relates to a meeting then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had convened to launch the Rs 20 note.

Several top officers of the ministry and the mint attended the meeting, carrying bulky files and different sets of designs for Mrs Gandhi to see and finalise one.

As a joint secretary in the banking department, Kasbekar also attended.

Those who are now over 60 years old will remember that nylon was quite popular in those days. In fact, for certain classes, it was a status symbol. Kasbekar was wearing a nylon shirt. Suddenly, Mrs Gandhi looked at his pocket and her gaze stayed transfixed there. Kasbekar and others grew uneasy, suspecting that something had displeased her. To everybody’s surprise, Mrs Gandhi ordered Kasbekar to take out a colourful envelope from his shirt pocket.

At a loss to understand why, Kasbekar gave it to her with trembling fingers. Mrs Gandhi’s face lit up and she said, “This is the colour scheme and design I like.” That was the end of the meeting and the selection had been made. With a twinkle in his eye, Kasbekar told me, “It was a nimantran patrika” (wedding invitation).

In Maharashtra and adjoining Karnataka and Goa, the colour orange, with a dash of red and saffron, is considered auspicious. Almost all wedding invitation cards are printed using differing combinations of these colours.

The otherwise excellent article is marred by one mistake. The authors have used the verb “forge” with respect to currency notes. The accurate verb is counterfeit.

Dilip Chaware, Mumbai