Indian with biggest collection of stamps featuring mosques to break own record
Y. Abdul Rasul, an IT person from Indian city of Chennai, earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records for his collection of stamps on mosques.
Till the year 2016, when he won the recognition, Rasul had managed a collection of 5,915 stamps featuring mosques. Continuing his collection, Rasul’s kitty is now nearing 8,000 such stamps and he is now setting his sights on breaking his own record.
Mosques across the world are depicted on postage stamps often to highlight historical value and also for their architectural and aesthetic elements.
Rasul’s kitty is now nearing 8,000 such stamps. (Supplied)
How it all began
Rasul started collecting stamps when he was in Grade V after he started receiving colorful and topically interesting UAE stamps from the letters received from his father who was working in Dubai.
“During my father’s annual vacation to India, he used to gift me stamps collected from his friends hailing from Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Sri Lanka and the Philippines,” says Rasul.
Many of important treasures of the world are commemorated on stamps issued in the Middle East that are part of his collection.
Several stamps from Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest shrines, are part of his collection. (Supplied)
“I felt that each stamp tells a story. It’s a piece of art, a part of culture and heritage, a slice of history, a medium of knowing different civilizations and traditions of the world,” he says.
Recalling how he chose the topic of mosques for stamps Rasul says it was a chance encounter with senior philatelist Viswanathan Iyer. The late veteran suggested him to identify a specific topic in 2005.
“And from then onwards I have been passionate about collecting stamps featuring mosques and other related subjects,” he said. Rasul says he loves visiting as many mosques in and around his place for daily prayers as possible.
Abdul Rasul is an IT person from Indian city of Chennai. (Supplied)
“I am interested in learning about the origin of the mosque, its heritage value and its architecture. This further triggered me toward collecting only those stamps featuring mosques.”
Few of the oldest stamps that are part of his collection include two stamps of mosque issued by Afghanistan which are dated 1892 and 1898 and a very rare Somalia Coast stamp issued in 1902.
Rasul’s stamp collection featuring mosques come from over 60 countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and Palestine.
Few of the oldest stamps that are part of his collection include a very rare Somalia Coast stamp issued in 1902. (Supplied)
Several stamps from Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest shrines, are part of his collection. This is besides stamps depicting the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem.
Rasul has also collected stamps from a number of Middle Eastern countries that have produced an array of stamps illustrating the famous Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.
In Turkey, mosques and minarets are frequent themes on stamps, particularly the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque (the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet), two of the most iconic buildings.
Mosques across the world are depicted on postage stamps often for historical value but also for their architectural and aesthetic elements. (Supplied)
As one can find domes and minarets in Cairo, numerous Egyptian stamps with Cairo’s mosques and their minarets are also part of his collection.
There are also some non-Muslim countries, which feature mosques on their country’s stamps. Rasul says Brazil issued a stamp depicting Kaaba while Belgium and Panama issued stamps featuring the Dome of Rock.
“Sri Lanka also issued a stamp with a picture of Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah”, he says. Besides stamps, Abdul Rasul also collects first day covers, proof cards, deluxe cards, old postcards and miniature sheets featuring mosques.
Few of the oldest stamps that are part of his collection include two stamps of mosque issued by Afghanistan which are dated 1892 and 1898. (Supplied)
When asked about the digital age and whether it dampens a philatelist’s mood, Rasul says: “We are in the world where everything is becoming digital. The children of this generation are not aware of stamps. Due to digital world the communication is by email and other social media platforms, so the importance of stamps and its role is slowly getting forgotten.”
Abdul Rasul, for whom stamps are a highly prized and desirable collectibles, is now aiming for yet another Guinness record improving upon its earlier collection.
His another wish is his intention to set up small a museum to showcase his collection in Makkah if he gets an opportunity to do so.
