11 December - UNICEF Foundation Day

 

UNICEF Foundation Day is celebrated on 11 December each year, marking the establishment of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in 1946. UNICEF was created by the United Nations to provide emergency food, healthcare, and aid to children and mothers in countries devastated by World War II.

Key Highlights:

1. Mission: UNICEF focuses on improving the lives of children worldwide, advocating for their rights, and ensuring their access to essential services like education, healthcare, clean water, and protection.
2. Global Reach: Active in over 190 countries, UNICEF works to combat poverty, prevent disease, and respond to emergencies to secure a better future for children.
3. Evolution: Initially formed to address post-war child welfare, UNICEF became a permanent UN agency in 1953, with its mission extended to address long-term development and child well-being globally.

Significance of the Day:

• Advocacy: The day highlights UNICEF’s role in supporting vulnerable children and advancing their rights.
• Awareness Campaigns: It is a time to reflect on pressing issues like child poverty, education, malnutrition, and child labor.
• Fundraising and Volunteer Efforts: Many organizations and individuals support UNICEF's initiatives on this day.

Achievements:

• Nobel Peace Prize (1965): Awarded for promoting fraternity among nations and improving children's welfare globally.
• Innovative Programs: Campaigns like Immunization Drives, Education for All, and Clean Water Access have profoundly impacted millions of lives.

11 December - Maun Ekadashi

 

Maun Ekadashi is a significant day in Jainism and is observed with devotion and discipline. It falls on the Ekadashi (11th day) of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) during the Margashirsha month in the Hindu lunar calendar, typically coinciding with November or December.

Importance in Jainism:

1. Practice of Silence (Maun): Observers maintain complete silence (Maun) throughout the day to cultivate inner peace and focus on spiritual growth.
2. Spiritual Discipline: The day emphasizes fasting (Upvas), self-restraint, and deep meditation.
3. Purification of the Soul: Silence and austerities are seen as a means to cleanse the soul of karma and foster a sense of detachment.

Observance:

• Fasting: Jains undertake a strict fast, often consuming only boiled water during specific times or abstaining from food altogether.
• Silence: Observers avoid speaking to conserve energy and direct it inward.
• Scriptural Study: They read or reflect on Jain scriptures and teachings.
• Meditation and Prayers: Devotees engage in meditation and offer prayers to seek forgiveness and spiritual upliftment.

Broader Perspective:

While Maun Ekadashi holds special significance in Jainism, it is also observed in Hinduism, emphasizing silence, devotion, and fasting. However, the underlying practices and rituals may differ based on religious interpretations.

11 December - Bhagwad Gita Jayanti

 

Bhagavad Gita Jayanti, also known as Gita Jayanti, marks the day when Lord Krishna delivered the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. This sacred day is observed annually on Shukla Ekadashi of the Margashirsha month as per the Hindu calendar, which typically falls in November or December.

Significance:

1. Spiritual Essence: The Bhagavad Gita contains timeless spiritual and philosophical teachings. It emphasizes duty (dharma), selflessness (karma yoga), and devotion (bhakti yoga).
2. Universal Appeal: Its teachings go beyond religion, offering guidance on living a balanced and meaningful life.
3. Kurukshetra Connection: It is celebrated with grandeur at Kurukshetra, Haryana, where the Mahabharata war was fought.

Celebrations:

• Recitation and Discourses: Devotees recite the verses of the Bhagavad Gita and listen to spiritual discourses explaining its philosophy.
• Special Pujas: Temples dedicated to Lord Krishna hold special rituals and prayers.
• Spiritual Debates: Scholars organize discussions on the teachings and relevance of the Gita.
• Kurukshetra Festivities: A grand fair and cultural events are held at Kurukshetra, attracting thousands of devotees and visitors.

11 December - Alexander Solzhenitsyn birth anniversary

 

Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1918–2008) was a Russian novelist, historian, and dissident, best known for his literary works that exposed the harsh realities of life in the Soviet Union, particularly under Joseph Stalin's rule. Solzhenitsyn's writings played a crucial role in revealing the oppressive nature of the Soviet regime, and he became an important figure in the Russian dissident movement.

Some key points about Alexander Solzhenitsyn's life and work include:

1. Early Life and Military Service: Solzhenitsyn was born on December 11, 1918, in Kislovodsk, Russia. He served as an officer in the Soviet Army during World War II but was arrested in 1945 for criticizing Stalin in a private letter to a friend. He spent several years in labor camps and prisons as a result.

2. Gulag Archipelago: One of Solzhenitsyn's most famous works is "The Gulag Archipelago," a three-volume, non-fiction literary work that provides a harrowing account of the Soviet forced labor camp system. It was written clandestinely and circulated in samizdat (self-published) form before being published outside the Soviet Union in the 1970s.

3. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich: Another notable work is his novella "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich," which was published in 1962 and depicts a day in the life of a prisoner in a Soviet labor camp. This work was a significant departure from the officially sanctioned literature of the time and managed to pass through Soviet censorship.

4. Exile and Nobel Prize: Solzhenitsyn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970, but fearing reprisals, he did not go to Stockholm to receive the prize. In 1974, he was expelled from the Soviet Union and settled in the United States.

5. Return to Russia: After spending two decades in exile, Solzhenitsyn returned to Russia in 1994 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. He continued to write and engage in public discourse on Russian history, politics, and culture.

6. Later Works: In addition to his early works, Solzhenitsyn wrote historical novels, essays, and speeches. His later works include "August 1914" and "The Red Wheel" series.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn passed away on August 3, 2008, but his literary legacy endures, and his writings continue to be studied for their profound insights into the human experience and the consequences of totalitarianism.