10 December - Jean Henri Dunant first Nobel Peace Prize

 

On December 10, 1901, the first Nobel Peace Prizes were awarded to Jean Henri Dunant and Frédéric Passy . Each of them received the Nobel Peace Prize individually.

The recipients of the first Nobel Peace Prizes in 1901 were:

1. Jean Henri Dunant: He was a Swiss businessman and social activist who co-founded the International Committee of the Red Cross. Dunant was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his role in establishing humanitarian principles, particularly the Geneva Conventions, and his efforts to alleviate the suffering of wounded soldiers.

2. Frédéric Passy: He was a French economist and one of the leading figures of the international peace movement. Passy received the Nobel Peace Prize for his dedication to the cause of peace, his work with various peace societies, and his advocacy for disarmament.

These two individuals shared the honor of being the first recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.

 

10 December - Norman Borlaug awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970

 

Norman Borlaug, an American agronomist and humanitarian, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on 10 December 1970. He received the prize in recognition of his contributions to the Green Revolution, which involved the development of high-yielding varieties of wheat and other crops.

Borlaug's work significantly increased agricultural production in various parts of the world, particularly in developing countries. By introducing advanced agricultural techniques and crop varieties, he helped address food shortages and alleviate hunger in regions facing famine.

The Nobel Committee acknowledged Borlaug's efforts in applying science to improve food production and combat world hunger. His work had a profound impact on global agriculture and contributed to advancements in sustainable food production.

 

10 December - First official family planning program was launched in India in 1952

 

The world's first official family planning program was launched in India on 10 December 1952. The program was initiated by the government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The goal of the program was to control population growth and improve the overall health and well-being of families in the country.

The launch of India's family planning program marked a significant step in global efforts to address population-related issues. The program involved the promotion of contraceptive methods, education about family planning, and the establishment of clinics and facilities to provide reproductive health services.

India's family planning initiatives have evolved over the years, and the country continues to address population-related challenges through various policies and programs. The launch of the family planning program on December 10, 1952, is a noteworthy event in the history of public health and population control efforts.

 

10 December - Rudyard Kipling awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907

 

Rudyard Kipling, the author of "The Jungle Book" and "Kim," was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature on December 10, 1907. Kipling was the first English-language writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.

His citation from the Swedish Academy highlighted "the force and clarity of style with which he interprets in his works the epoch and the life of the peoples of the Indian Peninsula." The mentioned works, "The Jungle Book" and "Kim," contributed to his recognition for the Nobel Prize.

10 December - Pasang Lhamu Sherpa

 

The first Nepali woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest is Pasang Lhamu Sherpa. She achieved this remarkable feat on  22 April 1993, becoming a symbol of courage and determination for many. Her ascent was a significant milestone for women in Nepal and for the Sherpa community.

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was also the first woman to be decorated with the Nepal Tara (Star) by the King of Nepal. This honor was bestowed posthumously in recognition of her outstanding achievement and her contribution to Nepalese mountaineering.

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa: A Brief Biography

• Birth: 10 December 1961, in Solukhumbu District, Nepal.
• Mountaineering Career: Pasang Lhamu was determined to reach the summit of Everest despite facing numerous challenges, including the lack of support and resources often available to her male counterparts. She had attempted to summit Everest several times before her successful ascent in 1993.
• Historic Ascent: On 22 April 1993, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa reached the summit of Mount Everest, making her the first Nepali woman to do so. Tragically, she lost her life during the descent due to harsh weather conditions.
• Legacy and Honors:
  • Pasang Lhamu Sherpa has been celebrated as a national hero in Nepal. Several monuments and institutions have been named in her honor, including the Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Memorial College and a highway in her name.
  • The Nepalese government issued stamps bearing her image and achievements.
  • In addition to the Nepal Tara, she received other posthumous accolades recognizing her pioneering spirit and contributions to mountaineering.

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa's legacy continues to inspire climbers, particularly women, in Nepal and around the world. Her story is one of perseverance, bravery, and breaking barriers in the face of formidable challenges.

 

10 December - Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is published

 

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain (the pen name of Samuel Clemens) was first published in the United States on December 10, 1884. The novel is a sequel to Twain's earlier work, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," and it is considered one of the great American literary classics.

Set in the pre-Civil War South, the novel follows the adventures of a young boy named Huck Finn and a runaway slave named Jim as they journey down the Mississippi River on a raft. The novel is known for its social commentary, humor, and exploration of themes such as racism, morality, and the hypocrisy of societal norms.

While "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is now widely celebrated for its literary achievements, it was initially met with controversy due to its portrayal of racial issues and the use of vernacular language. Over time, the novel has come to be recognized as a powerful and important work in American literature, addressing complex and enduring themes in a unique and influential way.

 

10 December - Ada Lovelace birth anniversary

 

Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, commonly known as Ada Lovelace, was an English mathematician and writer, chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. Ada Lovelace is often regarded as the world's first computer programmer due to her extensive notes and annotations on the workings of the Analytical Engine.

Born on December 10, 1815, as Augusta Ada Byron, she was the only legitimate child of the poet Lord Byron and his wife Anne Isabella Milbanke. Ada Lovelace showed a keen interest in mathematics from a young age, influenced in part by her mother's encouragement to study mathematics and logic, aiming to prevent her from inheriting the supposed "madness" of her father.

Ada Lovelace's most significant work is her translation and extensive annotations of an article about the Analytical Engine written by the Italian mathematician Luigi Federico Menabrea. In her notes, she went beyond translation, describing how the engine could be programmed with a sequence of operations, including loops and conditional statements. These insights led many to recognize her as the world's first computer programmer.

