17 April - Karen Blixen birth anniversary

 

 

Karen Blixen, also known by her pen name Isak Dinesen, was a Danish author best known for her memoir "Out of Africa," which chronicles her experiences living and working on a coffee plantation in colonial Kenya.

Blixen was born on 17 April 1885, in Rungsted, Denmark, and died on 07 September 1962, in Rungstedlund, Denmark. She spent many years in Kenya, where she ran a coffee farm called "Karen Coffee Company" near Nairobi from 1914 to 1931.

"Out of Africa," published in 1937 under the pen name Isak Dinesen, recounts Blixen's life in Kenya and her relationships with the local people and the landscape. The book explores themes of colonialism, love, loss, and the human connection to nature. It has been widely acclaimed for its lyrical prose and vivid depiction of African life.

In addition to "Out of Africa," Blixen wrote several other works of fiction and memoir, including "Seven Gothic Tales" and "Winter's Tales." Her writing often blends elements of fantasy, folklore, and autobiography, creating rich and imaginative narratives that have captivated readers around the world.

Blixen's literary legacy continues to be celebrated, and her works remain popular and influential in both Danish and international literature. Her ability to capture the beauty and complexity of human experience, as well as her deep connection to the African landscape, has left an indelible mark on the literary world.

17 April - Biju Patnaik death anniversary

 

Biju Patnaik, passed away on 17 April 1997, was a famous Oriya leader and Chief Minister. He served as Chief Minister of Odisha for two terms. Biju Patnaik became a friend of Jawaharlal Nehru during Indian freedom struggle. For his support to Indonesia during its freedom struggle, Patnaik was given a honorary citizenship there was awarded the ‘Bhoomi Putra’, the highest Indonesian award. He also received their highest national award in 1996.

17 April - World Hemophilia Day

 

April 17, 2023 is World Hemophilia Day. The theme of the event this year is “Access for All: Prevention of bleeds as the global standard of care”. Building on last year’s theme, the call to action for the community in 2023 is to come together and advocate with local policy makers and governments for improved access to treatment and care with an emphasis on better control and prevention of bleeds for all people with bleeding disorders (PWBDs). This means the implementation of home-based treatment as well as prophylactic treatment to help those individuals have a better quality of life.

17 April - Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan death anniversary

 

 Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (5 September 1888 – 17 April 1975), natively Radhakrishnayya,was an Indian philosopher and statesman. He served as the second president of India from 1962 to 1967. He was also the first vice president of India from 1952 to 1962. He was the second ambassador of India to the Soviet Union from 1949 to 1952. He was also the fourth vice-chancellor of Banaras Hindu University from 1939 to 1948 and the second vice-chancellor of Andhra University from 1931 to 1936.

One of the most distinguished twentieth-century scholars of comparative religion and philosophy, Radhakrishnan held the King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Science at the University of Calcutta from 1921 to 1932 and Spalding Chair of Eastern Religion and Ethics at University of Oxford from 1936 to 1952.

Radhakrishnan's philosophy was grounded in Advaita Vedanta, reinterpreting this tradition for a contemporary understanding.[web 1] He defended Hinduism against what he called "uninformed Western criticism",contributing to the formation of contemporary Hindu identity.He has been influential in shaping the understanding of Hinduism, in both India and the west, and earned a reputation as a bridge-builder between India and the West.

Radhakrishnan was awarded several high awards during his life, including a knighthood in 1931, the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India, in 1954, and honorary membership of the British Royal Order of Merit in 1963. He was also one of the founders of Helpage India, a non profit organisation for elderly underprivileged in India. Radhakrishnan believed that "teachers should be the best minds in the country". Since 1962, his birthday has been celebrated in India as Teachers' Day on 5 September every year 

17 April - First Lok Sabha was constituted in 1952

 

The First Lok Sabha was constituted on 17 April 1952 after India's first general election. The 1st Lok Sabha lasted its full tenure of five years and was dissolved on 4 April 1957. The First Session of this Lok Sabha commenced on 13 May 1952.

