A Special Cover featuring the Legend –Tenzing Norgay was
released from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling
today commemorating the 105th Birth Anniversary of the Legend. The cover
was released at a function organized by the HMI celebrating the 105th
Birth Anniversary of Tenzing Norgay. After conquering the highest
mountain peak – Mount Everest in 1953 with Sir Edmund Hillary, Tenzing
Norgay was always associated with the HMI, Darjeeling ever since its
establishment in the year 1954. He was the first Director of Field
Training of the HMI and an advisor till his death.
A
special cover is a cover (an envelope) that is released for a special
person, occasion, monument or a place. It has to be approved by the
Postal Department of India. They are released in limited quantities and
so they hold philatelic values and are sought by Philatelists and
collectors all around.
The
special cover and the special cancellation for the event was designed by
Vivek Yonzone, a National award winning Philatelist from Darjeeling who
is also the Secretary of Alpine Philatelic and Numismatic Society
Darjeeling.
He said that
it’s an honour to work on the cover of such an Icon, a Legend, the First
Man on Top of Mt. Everest and thanked the Principal of HMI, Capt. Jai
Kishan for entrusting him with this responsibility and opportunity.
Darjeeling last witnessed a Special Cover release in the year 2014, so
this was a release after 5 years and it is also an effort to promote
Philately in the Hills, which is the main motive of the Society, he
added.
The cover was
released by the Chief Guest, Sayeed Ahmed Baba, Jamling Tenzing Norgay
Sherpa, son of the Legend, The District Magistrate of Darjeeling, The
Director of Postal Services, Principal of HMI, Capt. Jai Kishan and
Vivek Yonzone.
