19 February - Constantin Brâncuși's birth anniversary

 

Constantin Brâncuși (19 February 1876 – 16 March 1957) was a Romanian sculptor who became a key figure in modern art. Here are some key points about Constantin Brâncuși:

1. Early Life: Brâncuși was born in Hobița, a small village in Romania. He showed early talent in woodcarving, and his skills led him to attend the School of Arts and Crafts in Craiova. Later, he studied at the National School of Fine Arts in Bucharest.

2. Move to Paris: In 1904, Brâncuși moved to Paris, which was a thriving center for the avant-garde art scene. This move marked a crucial period in his artistic development.

3. Sculptural Style: Brâncuși is best known for his abstract and symbolic sculptures. His work evolved through several phases, including influences of folk art, symbolism, and Cubism. He gradually moved toward a more simplified and abstract style.

4. Influence on Modern Art: Brâncuși's work had a profound impact on the development of modern sculpture. His focus on form, materials, and abstraction set him apart as a pioneer in the art world.

5. Notable Works: Some of his most famous sculptures include "The Kiss," "Bird in Space," "Endless Column," and "Sleeping Muse." "Bird in Space" particularly drew attention for its sleek, streamlined form and became iconic in the history of modern sculpture.

6. Legal Controversy: The term "Bird in Space" led to a legal dispute in the United States when customs officials initially classified it as a utilitarian object rather than art. Brâncuși won the case, and the legal precedent helped define modern art for customs purposes.

7. Legacy: Constantin Brâncuși's legacy is celebrated worldwide. His innovative approach to form and material, along with his emphasis on the spiritual and symbolic aspects of art, left a lasting impact on modern and contemporary sculpture.

8. Death: Brâncuși passed away on 16 March 1957, in Paris, France. His studio and a significant part of his works were bequeathed to the French government and are now on display at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.

Constantin Brâncuși's contributions to art are highly regarded, and his work continues to inspire and influence artists and art enthusiasts around the world.

19 February - Rajkumar Lal Pratap Singh died 1858

 Rajkumar Lal Pratap Singh was a member of the Bisen Rajput dynasty of Kalakankar. He was prominent leader in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He was killed during the 1858 Battle of Chanda. The Government of India issued a postage stamp on 17 December 2009 to commemorate him.

Shaheed Lal Pratap Singh born to father Raja Hanumant Singh (1826–1885) in the zamindar of the Kalakankar of Partabgarh (now spelt Pratapgarh) near Allahabad in the Bengal Presidency of Colonial India during Company rule.

At the behest of the Begum, Hanumant Singh raised a battalion of 1000 soldiers under the command of his eldest son Lal Pratap Singh. This battalion, called "Pratap Jang" rose to action in February 1858 when the British under Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde and Commander-in-Chief, India attempted the Capture of Lucknow.

Lord Campbell was aided by a Gurkha battalion and two Company battalions. The three forces summoned by the Begum, including the one from Kalakankar camped at Chanda in Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh awaiting the signal for battle.

On 19 February 1858, as the 'Pratap Jang' contingent sat down to breakfast, the army of East India Company attacked them. The soldiers of the 'Pratap Jang' picked up whatever weapon came to hand and pitched into the battle until ammunition ran out. Reinforcements were cut off by the Company troops and scattered remnants of other forces of the Talukdars had been forced to retreat.

Lal Pratap Singh was advised to withdraw so that he could fight another day but the young warrior Lal Pratap led his troop into the final battle, of which the result was inevitable. many Indian soldiers and warriors died that day, among them was Lal Pratap Singh for whom a glorious death was preferable to the shame of cowardice. The humiliation inflicted on his body by the company troop commanders could not decimate the glory of great warrior Lal Pratap Singh. His untimely death devastated his father Hanumant Singh.

He left behind him a young widow princess Diggach Kunwari and a son Raja Rampal Singh Singh who born in August 1848.

Lal Pratap Singh, a loving son with a kind and generous nature, led a disciplined life, a life that has inspired his future generations to fight the good fight. 

Rajkumar Lal Pratap Singh died on 19 February 1858 at Chanda, Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

19 February - Acharya Narendra Deva death anniversary

 

Acharya Narendra Deva (30 October 1889 – 19 February 1956) was one of the leading theorists of the Congress Socialist Party in India. His democratic socialism renounced violent means as a matter of principle and embraced the satyagraha as a revolutionary tactic.

