31 December - Microsoft buys Hotmail email service in 1997

Microsoft Corp. today (Dec. 31, 1997) announced it has acquired Hotmail, the award-winning free Web-based e-mail service. Hotmail will become an important component of The Microsoft Network of online communication and information services that Microsoft offers free to all Internet users; it includes sites for news, travel, investment, car buying, games, computing and shopping.

“Hotmail has been a Web-mail pioneer,” said Laura Jennings, vice president, The Microsoft Network. “It has built a strong following by offering a free, high-quality e-mail service that lets its members access a permanent e-mail address from any PC with an Internet connection.

 

28 December - King Taksin Memorial Day

 

Every year people of Thailand observe King Taksin Memorial Day on December 28. This national holiday celebrates the coronation anniversary of Taksin in 1767.

King Taksin reigned Siam from 28 December 1767 to 06 April 1782.

King Taksin, also known as Taksin the Great, was a prominent figure in Thai history. He was born on 17 April 1734, and he played a crucial role during a turbulent period in Thailand's history following the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 to Burmese invaders.

After the fall of Ayutthaya, Taksin emerged as a military leader who rallied Thai forces to resist Burmese rule. He successfully led campaigns to expel the Burmese forces from central Thailand and subsequently established the Thonburi Kingdom in 1768. Taksin became the king of Thonburi and ruled with the title King Taksin the Great.

During his reign, King Taksin implemented various reforms to stabilize and strengthen the kingdom. He encouraged trade, revitalized agriculture, and promoted cultural and economic development. Under his leadership, Thailand experienced a period of recovery and expansion.

However, King Taksin's reign faced internal challenges, including political unrest and opposition from rival factions. In 1782, he was overthrown in a coup led by his trusted general, Chao Phraya Chakri (who later became King Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty). Taksin was captured and later executed.

Despite his relatively short reign, King Taksin is remembered as a national hero in Thailand for his military leadership, resilience, and efforts to defend Thai sovereignty during a critical period in its history. His legacy continues to be celebrated, and there are monuments and memorials dedicated to him throughout Thailand.

28 December - Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani Born in 1932

Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani, popularly known as Dhirubhai Ambani (28 December 1932 – 6 July 2002) was an Indian business tycoon who founded Reliance Industries. Ambani took Reliance public in 1977 and was worth $25.6 billion upon his death on 6 July 2002.[citation needed] In 2016, he was honored posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour for his contributions to trade and industry.

27 December - Mirza Ghalib

Ghalib born Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan, (27 December 1797 – 15 February 1869),was a prominent Urdu and Persian poet during the last years of the Mughal Empire. He used his pen-names of Ghalib (Urdu: غالِب, ġhālib means "dominant") and Asad (Urdu: اسَد, Asad means "lion"). During his lifetime, the already declining Mughal empire was eclipsed and displaced by the Colonial British Raj and finally deposed following the defeat of the Indian rebellion of 1857, are some of the events that he described through his work.

Most notably, he wrote in both Urdu and Persian. His Persian Divan is at least five times longer than his Urdu but his fame rests on his poetry in Urdu.

Today, Ghalib remains popular not only in India and Pakistan but also among the Hindustani diaspora around the world.

27 December - Visit The Zoo Day

 

Visit The Zoo Day is an annual celebration observed on December 27th of every year. If you are passionate about animals and wanted to know more about their living, you could visit a zoo. It is not only a place where they stay rather it the same place in which lots of studies are taken place about each animal. The zoo is the place that safeguards the animals that are endangered and makes them out of not becoming extinct. Also, the zoo is the only place other than forest where we could see the wild animals. It is possible to look at them in close which is not possible and safe in the forest. Visit The Zoo Day is the best time to have a look at those animals which you hadn’t seen so far. The Day encourages all of us to take a look at nature in a closer perspective.

25 December - Good Governance Day

Good Governance Day is observed in India annually on the twenty-fifth day of December, the birth anniversary of former-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.Good Governance Day was established in 2014 to honor Prime Minister Vajpayee by fostering awareness among the Indian people of accountability in government.

In keeping with this principle, the Government of India has decreed Good Governance Day to be a working day for the government.

25 December - Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari birth anniversary

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari (25 December 1880 – 10 May 1936) was an Indian nationalist and political leader, and former president of the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League during the Indian Independence Movement. One of the founders of the Jamia Millia Islamia University he remained its chancellor 1928 to 1936

25 December - Atal Bihari Vajpayee born in 1924

Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25 December 1924 – 16 August 2018) was an Indian statesman who served three terms as the Prime Minister of India, first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for a period of 13 months from 1998 to 1999, followed by a full term from 1999 to 2004. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he was the first Indian prime minister not of the Indian National Congress to serve a full term in office. He was also noted as a poet and a writer.

