New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI) Luxembourg on Wednesday said the joint release with India of a stamp commemorating 75 years of bilateral friendship and also in memory of celebrated artist Amar Nath Sehgal who had made the European nation his home for many years, marks another important milestone in the growing friendship and cultural cooperation between both nations.
On Tuesday, Luxembourg Ambassador Peggy Frantzen hosted an event at the Amar Nath Sehgal Private Collection in New Delhi on the occasion of a joint stamp release by the Post Luxembourg and India Post to commemorate 75 years of bilateral friendship.
The stamps released were in the memory of Amar Nath Sehgal, celebrated modernist artist who had chosen Luxembourg as a second home for a quarter of century.
The stamp was jointly released by Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan, the Chief Postmaster General (Delhi circle) and the Luxembourg Ambassador.
The stamp was also released in Luxembourg City, in the presence of the officials of the Luxembourg Foreign Office, the Indian Embassy, as well as the Post office, and Amar Nath Sehgal's son and his spouse who live in Luxembourg as well as Anne Mélan, designer of the stamp.
The Delhi event, also saw the performance of a composition “Form and Music”, by renowned musicians Pandit Shubhendra Rao and Maestro Saskia Rao de Haas, virtuoso cellist and composer from the Netherlands based in New Delhi. The piece was composed for the event on the life and work of Amar Nath Sehgal and the Luxembourg-India relations, the Luxembourg embassy said in tweets.
“The joint stamp release is another important milestone in the growing Luxembourg-India friendship and cultural cooperation,” it said in a tweet.
An official statement said that both nations are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations this year. The birth centenary year of renowned sculptor and Padma Bhushan Awardee Amar Nath Sehgal ended in February 2023. Sehgal represents the strong bond of friendship and cultural connect between India and Luxembourg and has contributed significantly to the people-to-people ties. At the same time, India is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsva.
As part of these celebrations, the Department of Posts, Govt. of India, and Post Luxembourg jointly issued commemorative stamps today. The Indian stamp has been designed by Anuj Zood and the Luxembourg stamp has been designed by Anne Mélan. The sculpture of artist Sehgal - ‘Friends’ - a beautiful example of artist’s close relationship and friendship with Luxembourg, is the design of Indian stamp. The sculpture - ‘Flute Player’ - another remarkable work of art from Sehgal representing the spirit of Lord Krishna, has been chosen by Luxembourg side as design for its stamp, it said.
A video message from Jean Asselborn, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg, was played at the release event on Monday.
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