Editing Mail (section)

=== India ===

[[File:Red Scinde Dawk stamp.jpg|thumb|The use of the [[Scinde Dawk]] adhesive stamps to signify the prepayment of postage began on 1 July 1852 in the [[Scinde]]/[[Sindh]] district,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstissues.org/ficc/details/scinde_1.shtml |title=First Issues Collectors Club of stamps and philatelic material |access-date=2007-07-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904135544/http://www.firstissues.org/ficc/details/scinde_1.shtml |archive-date=2012-09-04 }} First Issues Collectors Club (retrieved 25 September)</ref> as part of a comprehensive reform of the district's postal system.]]
{{main|Postal history of India}}
The economic growth and political stability under the [[Mauryan Empire]] (322–185 BCE) stimulated sustained development of civil infrastructure in ancient [[India]]. The Mauryans developed early Indian mail service as well as public wells, rest houses, and other facilities for the public.<ref>Dorn 2006: 145</ref> Common chariots called ''Dagana'' were sometimes used as mail chariots in ancient India.<ref>Prasad 2003: 104</ref> Couriers were used militarily by kings and local rulers to deliver information through runners and other carriers. The postmaster, the head of the intelligence service, was responsible for ensuring the maintenance of the courier system. Couriers were also used to deliver personal letters.<ref>Mazumdar 1990: 1</ref>

In [[South India]], the [[Wodeyar dynasty]] (1399–1947) of the [[Kingdom of Mysore]] used mail service for espionage purposes thereby acquiring knowledge related to matters that took place at great distances.<ref>Aiyangar 2004: 302</ref>

By the end of the 18th century, a postal system in India was in operation. Later this system underwent complete modernization when the [[British Raj]] established its control over most of India. The ''Post Office Act XVII'' of 1837 provided that the Governor-General of India in Council had the exclusive right of conveying letters by post for hire within the territories of the East India Company. The mails were available to certain officials without charge, which became a controversial privilege as the years passed. On this basis the Indian Post Office was established on October 1, 1837.<ref>Lowe 1951: 134</ref>