The Department of
Posts (DoP) is issuing a set of two commemorative postage stamps
on Tamralipta Jatiya Sarkar. The stamps are in the denomination
of Rs.5/- each.
The ‘Quit India’
Movement of 1942 was a watershed in India’s struggle for freedom.
A unique feature of the ‘Movement’ was formation of a series of
independent local Governments in some parts of the country, like
Satara in Maharashtra, Ballia in Uttar Pradesh and Tamluk in West
Bengal. Among these, the ‘Tamralipta Jatiya Sarkar’ (National
Government) of Tamluk was really innovative since it set up Police
Stations, Military Departments, Courts and even a system for revenue
collection. Those who played important roles in the uprising in
Tamluk included Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee and Matangini Hazra, among
others. The Sarkar continued to function till August 1944, when
taking note of the changed circumstances, Mahatma Gandhi advised
to wind up its activities.
Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee
was a selfless leader who devoted the early part of his life to
the cause of freedom. He was one of the main architects of the
Tamralipta Jatiya Sarkar. In post-independence India, he continued
to fight for the cause of downtrodden people and had a glorious
record of electoral success in the elections to the State Assembly,
which he served without interruption for nearly three decades.
He was the Chief Minister of West Bengal on three occasions.
Matangini Hazra was
widowed early in life, but continued to lead life in a courageous
manner. She was an active participant of the ‘Quit India’ Movement
in Tamluk. It was in September 1942, she took the lead in long
procession in Tamluk and advanced firmly with the national flag
in her hands when a shower of bullets from the heavily armed forces
of the colonial government felled her.
The design of the
postage stamps being issued by the DoP, apart from carrying the
portraits of the personalities, also carry the images of the struggle
and a picture of ‘Biplabi’, the newspaper published by the revolutionaries
of Tamluk.
The First Day Cover
alongwith the information sheet will be available on sale at all
Philatelic Bureaux/Counters and at selected Post Offices.
