21 March - International Day of Forests

 

The International Day of Forests was established on the 21st day of March, by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on November 28, 2013.Each year, various events celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests, and trees outside forests, for the benefit of current and future generations. Countries are encouraged to undertake efforts to organize local, national, and international activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns, on International Day of Forests. The Secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization, facilitates the implementation of such events in collaboration with governments, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, and international, regional and subregional organizations.International Day of Forests was observed for the first time on March 21, 2013.

 

SPECIAL CANCELLATION ON SPECIAL COVER INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FORESTS ISSUED ON 21/03/2023 in India , in Pune city

21 March - Ustad "Bismillah" Khan born in 1916

 

Ustad Qamruddin "Bismillah" Khan (21 March 1916 – 21 August 2006) (born as Qamaruddin Khan) was dedicated shehnai maestro from India. The much-celebrated musician was born into the family of musicians on March 21, 1916. Ustad Bismillah won prestigious awards, such as the Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan and was a popular name all over the world. He mastered the art of playing the shehnai and also had the honour of playing on the eve of Indian's independence in 1947. Even today, the annual Republic Day celebrations broadcast to the opening notes of Ustad Bismillah's music.In August 2006, Khan's health deteriorated and he was admitted to the Hospital in Varanasi. He bid adieu to the world on August 21, 2006, due to a cardiac arrest.

21 March - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

 

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid pass laws; 69 people were killed, and 180 were injured. Proclaiming the day in 1966, the United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

20 March - Karpoor Chandra Kulish born in 1926

 

Karpoor Chandra Kulish (20 March 1926 – 17 January 2006) was the founder of Rajasthan Patrika, a Hindi language newspaper of Rajasthan, India.

Born in Jain family, State Rajasthan Soda village in Malpura tehsil in Tonk district in 1926 he started his career in journalism as an employee in a newspaper. On 7 March 1956, Kulish started his own newspaper, which became no. 1 in Rajasthan. He is best remembered for his fearless journalism.[citation needed] His family consists of his wife, two sons and one daughter.Kulish retired from Rajasthan Patrika on 20 March 1986

20 March - International Day of Happiness

 

The International Day of Happiness is celebrated throughout the world on 20 March.It was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 28 June 2012.

The International Day of Happiness aims to make people around the world realize the importance of happiness within their lives.

In 2015, the United Nations launched 17 Sustainable Development Goals to make people's lives happier. Its main development goals are eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and protect our planet.

The United Nations invites people of all ages to join in celebrating the International Day of Happiness.

20 March - International Francophonie Day

 

 

International Francophonie Day is observed within the International Organization of La Francophonie's 77 member states every March 20 to celebrate the French language and Francophone culture.There are over 369 million French speakers on Earth.

Created in 1988, the date celebrates the signing of the Niamey Convention in Niger on 20 March 1970. The convention established the Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique, the precursor to the International Organization of La Francophonie.

Just like the British colonies, the French established French colonies. This led to the cultural and lingual spread in the regions which they established the colonies.

According to the Canadian then-minister for La Francophonie Steven Blaney's speech in 2013, the International Francophonie Day is to "celebrate our commitment to not only the French language and the rich and diverse francophone culture but also the values of peace, democracy and respect for human rights that unite all members of the International Organization of La Francophonie

20 March - World Sparrow Day

World Sparrow Day is a day designated to raise awareness of the house sparrow and then other common birds to urban environments, and of threats to their populations, observed on 20 March.It is an international initiative by the Nature Forever Society of India in collaboration with the Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and numerous other national and international organisations across the world.

World Sparrow Day also has a broader vision to provide a platform where people who are working on the conservation of the house sparrow and other common birds can network, collaborate and exchange conservation ideas which will lead to better science and improved results. It aims to provide a meeting ground for people from different parts of the world to come together and form a force that can play an important role in advocacy and in spreading the awareness on the need of conserving common biodiversity or species of lower conservation status.