Total Lok Sabha seats were 489 and total eligible voters were 17.3 crores. The Indian National Congress (INC) won 364 seats. They were followed by Independents, winning a total of 37 seats. The Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Socialist Party (India) followed with 16 and 12 seats respectively. Indian National Congress got 45% of the total votes in this election and won 76% of the 479 contested seats.

17 April - Syria gained independence from France

 

The First Syrian Republic,officially the Syrian Republic,was formed in 1930 as a component of the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon, succeeding the State of Syria. A treaty of independence was made in 1936 to grant independence to Syria and end official French rule, but the French parliament refused to accept the treaty. From 1940 to 1941, the Syrian Republic was under the control of Vichy France, and after the Allied invasion in 1941 gradually went on the path towards independence. The proclamation of independence took place in 1944, but only in October 1945 was the Syrian Republic de jure recognized by the United Nations; it became a de facto sovereign state on 17 April 1946, with the withdrawal of French troops. It was succeeded by the Second Syrian Republic upon the adoption of a new constitution on 5 September 1950

16 April - 150th Anniversary of Railways in India

 

A Miniature sheet consisting one commemorative postage stamps was issued on 16 April 2002 on the 150th.Anniversary of Railways in India : The design of the stamp ( and the miniature sheet) tries to re-create the Indian landscape of 1853 , with the first train chugging away in the distance , on its journey to Thane on the 16th. of April. The first day cover is an artist's impression of the old Byculla Railway station , located on the track connecting Bombay to Thane. A station master's watch showing the time when the train commenced its historical journey from Bombay is shown on the design of the first day Cancellation.

16 April - Yasunari Kawabata death anniversary

 

Yasunari Kawabata was indeed a highly acclaimed Japanese novelist and short story writer, widely regarded as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century. He was born on 11June 1899, in Osaka, Japan, and he passed away on 16 April 1972.

Kawabata is best known for his evocative prose, lyrical style, and keen exploration of themes such as love, loss, memory, and the complexities of human relationships. He was a master of the Japanese literary form known as "shishōsetsu" or "I-novel," which focuses on the intimate and subjective experiences of the protagonist.

One of Kawabata's most famous works is the novel "Snow Country" (Yukiguni), published in 1947, which depicts the poignant relationship between a Tokyo dilettante and a geisha in a remote hot spring town. The novel is celebrated for its lyrical beauty and nuanced portrayal of human emotions.

Kawabata's other notable works include "Thousand Cranes" (Sembazuru), "The Sound of the Mountain" (Yama no Oto), and "The Old Capital" (Koto), among others. In 1968, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first Japanese author to receive this prestigious honor.

Yasunari Kawabata's literary legacy continues to inspire readers and writers around the world. His works are celebrated for their profound insights into the human condition and their exquisite craftsmanship, solidifying his place as one of Japan's greatest literary treasures.

16 April - Anatole France birth anniversary

 

 Anatole France (16 April 1844 – 12 October 1924) was a French poet, journalist, and novelist with several best-sellers. Ironic and skeptical, he was considered in his day the ideal French man of letters[according to whom?]. He was a member of the Académie Française, and won the 1921 Nobel Prize in Literature "in recognition of his brilliant literary achievements, characterized as they are by a nobility of style, a profound human sympathy, grace, and a true Gallic temperament".

France is also widely believed to be the model for narrator Marcel's literary idol Bergotte in Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time.

16 April - Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin birth anniversary

 

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin (16 April 1889 – 25 December 1977), an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. In addition to becoming a worldwide icon as the Tramp, he is considered one of the most influential figures in Hollywood. His career spanned more than 75 years, from childhood in the Victorian era until a year before his death in 1977, and encompassed both adulation and controversy. He was born on 16 April 1889