21 July - Vostok recorded a temperature of minus 89.2 degrees Celsius in 1983

 

On July 21, 1983, Vostok recorded a temperature of minus 89.2 degrees Celsius (minus 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit). This makes it the coldest temperature ever observed on the planet.

Vostok Station is a Russian research station located near the center of East Antarctica. The station is known for its extreme cold temperatures due to its high elevation, clear skies, and isolated location. The weather conditions at Vostok are harsh, with bitterly cold winters and limited sunlight during the polar night.

The temperature recorded at Vostok represents one of the most extreme climatic conditions on Earth and highlights the challenges faced by researchers and scientists working in Antarctica's remote and unforgiving environment.

21 July - Aswan High Dam inaugurated in Egypt

 

The Aswan High Dam in Egypt was completed and officially inaugurated on July 21, 1970.

The Aswan High Dam is a major engineering project located in Egypt, spanning the Nile River at the city of Aswan. It is one of the world's largest dams and plays a crucial role in Egypt's economy and agriculture.

Construction of the dam began in 1960 and was completed in 1970. Its main purposes were flood control, water storage, and the generation of hydroelectric power. The dam was built to replace the older Aswan Low Dam, which had limited water storage capacity and couldn't provide sufficient control over the Nile's annual flood.

While the Aswan High Dam has brought numerous benefits to Egypt, it has also resulted in some challenges. The creation of Lake Nasser led to the displacement of many people and submerged several archaeological sites. Additionally, the dam traps sediment, which previously fertilized farmlands downstream, leading to decreased fertility in some areas.

Overall, the Aswan High Dam remains a significant engineering achievement and a critical component of Egypt's infrastructure, supporting its agriculture, water resources, and power generation.

20 July - Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first to reach the moon in 1969

 

On July 20, 1969, during NASA's Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong, the mission commander, descended the Lunar Module (LM) "Eagle" to the lunar surface. He then famously stepped onto the Moon, delivering the iconic line, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."

Buzz Aldrin, the Lunar Module Pilot, followed Armstrong shortly after and became the second person to walk on the Moon. The two astronauts spent about two and a half hours outside the LM, conducting experiments, collecting samples, and setting up scientific instruments.

Michael Collins, the Command Module Pilot, remained in lunar orbit aboard the Command Module "Columbia" during this historic landing.

The Apollo 11 mission was a significant achievement in human space exploration and marked a pivotal moment in the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. Armstrong and Aldrin's successful moonwalk demonstrated the capabilities of human spaceflight and expanded our understanding of the cosmos. Their names are forever etched in history for their groundbreaking journey to the Moon.

 

20 July - Champaran Satyagraha 1917 -Mahatma Gandhi arrived in Champaran

 

Champaran Satyagraha - On July 20, 1917, Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement, arrived in Champaran, Bihar, to support the indigo farmers who were being exploited by British indigo planters. This marked one of the first instances of Gandhi's nonviolent resistance campaigns in India and played a crucial role in his evolution as a political leader.

20 July - Operation Valkyrie 1944

 

Operation Valkyrie, also known as the July 20 Plot, was a failed assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler and a coup d'état in Nazi Germany during World War II. It took place on July 20, 1944.

The plot was led by several high-ranking German military officers and civilians who were part of the German Resistance, a group of individuals who opposed Hitler's regime and sought to overthrow the Nazi government. Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, an army officer, was the key figure in the assassination attempt.

Stauffenberg was able to get close to Hitler during a military briefing at the Wolf's Lair headquarters in Rastenburg, East Prussia (now Kętrzyn, Poland). He placed a briefcase containing a bomb under the table where Hitler was seated. After leaving the room under the pretense of taking a phone call, Stauffenberg hoped that the bomb would kill Hitler and cripple the Nazi leadership, allowing the Resistance to take control of the government.

However, the assassination attempt did not go as planned. The bomb exploded but did not kill Hitler outright. He survived with minor injuries, as the conference table's heavy legs shielded him from the blast. Several officers were killed, and many others were injured. Stauffenberg and his co-conspirators were swiftly rounded up, and a series of trials and executions followed.

In the aftermath of the failed plot, the Nazi regime launched a brutal crackdown on the German Resistance, resulting in the arrest and execution of thousands of people suspected of involvement. Claus von Stauffenberg and other key figures were executed by firing squad on the same day as the attempt.

Despite its failure, the July 20 Plot remains one of the most significant acts of resistance against the Nazi regime, and it has been immortalized in history as an example of courage and defiance against tyranny.

