2 Rupees: 1981-1998

During the span of 1981- 1993, only 2 commemorative coins of 2 rupees were issued. However after 1982 the next commemorative coin was released in 1993. It was nearly 10 years to release the next coin. Then onwards, at least 1 commemorative coin of 2 Rs. was released in every year until 2003 indicating that the inflation was started increasing. It was that time when India opted for open economy.

IX Asian Games (Delhi) - 1981

 

Year: 1982
Metal: Copper-nickel
Weight: 8.1 gm
Diameter: 28 mm
Thickness: 1.8 mm

Obverse: Ashokan lion along with Satyamev Jayte.

Reverse: The reverse of this coin shows the Asian Games ‘Logo’ – the ancient JANTAR-MANTAR observatory in Delhi with the SUN above it.

 The 9th Asian Games were held from November 19, 1982 to December 4, 1982 in Delhi, India. This was the second time the Games were held in Delhi as it was also host to the inaugural 1951 Asian Games. An incredible 74 Asian and Asian Games records were broken.
New Delhi joined Bangkok (four times) as the only cities to host multiple editions of the Asian Games.

The Delhi Asian Games was the first Asiad to be held under the aegis of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The Asian Games Federation, under whose jurisdiction the first eight Asian Games had been held, dissolved to make way for the OCA.

A total number of 3411 athletes, coming from 33 countries, competed in this Asiad. Debut sports were equestrian, golf, handball, rowing, and Women's field hockey. These Asian Games also saw the beginning of Chinese dominance in the medals tally.

Japan had won the maximum number of medals in previous editions of the Games. China made its presence felt in the sporting world by dethroning Japan as the top medallists. From now on, China would be the top medal getter in all succeeding Asiads. In preparation for the IX Asian Games, colour television was introduced in India in a big way, as the Games were to be broadcasted in colour.

The mascot for the Games was Appu – a kid elephant. Known in real life as "Kuttinarayanan", this elephant fractured its leg in an accident when he was seven years old – he stepped into a septic tank. That wound would not heal and it eventually killed him.Kuttinarayanan died on May 14, 2005.

Host of the next (10th) Asiad in 1986, and the 24th Summer Olympics in 1988, South Korea participated in the New Delhi Asiad with a 406-person delegation, including an observation team to study the facilities, management and events.

Officially opened by - President Zail Singh
Athlete's Oath - P.T. Usha
Stadium - Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

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National Integration (Round type) - 1982

Years: 1982-1990
Metal: Copper-nickel
Weight: 8.2 gm
Diameter: 28 mm

Obverse: Ashoka lion capitol.

Reverse: reverse shows a map of India with ' National Integration' written.

India is a great land of diversity ranging from different communities, languages to food. Each state in India has its own culture and language. Hence to emphasize on communal harmony and to aware the people that the different states and its people are the integral part of our country India, a 2 Rupee coin with the theme “National Integration” was issued in Dec,1982. Out of the other 3 coins issued on the same theme, the 50 paise coin was issued for general circulation and the 10 Rupees & the 100 Rupees coins were issued as proof / unc specimens.

Later in 1992, the hendecagonal ( 11 sided) coin with the same theme was issued for general circulation under the commemorative category. These coins are still in circulation till date ( year 2012) in abundant quantity.

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 Small Family Happy Family - 1993

Year: 1993
Metal: Copper-nickel
Weight: 6 gm
Diameter:  26.5 mm
Thickness: 1.5 mm

Shape: Hendecagonal (11-sided)

Commemorative issue: Small Family - Happy Family.

Obverse: Asoka lion pedestal and the denomination below.

Reverse: A Family comprising of parents with their two children. One child is enjoying balloons.

This coin reminds me one of the finest campaigns by Government of India i.e. 'Hum Do Hamare Do'. Literal meaning is 'We two, our Two'. India is the 2nd largest country by population in the world. In a way it is beneficial to have people force readily available but it also creates great overhead on natural resources. Having a controlled population, helps better sustainability of the resources like food,water etc.

Apart from it on family level, having more children creates pressure on parents for better fulfillment of their children's needs. Having controlled the no. of children in family ensures better focus of their parents towards fulfillment of their needs and in turn keeps all the members of the family happy.  

To highlight the need to control the growth of country’s population  in order to ensure food supply for all and in turn to encourage the people to help in achieving this goal,  this 2 rupees coin was issued for general circulation on World Population day - 11th July, 1993.

