Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav: Special covers on 6 unsung heroes of Odisha released

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: As part of the Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav and Philately day celebrations, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw released Special Covers on six unsung heroes of Odisha, who made great contributions in the country’s freedom struggle.

These unsung heroes are Buxi Jagabandhu, Sahid Baji Rout, Sahid Jai Rajguru, Sahid Chakhi Khuntia, Sahid Chakra Bisoi and Parbati Giri.

Vineet Pandey, Secretary, Department of Posts; Alok Sharma, Director General (Posts) and other senior officers of Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications attended the event on Wednesday.

Suvendu Swain, Chief Postmaster General of Odisha along with several other dignitaries joined the event virtually from Odisha.

Department of Posts is celebrating the National Postal Week from October 11 to 17. Each day is being celebrated through specific themes viz financial inclusion, philately, mails & parcels etc, through mass campaigns involving citizens across the length and breadth of the country, and sharing the spirit of India@75.

While welcoming the Ministers and guests, Vineet Pandey, Secretary Posts highlighted the endeavour of Department of Posts to bring before the world the inspiring stories of unsung heroes of our freedom struggle, through stamps and special covers. The Department released 103 special covers on Unsung heroes of our freedom movement on October 13, 2021.

The Special Covers were released by Minister of Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of Communications, Railways and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw at Dak Bhawan, New Delhi. The two Ministers also interacted with the family members of the 6 Unsung heroes, via Video link from Odisha. In his speech, Union Minister of Education Pradhan recollected the struggle of these great men and women and reminded the present generation of their duties to up keep the values and path shown by these eminent personalities.

Minister of Communication Ashwini Vaishnaw recollected that the great contributions made by the 6 heroes are etched in the minds of the Odia people and how they were a part of the local folk-lore. He congratulated the Department of Posts for bringing out Special covers of these unsung heroes of Odisha.

The family members of the 6 freedom fighters also attended the program virtually and were presented albums of the Special covers by the Department of Posts officials at local Post offices in their respective home towns in Odisha. Both the Ministers also interacted with the family members. The function was also attended from Bhubaneshwar by Suresh Chanadra Dalai, Commissioner Cum Secretary, Odia Language, literature & Culture, Govt. of Odisha.