20 October - Govardhanram Tripathi birth anniversary

 

Govardhanram Tripathi was a prominent Indian author and playwright known for his significant contributions to Gujarati literature. He was born on 20 October 1855, in Nadiad, a town in the Indian state of Gujarat, and passed away on 04 January 1907. Tripathi is best known for his novel "Saraswatichandra," which is considered a masterpiece of Gujarati literature. The novel explores themes of love, morality, and social reform and has been adapted into various forms of media, including a popular television series. His works continue to be celebrated for their literary and cultural significance in Gujarat and beyond.

20 October - James Chadwick birth anniversary

 

James Chadwick (born October 20, 1891, in Bollington, England, and died on July 24, 1974, in Cambridge, England) was a British physicist who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics. He is best known for his discovery of the neutron in 1932, which expanded our understanding of atomic structure.

Chadwick's groundbreaking work on the neutron confirmed the existence of a neutral subatomic particle in the atomic nucleus, which had previously been theorized by Ernest Rutherford. This discovery was crucial for the development of nuclear physics and laid the foundation for the eventual harnessing of nuclear energy.

Chadwick's contributions to science earned him numerous honors, including the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1935 for his discovery of the neutron. His work was instrumental in advancing our knowledge of nuclear reactions and had a profound impact on the fields of atomic and nuclear physics.

 

20 October - The Lioness Attacking the Horse of the Exeter Mail Coach in 1816

 

An unusual event occurred on 20 October 1816 when the Exeter mail coach, while on its way to London, drew into the Pheasant Inn on Salisbury Plain. The leading horses were attacked by a lioness which had escaped from a travelling menagerie. The lioness then turned her attentions towards a large dog which had proceeded to attack her, which she chased and killed.

The lioness’s owner eventually recovered her from underneath a nearby granary. The passengers had taken refuge inside the inn, bolting the door and stopping anyone else from entering.