Unique Postal Tribute Honors Bollywood's He-Man
In a heartfelt gesture that bridges generations, a 70-year-old philatelist from Berhampur has created a special mourning postal cover to honor the legendary Bollywood actor Dharmendra, who passed away in Mumbai on Monday. This unique tribute combines traditional philately with modern remembrance practices, standing out in an era dominated by digital communications.
The Man Behind the Memorial Cover
P C Panda, a retired district ayurvedic medical officer and passionate stamp collector, designed the distinctive envelope featuring Dharmendra's photograph bordered in black as a mark of respect. The cover carries additional significance as it includes a postage stamp of renowned filmmaker Bimal Roy, since Panda couldn't locate a Dharmendra-specific stamp in time for his tribute.
The carefully prepared envelope began its journey via speed post from Berhampur head post office on Monday, with Panda receiving the commemorative piece back in his collection on Tuesday. This physical journey of the mourning cover adds to its sentimental value and historical significance.
Preserving History Through Philately
"Mourning postal covers serve as important historical artifacts that honor great personalities and preserve our cultural heritage," Panda explained during an interview. His motivation stemmed from deep admiration for the Bollywood icon often referred to as the 'He-Man' of Indian cinema.
The philatelist revealed an interesting challenge he faced during the creation process. "India Post has never issued a dedicated stamp featuring Dharmendra, with the exception of one that includes the classic film Sholay where he played a leading role. This limitation led me to use Bimal Roy's stamp as an alternative tribute to the cinematic world."
Panda's dedication to preserving cinematic history through philately is evidenced by his impressive collection of nearly 300 stamps related to both Indian and international cinema. This isn't his first venture into creating mourning covers for distinguished personalities.
A Tradition Worth Preserving
The veteran philatelist has previously designed similar mourning covers for other luminaries including legendary actor Dilip Kumar, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Union minister Sushma Swaraj, and former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Each cover represents a tangible piece of history and personal tribute.
However, as another Berhampur-based philatelist noted, the practice of creating mourning covers has seen a significant decline in recent years. The tradition, once common for honoring departed greats, has been largely replaced by digital communications and social media tributes.
This makes Panda's continued dedication to the art form particularly noteworthy, serving as a bridge between traditional methods of remembrance and contemporary practices. His work ensures that physical artifacts continue to document our collective memory of influential figures.
The mourning cover for Dharmendra stands as more than just a postal item—it represents a fading art form, personal devotion, and the enduring power of physical memorials in an increasingly digital world. As Panda's collection grows, so does his contribution to preserving India's cultural heritage through the unique medium of philately.
