An account of India's rich heritage, diverse faiths, the freedom struggle, framing and unpacking of the Constitution along with landmark events and personalties captured through an assortment of stamps was released here today.
"Post Haste" Quintessential India" by veteran journalist B G Varghese was released by ICCR President Karan Singh, former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, Justice Leela Seth and educationist Ameeta Wattal.
Varghese tells the story of "India that is Bharat" in the book illustrated with 1000 stamps.
Sher Singh, a 'Dak Runner employed by the Department of Posts, was present at the launch which was supposed to be preceeded by a press conference attended by Deputy DG Philately, which eventually did not take place due to the model code of conduct being in vogue.
"The book is full of trivia such as that India was the first country to adopt family planning. There is a stamp on that in the book. There is another on Monteseri and another one on women's aviation," Leela Seth said.
"At the turn of the century, India could boast of a Muslim President, a Sikh Prime Minister, a Christian woman chairperson of the ruling coalition, a Scheduled Caste Chief Justice and a Parsi Air chief," Seth read out from the book.
"It is wonderful to see that the whole history and geography are represented in the book," she said.
Natwar Singh, former External Affairs Minister called Varghese's book "unique".
"I believe there is no such book in the world yet," he said.
