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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AAP alleges 'deep-rooted' conspiracy to kill Kejriwal, BJP terms it 'drama'
New Delhi, Oct 26: The AAP on Saturday alleged the BJP was conspiring to "kill" its convener Arvind Kejriwal and had become "an enemy of his life". The ruling party warned that the BJP would be responsible if anything happened to the former chief minister.
Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta dismissed the AAP's allegations, saying it was yet another "drama" by the AAP to defame the BJP ahead of the assembly polls.
The AAP had on Friday claimed that Kejriwal, a Z-plus protectee, was attacked by "BJP goons" during his 'padyatra' (foot march) in west Delhi's Vikaspuri, a charge trashed by the saffron party.
However, no video of the alleged attack was made available by the party. Police said they had not received any official complaint from the AAP.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, AAP MP Sanjay Singh alleged police were complicit in the incident.
"Police complicity in the incident clearly shows a deep-rooted conspiracy to kill Kejriwal. The BJP has become an enemy of his life," he said.
There was no immediate response from police to the Rajya Sabha MP's claim.
Singh said that despite Friday's incident, Kejriwal would carry on with the 'padyatra' as scheduled.
AAP leaders including Kejriwal are undertaking 'padyatras' in different assembly segments of the city in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly polls, likely to be held in February 2025.
Asked why the AAP had not filed a complaint regarding the alleged attack on Kejriwal, Singh said police could take cognisance of the incident and launch a probe.
It would not have happened if police were impartial. Police officers did not do anything to stop the "attackers" who belonged to the BJP's youth wing, he claimed, adding the AAP was seeking legal opinion on the matter.
He also accused BJP leaders of supporting the "attackers".
Singh said Kejriwal would "neither stop nor bow down" and continue to fight for the people of Delhi.
If anything happens to Kejriwal, then the BJP would be responsible for it. Even if Kejriwal suffers a scratch, Delhi's people would take revenge on the BJP, he said.
At another press conference, Delhi cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed one of the attackers was the vice president of the BJP's Delhi Yuva Morcha.
"BJP Yuva Morcha functionaries attacked Kejriwal. One of the attackers is the vice president of BJP Yuva Morcha of Delhi and the second is the general secretary," he said.
The two BJP leaders, who were dancing after attacking Kejriwal, had lost the councillor elections, claimed Bharadwaj.
BJP leader Gupta rubbished the AAP's claims.
"Despite blaming the BJP, no complaint has been filed by the AAP over the alleged attack on Kejriwal, which shows that the party is trying to play the victim card and gain sympathy by trying to defame the BJP before the assembly polls," he said.
The BJP leader said the AAP is worried about the "waning public support" and is attempting to confuse people through such tactics.
The area where Kejriwal was allegedly attacked is not an AAP stronghold and hence, the party "concocted" the story to gain sympathy, Gupta alleged.
