This post features the Vishnu Digambar Paluskar Indian postage stamp from 1973. India is a country that celebrates its musical culture on postage stamps. The earliest example is a 1961 stamp of the Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande. More recently, in 2014, India celebrate eight twentieth century musicians in a set of musician stamps. This makes perfect sense given the long history of Indian music. In fact, given the incredible importance of Indian music, there could be many more stamps featuring famous musicians.
This post is features a stunning Indian stamp from 1972. It celebrates the centennial of the birth of Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar who was born on August 18, 1872 in a small town named Kurundwad on the Deccan Plateau in the present-day state of Maharashtra. His father was also a well-known singer who began the young Digambar’s training. However, his father died when he was ten years old. His childhood was further marred when, at the age of twelve, a firecracker accident took his eyesight.
Career
A wealthy nobleman recognized Paluskar’s talent and arranged for him to study Hindustani classical music with the Indian vocalist Balakrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar. Paluskar was a student for twelve years before leaving his studies to travel the country as a musician. During his travels, he studied the various musical traditions of northern India.
In 1901, Paluskar began a new type of music school in the city of Lahore that gave students training in Indian classical music. Rather than relying on royal patronage, the school took in donations and support from the public. It was also open to any talented student. The school, Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, challenged the traditional Indian music world that relied on patronage and where students lived and studied directly with a single teacher. In 1908, Paluskar went to Bombay and eventually relocated the music school there. It now has several branches throughout India.
Stamp in honor of “Vande Mataram”
Scott Number: In 746
Paluskar died in 1931 at the age of 59. He is largely celebrated for reviving the interest and study of Hindustani classical music and making it accessible to the broader public. Many of his students went on to teach and perform throughout India.
His most famous recording was of a Hindustani song that was a favorite of Mahatma Gandhi’s. Some even credit him with arranging the song that is now India’s national song, the “Vande Mataram,” and he did sing it in support of the cause of Independence on many occasions. To learn more about Paluskar check out this site.
The Stamp
The Paluskar Indian postage stamp honors the centennial of the birth of the musician. It belongs to a set of four stamps known as the “Centenary series.” The horizontal stamp features the musician’s portrait in profile, while in the corner is a stringed instrument, I think a tambura, and a set of tablas. The stamp design is by the India Sercurity Press, Nasik Road.
Although Paluskar died in 1931, there are a few recordings of him performing and some can be found on Youtube. Here is his most famous recording, a Hindu song that was made popular by Mahatma Gandi. It is titled Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram:
