Most would say that philately as a hobby has run its course, but for 71-year-old retired deputy postmaster Ganesh Chowdhary, the idea of knowing the world through postal stamps is too exciting to be tired of.
For a long time philately has been toasted as the hobby of the kings and the king of hobbies, but Chowdhary regrets that young people today have almost forsaken the once-beautiful pastime. Chowdhary has a varied collection of 10,000-odd stamps of over 60 countries, collected over 60 years.
"I used to collect stamps like youngsters collect posters of actors, actresses and sports icons today. Each stamp carries a story and offers something to the collector," he said continuing to pursue what he calls "a habit". From individuals to groups and organisations, from monuments to flora and fauna and from historical events to technological advancements, Chowdhary says he has them all.
Boasting stamps from the pre-independence era, Chowdhary says that he has always found stamps from Bhutan to be very beautiful. "A limited number of gold-plated stamps of Jinnah which are in my possession had been quite a rage when they were released," he recalled. Chowdhary says the hobby does not just end with the collection of stamps, it also involves study of each stamp like going into its history and the occasion.
Equally important, he felt, is the need to preserve stamps. "This involves keeping the stamps in an anti-bacterial pack and protecting them from harsh light and dust as well as hot or humid condition," he said.
Chowdhary has organised two successful exhibitions in schools here where he educated people on the hobby. He, however, was quick to acknowledge, "Philately is an expensive hobby to pursue."
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