13 May - R.K.Narayan death anniversary

 

R.K. Narayan, whose full name was Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami, was a renowned Indian writer known for his novels and short stories written in English. He was born on October 10, 1906, in Madras (now Chennai), India, and passed away on May 13, 2001, in Chennai.

Narayan is best known for his fictional works set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. His writing style often depicted the everyday life of ordinary people in a humorous and insightful manner, capturing the essence of Indian society with wit and compassion.

Some of Narayan's most famous works include:

1. "Swami and Friends" (1935) - Narayan's debut novel, which introduces readers to the fictional town of Malgudi and its colorful characters.

2. "The Bachelor of Arts" (1937) - A coming-of-age story about a young man named Chandran navigating the challenges of love, education, and independence.

3. "The Guide" (1958) - Considered one of Narayan's masterpieces, this novel tells the story of a tour guide named Raju and his transformation from a conman to a spiritual guru.

4. "The Man-Eater of Malgudi" (1961) - A collection of short stories that offers a glimpse into the diverse lives of the inhabitants of Malgudi.

5. "The Vendor of Sweets" (1967) - A novel about a sweet vendor named Jagan and his relationship with his son, set against the backdrop of a changing India.

Narayan's works have been widely praised for their simplicity, humor, and insight into the human condition. He is considered one of the pioneers of Indian literature in English and has left a lasting legacy in the world of literature.He received Sahitya Academy Award, Filmfare Award, and Padma Bhushan.

13 May - Tanjore Balasaraswati birth anniversary

 

Tanjore Balasaraswati,also known as Balasaraswati (13 May 1918 – 09 February 1984), was an Indian dancer, and her rendering of Bharatanatyam, a classical dance style originated in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, made this style of dancing well known in different parts of India and many parts of the world.

She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1957and the Padma Vibhushan in 1977, the third and the second highest civilian honours given by the Government of India.In 1981 she was awarded the Sangeetha Kalasikhamani award of The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai. 

13 May - Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan became second President of India in 1962

 

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (5 September 1888 – 17 April 1975), natively Radhakrishnayya, was an Indian philosopher and statesman. He served as the second president of India from 1962 to 1967. He was also the first vice president of India from 1952 to 1962. He was the second ambassador of India to the Soviet Union from 1949 to 1952. He was also the fourth vice-chancellor of Banaras Hindu University from 1939 to 1948 and the second vice-chancellor of Andhra University from 1931 to 1936.

13 May - Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed birth anniversary

 

 

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (1905-1977) was an Indian politician who served as the fifth President of India from 1974 until his death in 1977. He was born on May 13, 1905, in Delhi, India. Ahmed came from a distinguished family, and his father, Colonel Zalnur Ali Ahmed, was a prominent lawyer.

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed completed his education in India and the United Kingdom. He obtained his bachelor's degree from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, and then went on to study law at the University of Cambridge. After returning to India, he joined the Bar and began practicing law.

Ahmed was actively involved in the Indian independence movement and was associated with the Indian National Congress. After India gained independence in 1947, he held various positions in the government. He served as the Minister of Revenue and Agriculture in Assam, and later became the Minister of Finance and Revenue in the Central Cabinet.

In 1974, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was elected as the President of India. His tenure as President was marked by political challenges, including the declaration of a state of emergency in 1975. During the emergency period, several civil liberties were suspended, and there were widespread allegations of human rights abuses.

On February 3, 1977, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed passed away while still in office. He was the second President of India to die in office. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed's contributions to the nation and his service as President are remembered in Indian history.

 

13 May - Red Fort construction completed in 1648

 

The construction of the Red Fort in Delhi was completed on 13 May 1648. The Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila, is a historic fortification located in Old Delhi, India. It was commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who is renowned for constructing several iconic structures, including the Taj Mahal.

The Red Fort served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors for nearly 200 years, until the capital of the Mughal Empire shifted to Agra. The fort's construction took approximately ten years to complete and involved the efforts of thousands of workers.

The Red Fort is renowned for its stunning architecture, blending Mughal, Persian, and Indian architectural styles. It is made primarily of red sandstone, which gives the fort its distinctive appearance. The complex is surrounded by high walls and encompasses several exquisite structures, including palaces, gardens, audience halls, and mosques.

 

13 May - Zakir Husain elected the 3rd President of India in 1967

 

Zakir Husain (8 February 1897 – 3 May 1969) was the 3rd President of India. He was the first Muslim president of Indian nation and also the first to die in office. Zahir Husain was the shortest serving president of India. He previously served as the second Vice-President of India and Governor of Bihar. Zakir Husain was also the co-founder of Jamia Milia Islamia. He served as its Vice-Chancellor. Under Husain, Jamia became closely to the Indian freedom movement.

Zakir Husain was born in Hyderabad, Telangana in 8 February 1897.He became the Governor of Bihar in 1957 to 1962. Later he became the 2nd Vice President of India after Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He served in the post from 13 May 1962 to 12 May 1967.In 13 May 1967 he was elected as the 3rd President of India after Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.He was the Muslim President of India.But his term was short-lived. He died in New Delhi on 3 May 1969 and became the 1st President to die in the office period. 

13 May - Charles Edouard Guillaume death anniversary

 

He was born on 15 February 1861, in Fleurier, Switzerland. He got his Ph.D. in 1882 for his thesis on electrolytic capacitors.

Guillaume joined the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, Sevres, in 1883 and became director in 1915. He did a lot of research on the mercury thermometer and discovered that the liter contained 1,000.028 cubic centimeters, not 1,000.000 cubic centimeters as had been assumed.

In 1890, he started studying alloys after he observed that nickel-iron alloys expanded. His research led to the discovery of a nickel-iron alloy called ‘Invar’ in 1896. The discovery of ‘Invar’ led to the successful duplication of the meter bar.

A few years later, in the late 1890s, he worked in collaboration with Chenevard and the Imphy steel laboratory to develop a variation of Invar; a nickel-steel alloy called ‘Elinvar’; it had a low thermoelastic coefficient even after being heated up. Elinvar contains 59% iron, 36% nickel, and 5% chromium.

He wrote several books throughout his life, including: “Studies on Thermometry” (1986), “Treatise on Thermometry,” “Units and Standards” (1894), “X–Rays” (1896), “Investigations on Nickel and its Alloys” (1898), “The Life of Matter” (1999), “Metrical Convention and the International Bureau of Weights and Measures” (1902), “Applications of Nickel-Steels” (1904), “States of Matter” (1907, 1913), “Recent Progress in Metric System” (1907, 1913) and so on.

Charles Edouard Guillaume died on 13 May 1938, in Sevres, France.