27 December - Benazir Bhutto assassination in 2007

 

Benazir Bhutto (21 June 1953 – 27 December 2007) was a Pakistani politician who served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. She was the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim majority nation. Ideologically a liberal and a secularist, she chaired or co-chaired the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) from the early 1980s until her assassination in 2007.

26 December - Indira Gandhi was released from jail in 1978

 

It's not common in India for a Prime Minister to be jailed. However, the political and social scenario in the late 1970s forced the Indian judicial system to apprehend the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on charges of "planning the killing of all opposition leaders in jail during the Emergency."

Indira Gandhi's arrest triggered nationwide strikes and protests. The Congress party supporters demanded her immediate release. They even hijacked an Air India flight in protest of their leader's arrest. In the face of such national unrest, Gandhi was freed from prison on the night of December 26, after spending one week in detention for breach of privilege and contempt of the Indian Parliament. 

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/indira-gandhi-released-from-jail-839095-2016-12-26

26 December - Tsunami in 2004

 

On 26 December 2004 a earthquake of 9.3 magnitude creates a tsunami causing devastation in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Maldives and edges of the Indian Ocean, killing 230,000 people.

26 December - Boxing Day

 

Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated the day after Christmas Day, occuring on the second day of Christmastide. Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor, today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday. It originated in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in a number of countries that previously formed part of the British Empire. Boxing Day is on 26 December, although the attached bank holiday or public holiday may take place either on that day or one or two days later (if necessary to ensure it falls on a weekday).

In parts of Europe, such as Catalonia,Czechia, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia[4] and Scandinavia, 26 December is celebrated as a second Christmas Day.

23 December - Farmers' Day

      

Farmers' Day is an annual observance in various countries to celebrate the national contributions of farmers and agriculturers. In India it is observed on December 23.

The National Farmers Day in India is also known as Kisan Divas in Hindi.Farmer's Day is celebrated every year on 23 December,on the birthday of the 5th Prime Minister of India, Choudhary Charan Singh, also a farmer's leader, who introduced many policies to improve the lives of the Indian farmers. It is celebrated by organising various programs, debates, seminars, quiz competitions, discussions, workshops, exhibitions, essays writing competitions and functions.

04 December - Inder Kumar Gujral born in 1919

 

Indra Kumar Gujral (4 December 1919 – 30 November 2012) was an Indian politician and freedom activist who served as the 12th Prime Minister of India from April 1997 to March 1998.

Born in Punjab, he was influenced by nationalistic ideas as a student, and joined the All India Students Federation and the Communist Party of India. He was imprisoned for taking part in the Quit India movement. After independence, he joined the Indian National Congress party in 1964, and became a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.

He was the Minister of Information and Broadcasting during the emergency. In 1976, he was appointed as the Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union. In 1996, he became the Minister of External Affairs in the Deve Gowda ministry, and developed the Gujral doctrine during this period. He was appointed as the 12th Prime Minister of India in 1997. His tenure lasted for less than a year.

He retired from all political positions in 1998. He died in 2012 at the age of 92, following hospitalization due to a lung infection.

11 October - Amitabh Bachchan born in 1942

 

Amitabh Bachchan born 11 October 1942 is an Indian film actor, film producer, television host, occasional playback singer and former politician. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s for films such as Zanjeer, Deewaar and Sholay, and was dubbed India's "angry young man" for his on-screen roles in Hindi films. Referred to as the Shahenshah of Bollywood (in reference to his 1988 film Shahenshah), Sadi ka Mahanayak (Hindi for, "Greatest actor of the century"), Star of the Millennium, or Big B,[5] he has since appeared in over 200 Indian films in a career spanning more than five decades.Bachchan is regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema.

He was the most dominant actor in the Indian movie scene during the 1970s–1980s, with the French director François Truffaut calling him a "one-man industry". Beyond the Indian subcontinent, he also has a large overseas following in markets including Africa (South Africa and Mauritius), the Middle East (especially UAE and Egypt), the United Kingdom, Russia, the Caribbean (Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago), Oceania (Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand) and parts of the United States.

Bachchan has won numerous accolades in his career, including four National Film Awards as Best Actor, Dadasaheb Phalke Award as lifetime achievement award and many awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies. He has won fifteen Filmfare Awards and is the most nominated performer in any major acting category at Filmfare, with 41 nominations overall. In addition to acting, Bachchan has worked as a playback singer, film producer and television presenter. He has hosted several seasons of the game show Kaun Banega Crorepati, India's version of the game show franchise, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. He also entered politics for a time in the 1980s.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1984, the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 for his contributions to the arts. The Government of France honoured him with its highest civilian honour, Knight of the Legion of Honour, in 2007 for his exceptional career in the world of cinema and beyond. Bachchan also made an appearance in a Hollywood film, Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby (2013), in which he played a non-Indian Jewish character, Meyer Wolfsheim.

25 September - World Lung Day

World Lung Day is observed annually on September 25th to raise awareness about the importance of lung health and the global burden of lung diseases. Organized by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), the day focuses on advocating for better lung health through prevention, research, and access to treatment. It highlights issues such as chronic respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, lung cancer, asthma, and the harmful effects of air pollution and smoking.

World Lung Day encourages individuals, communities, and governments to prioritize lung health and adopt measures to combat lung-related illnesses. This includes promoting clean air, vaccination against respiratory infections, smoking cessation, and access to effective healthcare. It's a day to unite for healthier lungs worldwide and ensure that lung health becomes a global priority for all.

#WorldLungDay #HealthyLiving

18 September - Vishnuvardhan born in 1950

 

Vishnuvardhan (18 September 1950 – 30 December 2009), born Sampath Kumar, was an Indian film actor predominantly in Kannada cinema.He appeared in 200 films in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam.He was called The Phoenix of Indian Cinema.He made his debut in the 1972 film, Vamsha Vriksha, in a supporting role. The same year he played the lead role in Puttanna Kanagal's Naagarahaavu, and was recognized as 'The Angry Young Man of Kannada Cinema'.He has played a variety of roles in different genres.

In 2008, a poll conducted by CNN-IBN listed Vishnuvardhan as the most popular star in the Kannada Film Industry.A road stretching 14.5 km from Banashankari Temple to Kengeri in Bengaluru has been named after the superstar. It is the longest road in Asia to be named after a celebrity. He was a martial artist, In an interview with The Hindu, he had said that it was the era of Bruce Lee and it was only Kamal Haasan and himself who had learnt martial arts in his generation.He was also the story writer of the 1997 movie Ganesha I Love You directed by Phani Ramachandra.

He was also fondly called as Sahasasimha and Abhinava Bhargava by the people of Karnataka.

18 September - World Bamboo Day

 

World Bamboo Day is celebrated annually on 18 September to raise awareness about the importance of bamboo and promote its sustainable use. The day was officially declared during the 8th World Bamboo Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2009. Bamboo is recognized for its environmental benefits, including its role in combating climate change, providing sustainable livelihoods, and offering a renewable alternative to wood, plastic, and other materials.

Bamboo is versatile, fast-growing, and has a wide range of applications, from construction to textiles and even food. World Bamboo Day encourages the preservation and cultivation of bamboo as part of a global movement toward more eco-friendly and sustainable practices.