09 March - Aloysius de Gonzaga birth anniversary

 

Aloysius de Gonzaga (Italian: Luigi Gonzaga; 9 March 1568 – 21 June 1591) was an Italian aristocrat who became a member of the Society of Jesus. While still a student at the Roman College, he died as a result of caring for the victims of a serious epidemic. He was beatified in 1605 and canonized in 1726.

09 March - Devika Rani passed away in 1994

 

Devika Rani, passed away on 09 March 1994, was an actress in Indian films who was active during the 1930s and 1940s. Widely acknowledged as the first lady of Indian cinema, Devika Rani had a successful film career that spanned 10 years.

Her on-screen pairing with Ashok Kumar was extremely popular in India. Following Himashu Rai’s death, she took over control of his studio and produced several films. She later married Russian painter Svetoslav Roerich, leading thereafter life of a recluse. She was awarded Padmashri, Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Soviet Land Nehru Award (1990).

09 March - Carrie Chapman Catt death anniversary

 

Carrie Chapman Catt ( 09 January  1859 – 09 March 1947) was an American women's suffrage leader and political activist. She played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement in the United States and was a key figure in the fight for women's right to vote.

Catt served as the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and later played a crucial role in the establishment of the League of Women Voters. She was a skilled organizer and speaker, and her strategic approach helped mobilize support for the suffrage cause.

Carrie Chapman Catt was instrumental in the final push for the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. The amendment was ratified in 1920, and Catt continued her work in advocating for women's rights and international peace throughout her life.

 

09 March - Zaverchand Kalidas Meghani passed away in 1947

 

Jhaverchand or Zaverchand Kalidas Meghani was an Indian poet, writer, social reformer and freedom fighter. He is a well-known name in the field of Gujarati literature. He was born in Chotila where the Government College has been renamed for this literary figure as Raashtreeya Shaayar Zaverchand Meghani College, Chotila.He was know as "Raashtreeya Shaayar"(National Poet).Besides this he received many awards like Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak and Mahida Paaritoshik in literature. He authored more than 100 books. His first book was a translation work of Rabindranath Tagore's called Kathaa-u-Kaahinee titled Kurbani Ni Katha (Stories of martyrdom) which was first published in 1922. He contributed widely to Gujarati folk literature. He went from village to village in search of folk-lores and published them in various volumes of Saurashtra Ni Rasdhar.He was also the Editor of Phulchhab Newspaper of Janmabhoomi group (which is being published till date from Rajkot).

A sample of his collection of folk tales from Saurashtra has recently been published in English, with the translation done by his son Vinod Meghani. The three volumes published so far are titled A Noble Heritage, A Shade Crimson and The Ruby Shattered.

His poems are taught as a part of syllabus in Gujarat Board Schools (GSEB). He passed away on 9 March 1947.