19 March - Lord Parashurama commerative postage stamp issued in 2023

This design is derived from Raja Ravi Varma's oleograph. India post released a commerative stamp of Lord Parashurama on 19 March 2023

Parashurama also referred to as Rama Jamadagnya, Rama Bhargava and Veerarama, is the sixth avatar among the Dashavatara of the preserver god Vishnu in Hinduism. He is believed to be one of the Chiranjeevis (Immortals), who will appear at the end of the Kali Yuga to be the guru of Vishnu's tenth and last incarnation, Kalki.

Born to Jamadagni and Renuka, the Brahmin Parashurama was foretold to appear at a time when overwhelming evil prevailed on the earth. The Kshatriya class, with weapons and power, had begun to abuse their power, take what belonged to others by force and tyrannise people. He corrected the cosmic equilibrium by destroying the Kshatriya warriors twenty-one times. He is married to Dharani, an incarnation of Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu.He is present in the Ramayana due to the conflict with Rama (the protagonist of the Ramayana) over Shiva's broken bow. He is mentioned in the Mahabharata as the guru of Bhisma, Drona, Rukmi, and Karna.

 

 #StampRelease

The Department of Posts today released a commemorative postage stamp on “Parshuram” the great warrior sage of Ancient India in Jaipur, Rajasthan. His teachings of righteousness, fairness and objectivity is an inspiration for all . The stamp was released by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information & technology in presence of other dignitaries.

Ashwini Vaishnaw Devusinh Chauhan Amrit Mahotsav Ministry of Culture, Government of India MyGovIndia DDNewsLive All India Radio News

19 March - Sydney Harbour Bridge formally opened in 1932

 

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge in Sydney, spanning Sydney Harbour from the central business district (CBD) to the North Shore. The view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is widely regarded as an iconic image of Sydney, and of Australia itself. Nicknamed "The Coathanger" because of its arch-based design, the bridge carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

It is the eighth longest spanning-arch bridge in the world and the tallest steel arch bridge, measuring 134 m (440 ft) from top to water level.It was also the world's widest long-span bridge, at 48.8 m (160 ft) wide, until construction of the new Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver was completed in 2012.

The bridge was formally opened on Saturday, 19 March 1932.Among those who attended and gave speeches were the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Philip Game, and the Minister for Public Works, Lawrence Ennis. The Premier of New South Wales, Jack Lang, was to open the bridge by cutting a ribbon at its southern end

19 March - Azad Hind Army hoisted the tricolor first time on Indian soil in 1944

 

With the assistance of the people of Manipur and other members of the Indian National Army (INA), the Azad Hind Army raised the tricolour for the first time on Indian soil on March 19, 1944, in Moirang, Manipur.


In place of Gandhi's "Charkha," Subhash Chandra Bose's Azad Hind Fauz adopted a version of the Purna Swaraj Flag in 1943 that featured the words "AZAD" on the top saffron band, "HIND" on the bottom green band, and a "Springing Tiger" in the middle of the white band to represent the INA's strength and unyielding will to fight.

The Azad Hind Fauj, often known as the Indian National Army (INA), was established during World War II.It was initially established by Capt. Mohan Singh in Singapore in September 1942 with Japanese POWs in India.The Indian Independence League, led by international nationalist leader Rash Behari Bose, provided support for this.Hikari Kikan and Mohan Singh, who began to believe that the Japanese High Command was exploiting the INA as a simple pawn and propaganda tool, disagreed, and the first INA was abruptly disbanded in December 1942.

Yet, after Subhas Chandra Bose arrived in the Far East in 1943, the notion of a liberation army was once again raised.
Rash Behari Bose gave Subhas Chandra Bose management of the company in July during a meeting in Singapore.Bose was successful in restructuring the infant army and earned a sizable following among the Indian expatriate community in south-east Asia.

They provided assistance both financially and by joining in the Indian National Army.At its peak, the INA had roughly 85,000 soldiers, including the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, a special women's force led by Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan.Throughout the operations in Burma, Imphal, and Kohima as well as subsequently in opposition to the Allies' successful Burma Campaign, this second INA fought alongside the Imperial Japanese Army.

The INA's main office was in Moirang, Manipur.On March 19, 1944, in Moirang, with the assistance of INA members from Manipur like Shri Mairembam Koireng Singh, Colonel Shaukat Malik raised the Tricolor for the first time on Indian land.