Indian Postal History 1947-1997
by Ashok Kumar Bayanwala
11.
1st April 1948 - Indian Embassy
(Nepal)
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Registered mail posted in Dec-1949 from Nepal to India Reg. slip No.R-167 shows the words "INDIAN EMBASSY NEPAL" & " BRITISH LEGATION NEPAL" The British Legation (Nepal) P.O. was transformed into Indian Embassy (Nepal) P.O. after India?s Independence on 15th August 1947, but no specific date is recorded yet. Mr. Wolfgang C. Hellrigl also in his book "Nepal Postal History" doesn?t give any specific date when legation office was taken over by Indian Embassy. But in my opinion, the transformation date should be 1st April 1948 and reason for my belief, are as follows.
The Indian Embassy (Nepal) P.O. or British Legation (Nepal) P.O. or Residency P.O. was the name of the Indian Post Office in Nepal. The Residency P.O. started functioning in Kathmandu, Nepal in the year 1816. It continued till 1920 when it became British Legation P.O., but postal markings were changed in 1941. After India?s Independence the charge of this Indian P.O. was handed over to Indian Embassy in Nepal on 1st April 1948, and the postal markings were changed in between 23rd April 1948 and 10th May 1948. It was closed on and from 12th April 1965.
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Privately printed FDC with the Cancellation inscribed word - "INDIAN EMBASSY (NEPAL)" The Indian Post Office, which worked for 149 years in Nepal, was actually worked as a Foreign Post Office of Nepal. All foreign letters (excluding India) had to be forwarded to its destination through this Post Office. Before 1950, Nepal had a rigid policy of isolation, which was relaxed during the early 1950?s. Since then, Tourists Mail started flowing through Indian Embassy P.O. Mail arrangements between India and Nepal were as follows: v Fully Prepaid Unregistered correspondence namely, Letters, Single Post Cards, Printed papers, Business Papers, Samples and unregistered News Papers could be sent by the Post offices in India to Nepal through the offices of Exchange.v Reply Paid Post Cards, Money Order and V. P. Post Services were not available between two countries.v Registration, Insurance and Parcel Service were also not available throughout Nepal except kathmandu where Indian Post Office - Indian Embassy P.O. Nepal was working.It means that Parcels within a limit of 400 tolas, Registered and Insured articles, addressed to and/ or care of this Indian Embassy P.O., could be accepted. In case the addressee is not a member of the Indian Embassy, the Registered and Insured articles were handed over by the Indian Embassy (Nepal) P.O. to a representative of the Nepalese P.O. at Kathmandu, under acquaintance and the later effects delivery. The above rules are recorded in Section XII of P & T Guide July 1948 and clarification there after are recorded in DGPO Circular No.49 dated 29th November 1949.
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