Forgotten Biography

Shri Purnendu Gupta (P. Gupta)

Purnendu Gupta (b. 1931 - d. August 30, 2005) took keen interest in stamp collecting when he first visited the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. His collection on Nepal received a Gold medal in International exhibition INDIPEX 73, was the first Indian to be awarded a large Gold for Nepal in INTERPHIL76, USA. He was the first Indian recipient Grand Prix de Honour in FIP Class Honour in BRASILIANA 83. Mr. P. Gupta excelled in varied disciplines of philately right from Classical philately to Postal Stationery, Indian States, Rocket Mail, Aero philately, Thematic, all world top class collections. He was the only philatelists in the world in 1983 to have three collections - Nepal, Cochin and Indian Postal Stationery in FIP Class of Honour.

Mr. P. Gupta was a President of the Philatelic Congress of India during 1986 - 1988 and was a Life Member of all well-known Philatelic Organisations. He was a member of the panel of the FIP jury for various International & World exhibitions. He was also a fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society of London. He also served as a member of the Philatelic Advisory Committee. He was recognised as an outstanding philatelist in the FIP and was a Bureau member (working committee) of FIP Section for Astrophilately, from 1986 to 1996. He has greatly enhanced the prestige of and had put Indian philately on sound ground.

Mr. P. Gupta started his professional career as Medical Representative at Patna and rose to the position of highest office as President, of India's leading pharmaceutical company ORGANON (INDIA) Limited now known as a INFAR India Limited. He was also a President of Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), an association of pharmaceutical industry representing research based companies during 2000-2001.

He was a Rotarian and also associated with Ram Krishana Mission, Cancer Institute apart from large number of social Organizations.

Contributed by : Mr. Pradip Jain, Patna