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Bio Diversity ( World Food Day) - 1993 

 

Year: 1993
Metal: Copper-nickel
Weight: 6.1 gm
Diameter: 26.5 mm
Thickness: 1.6 mm
Shape: Hendecagonal (11-sided)

Commemorative issue: FAO - World Food Day - Bio Diversity.

Obverse: Ashoka Lion pedestal and the denomination below.
Reverse: FAO symbol and Diversity in the nature depicting mountains, bird, fish in river water, fruit tree etc.

Mankind depends on the nature for their survival.In spite of it, we are not showing sincere efforts to save all the elements of nature. Rather we are destroying it by large urbanization, cutting forests, pollution by every means for short term profits. We should preserve the nature by all means possible.

Hence, to generate greater awareness about ecological and environmental problems among people, this 2 rupees coin was issued for general circulation on 16th October 1993 on the occasion of the World Food Day.

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Water For Life (World Food Day)- 1994 

Year: 1994
Metal: Copper-nickel
Weight: 6.1 gm
Diameter: 26.5 mm
Shape: Hendecagonal (11-sided)

Commemorative issue: FAO - World Food Day - Water For Life.

Obverse: Asoka lion pedestal, denomination below.
Reverse: FAO symbol and Large water drop above water.

How I got this coin? : In 2011, I went for trecking on fort 'Raigad'. While descending it, I bought some eatables from a lady seller. These sellers usually keep their cash coins just at the corner of their counter for fast cash back but those can be easily seen by anybody.  I saw this coin lying in her cash pile and requested her to exchange. Look on her face was like ' whats so special in this coin?, its just a 2rs. coin', but agreed for exchange. I thanked her for being so generous.

Water is a basic element of life without which nothing can sustain, be it living creatures or plants. Especially man kind depends on water heavily for drinking as well as for their development. Inspite of being such an important resource of life,Human started using it uncontrollably for industrialization.We should use water appropriately and conserve it whenever, wherever possible.

To highlight the necessity for ensuring safe drinking water and sustainable water supply, this 2 rupees commemorative coin was issued for general circulation on 16th October 1994 on the occasion of the World Food Day.

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Agri Expo - 1995 

Year:     1995
Metal: Copper-nickel
Weight: 5.9 gm
Diameter: 26.5 mm
Shape: Dodecagonal (12-sided)

Commemorative issue: Globalizing Indian Agriculture - Agriexpo 95.

Obverse: Asoka lion pedestal, denomination below.
Reverse: A picture depicting the basic building blocks of Indian agriculture viz. Cattle head with a plough and a hoe on either side of it, all enclosed within wreath of two stalks of wheat.

Traditionally Indian economy revolves around Agriculture.After independence a green revolution took place which increased the agricultural output of the country drastically. By 90's decade India might have started agri-product export.
To promote the export of agricultural produce of the country, the third National Level Agricultural Exhibition called “Agri Expo - 95” was held at New Delhi from 3rd to 13th March 1995. In commemoration of the exhibition, this 2 rupees coin was issued on 3rd March 1995 for general circulation.

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 8th World Tamil conference (Saint Thiruvalluvar) - 1995 

 

Year: 1995
Metal: Copper-nickel
Weight: 5.9 gm
Diameter: 26.5 mm
Thickness: 1.5 mm
Shape: Hendecagonal (11-sided)

Commemorative issue: 8th World Tamil Conference.
 

Obverse: Asoka lion pedestal, denomination below.
Reverse: Saint Thiruvalluvar.

Thiruvalluvar was a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher  whose contribution to Tamil literature is the Thirukkural, a work on ethics. Thiruvalluvar is thought to have lived sometime between the 2nd century BC and the 8th century AD. This estimate is based on linguistic analysis of his writings, as there is no archaeological evidence for when he lived. He is sometimes also called Theiva Pulavar ("Divine Poet").

There is a 133-foot tall statue of Thiruvalluvar erected at Kanyakumari at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent, where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean converge. The 133 feet denote Tirukkural's 133 Chapters or athikarams and the show of three fingers denote the three themes Aram, Porul, and Inbam, i.e. the sections on Morals, Wealth and Love. The statue was designed by V. Ganapati Sthapati, a temple architect from Tamil Nadu.

Click here to know more about Saint Thiruvalluvar.

