The World Philately News - Dt:26.07.2021

*TODAY*

*Kargil Vijay Diwas*

Kargil Vijay Diwas, named after the successful Operation Vijay, is celebrated in India on 26 July. On this date in 1999, India successfully took command of the high outposts which had been lost to Pakistan. The Kargil war was fought for more than 60 days, ended on 26 July and resulted in loss of life on both the sides. The war ended with India regaining control of all the previously held territory, hence re-establishing the status quo ante bellum. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 26 July every year in honour of the Kargil War's Heroes. This day is celebrated in the Kargil–Dras sector and the national capital New Delhi, where the Prime Minister of India pays homage to the soldiers at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate every year. Functions are also organized all over the country to commemorate the contributions of the armed forces. After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, there had been a long period with relatively few direct armed conflicts involving the military forces of the two neighbours – notwithstanding the efforts of both nations to control the Siachen Glacier by establishing military outposts on the surrounding mountains ridges and the resulting military skirmishes in the 1980s. During the 1990s, however, escalating tensions and conflict due to separatist activities in Kashmir, some of which were supported by Pakistan, as well as the conducting of nuclear tests by both countries in 1998, led to an increasingly belligerent atmosphere. In an attempt to defuse the situation, both countries signed the Lahore Declaration in February 1999, promising to provide a peaceful and bilateral solution to the Kashmir conflict. During the winter of 1998–1999, some elements of the Pakistani Armed Forces were covertly training and sending Pakistani troops and paramilitary forces, some allegedly in the guise of mujahideen, into territory on the Indian side of the line of control (LOC). The infiltration was code named "Operation Badr". The aim of the Pakistani incursion was to sever the link between Kashmir and Ladakh and cause Indian forces to withdraw from the Siachen Glacier, thus forcing India to negotiate a settlement of the broader Kashmir dispute. Pakistan also believed that any tension in the region would internationalize the Kashmir issue, helping it to secure a speedy resolution. Yet another goal may have been to boost the morale of the decade-long rebellion in Indian State of Kashmir by taking a proactive role.

Initially, with little knowledge of the nature or extent of the infiltration, the Indian troops in the area assumed that the infiltrators were jihadis and declared that they would evict them within a few days. Subsequent discovery of infiltration elsewhere along the LOC, along with the difference in tactics employed by the infiltrators, caused the Indian army to realize that the plan of attack was on a much bigger scale. The total area seized by the ingress is generally accepted to between 130 km² – 200 km².

The Government of India responded with Operation Vijay, a mobilization of 200,000 Indian troops. The war came to an official end on July 26, 1999, thus marking it as Kargil Vijay Diwas.

527 soldiers from Indian Armed Forces lost their lives during the war.

*Mr.Tamilvanan Philatelist*

Courtesy : Mr.Pratap Adtiya

Courtesy : Mr Krishanayya

The Customs Act, 1962 is the basic statute which governs entry or exit of different categories of vessels, aircrafts, goods, passengers etc., into or outside the country. The Act extends to the whole of the India.

Traditionally, Customs has been considered as the fiscal subject that charges customs duties (i.e. tariffs) and other taxes on import and export. In recent decades, the views on the functions of Customs have considerably expanded and now covers three basic issues: taxation, security, and trade facilitation.

Each country has its own laws and regulations for the import and export of goods into and out of a country, enforced by their respective Customs authorities; the import/export of some goods may be restricted or forbidden entirely. A wide range of penalties are faced by those who break these laws.

*Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were astute political tacticians, and both struggled against governmental injustice in South Africa. Both were completely fearless. Both had iron wills and amazing stubbornness. Both spent long periods in prison as a consequence of their opposition to injustice.

Mandela referred to Gandhiji as his role model and was inspired by Gandhiji to lead South Africa's journey to independence, and was some times referred to as the 'Gandhi of South Africa'. ... Gandhiji's philosophy and approach left an indelible mark on Mandela and it shaped his sociopolitical journey in South Africa.*. Courtesy: Mr.Basakaran, SIPA

A Miniature sheet (No.220) consisting 2nos.of commemorative postage stamp Issued on ( 26/July/2018)125th.years of Mahatma Gandhi's Pietermaritzburg Station Incident and Birth Centenary of Nelson Mandela: Gandhiji Spent 20years in South Africa during his apprenticeship to become a Mahatma or Great Soul , eleven of which were spent in KwaZulu Natal.In May1893 on a trip to Pretoria , Gandhiji was ordered by a white man to move from first class to third class.Gandhiji who had a first class ticket refused and was thrown off the train in Pietermaritzburg.This become a momentous moment in Gandhiji's life as he decided to stay and fight the oppression of Indian in South Africa.It was during this struggle that he developed his unique residence movement known as Satyagraha.

Courtesy: Mr.Bibhuti Mohan Mohanty

Courtesy : Lt. Col. Sundaram , Thoothukudi ,T.N

Courtesy : Mr. Varad Kunte.