Abid Gowhar
Srinagar/ April 12/
The leisure industry has revolutionized the mankind so warmly that he gets entertained and influenced by the people, who act for the public from different perspectives of life. Celebrities like film stars, sportspersons, politicians or artists become the idols in the minds of their thousands of fans. The fans try to imitate the style of their hero’s. The most successful of public figures become legends and live in the hearts of their admirers even after they are dead. Autographs of such legendary personalities are precious possessions for those who admire them. Believe it that one signature of one’s idol brings happiness to the fan of that idol.
People who collect autographs would go any distance to fetch a signature from their favorite star. For them an effort to collect an autograph from their favorite personalities is an effort to enrich themselves. In fact, some people collect autographs because they feel that they have an association with legends. It gives them an all time high happiness to acquire an autograph from a legendary personality. It also gives them pride and pleasure to be with their beloved celebrity for a few moments. To be nearer to someone like the famous Indian film star Amitabh Bachchan is considered a matter of pride and a memorable moment.
As a matter of fact, collectible autographs can fetch huge sums of money too. Some collections have been auctioned from time to time. In Western world there are people who collect the autographs as hobbyists and harvest a rich return when they sell them. Graphologists are the autograph scientists who spend time in studying autographs and their analysis ultimately help the biographers. Autographs of celebrities taken at different times indicate the inner qualities and outer achievements of those personalities
In our country mainly children pursue this hobby. It has been distinctly noticed that girls tend to seek autographs of male film stars and the boys would be after their favorite sportsperson. In India, the Cricket lovers are always looking for an opportunity to get a cricketer's signature. The collection of autographs need not always be something scribbled on paper. There are other surfaces on which the autographs are given by the stars. Then such objects like clothes, mugs etc. become the value added items for the collectors. For example, Cricketers place their prized signature on bats and stumps. And such autographed bats or stumps are craved items Today the class of autograph collectors is increasing in India. It is now considered to be a hobby of great educational value, which as per the analysts gives mental relief, broadens the mind and teaches the collector history of one's own country. This hobby not only brings the collector in contact with the great personalities who are making history, but also enlarges one's circle of friends having a common interest.
In 1993 Autograph Collectors Club of India was established in Kolkatta to promote this educational and interesting hobby in India and its neighboring countries.The Club got registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961. “ It was like my unplanned thought, when I showed my collection to two very serious collectors of autographs and then a joint idea came to our mind to form an autograph collectors club which is the only club of its kind in India which now has about 20,000 addresses of prominent persons of India and abroad” says Santosh Kumar Lahoti, a 23 year old Company Secretary, who is the prime member of the Club.
“The main aims and objectives of the Club are, to promote and guide the study of Autographs, to co-operate with the Autograph Clubs/Societies of other countries by offering them information, advise and help about their collectors and to establish exchange relation with them, to organize exhibitions of Autographs in different cities of India. to check authenticity of Autographs by experts, to help collectors get addresses of celebrities. The Annual membership fee of the club is rupees one hundred and Life membership fee rupees one thousand” elaborates Mr. Lahoti.
Srinagar/ April 12/
The leisure industry has revolutionized the mankind so warmly that he gets entertained and influenced by the people, who act for the public from different perspectives of life. Celebrities like film stars, sportspersons, politicians or artists become the idols in the minds of their thousands of fans. The fans try to imitate the style of their hero’s. The most successful of public figures become legends and live in the hearts of their admirers even after they are dead. Autographs of such legendary personalities are precious possessions for those who admire them. Believe it that one signature of one’s idol brings happiness to the fan of that idol.
People who collect autographs would go any distance to fetch a signature from their favorite star. For them an effort to collect an autograph from their favorite personalities is an effort to enrich themselves. In fact, some people collect autographs because they feel that they have an association with legends. It gives them an all time high happiness to acquire an autograph from a legendary personality. It also gives them pride and pleasure to be with their beloved celebrity for a few moments. To be nearer to someone like the famous Indian film star Amitabh Bachchan is considered a matter of pride and a memorable moment.
As a matter of fact, collectible autographs can fetch huge sums of money too. Some collections have been auctioned from time to time. In Western world there are people who collect the autographs as hobbyists and harvest a rich return when they sell them. Graphologists are the autograph scientists who spend time in studying autographs and their analysis ultimately help the biographers. Autographs of celebrities taken at different times indicate the inner qualities and outer achievements of those personalities
In our country mainly children pursue this hobby. It has been distinctly noticed that girls tend to seek autographs of male film stars and the boys would be after their favorite sportsperson. In India, the Cricket lovers are always looking for an opportunity to get a cricketer's signature. The collection of autographs need not always be something scribbled on paper. There are other surfaces on which the autographs are given by the stars. Then such objects like clothes, mugs etc. become the value added items for the collectors. For example, Cricketers place their prized signature on bats and stumps. And such autographed bats or stumps are craved items Today the class of autograph collectors is increasing in India. It is now considered to be a hobby of great educational value, which as per the analysts gives mental relief, broadens the mind and teaches the collector history of one's own country. This hobby not only brings the collector in contact with the great personalities who are making history, but also enlarges one's circle of friends having a common interest.
In 1993 Autograph Collectors Club of India was established in Kolkatta to promote this educational and interesting hobby in India and its neighboring countries.The Club got registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961. “ It was like my unplanned thought, when I showed my collection to two very serious collectors of autographs and then a joint idea came to our mind to form an autograph collectors club which is the only club of its kind in India which now has about 20,000 addresses of prominent persons of India and abroad” says Santosh Kumar Lahoti, a 23 year old Company Secretary, who is the prime member of the Club.
“The main aims and objectives of the Club are, to promote and guide the study of Autographs, to co-operate with the Autograph Clubs/Societies of other countries by offering them information, advise and help about their collectors and to establish exchange relation with them, to organize exhibitions of Autographs in different cities of India. to check authenticity of Autographs by experts, to help collectors get addresses of celebrities. The Annual membership fee of the club is rupees one hundred and Life membership fee rupees one thousand” elaborates Mr. Lahoti.