Dev was first drawn to nationalism around 1915 under the influence of B G Tilak and Aurobindo Ghosh. As a teacher he became interested in Marxism and Buddhism. He was active in the Hindi language movement. He was a key leader of the Congress Socialist Party from its founding in 1934 and was imprisoned several times during the freedom struggle. He was at times a member of the Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly.

He served as Vice Chancellor of University of Lucknow from 1947-1951 and then served as Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University from December 1951 to 31 May 1954. Helped by Nirmal Chandra Chaturvedi, Executive Councillor and a prominent educationist of the state. He started a number of projects for the expansion of the university.

Narendra Dev advocated the abolition of poverty and exploitation not just through the Marxist materialist dialectic but especially on moral and humanistic grounds. He insisted that "without social democracy political democracy was a shame". Dev was active in the peasant movement and served as president of the All-India Kisan Congress.

He remained associated with the Socialist Party and its successor, the Praja Socialist Party, until his death in 1956.

19 February - Family Day Canada

 

Family Day is a public holiday in several provinces and territories across Canada. The date on which it is celebrated varies depending on the region. Here are the details for each province and territory:

1. Alberta: Family Day is observed on the third Monday in February.

2. British Columbia: Family Day is observed on the third Monday in February.

3. Manitoba: The third Monday in February is celebrated as Louis Riel Day, which is a public holiday. However, it is not officially designated as Family Day.

4. New Brunswick: Family Day is observed on the third Monday in February.

5. Newfoundland and Labrador: St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday observed on March 17th, but it is not officially designated as Family Day.

6. Nova Scotia: Heritage Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February, but it is not officially designated as Family Day.

7. Ontario: Family Day is observed on the third Monday in February.

8. Prince Edward Island: Islander Day is observed on the third Monday in February, and it serves as the province's equivalent to Family Day.

9. Quebec: This province does not officially observe Family Day, as they have a different public holiday called Jour de la famille (Family Day), which is celebrated on the third Monday in February.

10. Saskatchewan: Family Day is observed on the third Monday in February.

Family Day is a time for Canadians to spend with their families and participate in various activities and events that celebrate the importance of family life. It provides an opportunity for people to relax and enjoy each other's company during the winter months.

 

19 February - National Flag Day Turkmenistan

 

Turkmenistan celebrates the National Flag Day on February 19 which a national holiday in the country. It marks the day Turkmenistan approved its current national flag on 19th February 1992. First celebrated in 1995, National Flag Day has been marked by festive celebrations and the president's message to the people.

The Turkmen flag has a green background with a vertical red and burgundy stripe, five national carpet patterns, a white crescent and five stars on it. The national flag symbolizes unity, solidarity, and brotherhood. The green color symbolizes the unity of time, life and land. The crescent represents a clear sky and white five-pointed stars are the symbol of the five regions of Turkmenistan.

Turkmenistan had issued a number of stamps depicting the flag of the nation. In the year 1996, Turkmenistan issued a 1,000 Turkmenistani manat stamp to celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of Independence. The stamp depicts Flag and Arms of Turkmenistan. The name of the country is inscribed on the top left and the denomination value at the bottom right. 

19 February - Commemoration of Vasil Levski (Bulgaria)

 

Vasil Levski, also known as the Apostle of Freedom, was a key figure in the Bulgarian struggle for independence against Ottoman rule in the 19th century. He played a crucial role in organizing and leading revolutionary activities aimed at liberating Bulgaria. The commemoration of Vasil Levski in Bulgaria is an important event that honors his contributions to the country's fight for freedom.

Vasil Levski Commemoration:

1. Date: The commemoration of Vasil Levski typically takes place on February 19th, which is the anniversary of his execution by the Ottoman authorities in 1873.

2. Activities: On this day, various events and ceremonies are organized throughout Bulgaria to pay tribute to Vasil Levski. These may include official ceremonies, wreath-laying at monuments dedicated to Levski, cultural events, educational programs, and speeches highlighting his role in Bulgarian history.