Unfortunately, Ada Lovelace's contributions were not widely recognized during her lifetime, and it was only in the mid-20th century that her work gained greater appreciation. Today, Ada Lovelace is celebrated as a pioneer in computing, and her legacy is honored annually on Ada Lovelace Day, which aims to highlight the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

 

10 December - Rameshwari Nehru birth anniversary

 

Rameshwari Nehru, born on 10 December 1886, was a social worker of India. She worked for the upliftment of the poorer classes and of women. In 1902, she married Brijlal Nehru, a nephew of Motilal Nehru and cousin of the first prime minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Her son Braj Kumar Nehru was an Indian civil servant who served as governor of several states.

10 December - Wilhelm Röntgen was awarded first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901

 

The first Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen on 10 December 1901, specifically for his discovery of X-rays. Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays in 1895, and his groundbreaking work had a profound impact on the field of medicine and various scientific disciplines. The recognition of his contribution with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901 was a testament to the significance of the discovery.

 

10 December - Nobel Prize in Physics for 1903 was awarded Pierre and Marie Curie

 

The Nobel Prize in Physics for 1903 was awarded jointly to Henri Becquerel, Pierre Curie, and Marie Curie. They were recognized for their collaborative work on radioactivity, with Henri Becquerel's discovery of spontaneous radioactivity and the Curies' subsequent research on the properties of radioactive materials.

Pierre Curie and Marie Curie's contributions to the understanding of radioactivity were crucial, and their joint efforts were acknowledged with the Nobel Prize in Physics on 10 December 1903.

 

10 December - Isaac Newton's derivation of Kepler's laws from his theory of gravity presented in 1684

 

Isaac Newton's paper "De Motu Corporum in Gyrum" (On the Motion of Bodies in Orbit) was indeed presented to the Royal Society by Edmond Halley on December 10, 1684. In this groundbreaking work, Newton presented his laws of motion and universal gravitation, which formed the basis for classical mechanics and revolutionized our understanding of the physical universe.

This paper laid out the mathematical principles that explained the motion of celestial bodies, including planets orbiting the Sun. Newton demonstrated how his laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation could explain Kepler's empirical laws of planetary motion. These laws, formulated by Johannes Kepler, described the paths of planets around the Sun but did not provide a theoretical explanation for why they followed those paths.

The publication of Newton's "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica" in 1687 expanded upon these ideas and is considered one of the most influential scientific works ever written. Newton's laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation became fundamental principles of physics, profoundly impacting the scientific understanding of motion, gravity, and the cosmos.

 

10 December - Goa was officially annexed by the Portuguese in1 510

 

The Portuguese conquest of Goa did indeed take place. Goa was officially annexed by the Portuguese on 10 December 1510. The conquest was led by Afonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese naval officer and military strategist.

Under the command of Albuquerque, Portuguese forces captured the city of Goa from the Sultanate of Bijapur. The capture of Goa was a significant event in the history of Portuguese expansion in Asia, and it marked the beginning of their presence on the western coast of India.

Goa remained under Portuguese rule for several centuries until it was annexed by India in 1961. The annexation of Goa by India marked the end of Portuguese colonial rule in the region.

10 December - Janardan Swami death anniversary

 

Janardan Swami , or simply Janardan or Janardana was an Indian Hindu scholar, statesman, poet and saint. He was the spiritual guru of prominent 16th-century saint Eknath. His compositions were mostly written in Marathi. He also wrote a few verses in Braj. 

 Very few details of Janardan Swami's life are known. On one occasion, he had probably instructed Eknath to embark on a pilgrimage. It is thought that he accompanied his disciple until Trimbakeshwar, a Hindu pilgrimage town near Nashik, Maharashtra.

He has composed considerable volumes of devotional poetry, known as abhanga.

Janardan Swami breathed his last at Daulatabad where he is believed to have undergone Mahasamadhi. His samadhi shrine is located within a cave on a hill at Daulatabad.

10 December - Rabindranath Tagore awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913

 

Rabindranath Tagore, the renowned Bengali poet, philosopher, and polymath from India, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature on 10 December 1913. He received the prize for his collection of poems titled "Gitanjali" ("Song Offerings"). Tagore was the first non-European to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

The Nobel Committee specifically mentioned the "profoundly sensitive, fresh, and beautiful verse" of "Gitanjali" in their decision to honor Tagore. Rabindranath Tagore's work has had a lasting impact on literature and philosophy, and he remains a prominent figure in the cultural history of India and the world.

 

10 December - Nijalingappa Siddavanahalli birth anniversary

 

Nijalingappa Siddavanahalli, also known as S. Nijalingappa, was an Indian politician and a prominent leader in the Indian National Congress. Here are some key details about him:

• Full Name: Siddavanahalli Nijalingappa
• Born: 10 December  1902
• Died: 08 August 2000

Nijalingappa served as the Chief Minister of the state of Mysore (now Karnataka) in India. He played a crucial role in the state's development and in shaping the policies of the Indian National Congress. Nijalingappa was known for his commitment to social justice and agricultural reforms.

He also held the position of the President of the Indian National Congress from 1959 to 1962. Nijalingappa was associated with the Congress party for several decades, and he played a role in various capacities at both the state and national levels.

It's important to note that while Nijalingappa was a prominent political figure, the specific details of his contributions and the political landscape during his time would require a more in-depth exploration of historical records and sources.

10 December - Sir Ronald Ross awarded the Nobel Prize

 

Sir Ronald Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine on December 10, 1902, for his discovery that malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes. He demonstrated the life cycle of the malarial parasite in the Anopheles mosquito, which significantly contributed to our understanding of the transmission of malaria.