![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YMG5Z3PEOQWNWLIK2BSEZES4CM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3552c964b05bfc58dee055eafcd005fd0f33fa483faf5c52da47faec1c908b0&width=400&height=225)
The breadth of the collection reflects Gandhi's fame across the world, with even Grenada and Fiji issuing stamps in his honour
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OWZSK57U57RLOXMLSRBDDOPKCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=4d05ceb282abf703c5d8c437a1ab99b1fe42541f7a292da6fe9005fd12dd68d2&width=400&height=225)
Ummer Farook browses his Gandhi stamp collection. Umer won a silver award for his collection on Gandhi at a recent international exhibition in China. More than 20 countries have issued stamps over the past year to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary celebrations that began in October last year. All photos by Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZDH3UVMZRG3OBGHOXVAVA5KX6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=e16e72857cf66da077bf24e09af8feab61f251011a50d875fba65ccfd641731d&width=400&height=225)
His success comes as the UAE stamp association tries to encourage more youngsters to take up the hobby
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J4FAMCBIMC23ZGXKOWGZAKNXCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=ed320c39638fadb1cf06ee27220953dd6d832ce78ab8e8eb41d0fa68cf737241&width=400&height=225)
Ummer Farook won a silver medal at the World Stamp Exhibition in China. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AFLLRF6TR2OVXCFFMQFQVBJ3KQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a2abde969494988f004fe3f4a1f0b211dfe144976b1b1e0dbcc9f8314d4dbb8d&width=400&height=225)
“I have stamps from each of the 115 countries that have issued stamps on Gandhi and each one of these tells a story,” says Mr Farook
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MCDYKKDOTLOZOVYQO52AJNK2Z4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5362ed45eed1905c7aa2916a01e7c369db052c1929b786b3b11e27eeb000e9f3&width=400&height=225)
His albums show sepia-tinted images of Gandhi as a law student in London, to working as a lawyer in South Africa and colourful art work released by the United Nations to commemorate the 140th birth anniversary in 2009
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O3GCWUIBL5F6GVMGUTG72YYR34.jpg?smart=true&auth=9fb14fe03baafd3c0d84b8f4851fcd29b32b1a95a9552e607eba7f6f5a3684f1&width=400&height=225)
A collection of stamps issued by Fujairah to honour personalities including Mahatma Gandhi. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7EN7J433K6RCCEZC7OIIUK7NJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1da99df989353e5ca398d44502d60ef27b2bd5a48ba330338be9ae513141edaa&width=400&height=225)
The 51-year-old has been collecting stamps for nearly 40 years
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A6P54KREEWYK5LLRTRVBS56IWQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c4dd0d49525567b6eb2e724053777efcaf845d6d350389790d227bcf166be2ae&width=400&height=225)
The Indian national won last month the silver medal at the World Stamp Exhibition in the Chinese city of Wuhan for his exhaustive collection on the Indian independence leader.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JN2KQ6WWPTL42Q5XA2DNRRTIJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=794a4ffa156276cc54ffd65ab612b45e3cc9169bb46405f732f5fc7012ce5b6c&width=400&height=225)
“Everybody at one point in their life was a collector and we are hoping to get them interested to go back to their initial hobby,” said Abdulla Khoory, the Emirati president of the Emirates Philatelic Association
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DUVEIBTFRSH2XXAND3FFYQNIRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=66213735e5317d915ea500bb73ba2a457c5b6cd1dfe72aced7cb67cda3330b0b&width=400&height=225)
The breadth of the collection reflects Gandhi's fame across the world, with even Grenada and Fiji issuing stamps in his honour.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NYZEUUGNGT5P55RI2W66PZX6UM.jpg?smart=true&auth=84bf3ef795b61d25098ad70f9c98f0d5d06339a9baa210d93de4ad6cc0340c3d&width=400&height=225)
Stamps issued by Sharjah to honour Mahatma Gandhi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3FCWVF2HR3KC7KG3JCUTMRAL64.jpg?smart=true&auth=94facd8453f7e7196752af784adee937a9239dfdc38e97b48d81f7701d5b2dd2&width=400&height=225)
Mr Farook’s compilation includes other famous personalities such as British icon, Princess Diana, and American presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YMG5Z3PEOQWNWLIK2BSEZES4CM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3552c964b05bfc58dee055eafcd005fd0f33fa483faf5c52da47faec1c908b0&width=400&height=225)
The breadth of the collection reflects Gandhi's fame across the world, with even Grenada and Fiji issuing stamps in his honour
