The government of India will release a postage stamp to honour Maulana Mahmood Hassan -- one of the founders of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, a leading Muslim group.

This was announced by Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology Shakeel Ahmed Khan in New Delhi.

Addressing a gathering of about 300,000 Muslims from across the country at the biennial 28th session of the Jamiat on Sunday, Ahmed said the postage stamp will be a tribute to the freedom fighter who played an important role in promoting nationalism among Muslims.

He said, "The decision has been taken and it will be announced soon."

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind was formed in 1919 by Muslim clerics of the Islamic seminary of Deoband in Uttar Pradesh.

The forum opposed the Partition in 1947 in the name of religion, and supported Mahatma Gandhi.