Did you know the term ‘Central Government’ on the Indian currency note is constitutionally incorrect? Or that the earliest Indian coin is probably the gold nishka mentioned in the Rig Veda?
The students of Christ Nagar International School, Kowdiar learnt the answers to all this and much more when ‘Forms of Governance’, a project of the school to be conducted over the academic year, was inaugurated on Tuesday.
P Gopakumar, numismatist and editor of Vishwavedi magazine, spoke to them about the vast amount of information on history and governance that would be open to them if they took up the study of stamps (known as Philately) and the study of coins (called Numismatics) as hobbies.
He demonstrated his point during a small quiz he conducted for students of classes 8 and 9.
“What is the name of the ancient tribal republic, which existed during Samudragupta’s period, whose copper coin was featured on a two rupee commemorative stamp issued in 1985?” he asked to much puzzlement. He had to give the answer himself - Yaudheya Republic. The stamp had been issued during the Festival of India in 1985, an event meant to give American and French people a glimpse into India’s art, life and culture.
As part of the day’s programme, there was also an exhibition of stamps and coins. Students displayed their collections too. Coins of various denominations from many countries including India, USA, Italy and England along with stamps from places like Malaysia, South Korea, and even the Republic of Togo in Africa were on display.
“I started collecting stamps from the letters my parents received,” said Zidane Christy Seethy of class 4. He displayed his stamp album which had an impressive collection of stamps from Scotland, Malaysia, Russia and Qatar among others.
Gopakumar too had brought in his collection of Indian coins issued since the formation of the Indian Republic. He also had a silver coin from the time of Sher Shah Suri - the first Indian Rupiya - which he picked up from a market in Delhi.
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