India post release commemorative stamps, souvenir sheets on India's human space programme
Bengaluru (PTI): The Department of Posts on Sunday released two commemorative postage stamps and souvenir sheets to celebrate the remarkable progress of India's human space programme, led by ISRO.
K Prakash, Chief Postmaster General of the Karnataka Postal Circle, released the commemorative stamps in the presence of Dr V Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO, and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS).
The commemorative postage stamps and souvenir sheets visually capture India's journey from early achievements, such as the launch of Aryabhata, to its future ambitions in human spaceflight and orbital infrastructure. They also reflect India's rich scientific heritage, symbolised by landmarks such as the Jantar Mantar, India Post said.
"These stamps capture India's evolution from its early beginnings under Dr Vikram Sarabhai to become a global space power. They highlight major achievements, such as Chandrayaan-3, and the upcoming human spaceflight mission- Gaganyaan, symbolising the country's growing technological strength and ambition," a senior India Post official said at the event.
One souvenir sheet showcases the Gaganyaan crew module alongside future aspirations like Bharatiya Antariksha Station, reflecting India's vision of establishing a space station by 2035.
The other sheet draws inspiration from the Axiom 4 mission machine, honouring Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, and beautifully connects India's ancient astronomical heritage with modern scientific machines, he said.
According to officials, the mission patch created by designer Manish Tripathi for Shukla's historic Axiom 4 mission spaceflight was part of the stamp released on Sunday, on the occasion of the International Day of Human Space Flight.
Addressing the gathering, Group Captain Shukla said that space missions or explorations have the potential to transform a nation.
Recalling ISRO's successful missions over the years and his association with the space agency, he said, "Hopefully very soon, we will be able to launch astronauts on our own rocket and our own launch vehicle to space, and bring them back safely."
"Last year, when I was in the US, training for this (Axiom-4) mission to go to space, there was a story you could carry with you in the form of a mission patch, which is one of the stamps released today," he said.
"We gave a lot of thought to what story we should carry into space. If you look at it, a theme connecting this patch is, where India started in terms of space missions, the first satellite, Aryabhatta, which went to space and where we are today, when we are pursuing Mission Gaganyaan," he said.
Shukla called on the students and youngsters with a message that "sky was never the limit, not for me, not for you, and not for Bharat."
ISRO Chairman Narayanan lauded the service of the postal department for the nation during his address.
Listing ISRO's achievements and expertise over the years, he said, "Today, building a satellite is like a child's play for my colleagues at ISRO... When it comes to launch vehicle capability, the LVM-3 can currently carry a payload of up to 10,000 kg. We are working on a next-generation launch vehicle capable of taking 30,000 kg and 80,000 kg into low earth orbit."
Crediting PM Narendra Modi for the human space flight programme, the ISRO chief asserted that ensuring the safety of Gaganyatris (astronauts) is of utmost priority while preparing for the human space flight missions.
"Under the guidance of our PM, a lot of activities are going on. We are working on the Gaganyaan programme. Please don't ask me when the date is. It is a technology-intensive programme, and we're solving problems, moving forward, and succeeding at every stage. We are planning for an uncrewed mission first. After completing three uncrewed missions, we have to go for the crewed mission, because for us, safety is very, very important," he said.
Noting that work is underway for the Indian space station, Narayanan said it will be a total 52-tonne space station.
"India plans to have five modules of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station in place by 2035. The launch of the first module is expected by 2028," he added.
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Two incidents of betting over IPL cricket matches in Mysuru: Five men arrested
Mysuru: Police have arrested five people in two separate cases where betting for the IPL cricket matches was going on, and have confiscated various equipment used by the arrested men for the illegal activity.
In the first case, Hebbal Police arrested two men who were reportedly found betting during the IPL cricket matches, and have confiscated one laptop and three mobile phones from the arrested men.
The arrested men are identified as Pradeep (39) and Praful (21) of Naidu Nagar.
The police team is learned to have conducted the operation on the third floor of a hotel within the Hebbal Police Station limits on getting information of betting over the IPL matches going on. The gamblers allegedly were getting citizens to invest money online and betting illegally on IPL matches over mobile phones and laptops in order to illegally earning money from them.
Pradeep and Praful were taken into custody by the police who have filed a case and are investigating it.
The second incident occurred near the Town Hall on Thursday, May 7, when Devaraja Police arrested three men who were gambling.
The police have arrested Kumar (33) of Mandimohalla, PV Vinod (32) of Ilava and Likhith Kumar (27) of Paduvarahalli.
The three men were reportedly carrying out their criminal activity inside a car parked behind the Town Hall on Thursday, in order to earn money from the IPL tournament through a mobile phone. They were also found to have gotten citizens to invest money online and off-line in the cricket matches.
They were found and arrested by policemen who were on beat in the area near the Town Hall. In addition, one car, Rs 15,900 in cash and three mobile phones were seized from them.
A case has been registered by the Devaraja Police officers, who are investigating the case.