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OWZSK57U57RLOXMLSRBDDOPKCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=4d05ceb282abf703c5d8c437a1ab99b1fe42541f7a292da6fe9005fd12dd68d2&width=400&height=225)
Ummer Farook browses his Gandhi stamp collection. Umer won a silver award for his collection on Gandhi at a recent international exhibition in China. More than 20 countries have issued stamps over the past year to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary celebrations that began in October last year. All photos by Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZDH3UVMZRG3OBGHOXVAVA5KX6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=e16e72857cf66da077bf24e09af8feab61f251011a50d875fba65ccfd641731d&width=400&height=225)
His success comes as the UAE stamp association tries to encourage more youngsters to take up the hobby
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J4FAMCBIMC23ZGXKOWGZAKNXCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=ed320c39638fadb1cf06ee27220953dd6d832ce78ab8e8eb41d0fa68cf737241&width=400&height=225)
Ummer Farook won a silver medal at the World Stamp Exhibition in China. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AFLLRF6TR2OVXCFFMQFQVBJ3KQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a2abde969494988f004fe3f4a1f0b211dfe144976b1b1e0dbcc9f8314d4dbb8d&width=400&height=225)
“I have stamps from each of the 115 countries that have issued stamps on Gandhi and each one of these tells a story,” says Mr Farook
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MCDYKKDOTLOZOVYQO52AJNK2Z4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5362ed45eed1905c7aa2916a01e7c369db052c1929b786b3b11e27eeb000e9f3&width=400&height=225)
His albums show sepia-tinted images of Gandhi as a law student in London, to working as a lawyer in South Africa and colourful art work released by the United Nations to commemorate the 140th birth anniversary in 2009
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O3GCWUIBL5F6GVMGUTG72YYR34.jpg?smart=true&auth=9fb14fe03baafd3c0d84b8f4851fcd29b32b1a95a9552e607eba7f6f5a3684f1&width=400&height=225)
A collection of stamps issued by Fujairah to honour personalities including Mahatma Gandhi. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7EN7J433K6RCCEZC7OIIUK7NJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1da99df989353e5ca398d44502d60ef27b2bd5a48ba330338be9ae513141edaa&width=400&height=225)
The 51-year-old has been collecting stamps for nearly 40 years
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A6P54KREEWYK5LLRTRVBS56IWQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c4dd0d49525567b6eb2e724053777efcaf845d6d350389790d227bcf166be2ae&width=400&height=225)
The Indian national won last month the silver medal at the World Stamp Exhibition in the Chinese city of Wuhan for his exhaustive collection on the Indian independence leader.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JN2KQ6WWPTL42Q5XA2DNRRTIJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=794a4ffa156276cc54ffd65ab612b45e3cc9169bb46405f732f5fc7012ce5b6c&width=400&height=225)
“Everybody at one point in their life was a collector and we are hoping to get them interested to go back to their initial hobby,” said Abdulla Khoory, the Emirati president of the Emirates Philatelic Association
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DUVEIBTFRSH2XXAND3FFYQNIRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=66213735e5317d915ea500bb73ba2a457c5b6cd1dfe72aced7cb67cda3330b0b&width=400&height=225)
The breadth of the collection reflects Gandhi's fame across the world, with even Grenada and Fiji issuing stamps in his honour.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NYZEUUGNGT5P55RI2W66PZX6UM.jpg?smart=true&auth=84bf3ef795b61d25098ad70f9c98f0d5d06339a9baa210d93de4ad6cc0340c3d&width=400&height=225)
Stamps issued by Sharjah to honour Mahatma Gandhi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3FCWVF2HR3KC7KG3JCUTMRAL64.jpg?smart=true&auth=94facd8453f7e7196752af784adee937a9239dfdc38e97b48d81f7701d5b2dd2&width=400&height=225)
Mr Farook’s compilation includes other famous personalities such as British icon, Princess Diana, and American presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YMG5Z3PEOQWNWLIK2BSEZES4CM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3552c964b05bfc58dee055eafcd005fd0f33fa483faf5c52da47faec1c908b0&width=400&height=225)
The breadth of the collection reflects Gandhi's fame across the world, with even Grenada and Fiji issuing stamps in his honour
UAE resident's vast collection of Mahatma Gandhi stamps wins plaudits overseas
Ummer Farook has been collecting stamps for the past 40 years
Ramola Talwar Badam
29 July, 2019
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