Whilst the rest of the world took decades to begin to acknowledge the importance of the pioneering work of Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose (November 30, 1858 – November 23, 1937) a commemorative Indian postage stamp had been issued to celebrate the centenary of his birth in 1958 with a portrait of the Bengali polymath. He worked as a physicist, biologist, botanist, archaeologist, and was even known as a writer of science fiction!
Although he did patent one of his inventions after heavy peer pressure to do so, throughout his life he strongly objected to the concept of patenting on moral grounds. His lasting place in history has now been assured, however, and he is recognised as the inventor of the first wireless detection device and for his discovery of millimetre length electromagnetic waves.
This 15 np stamp reflects the recent decimalisation of the Indian currency – the year before in 1957, the rupee had been divided into 100 naye paise.
The stamp was printed on watermarked paper with the multiple Lion Capital of Ashoka design (see below).