The administration of Narendra Modi declared in 2014 that Vajpayee's birthday, 25 December, would be marked as Good Governance Day. In 2015, he was conferred India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. He died on 16 August 2018 of age-related illness.

23 December - Chaudhary Charan Singh born in 1902

Chaudhary Charan Singh (23 December 1902 – 29 May 1987) served as the 5th Prime Minister of India between 28 July 1979 and 14 January 1980. Historians and people alike frequently refer to him as the 'champion of India's peasants.

Chaudhary Charan Singh led a simple life and spent his spare time reading and writing. He was the author of several books and pamphlets, including ‘Abolition of Zamindari’, ‘Co-operative Farming X-rayed’, ‘India’s Poverty and its Solution’, ‘Peasant Proprietorship or Land to the Workers’ and ‘Prevention of Division of Holdings Below a Certain Minimum’.

19 December - Goa Liberation day

 

Goa Liberation day is observed in the state of Goa each year on 19th December. The festival is celebrated to honor the Indian Armed forces who freed the state from the Portuguese in 1961.

Goa, an Indian state, was liberated on December 19, 1961, from around 450 years of Portuguese rule.

18 December - International Migrants Day

 

International Migrants Day serves to celebrate the movement of migrants and their contribution to world development. Globalization has made travel much easier and as such the world has become more connected.

International Migrants Day was appointed by the UN General Assembly in 2000. It is observed annually on December 18.

16 December - Vijay Diwas

 

Vijay Diwas is commemorated every 16th December in India and Bangladesh, to observe Bangladesh’s victory over Pakistan in War of 1971 for the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan. The end of the war also resulted in the unilateral and unconditional surrender of the Pakistan Army and subsequent secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh. On this day in 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, surrendered to the allied forces consists of Indian Army and Mukti Bahini, led by General Jagjit Singh Aurora, of India in the Ramna Race Course, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka after their defeat in the war.The then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, extended her full support to the liberation struggle of (East Pakistan) Bangladesh that helped it to become a free nation. 

On 16 December every year, Citizens, senior officials, students & war veterans lay wreaths and remember the sacrifices of the soldiers. In this day 16th December is observed in Bangladesh . Every Year on this day people of Bangladesh shower's their respect to Freedom fighters, Martyrs & Birangonas (A term used to refer Women Freedom Fighters).

10 December - Chakravarti Rajagopalachari born in 1878

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (10 December 1878 – 25 December 1972), informally called Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian politician, independence activist, lawyer, writer, historian and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India, as India soon became a Republic in 1950. Furthermore, he was the first Indian-born governor-general, since before him the posts were held by British nationals.He also served as leader of the Indian National Congress, Premier of the Madras Presidency, Governor of West Bengal, Minister for Home Affairs of the Indian Union and Chief Minister of Madras state. Rajagopalachari founded the Swatantra Party and was one of the first recipients of India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. He vehemently opposed the use of nuclear weapons and was a proponent of world peace and disarmament. During his lifetime, he also acquired the nickname 'Mango of Krishnagiri'.

09 December - International Anti-Corruption Day

 

International Anti-Corruption Day is observed annually on December 9th. This day is designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of corruption and to promote anti-corruption activities and initiatives worldwide.

The day provides an opportunity for governments, organizations, and individuals to reflect on the impact of corruption on societies, economies, and the rule of law. It also aims to promote the importance of preventing and combating corruption in both the public and private sectors.

International Anti-Corruption Day encourages governments, businesses, and civil society to work together to address corruption, promote transparency, and uphold accountability. Various events, campaigns, and activities are organized globally to raise awareness about the negative consequences of corruption and to advocate for stronger anti-corruption measures.

The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), adopted in 2003, is a comprehensive international instrument that provides a framework for addressing corruption at the national and global levels. International Anti-Corruption Day aligns with the principles and objectives of the UNCAC and serves as a platform for promoting its implementation.

06 December - Rememberence Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 06 December 1956), also known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer, who inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement and campaigned against social discrimination towards the untouchables (Dalits). He was independent India's first Minister of Law and Justice, and the chief architect of the Constitution of India.

In 1990, the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, was posthumously conferred upon Ambedkar. Ambedkar's legacy includes numerous memorials and depictions in popular culture.

05 December - World Soil Day

 

World Soil Day seeks to raise awareness about soil and the issues affecting it such as erosion and pollution. This day aims to promote sustainable management of soil resources in order to ensure healthy ecosystems. It encourages people to help preserve global food supplies and food safety by improving soil health and preventing the loss of soil biodiversity.

