Republic India Coins, Proof Set, Currencies: Mint Sets

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2019 - Mahatma Gandhi 150th Birth Anniversary

The 4^th release function saw the release of a coin on 150^th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

This would be the 2^nd coin to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi, the first one being in 1969 on occasion of Birth Centenary.

The coin and the details of the set are;

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement. A pioneer of satyagraha, or resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience—a philosophy firmly founded upon ahimsa, or total nonviolence—Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhi is often referred to as Mahatma an honorific first applied to him by Rabindranath Tagore. In India, he is also called Bapu and officially honoured as the Father of the Nation. His birthday, 2 October, is commemorated in India as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday, and worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence.
Gandhi first employed non-violent civil disobedience as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, in the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights. After his return to India in 1915, he set about organising peasants, farmers, and urban labourers in protesting excessive land-tax and discrimination. Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity, ending untouchability, increasing economic self-reliance, but above all for achieving Swaraj—the independence of India from foreign domination. Gandhi famously led Indians in protesting the British-imposed salt tax with the 400 km Dandi Salt March in 1930, and later in calling for the British to Quit India in 1942. He was imprisoned for many years, on many occasions, in both South Africa and India.

Gandhi strove to practice non-violence and truth in all situations, and advocated that others do the same. He lived modestly in a self-sufficient residential community and wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with yarn he had hand spun on a charkha. He ate simple vegetarian food, and also undertook long fasts as means of both self-purification and social protest.

Release Function

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi releasing the Silver Coin based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on October 02, 2019. The Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Dev Vrat and the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Vijay Rupani are also seen.

Proof Set
Coin of Rs 150

UNC Set
Coin of Rs 150

2019 - MG Ramachandran Birth Centenary

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In the second release ceremony, the coins commemorating M G Ramachandran were released. Actually to be released in 2017 but got delayed and released on 102nd Birth Anniversary. This is the reason the coins have circulation denomination as the Gazette notification was in 2017.

The coin and the details of the set are;

Marudur Gopalan Ramachandran (17 January 1917 – 24 December 1987), popularly known as M.G.R., was an actor, filmmaker and politician who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for ten years between 1977 and 1987. He was popularly known as "Makkal Thilagam" (People's King) as he was popular with the masses.

In his youth, MGR and his elder brother, M. G. Chakrapani, became members of a drama troupe to support their family. Influenced by Gandhian ideals, MGR joined the Indian National Congress. After a few years of acting in plays, he made his film debut in the 1936 film Sathi Leelavathi in a supporting role. By the late 1940s he graduated to lead roles and for the next three decades dominated the Tamil film industry. He became a member of the C. N. Annadurai-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and rapidly rose through its ranks, using his enormous popularity as a film star to build a large political base. In 1972, three years after Annadurai's death, he left the DMK, now led by Karunanidhi, MGR's once friend and now rival, to form his own party—the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Five years later, he steered an AIADMK-led alliance to victory in the 1977 election, routing the DMK in the process. He became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the first film actor to become a chief minister in India. Except for a six-month interregnum in 1980, when his government was overthrown by the Union government, he remained as chief minister till his death in 1987, leading the AIADMK to two more electoral triumphs in 1980 and 1984

Release Function:

17-Jan-2019: By Chief Minister K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Paneerselvam at a function held in Dr. MGR Medical University Complex, Guindy, Tamil Nadu

2018 - Paika Rebellion

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The fourth release ceremony of Calendar year 2018 saw the release of commemorative coins of Rs 200 on Paika Rebellion. Earlier in the day coins of Atal Bhari Vajpayee were also released.

This issue has only Rs 200/- non circulating denomination and there are no circulating denomination; similar to the Vajpayee commemorative of Rs 100 only earlier today. This is after 1981 when a commemorative issue did not have a circulating denomination. Although there were few issues like 150 Years of Telecommunications, Gur Ta Gaddi, etc where circulating denominations were not put into general circulations, but they were notified and were available in Mint Sets. It looks like Governmnet is moving away from issuing commemorative coins in circulating denominations, the recent gazette notifications of Shri Guru Gobind Singh, 75 years of Tricolour in Andamans, Paika Rebellion published before Vajpayee release also don’t have circulating denomination. However Vajpayee is the first issue to be released and other are still notifications.