3. Monuments and Memorials: There are numerous monuments and memorials dedicated to Vasil Levski across Bulgaria. On the commemoration day, these sites become focal points for gatherings and ceremonies.

4. National Hero: Vasil Levski is widely regarded as a national hero in Bulgaria, and his legacy is an integral part of the country's historical narrative. His commitment to the cause of Bulgarian independence and his efforts to create a revolutionary movement have left an enduring impact on the nation.

Vasil Levski's contributions are celebrated not only on the specific commemoration day but throughout the year, as his life and sacrifices remain central to Bulgaria's identity and the struggle for national sovereignty. The commemoration serves as a reminder of the importance of freedom and the sacrifices made by individuals like Vasil Levski in the pursuit of national independence.

19 February - National Democracy Day in Nepal

 

National Democracy Day in Nepal is observed on February 19th each year. This day holds historical significance as it commemorates the establishment of democracy in the country. Specifically, on February 19, 1951, King Tribhuvan, who had sought asylum in the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, returned to the throne, ending the autocratic Rana rule and initiating a transition towards a democratic system.

National Democracy Day is a public holiday in Nepal, and various events and activities take place across the country to celebrate and reflect on the achievements and challenges of the democratic journey. Please note that celebrations and events may vary, and it's advisable to check more recent and local sources for the latest information on National Democracy Day in Nepal.

 

19 February - Munshi Nawal Kishore death anniversary

 

Munshi Nawal Kishore (03 January 1836 – 19 February 1895) was a book publisher from India. He has been called Caxton of India. In 1858, at the age of 22, he founded the Nawal Kishore Press at Lucknow. This institution today is the oldest printing and publishing concern in Asia.Mirza Ghalib was one of his admirers.

Munshi Nawal Kishore was the second son of Munshi Jamuna Prasad Bhargava, a zamindar of Aligarh, and was born on 3 January 1836. At the age of six, he was admitted in a local school (maktab) to learn Arabic and Persian. At the age on 10, he was admitted in Agra College, but he never completed his education there for an unknown reason. During this time, he developed his interest in journalistic writing, and issued a short-lived weekly paper Safeer-e-Agra. He briefly served as an assistant editor and editor of Koh-i-Noor, a magazine of Koh-i-Noor Press owned by Munshi Harsukh Roy.

On 23 November 1858, he founded a printing press known as Munshi Nawal Kishor Press. From 1859, he started publishing weekly newspaper Avadh Akhbar, also known as Oudh Akhbar.

He died on 19 February 1895 in Delhi. His body was buriedinstead of traditional cremation. The Government of India issued a postage stamp on him in his honour in 1970.

Munshi Nawal Kishore published more than 5000 books in Arabic, Bengali, Hindi, English, Marathi, Punjabi, Pashto, Persian, Sanskrit and Urdu during 1858–1885.The Ram Kumar Press and Tej Kumar Press, started by his sons, are successors to the Nawal Kishore Press.

Munshi was a member of the Indian National Congress

18 February - Michelangelo death anniversary

 

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni ( 06 March 1475 – 18 February 1564), known as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect,and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspired by models from classical antiquity and had a lasting influence on Western art. Michelangelo's creative abilities and mastery in a range of artistic arenas define him as an archetypal Renaissance man, along with his rival and elder contemporary, Leonardo da Vinci.Given the sheer volume of surviving correspondence, sketches, and reminiscences, Michelangelo is one of the best-documented artists of the 16th century. He was lauded by contemporary biographers as the most accomplished artist of his era.

18 February - Rafi Ahmed Kidwai birth anniversary

 

Rafi Ahmed Kidwai (18 February 1894 – 24 October 1954) was a politician, an Indian independence activist and a socialist. He hailed from Barabanki District of Uttar Pradesh, in north India.
Rafi Ahmed was born in the village of Masauli, in Barabanki district (now in Uttar Pradesh)

Kidwai died in Delhi on 24 October 1954. He had heart failure after experiencing an attack of asthma while delivering a speech. His burial site, at his home village, was covered by a Mughal-style mausoleum. According to historian Paul Brass, "A formidable fund-raiser for Congress movements and elections, he distributed his largesse to all and sundry, but died in debt, leaving behind only a decaying house in his home village.