Tuesday, April 19, 2016

P for Post...India Post!




Welcome to the "Believe it or Not- That's Incredible India!" series. India is home to some of the most astonishing wonders in the world. The rich culture, heritage, food, scriptures, architectural marvels and scores of known and unknown facts come together to create this multicolored melange that is India. Throughout this month, read about the various believe it or not facts about India and know what goes into the making of this incredible country!

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Those who belong to the pre-digital era would probably identify with the joy of writing letters and sending them by post. The wait for a reply would be tiring and the postal service pretty slow and yet the sight of a postman wearing khakhi uniform, a trademark khakhi cap, and a bag slung across the shoulders, would be enough to offset the pain of waiting!

Digitalisation has now made communicating much easier, and there aren't as many enthusiasts that use the postal service any more. But in spite of the digital wave, India post continues to connect villages that are still untouched by the internet. 

Did you know that the first post office in India was started in 1774 in Kolkatta? The India post has come a long way since then. It now has the world’s largest postal network with over 1.55 lakh post offices employing about 5.66 lakh people. It means that there is a post office every 21.22 sq. km and for every 8200 people!

Isn't that quite an extraordinary achievement?  

India also holds the record for having the world’s highest post office. The post office at Hikkim in Himachal Pradesh is at an altitude of 15,500 feet!

India also has a floating post office. At the Dal Lake in Srinagar, the post office is afloat on a huge house boat. The post office also boasts of a philately museum and shop selling postage stamps. What’s unique about this post office is that the letters that are posted from here carry a special design with picturesque sceneries of the Dal Lake and the city of Srinagar!

That’s not all. India also has a post office outside the country - at Dakshin Gangotri in Antarctica!

So, irrespective of whether a place is high up in the mountains, on lakes, in remote villages or in snow covered land, India post has it all covered!

Before I end, here’s another interesting aspect. India post has a feature called ‘My Stamp’. You can now have your own picture on the postage stamp! You can also personalize it with names, logos of institutions, or your artwork, or simply get your favorite heritage sites, famous buildings or wildlife personalized on it! Sounds like fun, right?

Believe it or Not – That’s Incredible India!



11 comments:

  1. An interesting theme, in times when people find increasing reasons to criticise their country you are bringing out the positives.
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  2. Indeed we have so much amazing stuff. I was not aware of MyStamp. Its so interesting.

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  3. Oh my :) Again so proud after reading your post Shubhangi, so many special post office facts. Post office on a Shikaara , the highest one, the one at Antarctica all made my eyes go wide with joy. Keep going. Jai Hind.

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  4. That was really interesting Shubhangi. I didn't knew so many things that you mentioned. Good to know about it. Thanks.

    @authorparomita from
    <a href="https://rollingstonepictureproduction.wordpress.com/2016/04/19/panjiri-grow-up-messy////</a>

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  5. This was such a thoughtful post Shubhangi! I still remember my grandfather who would swear by the postal services! Till very recently even I used to visit the post office for some investment policies as they are amongst the safest! Isn't it simply amazing....what a terrific system it is! Proud to read this! Thanks dear girl :)
    @KalaRavi16 from
    Relax-N-Rave

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  6. Wow! There is a floating post office in Srinagar! Was not aware of that! At one point of time, the post office, post man, letters, stamps was an integral part of our life. I remember sitting by the window in the afternoons and straining my ears to listen to the post man's cycle bell. What a rush of emotions to receive letters from pen friends, cousins and friends. MY Stamp is soooo cool... will check it out. Thanks for a super interesting and insightful post! :)

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  7. I don't recall if I have any Indian stamps somewhere in my stamp collection, but I seem to remember having a few. That's pretty cool about the post office in Antarctica.

    Welcome to My Magick Theatre
    Onomastics Outside the Box

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  8. Wow in Antarctica too... That's amazing. I didn't know about My stamps... Will check it out :)

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  9. Man! These facts are totally unbelievable! Highest post office in India is a proud thing to know. And 1.55 lakh post offices! You serious?
    Antarctica!!!!
    I'm so blown away by this post!

    Cheers
    Geets

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  10. Post Office -- I still remember taking my attai (father's sister) to there to collect her pension. The sorting, the mailing, the delivery.. everything by hand is pretty amazing.

    Practically speaking, India needs to rejuvenate it's postal services to avoid it going obsolete in the Digital World. Yes villages are still connected by Post, but the times are changing and things are progressing, with such a wide customer base and more importantly so many employees, making Post Office relevant is something that the government should look at.

    Side Note: The blog post reminded me of the song 'Dakiya daak laya'

    Nice informative blog, got to learn about MyStamps and the post office in Shikara... hmm I think I would like to send a post to myself just to get to experience it.

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  11. Did you miss out on 'O'? or did I miss the post?

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At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person..deep gratitude for those who have lighted the flame within me!! your comments will be appreciated..

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