75th Independence Day also has another milestone in the India’s history as it was on 15th August, 1972, that the Postal Identification Number (PIN) was introduce in India. As the PIN code turns 50 on 75th Independence Day.
Why was the PIN Code Introduced?
According to the Department of Posts, there were 23,344 post offices, primarily in urban areas, in India at the time of Independence.
But, India was growing rapidly and the postal network had to keep pace.
The PIN code was meant to ease the process of mail sorting and delivery in India where different places have the same or similar names, and letters are written in a wide variety of languages.
How does the PIN Code Work?
The PIN Code consist of six digits.
The first number indicates the postal region, Northern, Eastern, Western, Southern; and number 9, which signifies the Army Postal Service.
The second number denotes a sub-region, and the third represents the sorting district.
The remaining numbers narrow the geography further to the specific post office making the delivery.
Who was the Person behind to Introduce PIN Code?
The person behind the initiative was Shriram Bhikaji Velankar, additional secretary in the Union Ministry of Communications and a senior member of the Posts and Telegraphs Board.
Shriram Bhikaji Velankar was also a Sanskrit poet of eminence who had confer the President’s Award for Sanskrit in 1996, three years before he died in Mumbai.
Among Shriram Bhikaji Velankar’s 105 books and plays in Sanskrit was the Viloma Kavya, which is consider a literary masterpiece because it comprises verses in praise of Lord Rama when read from one side and, when read backwards, it transform into verses dedicate to Lord Krishna.
Shriram Bhikaji Velankar had set up a cultural group in Mumbai, call as the Dev Vani Mandiram, which work to create awareness about Sanskrit in India and foreign countries.
As Shriram Bhikaji Velankar was also the chairman of the World Philatelic Exhibition, call as Indipex, which was in New Delhi in 1973 and feature 120 countries.
Shriram Bhikaji Velankar retire from his government service on 31st December, 1973.
What are Systems follow World Over?
In the US, the Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) code was introduce on 1st July, 1963, under the aegis of the Postal Service Nationwide Improve Mail Service plan to improve the speed of mail delivery.
According to the Library of Congress, “Under the old system letters went through about 17 sorting stops the new system was going to be considerably less time-consuming utilizing newer, more mechanical systems”.
In the UK, the sorting of mail start getting mechanise in the mid-1960s.
As per Encyclopedia Britannica :
“The key to mechanisation is an alphanumeric postal code that provides for sorting by machine at every stage of handling, including the carrier’s delivery route. The coding equipment translates the postal code into a pattern of dots by means of which machines can sort mail at eight times the speed of manual sorting,”.
Japan create its postal code address system in July 1968, and automatic postal code reader-sorters exist in major post offices of the country.
Is the PIN Code still Helpful?
With the spread of the Internet, when people are sending fewer letters, it is easy to question the relevance of the PIN code.
But try to order a food delivery or a parcel over online shopping and the importance of Shriram Bhikaji Velankar’s work in India will become evident.
