PHILATELIA 2026 – Directorate of Student Affairs Celebrated Philately, Creativity and India’s Heritage
The Directorate of Student Affairs and the Philately Club, The Apollo University, Chittoor, organised PHILATELIA 2026, a celebration of philately, creativity, knowledge, and India’s rich heritage, at the Auditorium, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy Knowledge Centre. The event contained two engaging competitions — “The Stamp Detectives,” a team-based philatelic quiz, and “India Worth Remembering,” a commemorative stamp proposal competition. The competitions provided students with an opportunity to explore the historical, cultural, social, and national significance reflected through postage stamps while encouraging teamwork, creativity, research, and presentation skills.
The programme was graced by Prof. (Dr.) Nitin M. Nagarkar, Vice Chancellor, The Apollo University, as the Chief Guest. Prof. (Dr.) H. Vinod Bhat, Patron – Apollo Philatelic Club and Professor Emeritus, The Apollo University, was present as the Special Invitee. Prof. (Dr.) Alfred J. Augustine, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academics), Dr. Ramya Ramakrishnan, Dean, Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Prof. K. Bhaskar Reddy, Dean, School of Health Sciences and AIPS, Ramaiah Itumalla, Dean, School of Management, attended the programme as Guests of Honour.
In his address, Prof. (Dr.) Nitin M. Nagarkar, Vice Chancellor, appreciated the efforts of the Directorate of Student Affairs and the Philately Club in creating an engaging platform for students to explore the educational and cultural significance of stamps. He highlighted the value of activities that encourage students to look beyond conventional academic learning and develop curiosity, creativity, observation, and an appreciation for history and heritage. He also encouraged students to actively participate in such initiatives and discover the stories and knowledge preserved through philately.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. (Dr.) H. Vinod Bhat, Patron – Apollo Philatelic Club and Professor Emeritus, spoke about the enduring relevance of philately and its ability to connect generations through history, culture, art, and storytelling. Drawing from his longstanding association with philately, he encouraged students to develop an interest in stamp collecting and to appreciate stamps not merely as collectibles, but as miniature records of people, places, events, and important chapters of history. He emphasised the role of the Philately Club in nurturing this interest among young learners and encouraging them to explore the stories behind every stamp.
The Stamp Detectives quiz witnessed enthusiastic participation from student teams, who competed through multiple rounds testing their knowledge of stamps, personalities, places, events, history, and heritage. The use of quiz buzzers added to the excitement and ensured an engaging and competitive atmosphere throughout the rounds. The India Worth Remembering competition encouraged participating teams to identify individuals, achievements, institutions, traditions, events, and stories that they believed deserved recognition through a commemorative postage stamp. The teams presented their proposals through creative and well-researched presentations, highlighting the diverse narratives and lesser-known contributions that form part of India’s heritage. The competitions concluded with the announcement of the winners and runners-up, who were presented with prizes, gifts, and certificates in recognition of their performance and participation. Apollo College of Nursing Students won the Quiz Competition and Apollo Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences students won the Presentation competition. PHILATELIA 2026 concluded on a memorable note in creating meaningful avenues for learning, creativity, and cultural engagement. The programme was coordinated by Dr. Danial V, Assistant Director, Student Affairs, Dr. Keerthana Thankachan, Assistant Director, Directorate of Press and Publications, and Faculty Coordinator, Philately Club, with the support of student coordinators and club members, Mr. K. Yugavardhan and Ms. Vitika Reddy.