The six postage stamps were issued in the presence of Minister for Information and Communications Madhav Prasad Paudel and other government officials at the DoPS. All the postage stamps were designed by Purna Kala Limbu. [break]
One of the postage stamps issued today is that of Late Diamond Shamsher Rana, a litterateur. His postage stamp costs Rs.20 which is expensive compare to the other five postage stamps. Although, he belonged to the ruling Rana family, he was against the oligarchy, and stood for democratic values.
He wrote a novel ´Seto Bagh´, during his six-year imprisonment for his involvement in the democratic movement in the sixties. His novel became very popular and has been translated in various languages like Hindi, English, German, French, Japanese, among others.
Like Seto Bagh, his other famous novels and books are Pratibaddha , Satyaprayash ,Dhanko Dhabba , Griha Prawesh.
Another postage stamp issued on Wednesday honors late Ram Sharan Darnal, a music researcher. The stamp costs Rs.10.
Darnal had contributed a lot for music and drama. Darnal, who was considered as one of the founders of the musical instruments museum, had played an important role in the development of music and culture by arranging modern musical instrument into orchestras, presenting national folk music in various international seminars.
He was honored with Gorkha Dakshinbahu, Indrarajya Lakshmi Pragya Puraskar, Rastriya Pratibha Puraskar, among others.
Another personality to be honored with the issuance of the postage stamp is late Rupak Raj Sharma, a footballer.
The stamp costs Rs. 10.
Sharma was the captain of National Football Team from 1973 to 1985, and became first FIFA referee from Nepal in 1986. He was also feted with prestigious Gorkha Dakshin Bahu and many other awards.
Similarly, late Kewal Pure Kisan, a poet, is another personality on whose honor the government has issued a postage stamp of Rs 5.
Kisan is known in Nepalis literature as a pro-people lyricist and a progressive poet. Bagh Aayo, Boko Khasyo, Shankai Sanka, Aanshu ko Pokhari, Chhi Chhi, Samatera Pachhar are among his priceless contributions to Nepalis literature. Most of his poem depicts the real sorrow and misery of the people.
Late Rupacandra Bista, a legendary politician, is another personality honored by the DoPS with the postage stamp, which costs Rs 5.
Bista, who believed in the philosophy of simple living and high thinking, had participated in the local elections during the Panchayat regime. He was the one who introduced “Thaha” philosophy in Nepal. He believed that politics should always be people oriented.
Lastly, the DoPS has issued a postage stamp in honor of Batsala Devi Bhagwati temple which is located at Deurali Hill in Chhatredeurali VDC of Dhading district.
Though the exact date of establishment of the ancient temple remains unknown, an ancient stone engraving on its northern wall states that the temple was built on the site of perennial flame of fire erupting from the ground.
“These are the priceless heritages of the country and I feel proud that this government has honored their contribution,” said Paudel.
Along with the six postage stamps, the total number of stamps issued by the DoPs has reached 1,050.
The DoPS has printed one million copies of each of the latest postage stamps.
“It´s really an honor for us to get such an opportunity to issue postage stamps of the true jewels of Nepal,” said Lok Prasad Acharya, Director General of the DoPS.
It may be noted here that the government has also recently published Postal Stamp Publication Directives.