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 Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy

A commemorative postage stamp on the Birth Centenary of Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, a Sri Lankan Tamil philosopher, metaphysician, historian and philosopher, responsible for introducing ancient Indian art to West :

Issued by IndiaAnanda Kentish Muthu Coomaraswamy (ஆனந்த குமாரசுவாமி)

Issued on Aug 22, 1977

Issued for : The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department feels proud to bring out a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of the birth centenary of this colourful personality.

Description of Design : The design of the stamp depicts the profile of Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy. Alongside is shown the dancing Shiva, the subject of a well-known study by Coomaraswamy.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 25 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Printed on unwatermarked adhesive stamp paper

Number printed : 30,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing process : Photogravure

Designed and printed at : India Security Press

Name : Ananda Kentish Muthu Coomaraswamy

Born on Aug 22, 1877 at Colombo, Sri Lanka

Died on Sep 9, 1947 at Needham, Massachusetts, United States

About : 

  • Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy was born on August 22, 1877 in ColomboSri Lanka, to Sir Muthu Coomaraswamy and Elizabeth Clay Beeby. Ananda lost his father when he was only two years old and was brought up by his mother in England. In 1900 he graduated with first-class and honours from the London University. Later he was awarded a Doctorate of Science degree in Geology by the same University.
  • Ananda Coomaraswamy worked as Director of Mineralogical Survey of Sri Lanka from 1903 to 1906. Discovery of thorianite, a cubical mineral of high specific gravity is a major contribution of Coomaraswamy during this period.
  • Coomaraswamy‘s interests were not, however, confined to science. He was in particular inspired by the history and culture of India and travelled extensively in this country collecting some of the finest specimens of Indian paintings and drawings.
  • In 1917, Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy joined the Museum of Fine Arts in BostonU.S.A. as Keeper for Indian Art and continued there till 1947.
  • Coomaraswamy was a many-sided personality – a linguist, philosopher, art historian and critic. A man of unbounded energy, Coomaraswamy did pioneering work in discovering and documenting thousands of works of art. Among his major works are Medieval Sinhalese Art, The Arts and Crafts of India and CeylonEssays in National Idealism, The Dance of Shiva, A New Approach to the Vedas and Catalogue of Indian Collections in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston to mention only a few.
  • Coomaraswamy died at Needham, Boston in U.S.A. on September 9, 1947.
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