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Sardar VallabhBhai Patel - 1996 

Years: 1995-1996
Metal: Copper-nickel
Weight: 6.02 gm
Diameter: 25.9 mm
Thickness: 1.55 mm
Shape: Hendecagonal (11-sided)

Commemorative issue: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Obverse: Ashoka Lion pedestal, denomination below.
Reverse: Bust of Sardar Patel.

Sardar Patel

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (31 October 1875- 15 December 1950) is popularly known as Iron Man of India. He successfully led Kheda Satyagraha and Bardoli revolt against British government. He was elected Congress President in 1931. He played a leading role in the Indian freedom struggle and became the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India. He is credited with achieving political integration of hundereds of princely states into a one nation 'India'.He was posthumously conferred Bharat Ratna in 1991.
This 2 rupees coin was issued in his commemoration for general circulation. The other 3 coins issued were in the denomination of 10 rupees, 50 rupees and 100 rupees as uncirculated/proof specimens.

Click here to know more about Sardar Patel.

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 Subhashchandra Bose Centenary - 1996-97 

Years: 1996-1997
Metal: Copper-nickel
Weight: 5.69 gm
Diameter: 25.9 mm
Thickness: 1.46 mm
Shape: Hendecagonal (11-sided)

Commemorative issue: Birth centennary of Subhas Chandra Bose.

Obverse: Ashoka Lion pedestal, denomination below.
Reverse: Bust of Subhas Bose.

Subhas Chandra Bose (23 January 1897 – unknown) also known as Netaji was one of the most prominent Indian nationalist leaders who attempted to gain India's independence from British rule by force during the waning years of World War II with the help of the Axis powers.
After been ousted from the Indian National Congress in 1939 following differences with the more conservative high command, and subsequently placed under house arrest by the British, escaped from India in early 1941. He turned to the Axis powers for help in gaining India's independence by force. With Japanese support, he organised the Indian National Army (INA) also know as 'Azad Hind Sena', composed largely of Indian soldiers of the British Indian army who had been captured in the Battle of Singapore by the Japanese.

Clement Attlee, the British Prime Minister during whose rule India became independent, mentioned that INA activities of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose  weakened the Indian Army which was the very foundation of the British Empire in India and the Royal Indian Navy mutiny in 1946 were major reasons that made the British realise that they were no longer in a position to rule India.

Though, Subhas Chandra Bose was born in in the year 1897 and his centenary falls in 1997, this coin was wrongly issued by Kolkata mint in the year 1996 in his centenary commemoration. After realizing the mistake, these coins were withdrawn and reissued in 1997. Hence the coins dated 1996 are very rare.The other 3 coins issued were in the denomination of 10 rupees, 50 rupees and the 100 rupees as uncirculated/proof specimens.

Click here to know more about Netaji Bose.

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 Sri Aurobindo - 1998 

Year: 1998
Metal: Copper-nickel
Weight: 5.64 gm
Diameter: 25.9 mm
Thickness: 1.36 mm
Shape: Hendecagonal (11-sided)

Commemorative issue: Sri Aurobindo - All life is Yoga.
 

Obverse: Ashoka Lion pedestal, denomination below.
Reverse: Bust of Sri Aurobindo.

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh

Sri Aurobindo (15 August 1872 – 5 December 1950) born Aurobindo Ghosh was an Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, philosopher, yogi, guru, and poet.He joined the Indian movement for freedom from British rule, for a while became one of its influential leaders and then turned into a spiritual reformer, introducing his visions on human progress and spiritual evolution.

               He was arrested in May 1908 in connection with the Alipore Bomb Case. After he was acquitted in the ensuing trial, he moved to Pondicherry, where he spent the rest of his life. He established an ashram there popularly known as ‘Aurabindo Ashram’ and completely dedicated himself to his spiritual and philosophical work.During his stay in Pondicherry, Aurobindo evolved a new method of spiritual practice, which he called Integral Yoga. The central theme of his vision was the evolution of human life into a life divine.His main literary works are "The Life Divine", which deals with theoretical aspects of Integral yoga; "Synthesis of Yoga" which deals with practical guidance to Integral yoga.

This 2 rupees coin was issued in his commemoration for general circulation. The other 3 coins  issued were in the denomination of 10 rupees, 50 rupees and 100 rupees as uncirculated / proof specimens.

Click here to know more about Sri Aurobindo.

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