2011, President's Fleet Review, Mumbai INS Shivalik (F47) INR 05.00 India MN H

2011, President's Fleet Review, Mumbai INS Shivalik (F47) 

PRESIDENT'S FLEET REVIEW, MUMBAI INS Shivalik  INR 05.00 India 2011

 MNH

                           Text: PRESIDENT'S FLEET REVIEW, MUMBAI INR 5 India 2011 MNH 

                                       Condition:   MNH

Country / Post	India
Date of Issue	19 December 2011
Primary theme	Military (Military equipment) Transportation (Ships & Navigation) (Ships)
Subject	President's Fleet Review, Mumbai
Width	58.0 mm
Height	32.0 mm
Denomination	5.00 INR
Number in set	4
Layout/Format	sheet
Perforations	13 by 13
Stamp issuing authority	Ministry of Communications Department of Posts
Printer	Security Printing Press Hyderabad

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NAVAL FLEET REVIEWS ARE CEREMONIAL OCCASIONS TRADITIONALLY HELD BY NAVIES THE WORLD OVER TO SHOWCASE THEIR POWERS. THE REVIEW IS A GRAND AND FORMAL OCCASION WHEN ALL OPERATIONAL NAVAL VESSELS AND AIRCRAFTS ARE SPRUCED UP IN A SPIRIT OF LOYALTY AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE NATION AND THE SUPREME COMMANDER. THE PRESIDENTS FLEET REVIEW IS A SYMBOLIC DISPLAY OF A NATIONS MARITIME CAPABILITIES AND PROWESS. IT IS MEANT TO CONVEY TO THE SUPREME COMMANDER AND TO THE NATION THAT THE COUNTRY’S MARITIME FORCES ARE FIGHTING FIR AND READY TO MEET ANY CHALLENGE IN INDIA TOO IT IS A TIME HONOURED TRADITION THAT THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, AS THE SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ARMED FORCES, REVIEWS THE NAVAL FLEET ONCE DURING HER HIS TENURE. NINE SUCH REVIEWS HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE INDEPENDENCE. FOR THE REVIEWS PARTICIPATING UNITS WHICH INCLUDE WARSHIPS, SUBMARINES, AUXILIARY VESSELS, COAST GUARD SHIPS ETC. ARE ANCHORED IN FORMATION IN PRECISE COLUMNS. THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA EMBARKS ON A NAVAL VESSELS DESIGNATED AS THE PRESIDENTIAL YACHT AND REVIEWS ALL THE SHIPS BY CRUISING PAST THEM. SIMULTANEOUSLY, NAVAL AIRCRAFTS OF THE NAVAL AIR ARM FLY PAST IN A SALUTE OVERHEAD. INDIA POST IS HAPPY TO ISSUE A COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMP ON THE OCCASION OF PRESIDENTS FLEET REVIEW AT MUMBAI.

PRESIDENT'S FLEET REVIEW, MUMBAI INS Shivalik 

Stamps of India – President’s Fleet Review, Mumbai – By India Post Set of 4 Stamps, Issued By India Post

The PFRs are only next to the Republic Day parade where the Supreme Commander reviews the combined strength of all the three services. Inherited from the Royal British Navy, PFR takes place once during the tenure of a President.

So far nine such reviews, including the International Fleet Review (IFR) in 2001, have taken place. Dr Rajendra Prasad reviewed the first PFR in October 1953. In 1956 and 1964, the reviews were carried out by the Shah of Iran and by then Defence Minister Y B Chavan, respectively.

Presidents Dr Zakir Hussain, N Sanjiva Reddy and Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma did not review the fleet during their tenure. The last fleet review was conducted by President A P J Abdul Kalam in 2006 at the Eastern Sea Board in Visakhapatnam.

Fleet Review: A fleet review is a traditional gathering of ships from a particular navy to be observed by the reigning monarch or his or her viceroy, a practice allegedly dating back to the 15th century. Such an event is not held at regular intervals and originally only occurred when the fleet was mobilized for war or for a show of strength to discourage potential enemies.

However, since the 19th century they have often been held for the coronation or for special royal jubilees (indeed, since Edward VIII it has been regularly held at each coronation, though the one scheduled in the United Kingdom for Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee was cancelled due to costs. Also, since the 19th century, fleet reviews increasingly often include delegates from other national navies.

President's Fleet Review, India:  The President of India is entitled to inspect his/her fleet, as he/she is the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces. The first President's fleet review by India was hosted by Dr. Rajendra Prasad on October 10, 1953. President's reviews usually take place once in the President's term. In all, ten fleet reviews have taken place, including in February 2006, when former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam took the review. The latest, on December 20, 2011, when President Pratibha Patil set sail in a warship INS Subhadra (P51) to take the 10th Fleet Review.

Presidents Dr Zakir Hussain, N Sanjiva Reddy and Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma did not review the fleet during their tenure.

India Post issued a set of four stamps and a First Day Cover to commemorate this historic event. I would like to thank my friend Mr. Amit Surana, Mumbai for helping me to get the FDC with Mumbai postmark, where the event held.

The first stamp shows, I think an Indian Coast Guard boat. (blog readers are welcome if they know more details).

The other stamps show MiG-29 fixed-wing aircraft, INS Shivalik (F47), and INS Sindhuvijay (?) (S62)