The coin details are;

Paika Rebellion of Odisha
Pre-dating what has been popularly regarded as the fist war of independence in 1857, the Paika Bidroha (Paika Rebellion) of 1817 in Odisha briefly shook the foundations of British rule in the eastern part of India. Paikas were essentially the peasant militias of the Gajapati rulers of Odisha who rendered military service to the king during times of war while taking up cultivation during times of peace. They unfurled the banner of rebellion against the British under the leadership of Baxi Jagandhu Bidyadhara as early as 1817 to throw off the British yoke.

Rulers of Khurda were traditionally the custodians of Jagannath Temple and ruled as the deputy of lord Jagannath on earth. They symbolised the political and cultural freedom of the people of Odisha. The British, having established their sway over Bengal Province and Madras Province to the north and south of Odisha, occupied it in 1803.The Gajapati King of Odisha Mukunda Deva-ll was a minor then and initial resistance by Jai Rajguru, the custodian of Mukunda Deva-II, was put down brutally and Jai Rajguru was torn apart alive. A few years later, it was the Paikas under Baxi Jagabandhu, the hereditary chief of the militia army of the Gajapati King, who rose in rebellion, taking support of tribals and other sections of society. The rebellion started in March 1817 and spread quickly. Though Paikas played a larger role in the rebellion against the British, it was by no means a rebellion by a small group of people belonging to a particular class. The tribals of Ghumusar (part of present day Ganjam and Kandhmal Districts) and other sections of the population actively took part in it. In fact, the Paika Bidroha got the opportune moment to spread when 4OOtribals of Ghumsar entered Khurda protesting against the British rule. The Paikas attacked British symbols of power, setting ablaze police stations, administrative offices and the treasury during their march towards Khurda, from where the British fled. The Paikas were supported by the rajas of Kanika, Kujang, Nayagarh and Ghumusar and zamindars, village heads and ordinary peasants. The rebellion quickly spread to Purl, Pipli Cuttack and other parts of the province. The British were initially taken aback and then tried to regain lost ground but faced stiff resistance from the rebelling Paikas. Many a battle ensued with some victories to the rebels, but the British finally managed to defeat them within three months.

Widespread suppression followed with many killed and imprisoned. Many more were tortured. Some rebels fought a guerilla war till 1819 but were captured and killed. Baxi Jagabandhu was finally arrested in 1825 and died in captivity in 1829. Though the Paika Bidroha enjoys a cult status in Odisha with children growing up with stories of the brave fight against the British, it has unfortunately received less attention at the national level than it should have got.While the reasons can be many for such scant attention to such a significant event of the history in India, it is heartening that the Government of India has decided to give the event its due recognition by commemorating its 200 anniversary in a befitting manner.

Source PIB

Other Older References:
Another theme that is being actively considered is the 200 years of Paika Rebellion, Odisa.
The denominations have not yet been finalized. The YouTube Vedio shows coins of Rs 100 and Rs 5. However I think the coins will be in Rs 200 and Rs 10 denomination. Like quite a few issues of Odisa in past, this one also looks likely to be delayed.

The Original news was in March 2018; the last one is in Oct 2018 where by land to build a Paika Monument is being sought and the coins released as part of it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tzjvnclcC3A

http://odishatv.in/odisha/body-slider/paika-rebellion-commemorative-coin-design-sent-for-cms-approval-281415

Release Function:

2018 - Atal Bihari Vajpayee

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The third release ceremony of Calendar year 2018 saw the release of commemorative coins of Rs 100 on Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This is the 4th Ocassion when coins were released in the year of Death on Prime Minister; earlier being 1964 Jawharlal Nehru, 1985 Indira Gandhi and 1991 Rajeev Gandhi.

This issue has only Rs 100/- non circulating denomination and there are no circulating denomination. This is after 1981 when a commemorative issue did not have a circulating denomination. Although there were few issues like 150 Years of Telecommunications, Gur Ta Gaddi, etc where circulating denominations were not put into general circulations, but they were notified and were available in Mint Sets. It looks like Governmnet is moving away from issuing commemorative coins in circulating denominations, the recent gazette notifications of Shri Guru Gobind Singh, 75 years of Tricolour in Andamans, Paika Rebellion published before Vajpayee release also don’t have circulating denomination. However Vajpayee is the first issue to be released and other are still notifications.

