Time to Recount How the Stamp was Won
Diwali Stamp is inaugurated at the Indian Consulate in New York, October 5, 2016.
Seen the picture, among others are-Hardip Singh Puri then India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and now Union in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet (left foreground), Consul General of India Riva Ganguly Das (first left), Congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney (second left), Congresswoman Grace Meng (third right), Ranju Batra, (second right), Ravi Batra (right foreground) (Photo / Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia)
By Indrajit Saluja with Bidisha Roy
The iconic Diwali Stamp which took years in the embryo, got delivered on October 5, 2016, thanks to the relentless efforts of Ranju Batra, assisted and supported by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney who introduced a bill in the Congress for a Diwali Stamp, and many other politicians and community leaders. On October 5 this year, the Diwali Stamp has completed 5 years. Happy Birthday to the Diwali Stamp!
The day became very special for millions of Indians living in the USA. It was a moment of great pride for every single Indian American to stand and be counted at the Indian Consulate in New York City at the first day-of-issue dedication ceremony of the ‘Diwali stamp.’ The day calls for a recall of how the daunting task was accomplished.
The commemorative stamp release was actually a 7-year “saga” of relentless journey of Diwali Stamp Project ChairRanju Batra who had, despite all odds, persevered and won for 1.3 billion Indians a US Diwali commemorative stamp. In her journey Ranju got overwhelming support from the community and everyone was ecstatic to be part of the history making. The ‘fight’ for a Diwali stamp became part of her daily life. Wherever she went, whomsoever she met – be it President Obama or Prime Minister Modi – she persuaded for the stamp as she felt though Diwali holds a great significance for many Americans and well over a billion people across the globe, the United States Postal Service has not recognized this beautiful festival of lights with a commemorative stamp, although it has done so for other major religious and cultural holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Eid.
How was the journey? “As many of you know, I was determined to succeed in my goal to get the USPS to issue a Diwali Stamp, knowing all others had tried and given up. I spent nearly 7 years chasing it – peacefully, and using only inclusive and respectful means. Along the way, I got a lot of help from a lot of people, regular and powerful. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney accepted my invitation to partner with me – so that there would be a stamp not only for Hanukkah, Christmas, Eid, and Kwanza, but also for Diwali. I even sought support from PM Modi and President Obama”, recalls Ranju.
Ranju’s strongest supporter was her husband Ravi Batra, Chair of the National Advisory Council of South Asian Affairs. But Initially Ravi was skeptical about the success of the hard task.
“From Day 1, when Ranju told me she wanted to work to get United States Postal Service to issue a Diwali Stamp, I discouraged her, as it was an insurmountable task, with no clear path for success”, says Ravi. But Ranju was unstoppable. “If Ranju wants to do something, nothing is going to stop her. She told me in no uncertain terms, she was going to work for it, and not stop until she succeeded – with or without me. So, after some time, I got in line to be supportive, and when she wanted my involvement. Luckily, she did most of the heavy lifting – all be her lonesome self. Many of our dear friends helped. Key supporters among the notables were: then-Amb. Hardeep Singh Puri, Amb. Lakshmi Puri, C.G. Dnyaneshwar Mulay wrote the Official Poem for the Diwali Stamp Project, and Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney accepted Ranju’s invitation to partner with her to provide national political leadership.” Ranju even asked PM Modi to help and wrote to then-President Barack Obama. She designed numerous paper petitions and got all her friends to sign. She got strangers to sign. She even got diplomats of numerous countries and the families to sign. She carried Petitions with her wherever she went, by incorporating it into her daily life. She would get them signed, and then mail them to USPS. In fact, USPS acknowledged in writing that her singular campaign of constantly mailing these paper petitions finally tipped the balance – not all the other stuff that was said and done.
In her journey Ranju had another ‘partner’ in Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) who also relentlessly fought for this cause as she felt that ‘a relatively small action would hold great meaning for millions of people.’ On January 14, 2015, Congresswoman Maloney introduced H. Res. 32, urging the USPS to issue a commemorative holiday stamp for Diwali. For several years, Congresswoman Maloney has headed efforts in Congress to push the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) to consider issuing a commemorative Diwali stamp. In 2013, Congresswoman Maloney introduced H.Res. 47, expressing the sense of the U.S. House of Representatives that the CSAC should issue a Diwali stamp. The bill had 46 cosponsors. Maloney wrote letters to the CSAC in 2010 and 2012 requesting the same action.
