12 September - The Battle of Saragarhi ( Saragarhi Day )

 

The Battle of Saragarhi took place on 12 September 1897, during the Tirah Campaign on the northwest frontier of British India, which is now in modern-day Pakistan. This battle is one of the most celebrated last stands in military history.

Key Details:

• Context: The Saragarhi post was a communication relay between two important British forts, Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan, located in the rugged terrain of the North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
• The Sikh Soldiers: The 21 Sikh soldiers were from the 36th Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army, led by Havildar Ishar Singh. These soldiers chose to fight to the last man despite being heavily outnumbered.
• Pashtun Forces: Around 10,000 Pashtun tribesmen from the Afridi and Orakzai tribes launched a massive attack on the post, which was vital for the British military communication network.
• Casualties: The Sikh soldiers fought valiantly, killing hundreds of attackers before all of them were overrun and killed. The Pashtun forces suffered significant losses despite their overwhelming numbers.

Legacy:

The courage and sacrifice of the Sikh soldiers in the face of impossible odds have made this battle legendary, especially in Sikh and Indian military history. All 21 soldiers were posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest gallantry award given to Indian soldiers at that time, equivalent to the Victoria Cross.

The Battle of Saragarhi is remembered annually, and Saragarhi Day is observed to honor the bravery of those soldiers.

12 September - National Police Woman Day USA

 

National Police Woman Day is observed in the United States on September 12 each year. It honors the contributions of women in law enforcement and acknowledges their dedication to protecting communities and upholding the law. Women have played an increasingly significant role in police forces across the country since the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The day serves to celebrate their achievements, raise awareness of the challenges they face in a traditionally male-dominated field, and encourage more women to pursue careers in law enforcement. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made towards gender equality in policing and recognize the importance of diversity within law enforcement agencies.

12 September - International Programmers' Day

 

International Programmers' Day is celebrated on the 256th day of the year. In most years, this falls on September 13th, except in leap years when it falls on September 12th.

The number 256 is significant in the world of computing because it is the highest power of 2 that is less than 365 (the number of days in a year). In binary code, 2^8 equals 256, and the day is often seen as a tribute to the importance of programmers and their contributions to the world of technology.

The folks responsible for Programmers Day falling in September are Michael Cherviakov and Valentin Balt, two computer programmers from Russia who made their plea to the government as early as 2002. Then, in 2009, the government of Russia finally acted and declared the day to be a professional holiday, and set the date as September 13th. Of course, because the date is on the 256th day of the year, it falls on September 12th if it happens to be a leap year.

No matter which day it is celebrated, Programmers Day offers a specific reminder to everyone that the world of computers and electronic devices only functions as smoothly as it does because a programmer is somewhere behind the scenes, making it happen!