Keonjhar (Odisha): A Day of Death Mourning Cover of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was released by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Sharma here on the occasion of the first death anniversary of the BJP leader.
The cover was issued on the day of Vajpayee’s death on Friday and posted at Bhubaneswar on the same day by Mourning Cover Collectors Society of India secretary Anil Dhir.
Black Bordered Mourning Covers are issued to mark the demise of statesmen and leaders as a mark of homage.
Earlier too, covers were issued on Biju Patnaik, APJ Abdul Kalam, M Karunanidhi. These are collectible items and cherished by Philatelists. The mourning cover that was issued on the death of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 was recently sold for Rs 4 lakh in an auction.
Speaking on the occasion, Sharma said that very few people in public life have the privilege to become a legend in their lifetime and Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one amongst such rarest of rare personalities that not only influenced their era, but also cast their shadow on the future.
“He was a great humanist and a visionary leader throughout his life. Vajpayee’s era will remain historic in Indian politics,” said Sharma.
Dhir said that Atalji was a towering but gentle colossus in the political arena.
“Both as a Prime Minister and a parliamentarian, Vajpayee remained true to the tenets of constitutional and democratic processes,” said Dhir.
Keonjhar Philatelic Association secretary Dr CS Basak among others was present on the occasion.
