Unitersity of Mysore Commemorative stamp, coin planned for big fete

Source
Lakshmikantha BK, TNN | Jul 14, 2015, 01.13PM IST

MYSURU: If everything goes as per plan, the University of Mysore, all set to kick off its yearlong centenary, will release its postage stamp and coin during the valedictory programme next July.

The celebrations, to be flagged off by President Pranab Mukherjee at the Manasagangotri Open Air Theatre on July 27, will have lectures by Nobel laureates like Muhammad Yunus, Bangladeshi social entrepreneur and pioneer of microcredit and microfinance on September 3, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, an India-born American who won the award for chemistry, cricketers Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble and scholars from various fields.

The advisory committee, which is holding various events at all its centres, has decided to end the celebrations on a grand note in July 2016. The authorities are making all efforts to release a postage stamp and coin depicting the logo of the varsity's Crawford Hall at the valedictory event.

Sources said the university is taking the advice of retired chief post master general Meera Datta. "The varsity has already written to the Karnataka Post Master General. Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Union chemical and fertilizer minister Ananth Kumar, MP R Druvanarayan, Prasara Bharati chairperson A Surya Prakash have sent their recommendations in February," sources said.

Union IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will take a final call after consultations with the central post master general. Sources said, "As it's a lengthy process which can take over a year, the varsity is waiting for a positive response from the ministry."

Vice-chancellor KS Rangappa has written to the chief minister and governor about the commemorative coin and the final decision rests with the Union finance minister Arun Jaitley.

Centenary celebrations consultant N Niranjan Nikam said he's in touch with the under secretary of economic affairs. "The stamp and coin will have a logo of Crawford Hall. Along with the stamp, the varsity plans to release a First Day Cover of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar and a cachet. The value of the coin will be decided by Union finance department," he said.