LETTER: Biman and the Philatelic Association of Bangladesh (1979)
Mr. M. A. Khair,
President,
Philatelic Association of Bangladesh
Post Box 70, Comilla
Bangladesh.
15 March 1979
Dear Mr. Khair,
Thank you for your letter dated 1 March 1979 which I received on 9th March '79.
It is very gratifying to know that still some people remember the first issue of Bangladesh stamps and my connection with the historic occasion. Here is the background story behind the first set of stamps for Bangladesh.
On 29 April 1971 I received a phone call from Mr. John Stonehouse, MP, the former minister of Post and Telecommunication of Great Britain who requested me to design the first set of stamps for "Bangladesh". I met him at the House of Commons on Monday the 3rd May 1971 for an initial discussion when he described the political situation in Bangladesh which of course I was quite aware of. He told me that a provisional Government had been formed and he was asked by the 'Government' to organise the first issue of stamps for Bangladesh. He asked me whether I would be interested not only to design but also look into the total problem of issue and reccomend a solution. At that time we were getting the horrible news of atrocities systematically conducted by Pakistani forces on the innocent people of Bangladesh. This suggestion of Mr. Stonehouse appealed to me enormously because I thought this would give me a chance to help the people of Bangladesh in a modern way in their fight for freedom. I submitted the following proposals.
In my second meeting Mr. Stonehouse introduced me to Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury who was acting as the Ambassador of Bangladesh. They both approved my proposal and asked me to prepare the designs. At that time I was heavily committed to design education and I was lecturing on design two days a week at Folkestone School of Art in Kent and three days a week at Harlow Technical College in Essex. My regular commuting to these two places from South East London home involved over 400 miles travelling every week. I understood the urgency of the project at the same time I had to carry on my educational commitments. Therefore, I only could work in the evening and the weekends. I can not believe now that I finished the designs in six weeks. Ordinarily I produced several alternatives to one design. You would be interested to know that I produced 17 alternative designs for the Gandhi Centenary year stamp for the British Post office. But with this project though I wanted, I did not have the time to do it. Therefore I submitted only one extra design as an alternative to "Support Bangladesh" one.
Mr. Stonehouse and Mr. Chowdhury liked the design very much. Mr. Stonehouse smiled and said, "Biman, you are a Gentleman." I looked at him with surprise as I did not understand what he really meant by that. He came with the explanatory comments and said 'David Gentleman'. Perhaps you know that Mr. David Gentleman is the most successful stamp designer here in Great Britain. Naturally I was very pleased, and I thanked him.
Next day Mr. Donald Chesworth flew to Calcutta with my designs to show the ministers of provisional Govt. of Bangladesh. He came back within few days with their approval.
First we contacted a security printer in Holland but eventually we asked Format International security printer in London to print the stamps.
The stamps were shown by Mr. Stonehouse and Mr. Chowdhury on 26th July 1971 to the international press at Harcourt Room of House of Commons, London. 29th of July was the release date of the stamps. Mr. Stonehouse and Mr. Chowdhury organised a meeting with the leaders of local Bangladeshi Community at Room 8, at the House of Commons where a few sets of stamps on first day cover with our autographs were sold at an auction.
Mr. Stonehouse asked me to tell the story of the stamps and describe them to the present Bengalee community. I started my speech in English but Mr. Stonehouse suggested that I should speak in Bengali. After the speech Mr. Stonehouse said "Mr. Mullick is not only the first designer to design of the first historical set of eight stamps for Bangladesh but also probably the first man to deliver a lecture in Bengali here in house of commons." Present audience was delighted and showed their happiness by repeated applause.
On 1st August at a meeting at Trafalgar Square London in front of a gathering of estimated 25 thousand people I showed the original large scale Designs of stamps and they were enthusiastically received by the people present. I also gave a verbal description of all different stamps. After the liberation of Bangladesh Mr. Stonehouse contacted me and we also planned to issue the same set with the overprint "Liberation of Bangladesh".
From this story now you can see that Mr. Stonehouse was the first man to approach me but I was constantly in contact with not only with him but also with Justice Chowdhury. There was no agreement or contact. The planning and the choice of subjects were entirely mine. I was not provided with any background materials; I had to make my own research.
I do not have any roughs or original visual material. But I am sure that you have copies of the stamps. But the alternative design for the “Support Bangladesh stamp” had a formalized drawing of hand supporting the word Bangladesh. Perhaps it might be a good idea to mention there were no other designers approached to submit designs for first set of Bangladesh stamps. Apart from Mr. Stonehouse, the authority of Bangladesh did not approach any other designer person to submit to submit ideas or designs to organise the first issue of Bangladesh stamp. Apart from Mr. John Stonehouse, Abu Sayeed Chowdhury and ministers of provisional government of Bangladesh, no other person was involved in the process of selection.
I am very pleased to associate with such worthwhile design. This is one of my best design projects. I am glad to know that still some people remember my humble contribution not only to the philatelic history of Bangladesh but also her fight for freedom. As requested by you I am sending a photograph and some notes.
I would be most grateful if you please let me have a copy of your journal with your article about the stamp. Thank you for your interest. Give my regards to Mr. Meheta. With regards.
Yours sincerely,
Biman Mullick
Mr. M. A. Khair,
President,
Philatelic Association of Bangladesh
Post Box 70, Comilla
Bangladesh.