The coin details are;

Release Function:

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi releasing the commemorative coin in honour of Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in New Delhi on December 24, 2018. The Speaker, Lok Sabha, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley, the Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma and other dignitaries are also seen.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25 December 1924 – 16 August 2018) was a politician who served three terms as the Prime Minister of India. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he was the first Indian prime minister who was not a member of the Indian National Congress party to have served a full five-year term in office.

He was a member of the Indian Parliament for over four decades, having been elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house, ten times, and twice to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house. Vajpayee was among the founding members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), of which he was the president from 1968 to 1972. The BJS merged with several other parties to form the Janata Party, which won the 1977 general election. Vajpayee became the Minister of External Affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister Morarji Desai. He resigned in 1979, and the Janata alliance collapsed soon after. The erstwhile members of the BJS formed the BJP in 1980, with Vajpayee as its first president.

During his tenure as prime minister, India carried out the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998. Vajpayee sought to improve diplomatic relations with Pakistan, travelling to Lahore by bus to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. After the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan, he sought to restore relations through engaging with President Pervez Musharraf, inviting him to India for a summit at Agra.

He was conferred India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee in 2015. The administration of Narendra Modi declared in 2014 that Vajpayee's birthday, 25 December, would be marked as Good Governance Day. He died on 16 August 2018 due to age-related illness.

2018 - Nabakalebar Rath Yatra

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The first release ceremony of Calendar year 2018 saw the release of the much awaited coins of Nabakalebar Rath Yatra. There was quite a bit of wait on this coin where the original event was in 2015. See the end for the details.

Nabakalebara is symbolic recreation of wooden forms of the four deities at Jagannath Temple, Puri. In Jagannath cult this is a periodical renewal of the wooden forms of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana. The occasion occurs every 8th or 12th or 19th year of the previous Nabakalebara.

The principle adopted to fix the year of Nabakalebara is to find a year in which there are two Ashadhas (Doashadhas), or the month of Ashadha in which there are two full moons. In the Lunar Hindu calendar in every three years a lunar month is excluded from calculation to strike a balance between lunar and solar years. This period is called 'Adhimasa' or 'Malamasa'. A year with an extra (Adhika masa) Ashadha masa/month as per Hindu calendar is considered highly auspicious for conducting the ceremony. This usually occurs every twelve to nineteen years. The four deities undergo the process of Nabakalebara in the year in which falls the Adhimasa. The Deities are made from a special type of Neem wood known as Daru Bramha. Preparations for the ceremony start in the month of Chaitra. The most recent ceremony was done in the year 2015 and the one before that was in 1996.

Release Function:

18-Mar-2018: President Ramnath Kovind attends the centenary celebrations of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan at Sri Sadasiva Campus in Puri . On the occasion, Kovind unveiled Rs 10 and Rs 1, 000 commemorative coins on Lord Jagannath’s Nabakalebara in presence of his wife Sabitri Kovind, Puri Gajapati Maharaj Dibya Singh Deb, Governor Dr SC Jamir, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Higher Education Minister Ananta Das.

History of the coins and the delay

10-Jul-2017: It seems everything is now sorted with Govt issuing Gazette notification for the release of the coins. These should be release soon. They will still have a date of 2015.

There is a press release that mentions that the coins on the occasion of Nabakalebar Rath Yatra will be released. See Press Release
However looks like given the year 2015 is lined up with quite a few coins, we may not see this theme.

The article on the Govt website also has the design for the proposed coins and stamps.

16-Jan-2016: There is controversy over the design of the coin. More details here. Thus the coin release looks to be further delayed. 6-Feb-2016. There is more news with STJA refusing to give opinion.
28-May-2016: More News.

2017 - MS Subbulakshmi

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The Link to Proof and UNC sets is here

The Second release ceremony of the year 2017 saw the coins being released on the ocassion of Birth Centenary of MS Subbulakshmi.

The coin and the details of the set are;

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (also known as M.S.) was an Carnatic singer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna. She is the first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award in 1974 with the citation reading "Exacting purists acknowledge Srimati M. S. Subbulakshmi as the leading exponent of classical and semi-classical songs in the carnatic tradition of South India.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had this to say about M.S. Subbulakshmi- "Who am I, a mere Prime Minister before a Queen, a Queen of Music". While Lata Mangeshkar called her Tapaswini (the Renunciate), Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan termed her Suswaralakshmi (the goddess of the perfect note), and Kishori Amonkar labelled her the ultimate eighth note or Aathuvaan Sur, which is above the seven notes basic to all music. The great national leader and poet Sarojini Naidu called her "Nightingale of India". Her many famous renditions of bhajans include the chanting of Bhaja Govindam, Vishnu sahasranama (1000 names of Vishnu), Hari Tuma Haro and the Venkateswara Suprabhatam (musical hymns to awaken Lord Balaji early in the morning).