“Until the stamp was issued, Diwali was the only major holiday for which there was no stamp. There are stamps issued for Christmas, Hannukah, Eid and Kwanzaa, but for some incomprehensible reason, Diwali was never honored. I knew that needed to change. Over the years that we worked for the stamp, we held countless meetings and public events to raise awareness about effort. I introduced three Congressional resolutions in support of a Diwali stamp. We had letter writing campaigns and meetings with postal officials including Postmaster General Brennan. Finally, with the help of the PMG we were successful”, Maloney told The Indian Panorama. And finally, the day came. United States Postal Service released the Diwali Forever stamp at the Indian consulate on Oct 5, 2016. The Consulate probably has never seen before such huge crowd, as on this very special and historic day. The rooms were packed to capacity, with many people standing to watch the proceedings. There were endless lines of people eager to buy Diwali Stamps. USPS ran short of the stamps. Some of those who had already paid also were disappointed, as they could not get the stamps. Incidentally, Congresswoman Maloney at a Diwali celebration in Washington, D.C. to honor the lawmakers of Indian origin, October 26, said she wouldmove to have the Diwali day as a federal holiday. Thank you, Maloney for your love of Diwali, the Indian American community and India.
The stamp design is a photograph featuring a traditional diya oil lamp beautifully lit, sitting on a sparkling gold background. Diya lamps are usually made from clay with cotton wicks dipped in a clarified butter known as “ghee” or in vegetable oils.
Sally Andersen-Bruce of New Milford, CT, photographed the diya. Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, VA, designed the stamp and William J. Gicker of Washington, DC, served as the project’s art director. The Diwali stamp was issued as a Forever stamp. This Forever stamp is always equal to the value of the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Ranju did another miracle. “In 10 days between being informed that the Diwali Stamp would issue and its dedication, she was granted an exclusive status to pre-sell the Stamp on USPS behalf. And in 10 short days, she personally sold over 170,000 Diwali Stamps! She beat USPS’ top seller -Batman stamp, to make our Diwali Stamp the #1 best seller in USPS history of over 200 years!”, says proud Ravi.
On December 5, 2016, Ranju was honored and the Diwali Stamp was recognized by 24 nations led by Belarus’ now-Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Dapkiunas, along with Georgia and India as Co-Organizers, and with Co-Sponsors – Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Botswana, Cyprus, France, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malta, Morocco, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Permanent Observer State of Palestine, and International Atomic Energy Agency-NY.
Now that the Diwali Stamp is five years old, how does it feel?
For Ranju, Diwali Stamp’s celebration is not of a religion, not of a nation, but it is of the spirit of harmonious inclusiveness and cultural understanding that all religions deserve. “While my journey took 7 years, Diwali Stamp is here FOREVER, and it will be a matter of pride for generations to come, not only because it is a Forever Stamp, but because we did it together – with the support of every faith – because all of us are entitled to a better and peaceful tomorrow, no matter where we were born, and no matter how we pray. In this digital age a small piece of paper called – Diwali Stamp – celebrates the living heritage of over 1 billion people – actually, has brought together all 7 billion of us as one human family! “
Ravi salutes Ranju’s unbeatable quest to get an American Holiday for generations yet unborn. “As many have noted, and I wholeheartedly agree: generations yet unborn will celebrate Diwali as an American Holiday, thanks to Ranju’s unbeatable quest to get it. Not bad for a gentle soul that Ranju is. This Stamp makes every Diwali-celebrant “at home” in America; we belong – more than just due to our passport – as we embroider America to be even more beautiful and help Good beat Evil. If I may, I am proud of Ranju, as she has not only enhanced our family, but has enhanced each one of us. That 24 nations came together, led by Belarus’ now-DFM Andrei Dapkiunas -as an outgrowth from a dinner hosted by Georgia’s PR Kaha Imnadze. in 2016 in the Trusteeship Council Chamber at the United Nations to honor Ranju’s amazing quest – using the highest ideals of the UN – was an honor I will never forget. Both Belarus and Georgia exhibited the finest principle – of respect of a good person and a different faith – and they did it selflessly and with warmest affection. Humanity, as its best.”
For Maloney,this effort was about far more than just the issuance of a postage stamp though. “It is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, lightness of over dark, and knowledge over ignorance. These virtues are more relevant than ever, and we can all become better people by embracing these values with one another. I could not be more proud to have played a role in this achievement and am grateful that the Hindu and Sikh communities have finally received the recognition and honor they deserve.”
The Diwali stamp will be a matter of pride for generations to come!!
Happy Diwali!
(With inputs from a story published in The Indian Panorama in 2019, commemorating 3 years of the Diwali Stamp)