15 March 1979
Dear Mr. Khair,
Thank you for your letter dated 1 March 1979 which I received on 9th March '79.
It is very gratifying to know that still some people remember the first issue of Bangladesh stamps and my connection with the historic occasion. Here is the background story behind the first set of stamps for Bangladesh.
On 29 April 1971 I received a phone call from Mr. John Stonehouse, MP, the former minister of Post and Telecommunication of Great Britain who requested me to design the first set of stamps for "Bangladesh". I met him at the House of Commons on Monday the 3rd May 1971 for an initial discussion when he described the political situation in Bangladesh which of course I was quite aware of. He told me that a provisional Government had been formed and he was asked by the 'Government' to organise the first issue of stamps for Bangladesh. He asked me whether I would be interested not only to design but also look into the total problem of issue and reccomend a solution. At that time we were getting the horrible news of atrocities systematically conducted by Pakistani forces on the innocent people of Bangladesh. This suggestion of Mr. Stonehouse appealed to me enormously because I thought this would give me a chance to help the people of Bangladesh in a modern way in their fight for freedom. I submitted the following proposals.
- Eight stamps of different denomination should be issued to cover everyday postal needs.
- The total value in starting should be around £1. So it would be within the reach of most serious philatelists.
- The complete set of eight stamps should look comfortable on the First Day Cover.
- The complete set of eight stamps must tell the story of Bangladesh and
his present situation using strong graphic images. - The images on the stamps must create an impression that Bangladesh is a dynamic country
of greatwith a promising futureand dynamism. - The size of stamps should be on the bigger side and should be colourful to make them not only attractive but also to convey the message.
In my second meeting Mr. Stonehouse introduced me to Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury who was acting as the Ambassador of Bangladesh. They both approved my proposal and asked me to prepare the designs. At that time I was heavily committed to design education and I was lecturing on design two days a week at Folkestone School of Art in Kent and three days a week at Harlow Technical College in Essex. My regular commuting to these two places from South East London home involved over 400 miles travelling every week. I understood the urgency of the project at the same time I had to carry on my educational commitments. Therefore, I only could work in the evening and the weekends. I can not believe now that I finished the designs in six weeks. Ordinarily I produced several alternatives to one design. You would be interested to know that I produced 17 alternative designs for the Gandhi Centenary year stamp for the British Post office. But with this project though I wanted, I did not have the time to do it. Therefore I submitted only one extra design as an alternative to "Support Bangladesh" one.
Mr. Stonehouse and Mr. Chowdhury liked the design very much. Mr. Stonehouse smiled and said "Biman, you are a Gentleman" I looked at him with surprise as I did not understand what he really meant by that. He came with the explanatory comments and said 'David Gentleman'. Perhaps you know that Mr. David Gentleman is the most successful stamp designer here in Great Britain. Naturally I was very pleased, and I thanked him.
Next day Mr. Donald Chesworth flew to Calcutta with my designs to show the ministers of provisional Govt. of Bangladesh. He came back within few days with their approval.
First we contacted a security printer in Holland but eventually we asked Format International security printer in London to print the stamps.
The stamps were shown by Mr. Stonehouse and Mr. Chowdhury on 26th July 1971 to the international press at Harcourt Room of House of Commons, London. 29th of July was the release date of the stamps. Mr. Stonehouse and Mr. Chowdhury organised a meeting with the leaders of local Bangladeshi Community at Room 8, at the House of Commons where a few sets of stamps on first day cover with our autographs were sold at an auction.
Mr. Stonehouse asked me to tell the story of the stamps and describe them to the present Bengalee community. I started my speech in English but Mr. Stonehouse suggested that I should speak in Bengali. After the speech Mr. Stonehouse said "Mr. Mullick is not only the first designer to design of the first historical set of eight stamps for Bangladesh but also probably the first man to deliver a lecture in Bengali here in house of commons." Present audience was delighted and showed their happiness by repeated applause.
On 1st August at a meeting at Trafalgar Square London in front of a gathering of estimated 25 thousand people I showed the original large scale Designs of stamps and they were enthusiastically received by the people present. I also gave a verbal description of all different stamps. After the liberation of Bangladesh Mr. Stonehouse contacted me and we also planned to issue the same set with the overprint "Liberation of Bangladesh".
From this story now you can see that Mr. Stonehouse was the first man to approach me but I was constantly in contact with not only with him but also with Justice Chowdhury. There was no aggreement or contact. The planning and the choice of subjects were entirely mine. I was not provided with any background materials; I had to make my own research.
I do not have any roughs or original visual material. But I am sure that you have submitted designs for the first set of Bangladesh stamps. Apart from Mr. Stonehouse, the authority of Bangladesh did not approach any other person designer to submit ideas or designs organise the first issue of Bangladesh stamps. Apart from Mr. John Stonehouse, Abu Sayeed Chowdhury and ministers of provisional government of Bangladesh, no other person was involved in the process of selection.
I am very pleased to associate with such worthwhile design. This is one of my best design projects. I am glad to know that still some people remember my humble contribution not only to the philatelic history of Bangladesh but also her fight for freedom. As requested by you I am sending a photograph and some notes.
I would be most grateful if you please let me have a copy of your journal with your article about the stamp. Thank you for your interest. Give my regards to Mr. Meheta. With regards.
Yours sincerely,
Biman Mullick