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Coins, stamps of all ages are his prized possessions
The coins of ancient period starting from Mauryas, Satavahanas, Vishnukundinas, Cholas, Tanjavur kingdom, Vijayanagar empire, East India Company are among the prized possessions of a traffic constable in Tirupati, T Suresh Reddy.
Tirupati: The coins of ancient period starting from Mauryas, Satavahanas, Vishnukundinas, Cholas, Tanjavur kingdom, Vijayanagar empire, East India Company are among the prized possessions of a traffic constable in Tirupati, T Suresh Reddy.
There are coins with gods and their ‘vahanas’ as symbols, Lord Venkateswara’s replica on coins minted by Vijayanagara empire and the list goes on. He has collected different Indian government minted coins and currency notes from 1947 to 2017. From one paisa coin to Rs 2000 note Suresh has everything with him.
Each coin or note tells bit of history. Every stamp is a symbol of a great occasion or a respect for a visionary. There are innumerable number of coins and stamps of various eras. To collect and preserve them needs passion and patience. These qualities were in abundance in Suresh. Not only coins and currency notes, he collected various stamps and first day covers. All the stamps on Mahatma Gandhi released by India and Bangladesh are with him. So too the first Khadi stamp.
He made a structure resembling Charminar with coins of 10, 25 and 50 paise denominations weighing 8 kg. A gram phone record player and an antique phone are also part of his collection. He displayed his entire collection at an exhibition organised on the occasion of World Postal Day in the Tirupati Head Post Office premises. The collection provided a visual treat to the visitors and they applauded the efforts of Suresh Reddy.
Speaking to The Hans India, Suresh said that he started the collection at the age of 10. After a few years he stopped it. He started it again only when he came to know that his son was born with failure of both kidneys. As he could not control the agony, he wanted to divert his mind to some other activity and choose philately as an interesting alternative.
He started it from where he left at a young age. “It gives me immense pleasure. I work hours together before any show after completion of my duty. So far, I have conducted about 15 exhibitions. I can get mental peace and concentration with this work”, he said. He exhibited his collection at the recently concluded Tirumala Brahmotsavams.
His ambition is to enter the Limca Book of Records. Philately will definitely drive away all bad habits from us. One can focus his/her aim on the work he/she is doing. It enhances knowledge. “Above all, through philately we can preserve our great history and can put it in the hands of future generations”, Suresh Reddy said.
The exhibition was inaugurated by SVIMS Director Dr TS Ravi Kumar on Monday. Tirupati Division Superintendent of Post Offices G Srinivasa Murthy, Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women (SPMCW) Principal Dr M Hanumantha Rao were also present. Dr Ravi Kumar later inaugurated the sub post office also at SPMCW.
By V Pradeep Kumar
