20 May - New UPU Hedquarters commerative stamp issued in 1970

 

A commemorative postage stamp issued on 20 May. 1970 on the New Universal Postal (UPU) Headquarters located in Bern , Switzerland.

UPU, established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874, is a specialized agency of the United Nations  that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration, the Postal Operations Council and the International Bureau . It also oversees the Telematics and Express Mail Service cooperatives. Each member agrees to the same terms for conducting international postal duties. The UPU's headquarters are located in Bern, Switzerland.

India had taken active interest in the work of this Union as a member of the two organs, namely, the Executive council and the Management council of the consultative committee for the Postal Studies , India has contributed to the work of the union.The design of the stamp is horizontal and depicts a picture of the new Building of Headquarters of the UPU at Berne (Switzerland) along with the symbol of the U.P.U.

20 May - Malhar Rao Holkar death anniversary

Malhar Rao Holkar (16 March 1694 – 20 May 1766), a noble subedar of the Maratha Empire, in present-day India. He helped in the spread of the Maratha rule to northern states and was given the estate of Indore to rule by the Peshwas, during the reign of the Maratha Emperor Shahu I. He died on 20 May 1766 at the age of 73.

20 May - Bipin Chandra Pal death anniversary

 

Bipin Chandra Pal ( 07 November 1858 – 20 May 1932), an Indian revolutionary, teacher, journalist, and writer. He is one of the great personalities who played a major role in laying the foundation of India’s independence movement. He was part of the famous Lal-Bal-Pal (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Vipin Chandra Pal) trio. This trio shook the cradles of English rule with its sharp attack. Apart from being a nationalist leader. He is also considered the father of revolutionary ideas in India. He died on 20 May 1932 at the age of 73 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), British India.

20 May - Piru Singh Shekhawat birth anniversary

 

Piru Singh Shekhawat (20 May 1918 – 18 July 1948), an Indian Army non-commissioned officer, awarded the Param Vir Chakra. He took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, serving with the Indian Army’s 6th Rajputana Rifles. Piru Singh was born on 20 May 1918 in Beri, Rajputana, British India.

20 May - Sumitranandan Pant birth anniversary

 

Sumitranandan Pant (20 May 1900 – 28 December 1977), an Indian poet. The beautiful and lively depiction of nature is rare as found in Pantji’s poem. He was a beautiful poet of nature and was well versed in drawing a lively, beautiful, and captivating picture. The composition of national love is also found abundantly in the poetry of Pant Ji. He was a serious thinker, an excellent poet, and a man of innately skilled craftsman of humanity. Pant received the ‘Gyan Peeth Award’ for his work ‘Chidambra‘. His other compositions are the following – Veena, Granthi, Pallava, Pallvini, Atima, Gunjan, Yuganta, Yugavani Gramya, Swarn Kiran, Swarna Dhuli ‘,’ Uttara ‘,’ Shilpi ‘ and Rashmibandh. Pant became the first Hindi poet to receive the Jnanpith Award in 1969 for a collection of his most famous poems titled Chidambara. He also got Padma Bhushan in 1961 by the Indian Government. He was born on 20 May 1900 in Kausani, North-Western Provinces, British India.

19 May - Hazari Prasad Dwivedi death anniversary

 

Hazari Prasad Dwivedi (1907-1979) was a renowned Hindi writer, critic, and scholar from India. He played a significant role in the development of modern Hindi literature and is considered one of the pioneers of the Hindi literary movement called "Nayi Kahani" (New Story). Dwivedi's works were characterized by their realistic portrayal of social issues and his mastery of the Hindi language.

 Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was also an influential literary critic and commentator. He analyzed and reviewed the works of other writers, helping shape the Hindi literary landscape. His critical works, such as "Sanskriti ke Chaar Adhyay" (Four Chapters of Culture), offer insightful perspectives on literature, culture, and society.

For his immense contribution to Hindi literature, Dwivedi received several accolades and honors, including the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973 for his novel "Saraswatichandra." He was also a recipient of the prestigious Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian awards, in 1973.

Hazari Prasad Dwivedi passed away on May 19, 1979, leaving behind a rich literary legacy. His writings continue to be celebrated for their literary merit, social consciousness, and significant influence on Hindi literature. Dwivedi's contributions have helped shape the modern Hindi literary movement and have inspired subsequent generations of writers and readers.

