Unique Gandhi 'Khadi' Stamp Released at INDIPEX 2011

Jeevan Jyoti reports yesterday on her Rainbow Stamp Club website, "President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Patil inaugurated the World Philatelic Exhibition, INDIPEX 2011, here today by releasing a special limited edition Khadi stamp on Mahatma Gandhi."

President Patil is quoted in the article, "Stamps are usually printed on paper. For the first time in history, a special khadi stamp is being issued which is on Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of non-violence."

Also quoted is INDIPEX Director Harpreet Singh who said, ""India has never issued any stamp on any material other than on paper. In other countries, materials like silk, gold and diamonds have been used to make stamps. We thought to experiment with khadi and Gandhiji was a natural choice since he advocated the use of handspun khadi."

According to a write up on Wikipedia, "The actual meaning of khadi is any cloth that is hand spun and hand woven...Khadi commands a sentimental value for Indians. It is often associated with Mahatma Gandhi. Someone said, the first true Indian designer was Mahatma because of his appeal to Indians to wear khadi garments."

For more on INDIPEX 2011, click here.