First Anniversary of Independence (Gandhi Mourning)

The government of India planned to issue a set of stamps on Mahatma Gandhi’s 80th birthday on 2nd October 1949, as a mark of gratitude for his contribution towards the freedom struggle of India. Preparations were underway, and the Indian Security Press (ISP) in Nashik was tasked with preparing designs depicting memorable events in Gandhi’s life. However, the tragic assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on 30th January 1948 disrupted the plans.

While ISP was asked to prepare designs for two mourning stamps, negotiations were also underway with Austrian and Swiss Printers. The Swiss firm Helio Courvoisier finally won the contract, citing ISP’s lack of photogravure technology. Hence, the memorial stamps on a champion of Swadeshi were printed in a foreign country.

Photographs for the stamps were submitted from the archives of Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and LIFE magazine, but the final selection came from the private collection of Kanu Gandhi, Mahatma’s grandson. A total of 4 stamps were published in denominations of 1½ A, 3½ A, 12A, and 10 ₹, and finally released on 15th August 1948 in India, Washington DC, London, Nepal, and Pondicherry.