It was in January 1774 India’s 1st Governor General, Warren Hastings began to make arrangements for the establishment of India’s first Post Office Department. A Post Master General was appointed who took forward the plan ahead.
During the administration of Warren Hastings (1774 – 1785) in India, the post office was placed on a better footing than before and steps were taken to make the post available to a limited extent of private communications as well.
The ‘Copper Ticket’, on the other hand, was the first pre-paid token stamp issued from Patna, 1774. This stamp now belongs to Dilip Shah of Jabalpur. This ticket was also known as ‘Azimabad Ekanni’ & ‘Azimabad Duanni’.
This opened up the postal service to the public and letters were no longer restricted to government departments and business houses.
“Among the many things, good & bad, that the modern world has produced, surely the postal system, which covers the world, is one of its most beneficient activities.” ~ Jawahar Lal Nehru
but this post is not merely about the First Postage stamp. It is about the end of an Era.
India Post Abolishes Book Post Service
On December 18, 2024, without consultation or warning to stakeholders, India Post discontinued the ‘Book Post’ service.
India Post has shocked book lovers and businesses by terminating its ‘Book Post’. The Redeemed Book Post (RBP) service costs Rs 80 to send a book weighing up to 5 kg, which is less than other courier services.
Furthermore, India Post’s extensive network of 19,101 pin codes and 154,725 post offices in India ensures prompt delivery, with most shipments arriving within a week. Delivery within the city arrives the following day.
The closure of this service has created a crisis in the publishing industry. With the increase in shipping charges, many readers are reluctant to pay Rs 78 in postage on a book worth Rs 100. There is talk that this decision will further weaken the reading habit in the country. And in the long run will prove detrimental to India’s commitment to literacy, education, and intellectual growth.
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I love learning about history in this way! Thanks for the share!
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Thanks Vanya, even though I had to republish after adding the main paragraph after what you read. I had scheduled this post long back and completely forgot about its date. But thanks much again.
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In some countries post offices have ceased to function altogether. Everything must be done electronically now, it seems. I read a great deal and my stack of books was getting out of control so I reverted to reading on Kindle, using my old iPad but I much prefer holding a book in my hand. I find that some books are only available now on Kindle. It seems we are being forced to go that way but I can see that it would be a crisis in publishing, especially as the cancellation of the book rate was unexpected.
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That is true Caro, that is how old systems are going to go. Strangely here, Post offices are still in demand as they are giving good competition to private service providers, just that cancelling book post comes with a nostalgia for one kind of people.
And talking about reading, i have barely finished books on Kindle, and even though i had earlier thought and was excited to use my ipad as a reading alternative, it hasn’t turned out to be after it fell flat on my head couple of times at night. Mine one feels heavier and too tech for reading i think.
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Thanks for this information, Narayan. I missed this news of Book Post service closing. I guess there was no need to do this but I am getting used to the central government suddenly changing rules. 😞
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Actually Ranjana, seems there was no need of doing this but we no longer know why some decisions took place, and now when not much awaited tax time, the financial budget is around the corner.
Thank you for writing.
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Dear Narayan
Thank you for this history lesson.
By the way, book post was stopped in Germany many years ago as well.
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Copper ticket – that was interesting info.
I’m a big fan of India Post, but that change in the book postage is too bad 😦
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Apologies dear Yogini, for taking this long a time to come and write back to you. Yes, a big fan myself and it feels valuable all the more when we get to see its booth in one of our border villages. But what to do, everyone has to change with economics and times.
Did you finally make it to Kumbh or are you? 🙂
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That’s true, everything is bound to change someday. And no, I couldn’t plan the Kumbh visit, unfortunately 😦
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Nice information..
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Thank you Verma Ji
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I like your efforts in bringing articles that are uniquely useful and informative, thank you 🙏🏼
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Thank you for your words, makes my evening today.
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I was interested to read about your postal service and sorry to hear of the sudden demise of book post. It seems faceless bureaucrats worldwide delight in taking away good things that work and ordinary folk enjoy.
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It’s slowly happening in front of us. Every small change is leaving a big impact on social services.
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