‘ Inter-national Women Day’ was given the name of ‘ Matri-Shakti Parv’ , which is more appropriate in the Indian context, at a function held at  Pinjore ( Haryana ) on March 8, 2001, under president ship of Sri Rao Vijay Prakash Singhji ( Sri V.P.S.Rao ).

Editor of The ‘Raorshi Rajguru Sri Rao Uttam Singh Prachi Bodh Publications’…. popularly known as Sri V.P.S. Rao…. dedicated to the cause of preservation and propagation of Indian Culture and strengthening the human values  through research – based journalism and enlightening literature….. he has to his credit a large number of publications, written and edited by him…. Connected with many eminent organization,  Sri Rao is a full-fledged institution in himself  with  compassion to guide others also engaged in similar pursuits, writes Inderjit Singh Jodhka, editor . The Matri Shakti, March 8, 2001.

Dr. Jai Narayan Kaushik, former Director of Haryana Sahitya Academy, congratulates  the Haryana Samvad  for Sri VPS Rao’s notable research-article on the history of the art of Painting in Haryana.  The Haryana Samvad,  October, 2005.

His passion to preserve the history of Indian postal service began with a jolt. He was in his ancestral village of Dadri in Haryana way back in 1965 when an earthquake destroyed a major portion of his house. While rummaging through the goods displaced he came across a postcard that belonged to the year 1899 with East-India Post Card written over it. It was addressed to Rao Khushi Singh, a member of V.P.S. Rao’s family. This 12.2 by 7.5 cm post card which was sold for a quarter anna that time hooked his interest, leading him to search for many rare ones in the years to follow. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                           V.P.S. Rao
A Victorian period post card

His passion to preserve the history of Indian postal service began with a jolt. He was in his ancestral village of Dadri in Haryana way back in 1965 when an earthquake destroyed a major portion of his house. While rummaging through the goods displaced he came across a postcard that belonged to the year 1899 with East-India Post Card written over it. It was addressed to Rao Khushi Singh, a member of V.P.S. Rao’s family. This 12.2 by 7.5 cm post card which was sold for a quarter anna that time hooked his interest, leading him to search for many rare ones in the years to follow.

His illustrious family (his father Rajguru Rao Uttamsingh was a royal tutor in the erstwhile Jind Estate) heritage helped him to start, like a postcard written by Mirza Ghalib to his grandfather’s brother Rao Kanhaya Lal. And after years of toiling hard and spending harder, he has amassed enough rare ones, not just to hold an exhibition but also to write a book on the history of postage in India.

His systematically organised albums of post cards can be a treasure for any student of history. As we flip through it, it takes us to the time of Queen Victoria and George V, when post cards used to come as East-India Post Cards with the size of 12.2 X 7.5 cm bearing a main stamp of the king or the queen and another of the erstwhile royal estates. The simple yellow cards gets a little more meaningful at the advent of picture postcards, renamed as Tuick’s Post Card, in the early 19th century. The size too gets a little bigger 14 X 9 cm with pictures like Raja Sarup Singh of Jind, Trinity College or even Khybar Pass showing a camel convoy finding place. Closer home, Patiala seems to be benefitting the most from Rao’s passion. Not only has he collected some rare ones showing the old fort and its stuff animals, but also the kings and queens of England and Roumalia in the court of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh.

A Tucks post card of stuffed wild animals

His collection on the freedom fighters is awesome too. Apart from well-known figures like Anne Besant, Mahatma Gandhi with Kasturba, Rabindranath Tagore and Sarojini Naidu, Rao has a postcard signed by Bal Gangadhar Tilak too. But his pride and joy is a postcard featuring Motilal Ghose, editor of Amrit Bazar Patrika, about whom he has several anecdotes to narrate.

“The entire collection is an important part of my endeavour to preserve the cultural heritage of the land that falls between Yamuna and Satluj,” says Rao, the former editor-in-chief of The Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh Consumer News who has o edited many volumes on diverse subjects.

His collection is now going to be part of a series of books he is writing on the preservation of cultural heritage — painting, sculpture, architecture, calligraphy, music, dance and other art forms. “As a descendant of the Dadri Rao family, I owe this to my people and my place — to fill up the mental, moral and spiritual bankruptcy we are going through,” he avers. A man of few words, but many talents indeed.

Sri VPS Rao, born in a historical family, inherited a taste in preservation and propagation of Indian culture form his father, who taught the Princes the history and culture of India. He explains how post-cards and picture- cards reveal various aspects of the history and culture of this country. In the piecture, Sri Rao is seen showing  a picture post-card  depicting  Motilal Gosh, distintive editor of  the famous Indian newspaper Amrit Bazar Patrika, while his grandson Bhavya P.S. Rao shows one  depicting a notable specimen of  architecture. Retorting by the Panchkula Bhaskar ; June 1, 2008.

He wants to preserve the character, culture and roots of our country. VPS Rao wants India to regain her position world wide as being a country that is respected and admired for its people and their….. outlook in life. He fells….. the younger generation….. soon realize that peace and mental stability comes form following the ways followed by rishi – munis in ancient India….. Apart from being a writer and editor…. Rao is on a mission to preserve all he can of ancient Indian culture and history.  The picture shows four generations of his family. While in the fore-ground   Sri VPS Rao is seen with his grandson, The back-ground picture shows him with his father ( sitting in centre) and his son (on his left ), Reporting by Viond Rajput of  ‘Panchkula Live’ of  The Hindustan Times ;  December 5, 2008.

VPS Rao, for the last four decades, has been carrying out extensive research on Indian art and culture…… He is among those few who have worked hard in unfolding the history of  Panhkula….  At present Rao is penning all the experience he has gathered so for in his upcoming book….  a value edition to our classical literature…. On the objective of his writing he says it is  to give the right direction to the masses….. His mission is to contribute towards  preservation and development of Indian culture and bring in to  light  remarkable deeds done by great man of the past. ….. Apart form preserving our past, there is a need to spread awareness and understanding of our culture for a bright future. Reporting by  Vivek Gupta of  ‘Panchkula Live’, of  THE HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 16, 2010.

Editor of  the ‘Sri Raorshi  Rajguru Rao Uttamsingh Memorial Prachi Bodh Publications’  and  Editor- in – Chief of  The P,H. &  H.P. Consumer News,  Sri Rao…. famous among millions of his readers as ‘ VPS Rao’….  has contributed  extensively towards conservation and development of the unique culture of India……. has enriched many areas of the history and culture….. Strengthen the human values …… dived deep into spiritualism for public welfare……. an experienced editor and eminent Spirituo – Cultural Luminary, Sri Rao VPS is an institution in him self and a rich  source of inspiration for all, rights D.K. Sheetal Nijhawan of  the Chandi Bhumi ;  July 16 – 22, 2012.

Sri Rao VPS….. during the last four and a half decades, has been devoting him self to the cause of the unique culture of India. ……  has been referred to with gratitude in numerous other publications also, written by other writers….. Sri Rao has covered  a wide range  of areas including literature, numismatics, painting, sculpture, architecture, calligraphy, music, dance and other social arts ,  socio – cultural history of towns and many miscellaneous subjects …..  Sri Rao is a Life Member of the Numismatic Society of  India, Editorial Advisor of the  Chandi Bhumi.  and   The Media Expression, Patron of the S.R.R.R.U. Cultural Awareness Group and Hon. Advisor ( Art & Culture) of the Haryana Academy of  History and Culture….. A prolific other  with varied tastes and a missionary’s zeal, Sri VPS Rao is an institution in himself. …… The Media Expression ; October, 2012.