 

19 May - Hồ Chí Minh birth anniversary

 

Hồ Chí Minh, born Nguyễn Sinh Cung (1890-1969), was a Vietnamese revolutionary leader and statesman. He played a crucial role in the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) in 1945 and served as its President from 1945 until his death in 1969.

Hồ Chí Minh was born in Nghệ An Province, Vietnam, which was then part of French Indochina. He later adopted the name Hồ Chí Minh, which means "He Who Enlightens." He traveled extensively and lived in various countries, including France, the United States, and China, where he became influenced by socialist and nationalist ideas.

Hồ Chí Minh was a key figure in the struggle for Vietnamese independence from French colonial rule. He co-founded the Indochinese Communist Party in 1930 and led the Viet Minh, a broad-based nationalist and communist organization, during the First Indochina War against French forces. The Viet Minh successfully fought for independence, leading to the Geneva Accords in 1954, which temporarily divided Vietnam into the communist-led North and the anti-communist South.

Following the division of Vietnam, Hồ Chí Minh focused on building a socialist state in North Vietnam and reunifying the country under communist rule. He led the North Vietnamese government during the Vietnam War, which escalated with the involvement of the United States. Hồ Chí Minh's leadership and his ability to rally the Vietnamese people were instrumental in the Vietnamese resistance against the American military.

Hồ Chí Minh's ideology and leadership style were shaped by a combination of communism, nationalism, and guerrilla warfare tactics. He emphasized self-reliance, simplicity, and a dedication to the welfare of the Vietnamese people. His leadership and determination in the face of adversity made him a revered figure in Vietnam and an inspiration to anti-colonial movements around the world.

Hồ Chí Minh passed away on September 2, 1969, but his legacy as a nationalist and communist leader remains influential in Vietnam's history. He is widely regarded as the father of modern Vietnam and is still highly revered by the Vietnamese people. His mausoleum in Hanoi, where his embalmed body is preserved, serves as a popular site of pilgrimage and a symbol of Vietnamese independence and unity.

 

19 May - Suez Canal closed for Israeli ships

 

On 19 May 1950, Egypt announced that the Suez Canal is closed to Israeli ships and commerce.

The Suez Canal, is a sea-level waterway in _Egypt,_ connecting the _Mediterranean Sea_ to the _Red Sea_ through the _Isthmus of Suez._ Constructed by the Suez Canal Company between 1859 and 1869, it was officially opened on 17 November 1869. The canal offers watercraft a more direct route between the _North Atlantic_ and _northern Indian oceans_ via the _Mediterranean_ and _Red seas,_ thus avoiding the _South Atlantic_ and _southern Indian Oceans_ and thereby reducing the journey distance.

19 May - Neelam Sanjiva Reddy birth anniversary

 

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, also known as N. Sanjiva Reddy, was an Indian politician who served as the sixth President of India. He was born on May 19, 1913, in Illur village, present-day Andhra Pradesh, India, and passed away on June 1, 1996, in Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

Reddy had an extensive political career spanning several decades. He was associated with the Indian National Congress (INC) and actively participated in the Indian freedom struggle against British rule. Reddy held various positions in the Congress party and made significant contributions to the organization's growth and development.

In 1960, Reddy was elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, and he served in that position until 1967. He was known for his impartiality and efficient handling of parliamentary affairs during his tenure.

In 1977, Reddy became the first non-Congress President of India. He was elected to the presidency as a candidate of the Janata Party, a coalition of opposition parties formed to challenge the dominance of the Congress party. Reddy served as the President of India from 1977 to 1982, during which he worked to uphold the principles of democracy and constitutional governance.

As President, Reddy was known for his simplicity, humility, and commitment to public service. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the independence and integrity of the office of the President.

After his presidency, Reddy retired from active politics and lived a quiet life. He was honored with several awards and recognition for his contributions to the nation. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy remains a respected figure in Indian politics, known for his integrity, statesmanship, and dedication to democratic values

19 May - C. V. Pillai born in 1858

Cannankara Velayudhan Raman Pillai (19 May 1858 – 21 March 1922), also known as C. V., was one of the major Indian novelists and playwrights and a pioneering playwright and novelist of Malayalam literature. He was known for his historical novels such as Marthandavarma, Dharmaraja and Ramaraja Bahadur; the last mentioned considered by many as one of the greatest novels written in Malayalam.