The International Collectors’ Society of Rare Items conferred its Life Time Achievement Award on noted philatelist and international juror Vispi S. Dastur on December 11, 2012 at the Sonal Hall in Poona. The Award was presented by chief guest Col K. C. Mishra VSM (Vishist Seva Medal), Postmaster General, Poona Region, who is now the Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra and Goa Circle). The philatelist, the first Parsi to receive this award, was also presented a coconut and shawl by the Poona based Society, notes a write-up received by Parsiana from the Empire of India Philatelic Society, of which Dastur is president.
The president, chairman and members of the International Collectors’ Society of Rare Items lauded Dastur’s expertise in the field of philately. The awardee recalled that the first time he participated in a philatelic exhibition was in Poona in 1973 where he won his first medals ever. Subsequently he was invited there twice to be a judge for Maharashtra state exhibitions, Mahapex 1987 and 2012.
In addition to being president of Empire of India Philatelic Society, Dastur, a chartered accountant by profession, is a member of the Government of India’s Advisory Committee in the Ministry of Communications and IT, New Delhi, the write-up mentions. He has authored two research publications on philately which have won medals at world exhibitions. He served as member of both the jury and expert team for international exhibitions in Sharjah in 2012 and was president of the jury for the Indian National Philatelic Exhibition INPEX 2013 held in Bombay from February 21 to 25 this year.
Active in community affairs he is president of the Bombay Parsee Association, Iran League and several other social service organizations.