20 July - Rajendra Kumar birth anniversary

Rajendra Kumar (20 July 1927 – 12 July 1999) was an Indian actor who starred in Bollywood films. Starting his career in 1949, he appeared in more than 80 films in a career spanning over four decades. He was popularly known as the 'Jubilee Kumar' during the 1960s when he starred in several commercially successful films.

He also produced several films starring his son Kumar Gaurav. The Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri in 1970. Known to refuse taking any medication, he died at the age of 71 on 12 July 1999, just a day after his son's 43rd birthday, and just 8 days before his 72nd birthday. He died of cardiac arrest in his sleep.

19 July - Samuel Colt birth anniversary

 

Samuel Colt, born on 19 July 1814.He was an American inventor, industrialist, and businessman, best known for his contributions to the firearms industry. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and displayed an early interest in mechanics and engineering. His innovations revolutionized the design and manufacturing of firearms, particularly the revolver.

Colt's most significant invention was the Colt revolver, a firearm that could fire multiple shots without the need for reloading after each shot. His design featured a rotating cylinder that held several rounds of ammunition. This revolutionary concept allowed users to fire multiple shots rapidly, making the revolver much more efficient and practical than single-shot firearms of the time.

In 1836, Samuel Colt received his first patent for the Colt revolver. However, initial sales were slow, and he faced financial difficulties. Despite this setback, he persevered and continued to improve his designs and manufacturing processes. Colt's revolvers gained popularity and widespread use, becoming essential firearms during the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, and the American West's expansion.

His company, the Colt's Manufacturing Company, became one of the most successful firearm manufacturers in the world. The Colt brand and his firearms became synonymous with quality, reliability, and innovation.

Samuel Colt's contributions to the firearms industry and the impact of his revolver on military, law enforcement, and civilian use cannot be understated. His work helped shape the course of American history and left a lasting legacy in the realm of firearm design and technology. Samuel Colt passed away on 10 January 1862, in Hartford, Connecticut, at the age of 47.

19 July - Insulin was introduced to the public in 1923

 

On 19 July 1923, after two years of trials Insulin was introduced to the public.

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels. Its discovery and subsequent development as a treatment for diabetes revolutionized the management of this condition.

Insulin was first discovered in 1921 by Sir Frederick Banting and his research team, which included Charles Best, John James Rickard Macleod, and James Collip. The discovery was a major breakthrough in medical science and earned Banting and Macleod the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1923.

Following the discovery, insulin was initially extracted from animal sources like pigs and cows. Over the years, advancements in biotechnology and genetic engineering have allowed the production of synthetic human insulin, which has become the standard treatment for diabetes.

Since the introduction of insulin to the public, it has saved countless lives and significantly improved the quality of life for people with diabetes. It is typically administered via injections or insulin pumps to help regulate blood sugar levels in individuals with type 1 diabetes and some cases of type 2 diabetes.

18 July : Oommen Chandy death anniversary

 

 

Oommen Chandy (31 October 1943 – 18 July 2023) was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the tenth Chief Minister of Kerala, from 2004 to 2006 and again from 2011 to 2016. He was also leader of the opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2011. He represented Puthuppally constituency as a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the State Assembly from 1970 until his death in 2023. He was the longest serving MLA in the Kerala Legislative Assembly and also the longest-serving MLA of any legislative assembly in the history of India. He is the only Indian chief minister to achieve award for public service from the United Nations.He was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress party. 

Congress veteran and former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy passed away on 18 July 2023, He was 79 years old.

The stamp was issued as part of Oommen Chandy's completion of 50 years as a member of the Legislative Assembly, the stamps prepared under the My Stamp project.

18 July - Vellore Lakshmanaswamy Mudaliar Ethiraj birth anniversary

 

Vellore Lakshmanaswamy Ethiraj (18 July 1890 – 18 August 1960) was an Indian lawyer and philanthropist who founded Ethiraj College for Women, a college in Chennai, India.He was the first Indian to be appointed as Crown Prosecutor by the British Raj. He also served as the President of the Madras Bar Association.

Ethiraj was born on 18 July 1890 in a Tuluva Vellala (Agamudaya)Mudaliar family of Vellore and was born to Lakshmanaswamy and Ammayi Ammal. V. L. Ethiraj received his undergraduate degree from Presidency College, Chennai and received his law degree from Trinity College Dublin.[citation needed]

One of Ethiraj's successes was the Lakshmikanthan murder case, which he successfully fought in defense of Tamil actors M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and N. S. Krishnan.[citation needed] His advocacy was described by C. P. Ramaswami Iyer as "a marvel of the 20th century"