03 January - Veerapandiya Kattabomman birth anniversary

 

Veerapandiya Kattabomman, also known as Kattabommu, was an 18th-century Palayakarrar chieftain from Panchalankurichi in present-day Tamil Nadu, India. His full name was Veerapandiyan, and he is remembered for his role in opposing the British East India Company during the early stages of their colonial expansion in India.

Veerapandiya Kattabomman was born on 03 January 1760, and he died on 16 October 1799. His defiance against the British authorities and his eventual capture and execution have made him a symbol of resistance against colonial rule in Tamil Nadu.

 

03 January - World's First Souvenir Sheet

 

 

On 03 January 1923, a pane of one stamp was issued by Post Luxembourg being termed as the first souvenir sheet. This small pane with broad margins frames a single green stamp showing a view of Luxembourg. Earlier Luxembourg miniature sheets were sold in 1906 and 1921; however those sheets contained contemporary definitive postage stamps that were readily available for purchase at post offices.

This sheet was a special printing of a stamp that would be officially issued two months later. The special printing marked the birth of Princess Elisabeth, who was born on 22 December 1922. The design of the 10 F. denomination stamp features a View of Luxembourg City from the park in front of Fort Thungen. The stamp is inscribed with “GRAND-DUCHE DE” at the top and “LUXEMBOURG” at the bottom flanked by 10 on left and Fr. on right.

Souvenir sheets were once reserved for truly special occasions. The souvenir sheet was not just World’s first but also was the first 10 F. denomination postage stamp produced in Luxembourg.

03 January - Michael Schumacher birthday

 

Michael Schumacher, the retired German Formula One racing driver, was born on January 3, 1969. Schumacher is widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time, having achieved seven World Championships during his career.

The most recent information available about Michael Schumacher's health is that he suffered a severe head injury in a skiing accident in December 2013. Following the accident, he underwent multiple surgeries and was placed in a medically induced coma.

Since then, updates about Schumacher's health have been limited, and his family has maintained a high level of privacy. The details of his current health status, ongoing treatments, or recovery progress are not publicly disclosed.

03 January - Father Damien birth anniversary

 

Father Damien, also known as Saint Damien of Molokai, was born on 03 January 1840 in Tremelo, Belgium. He passed away on 15 April 1889. Father Damien was a Catholic missionary priest who gained recognition for his selfless service and care for people with Hansen's disease (leprosy) on the island of Molokai in Hawaii. He volunteered to serve the leper colony and ultimately contracted the disease himself, succumbing to it after several years of devoted service. Father Damien was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 2009.

03 January - Alaska was admitted as the 49th U.S. state

 

Alaska was admitted as the 49th U.S. state on 03 January 1959. It became the first U.S. state located outside of the contiguous United States. Prior to its statehood, Alaska was a U.S. territory since the United States purchased it from Russia in 1867. The official ceremony marking Alaska's statehood took place in Juneau, the capital of the territory, on 03 January 1959.

03 January - Satish Dhawan death anniversary

 

Satish Dhawan, an Indian aerospace engineer and space scientist, was born on 25 September 1920 in Srinagar, British India. He passed away on 03 January 2002. Satish Dhawan played a crucial role in the development of India's space program and served as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from 1972 to 1984. Under his leadership, India launched its first satellite, Aryabhata, in 1975, and he made significant contributions to the country's space capabilities.

03 January - Savitribai Phule birth anniversary

 

Savitribai Phule was born on 03 January 1831 in Naigaon, Maharashtra, India. She passed away on 10 March 1897. Savitribai Phule, along with her husband Jyotirao Phule, was a social reformer, educator, and a prominent figure in the 19th-century Indian social reform movement. She played a key role in promoting education for women and oppressed castes in India during a time when such initiatives were not widely supported. Savitribai Phule is remembered as one of the pioneers of women's education in India.

03 January - Rani Velu Nachiyar birth anniversary

 

Rani Velu Nachiyar was born on 03 January 1730, and she passed away on 25 December 1796 was a queen of Sivaganga estate. She was the first Indian queen to wage war with the East India Company in India. She is known by Tamils as Veeramangai ("brave woman"). With the support of Hyder Ali's army, feudal lords, the Maruthu Brothers, Dalit commanders, and Thandavarayan Pillai, she fought the East India company.

02 January - Isaac Asimov birth anniversary

 

Isaac Asimov was an American author, professor, and biochemist, best known for his prolific contributions to science fiction literature. He was born on 02 January 1920, in Petrovichi, Russia. He passed away on 06 April 1992, in New York City, USA.He wrote and edited hundreds of books, including novels, short stories, essays, and science books. Asimov's works cover a wide range of subjects, but he is perhaps most famous for his science fiction novels and stories that explore themes of robotics, artificial intelligence, and the future of humanity.

Some of his most notable works include the "Foundation" series, which presents a future galactic empire and the development of a new science called "psychohistory" to predict the future of large populations. Another significant series is the "Robot" series, featuring stories about positronic robots and their interactions with humans, including the famous "Three Laws of Robotics."

Apart from his fiction, Asimov also wrote popular science books aimed at a general audience, explaining complex scientific concepts in an accessible manner. His ability to bridge the gap between scientific expertise and public understanding earned him recognition as a science popularizer.

Isaac Asimov's impact on science fiction and popular science writing has left a lasting legacy, and his works continue to be widely read and influential in these genres.

 

02 January - Usmar Ismail death anniversary

 

 

Usmar Ismail (20 March 1921 – 2 January 1971) was an Indonesian film director, author, journalist and revolutionary of Minangkabau descent. He was widely regarded as the native Indonesian pioneer of the cinema of Indonesia.

He died on 2 January 1971 of a stroke in Jakarta.He is buried in TPU Karet Bivak in Jakarta.

Usmar Ismail became one of four individuals awarded by President Joko Widodo as a National Hero of Indonesia in Indonesia's Heroes Day of 2021.