In 2005, Royal Mail set about designing its traditional Christmas issue, and decided as religion as a subject, for the first time in many years. They decided to use paintings of the Madonna and Child taken from around the world. There was nothing unusual about this, but the 68p value featured an unusual painting produced in India around the early 1600’s. The painting, currently housed in the Prince of Wales Museum in Bombay, pictured the Holy Family as Hindus with Tilaka, the traditional forehead markings.

On the day it was released, the Hindu forum of Britain (HFB) protested against the stamp, calling it “culturally insensitive” because it showed people who were clearly Hindu worshipping Christ. They demanded that Royal Mail withdraw the stamp immediately and apologise to the Hindu community. Collectors waited with baited breath as to the decision, as we realised we could be in possession of a stamp that was to be withdrawn after only a few days!

It was hugely publicised in the news, and the Secretary General of the Vishwa Hindu Parashad, stated “We intend to bring out a mass demonstrations to protest about it.” Protests were threatened that would disrupt every post office across the UK. Royal Mail was not intimidated by the threats!

Another group, calling itself the World Hindu Mahasangam, wrote to Royal Mail, via the national newspapers, claiming that the picture was a fake, designed by Royal Mail to perpetrate racial hatred. None of these claims were substantiated.

A prominent Indian scholar and art historian, Ranjit Hoskote, was brought in for consultation, and declared that the painting was both authentic and inoffensive. Hindu’s in Britain mainly supported the stamp, and explained how they feared that “Self appointed radical leaders” would use the issue to boost their own political standing by making a big thing out of nothing.

Royal Mail refused to withdraw the stamps, as that would be admission that they had done something wrong. They did however instruct post offices not to sell the stamp unless it was specifically asked for by the customer.

Religion aside, the stamp became the fastest selling stamp for a long time, probably mostly by collectors, but also by people affected by the huge publicity. Either way, Royal Mail profited by the publicity!

(Names and Quotes taken from the Telegraph newspaper, 1st November 2005.)

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