Dr. Martin Luther King, the great civil Rights Leader of United States of America joined the ranks of the immortals of history on April 4, 1968. An assassin's bullet put a premature end to his crusading career, for Dr. King was not yet forty. The second of three children of a Baptist Minister, Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929. He came of a family with a high clerical tradition. No less than five of his ancestors and kinsmen were clergyman. It was no surprise that he accepted the pastorate in the Niegro Bapist Churche at Montgomery, Alabama in 1955.

While still a student he had been profoundly influenced by Henry David Thoreau's essay on "Civil Disobedience." Later, he had occasion to listen to a lecture on Mahatma Gandhi and this had an "electrifying" effect upon him. He made a study of Gandhiji's non-violent mass struggle. The movements against racial tyranny and intolerance, which he later led, owed as much to his Christian background as to Gandhiji's influence.

His first great role in public life came late in 1955 when he was called upon to lead the Montgomery bus boycott. A Negro woman was arrested when she refused to give up her bus seat in favour of a white passenger. The Negros were formed about forty percent of the population gave up bus rides in protest. This continued for a year and the bus line lost heavily. Dr. King was harassed and even jailed during this period. But the movement finally succeeded when a Federal court ruled that racial segregation on buses was unconstitutional. The net great landmarks were the civil disobedience movement at Birmingham, Alabama in 1963, and the great protest march on Washington later that year.

About 250,000 people both white and Negro joined that march. Dr. King was now in the forefront of the fight for civil rights, a fight eschewing to violence and appealing to only moral force. Worldwide recognition came to him when he was honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Dr. King's peaceful methods of agitation were disliked by the Negro extremists. The white racists of course considered him their enemy. That attempts were made on his life was not entirely unexpected.

It was believed that it was a white racial fanatic who fired the fatal shots. Thus was cut down in its prime a life dedicated to the cause of equality among men. But the spirit of Martin Luther King will live on so long as there is injustice to be fought. His life is of particular significance to us in this country. The close parallel between his mission and Mahatma Gandhi's is an induring link that will bind us to Martin Luther King's memory. Both great leaders made the supreme sacrifice for the cause they held so dear. India has honoured Dr. King by posthumously bestowing upon him the Nehru Award for international understanding for 1966.

The Indian Posts and telegraphs department feels privileged to pay its tribute to this great son of America, indeed of the world, by issuing a commemorative stamp in his honour. The coincides with the formal presentation of the Award to Mrs. King who has so graciously come over to his country to receive it.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India