World Soil Day was established in 2014 by the U.N General Assembly. It is observed annually on December 5th.

04 December - Navy Day India

 

Navy Day in India is celebrated on 4 December every year to recognize the achievements and role of the Indian Navy to the country. 4 December was chosen as on that day in 1971, during Operation Trident, the Indian Navy sank four Pakistani vessels including PNS Khaibar, killing hundreds of Pakistani Navy personnel.On this day, those who martyred in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 are also remembered.

During the days leading up to Navy Day, during Navy Week and the days prior to that, various events take place such as an open sea swimming competition, ships are open for visitors and school children, there is a veteran sailors lunch, performances by the Naval Symphonic Orchestra take place, an Indian Navy Inter School Quiz Competition happens, a Navy Half Marathon as well as an air display for school children and the beating retreat and tattoo ceremonies happen.

03 December - Yashpal born in 1903

Yashpal ( 03 December 1903 – 26 December 1978) was a Hindi-language author, who is sometimes considered to be the poor man’s Premchand. A political commentator and a socialist, he wrote in a range of genres, including essays, novels and short stories, as well as a play, two travel books and an autobiography. He won the Hindi-language Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel, Meri Teri Uski Baat in 1976 and was also a recipient of the Padma Bhushan.

Yashpal's writings form an extension to his earlier life as a revolutionary in the cause of the Indian independence movement.

03 December - Rajendra Prasad born in 1884

Rajendra Prasad (3 December 1884 – 28 February 1963) was an Indian independence activist, lawyer, scholar and subsequently, the first President of India, in office from 1950 to 1962.He was an Indian political leader and lawyer by training. Prasad joined the Indian National Congress during the Indian Independence Movement and became a major leader from the region of Bihar. A supporter of Mahatma Gandhi, Prasad was imprisoned by British authorities during the Salt Satyagraha of 1931 and the Quit India movement of 1942. After the 1946 elections, Prasad served as Minister of Food and Agriculture in the central government. Upon independence in 1947, Prasad was elected as President of the Constituent Assembly of India, which prepared the Constitution of India and served as its provisional parliament.

03 December - International Day of Persons with Disabilities

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992. It has been observed with varying degrees of success around the planet. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. It was originally called "International Day of Disabled Persons" until 2007. Each year the day focuses on a different issue.

This year's theme is "Building back better: towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 world by, for and with persons with disabilities". ... Persons with disabilities are not to be left behind in times of crisis. UNESCO will mark the day with a week-long programme from 25 November to 3 December 2020

 

02 December - Mars 3 first to soft land on Mars in 1971

Mars 3 was a robotic automatic interplanetary station of the Soviet Mars program, launched May 28, 1971, nine days after its twin spacecraft Mars 2. The probes were identical robotic spacecraft launched by Proton-K rockets with a Blok D upper stage, each consisting of an orbiter and an attached lander. After the Mars 2 lander crashed on the Martian surface, the Mars 3 lander became the first spacecraft to attain a soft landing on Mars, on December 2, 1971. It failed 110 seconds after landing, having transmitted only a gray image with no details. The Mars 2 orbiter and Mars 3 orbiter continued to circle Mars and transmit images back to Earth for another eight months.

01 December - The Border Security Force was established in 1965

 

The Border Security Force (BSF) is India's Primary border guarding organisation on its border with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is one of the three Border Guarding Forces (BGF) of India, and was raised in the wake of the 1965 War on 1 December 1965, "for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected there with".

It is a border guarding force charged with guarding India's land border with Pakistan and Bangladesh during peacetime and preventing transnational crime at the same, it has various active roles during an outbreak of war. It comes under Ministry of Home Affairs. The BSF takes its officers from IPS at command and leadership levels, also, its head, designated as a Director-General (DG), since its raising has been an officer from the Indian Police Service. Also, for leading companies at lower level there is a combination of officers from IPS and BSF's own Assistant Commandants who also get promoted to higher levels based on merit and seniority subject to vacancies.The BSF has grown exponentially from a few battalions in 1965, to 186 battalions with a sanctioned strength of 257,363 personnel including an expanding air wing, marine wing, an artillery regiment, and commando units.It currently stands as the world's largest border guarding force. BSF has been termed as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories

01 December - World AIDS Day

 

World AIDS Day, designated on 1 December every year since 1988,is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease. Government and health officials, non-governmental organizations, and individuals around the world observe the day, often with education on AIDS prevention and control.

World AIDS Day is one of the eleven official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunization Week, World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Malaria Day, World Hepatitis Day, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, World Patient Safety Day and World Chagas Disease Day.