How a Pune photographer preserves India’s military history through rare stamps

Sandip Boyat, a photographer from Pune, has meticulously amassed a private collection of rare stamps and philatelic materials that chronicled India's military history over the last 15 years. For Boyat, who lost his grandfather in the Azad Hind Fauj and has a father who served in the Indian Army, this pursuit is personal. In the 1980s and 1990s, India Post issued commemorative stamps honoring the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Boyat began collecting these historical artifacts in 2011. Today, his collection includes early stamps for the three military branches, First Day Covers, and vintage postcards used by the military. As digitization progresses, preserving these physical records becomes vital. Boyat's work has garnered him recognition from both the India Book of Records and the Limca Book of Records.

His passion also connects the past with the present through India Post's My Stamp scheme, which allows citizens to feature their own photos on official postal stamps. Boyat believes this traditional method serves the nation and expresses patriotism through his hobby. In an age dominated by digital distractions, these small prints once brought the story of India's armed forces into homes and classrooms.