20 May - World Bee Day

 

World Bee Day is an international observance held on May 20th each year. It was designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about the importance of bees and other pollinators for our ecosystems, food production, and biodiversity. The day aims to highlight the critical role bees play in pollinating crops and maintaining healthy ecosystems.

World Bee Day was first celebrated on May 20th, 2018, to commemorate the birthday of Anton Janša, a pioneer in modern beekeeping. On this day, various events and activities take place globally to promote bee conservation, sustainable beekeeping practices, and the protection of pollinators' habitats. These activities often include educational programs, workshops, conferences, exhibitions, and planting initiatives to create bee-friendly environments.

The observance of World Bee Day serves as a reminder of the need to protect bees and pollinators to ensure food security and preserve the balance of nature.

20 May - New UPU Hedquarters commerative stamp issued in 1970

 

A commemorative postage stamp issued on 20 May. 1970 on the New Universal Postal (UPU) Headquarters located in Bern , Switzerland.

UPU, established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874, is a specialized agency of the United Nations  that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration, the Postal Operations Council and the International Bureau . It also oversees the Telematics and Express Mail Service cooperatives. Each member agrees to the same terms for conducting international postal duties. The UPU's headquarters are located in Bern, Switzerland.

India had taken active interest in the work of this Union as a member of the two organs, namely, the Executive council and the Management council of the consultative committee for the Postal Studies , India has contributed to the work of the union.The design of the stamp is horizontal and depicts a picture of the new Building of Headquarters of the UPU at Berne (Switzerland) along with the symbol of the U.P.U.

20 May - Malhar Rao Holkar death anniversary

Malhar Rao Holkar (16 March 1694 – 20 May 1766), a noble subedar of the Maratha Empire, in present-day India. He helped in the spread of the Maratha rule to northern states and was given the estate of Indore to rule by the Peshwas, during the reign of the Maratha Emperor Shahu I. He died on 20 May 1766 at the age of 73.

20 May - Bipin Chandra Pal death anniversary

 

Bipin Chandra Pal ( 07 November 1858 – 20 May 1932), an Indian revolutionary, teacher, journalist, and writer. He is one of the great personalities who played a major role in laying the foundation of India’s independence movement. He was part of the famous Lal-Bal-Pal (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Vipin Chandra Pal) trio. This trio shook the cradles of English rule with its sharp attack. Apart from being a nationalist leader. He is also considered the father of revolutionary ideas in India. He died on 20 May 1932 at the age of 73 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), British India.

20 May - Piru Singh Shekhawat birth anniversary

 

Piru Singh Shekhawat (20 May 1918 – 18 July 1948), an Indian Army non-commissioned officer, awarded the Param Vir Chakra. He took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, serving with the Indian Army’s 6th Rajputana Rifles. Piru Singh was born on 20 May 1918 in Beri, Rajputana, British India.

20 May - Sumitranandan Pant birth anniversary

 

Sumitranandan Pant (20 May 1900 – 28 December 1977), an Indian poet. The beautiful and lively depiction of nature is rare as found in Pantji’s poem. He was a beautiful poet of nature and was well versed in drawing a lively, beautiful, and captivating picture. The composition of national love is also found abundantly in the poetry of Pant Ji. He was a serious thinker, an excellent poet, and a man of innately skilled craftsman of humanity. Pant received the ‘Gyan Peeth Award’ for his work ‘Chidambra‘. His other compositions are the following – Veena, Granthi, Pallava, Pallvini, Atima, Gunjan, Yuganta, Yugavani Gramya, Swarn Kiran, Swarna Dhuli ‘,’ Uttara ‘,’ Shilpi ‘ and Rashmibandh. Pant became the first Hindi poet to receive the Jnanpith Award in 1969 for a collection of his most famous poems titled Chidambara. He also got Padma Bhushan in 1961 by the Indian Government. He was born on 20 May 1900 in Kausani, North-Western Provinces, British India.