Courtesy: english.alarabiya.net
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Will push for Mekedatu balancing reservoir scheme: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday asserted that the state government would push ahead with key irrigation and drinking water projects, including the long-pending Mekedatu balancing reservoir scheme that is being opposed by Tamil Nadu, while continuing to pursue approvals and resolve disputes with neighbouring states over river water sharing.
Presenting the budget for the year 2026-27 in the Assembly, Siddaramaiah highlighted several initiatives aimed at strengthening irrigation infrastructure, addressing water shortages and expanding drinking water supply across different river basins in the state.
"The dismissal of the petitions filed by the State of Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court with regard to flagship Mekedatu scheme is a significant legal victory for our state," he said about the neighbouring state's objection over the project, which envisages utilising Cauvery water.
In light of this judgement, a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) along with a proposal for forest clearance will be submitted shortly to the Government of India, Siddaramaiah said.
The Mekedatu project has been a contentious issue between Karnataka and neighbouring Tamil Nadu, which has repeatedly opposed the project citing concerns over downstream water availability as regards the inter-state river.
The CM also referred to the progress made under the Yettinahole Comprehensive Drinking Water Project (YCDWP).
"The first phase of lift irrigation works of the YCDWP has been commissioned successfully," he said, adding that the remaining 18.73 km canal works in the second phase will be completed shortly.
"To impound excess water, a balancing reservoir of 1.2 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) capacity will be constructed near Vaderahalli in Koratagere taluk," Siddaramaiah said.
He also announced progress in the Upper Bhadra Project after resolution of a long-standing land dispute.
Consequently, the 135-km long Chitradurga branch canal and associated feeder works will be completed by 2027, enabling the filling up of 157 tanks in the region.
The chief minister noted that despite the project's national importance, the Centre has not released funds.
"Although no funds have been released by the Central Government, Rs 11,343 crore has been incurred by the state government for this project," he said.
Siddaramaiah also announced compensation measures related to the raising of the Almatti dam height under the Upper Krishna Project (UKP).
Under the revised compensation package, the government has fixed Rs 30 lakh per acre for dry land and Rs 40 lakh per acre for wet land.
The replacement of 33 dilapidated gates of the Tungabhadra Dam with new gates will be completed before the onset of monsoon.
To address the reduction in storage capacity caused by silt accumulation, the government is exploring alternative measures.
"Alternative measures including the construction of a balancing reservoir near Navali in Koppal district are already under consideration," he said.
Siddaramaiah said the state would intensify efforts to implement an alternative scheme in consultation with neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with the concurrence of the Tungabhadra Board.
He criticised the Centre for the "delays" in approvals for the Kalasa-Bandura project under the Mahadayi basin.
He alleged that the requisite forest clearance has not yet been received from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the National Board for Wildlife.
Announcing new schemes, Siddaramaiah said the Uduthore Halla project would be implemented in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district at a cost of Rs 490 crore that would provide drinking water and irrigate 12,000 acres of suffering command area.
In-principle approval would be granted for the construction of a 0.67 TMC impounding reservoir at Babanagar in Vijayapura under the Tubachi-Babaleshwara scheme.
In a broader push to expand irrigation coverage, he said priority would be given to completing several ongoing projects.
Overall, the government plans to undertake 75 irrigation works worth Rs 8,045 crore across major river basins including the Krishna, Cauvery and Godavari.
The government will also focus on improving water-use efficiency through modern irrigation systems by adopting a Pressured Piped Network system of irrigation in 4,745 hectares of command area under the Hattikuni and Tungabhadra Left Bank Branch Canal, Siddaramaiah said.
In the minor irrigation sector, the chief minister announced several tank-filling and rejuvenation projects, including the third phase of the Hebbala-Nagawara Valley project which will fill 164 tanks at an estimated cost of Rs 237 crore.
Siddaramaiah also said the state government has approved 112 works including lift irrigation projects, check dams and tank rejuvenation schemes at a cost of Rs 1,793 crore for 2025-26.
