Saralnama
Since the 1950s, Indian postage stamps have reflected the evolving representation of Indian music, initially focusing on classical musicians and saints like Mirabai and Rabindranath Tagore. Until the 1960s, musicians were rarely featured, but from the 1970s, stamps began commemorating classical figures from both Carnatic and Hindustani traditions, such as Tyagaraja, Purandara Dasa, Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, and Tansen. The 1970s and 1980s also saw stamps featuring Indian dance forms and modern painters, alongside Western classical composers. From the 1990s, stamps included 20th-century musicians and female vocalists, expanding beyond classical music to Hindi film playback singers like Kishore Kumar and regional artists such as Ghantasala and Bhupen Hazarika. Thematic series highlighted musical instruments and Ragmala paintings, while a 2020 series introduced folk instruments, broadening the official portrayal of Indian music. These shifts reflect changing government attitudes and cultural recognition over time. (Updated 24 Aug 2025, 12:56 IST; source: link)