All India Cultural Meet Closing, 2019
18-08-2019
34th All India Postal Cultural Meet (2019-20) ended at Ahindra Mancha, Kolkata, on Sunday, 18th August. Kerala Circle bagged maximum number of Prizes, followed by Karnataka and Tamilnadu in the five day long competition which started on August 14. The competitions were held in both Hindusthani and Karnataki style of music, short play and mono acting, different forms of dance. Each event was organised separately for Juniors and Seniors. There were three types of vocal items: Classical, light and folk. In the Dance category, there were two: Classical and folk. Classical dance category included Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi, Kuchipuri, Kathakali, and Mohiniattam. In terms of first prizes, however, Assam with 7 Gold came next to Kerala (13 Gold). In the Group Dance of the Seniors, Punjab was adjudged best, followed by Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. In the Short Play category of the Seniors, Maharashtra came first. More than 400 participants from all over India participated in the meet.
Before the award giving ceremony, to commemorate the occasion a Special Cover was released on renowned Rabindra Sangeet singer Debabrata Biswas, popularly known as George Biswas or George-da. The music of Biswas was notable for its exceptional depth of emotional expression combined with an exploration of subtle dramatic element in Tagore’s lyrics. Incidentally Debabrata Biswas passed away on this day, August 18, 1980. Chief Postmaster General, West Bengal Circle, Gautam Bhattacharya had handed over the Special Cover released on the occasion to two nieces of the Singer.
All India Cultural Meet, 2019
14-08-2019
Chief PMG, West Bengal Circle, Shri Gautam Bhattacharya, declared today at Mahajati Sadan, Kolkata, the 34th All India Postal Cultural Meet as open. More than 400 participants and the accompanists from different Postal circles came to the city from all over the country to take part in the aforesaid meet. The competitions will be held in both Hindustani and Karnataki style of music, short play and mono acting, different forms of dance. The competition will be in two categories i.e. Junior and Senior. There are three types of vocal items: classical, light, and folk. In the dance competition there are two categories: Classical and folk. In the classical category Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Shtriya, Mohiniattam dances will be presented. The participating Circles will also compete in the folk dance category. A panel of judges from Rabindra Bharati University will adjudge the performance and decide the prizes. Except on the inaugural day and the closing day, programs will be held at Moulali Yuva Kendra.
In the inaugural ceremony, Director General (Posts), as the Chief Guest, released a Special Cover on the idea of changing the minds of inmates of Jail by culture therapy. The therapeutic use of music aims at reducing anxiety, improve cognitive functioning, promote physical rehabilitation and enhance interpersonal communication. It helps people in rediscovering themselves. Smt. Alokananda Roy, took up this as an experiment in this city few years back. Valmiki Pratibha, a well-known dance drama by Rabindranath Tagore tells the story of reformation – how the dreaded Dasyu Ratnakar metamorphosed into Valmiki, the sage, and went on to pen great epic, Ramayana. If Ratnakar can transform to valmiki, then why not inmates of modern Correctional Homes can have a sense of purpose in their life? Smt. Roy’s tireless persuasion, her acceptance and affection gave the convicts of the Prison, a sense of self-respect and dignity. The minds started changing and they started to identify themselves with the character of Valmiki getting transformed and believing in the possibility of new beginning. - A rare landmark that is referred by many as unparalleled in the history of prisons in the world. The Special Cover brought out by the West Bengal Postal Circle was in acknowledgement of this effort. Smt. Alokananda Roy, the eminent Dancer and Social-worker was the Guest of Honour and Smt. Arundhaty Ghosh, Member (Operations) of the Postal Services Board was the Special Guest in the inaugural programme.
The Cultural Meet of India Post will continue till 18th August.
IPPB Felicitation
22-07-2019
West Bengal Postal Circle and India Post Payments Bank jointly felicitated yesterday (22nd July, 2019) five (5) Grameen Dak Sevaks (GDS) of the Circle who did best in "Kaun Banega Bahubali" campaign held between May 15 and June 15, 2019.
Shri Bhriguram Patra, the Branch Postmaster of Contai Division ranked 1 at All India level. The other award winners were Shri Ashoke Kumar Dinda of South Presidency Division (All India rank 21), Shri Siddhartha Mandal and Shri Santanu Dhal of Midnapore Division and Smt. Papri Das of Coochbehar Division.
Shri J. P. Tirkey, GM, Reserve Bank of India was Chief Guest in the function.
SECUREX Project
16-07-2019 Onwards
The four days long workshop of India Post on SECUREX Project was held at Kolkata from July 16-19. Shri A. N. Nada, Secretary to the Govt. of India, Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications was present in the Valedictory session alongwith the senior officers of India Post and senior officers of the Dept. of Customs, Govt. of India.
The workshop on Security and Customs related electronic data exchange was aimed at educating and sensitizing the employees of Foreign Post and Customs Department. This will also facilitate faster clearance by Customs in respect of items imported/exported by Postal channel.
Kolkata, the oldest office of exchange in the South Asian sub-continent, where processing of international mails began first, still acts as the main entry point for Air and Surface mails from China and other East Asian countries. The workshop was jointly organised with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and with the World Customs Organisation (WCO). Participants from all over the country attended the workshop.
International Day of Yoga, 2019
21-06-2019
International Day of Yoga, 2019 celebration at Yogayog Bhawan, Circle Office, West Bengal Circle on 21st June, 2019 under the guidance of Yoga Guru Shri Uday Mridha and his team. All the Officers and most of the employees of the Circle Office took active participation in the event. Other regions also percipitated in the event on the same day.