She was widely honoured, praised and awarded. Some of the popular ones include:

Padma Bhushan in 1954
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1956
Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1968
Ramon Magsaysay award (often considered Asia's Nobel Prize) in 1974
Padma Vibhushan in 1975
Sangeetha Kalasikhamani in 1975 by The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai
Kalidas Samman in 1988
Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration in 1990
Bharat Ratn in 1998

Release Function

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu releasing the commemorative Coin at an event to inaugurate the Exhibition on the legendary Carnatic Vocalist, Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi, on the occasion of her Birth Centenary Commemoration, in New Delhi on September 19, 2017. The Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma and other dignitaries are also seen.

Invitation to the Release Function
Image credits Sudhir Lunawant

2016 - Mysore University

The ninth release function saw the release of a coin commemorating the on Centenary Year of Mysore University.
This would be second instance where a University centenary year is commemorated. The first being Banaras University.

The coin and the details of the set are;

The University of Mysore state university in Mysore,Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. It opened on July 27, 1916. Its first chancellor was the Maharaja of Mysore; the first Vice Chancellor was H. V. Nanjundaiah. The university became the first outside of the Britain administration in India, it is the sixth oldest university in India as a whole, and the first in Karnataka.

The university encompasses 122 affiliated colleges and five constituent colleges (forming an aggregate of 53,000 students). In addition, the university has 37 postgraduate departments, eight specialized research and training centers, and two postgraduate centers that together offer a total of about 55 regular academic programs to 3,500 students. It also runs a number of employment-oriented diploma courses and certificate programs.

TheMysore University Library comprises over 800,000 books, 2,400 journal titles, and 100,000 volumes of journals. The main campus features an amphitheater, an auditorium, a swimming pool, and hostel accommodations for men and women.

Tweet

FinMin is issuing a Commemorative Coin of Rs.100/- and a Circulation Coin of Rs.5/- to mark the occasion. Congrats 2 University of Mysore 2
— M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) May 2, 2016

The official correspondence

Release Function

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah releasing coins during the centenary celebration of the University of Mysore on Friday. Vice-Chancellor K.S. Rangappa, writer Hampa Nagarajaiah and Registrar Rajanna are also seen. - Photo: M.A. Sriram

23-Dec-2016: Released by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a function in Crawford Hall of University of Mysore.

The Crawford Hall used on the coin.

VVIP Set
Coins of Rs 100 and Rs 5

2016 - Banaras Hindu University - UNC Set

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The Link to Proof and UNC sets is here

This post gives the details of UNC set. For Proof Set refer to the previous Post. For Hyderabad Mint UNC set refer to this link.

The Seventh release of the year saw a commemorative coin on Centenary Year of Banaras Hindu University. This is a first for commemorating a University. There is another one planned this year for Mysore University. The denominations are Rs 100 and Rs 10.

The coin and the details of the set are;

Banaras Hindu University commonly referred to as BHU; formerly known as Central Hindu College is a public central university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Established in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, BHU is one of the largest residential universities in Asia, with over 20,000 students.

The university's main campus spread over 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) was built on land donated by the Kashi Naresh, the hereditary ruler of Banaras. The Banaras Hindu University, South campus, spread over 2,700 acres (11 km2), hosts the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Agriculture Science Centre) and is located in Barkachha in Mirzapur district, about 60 km from Banaras.

BHU is organised into 6 institutes and 14 faculties (streams) and more than 132 departments. Total student enrolment at the university exceeds 30000, and includes students from over 34 nations. It has over 60 hostels for resident students. Several of its colleges, including engineering (IIT-BHU), management (FMS-BHU), science, linguistics, journalism & mass communication, performing arts, law, agriculture (IAS-BHU), medicine (IMS-BHU) and Institute of Environment And Sustainable Development (IESD-BHU), are ranked among the best in India and world.

Proof Set
Coins of Rs 100 and Rs 10
Refer to previous post

UNC Set
Coins of Rs 100 and Rs 10