10 March - Kusumagraj death anniversary

 

Kusumagraj, passed away on 10 March 1999, was an eminent Marathi poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer, apart from being a humanist, who wrote of freedom, justice and emancipation of the deprived. In a career spanning five decades starting in pre-independence era, he wrote 16 volumes of poems, three novels, eight volumes of short stories, seven volumes of essays, 18 plays and six one-act plays. His works like the Vishakha (1942), a collection of lyrics, inspired a generation into the Indian freedom movement, and is today considered one of the masterpieces of Indian literature, apart from his play, Natsamrat, which has an important place in Marathi literature. He was the recipient of several State awards, and National awards including the 1974 Sahitya Akademi Award in Marathi for Natsamrat, Padma Bhushan (1991) and the Jnanapith Award in 1987.

09 March - Aloysius de Gonzaga birth anniversary

 

Aloysius de Gonzaga (Italian: Luigi Gonzaga; 9 March 1568 – 21 June 1591) was an Italian aristocrat who became a member of the Society of Jesus. While still a student at the Roman College, he died as a result of caring for the victims of a serious epidemic. He was beatified in 1605 and canonized in 1726.

09 March - Devika Rani passed away in 1994

 

Devika Rani, passed away on 09 March 1994, was an actress in Indian films who was active during the 1930s and 1940s. Widely acknowledged as the first lady of Indian cinema, Devika Rani had a successful film career that spanned 10 years.

Her on-screen pairing with Ashok Kumar was extremely popular in India. Following Himashu Rai’s death, she took over control of his studio and produced several films. She later married Russian painter Svetoslav Roerich, leading thereafter life of a recluse. She was awarded Padmashri, Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Soviet Land Nehru Award (1990).

09 March - Carrie Chapman Catt death anniversary

 

Carrie Chapman Catt ( 09 January  1859 – 09 March 1947) was an American women's suffrage leader and political activist. She played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement in the United States and was a key figure in the fight for women's right to vote.

Catt served as the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and later played a crucial role in the establishment of the League of Women Voters. She was a skilled organizer and speaker, and her strategic approach helped mobilize support for the suffrage cause.

Carrie Chapman Catt was instrumental in the final push for the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. The amendment was ratified in 1920, and Catt continued her work in advocating for women's rights and international peace throughout her life.

 

09 March - Zaverchand Kalidas Meghani passed away in 1947

 

Jhaverchand or Zaverchand Kalidas Meghani was an Indian poet, writer, social reformer and freedom fighter. He is a well-known name in the field of Gujarati literature. He was born in Chotila where the Government College has been renamed for this literary figure as Raashtreeya Shaayar Zaverchand Meghani College, Chotila.He was know as "Raashtreeya Shaayar"(National Poet).Besides this he received many awards like Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak and Mahida Paaritoshik in literature. He authored more than 100 books. His first book was a translation work of Rabindranath Tagore's called Kathaa-u-Kaahinee titled Kurbani Ni Katha (Stories of martyrdom) which was first published in 1922. He contributed widely to Gujarati folk literature. He went from village to village in search of folk-lores and published them in various volumes of Saurashtra Ni Rasdhar.He was also the Editor of Phulchhab Newspaper of Janmabhoomi group (which is being published till date from Rajkot).

A sample of his collection of folk tales from Saurashtra has recently been published in English, with the translation done by his son Vinod Meghani. The three volumes published so far are titled A Noble Heritage, A Shade Crimson and The Ruby Shattered.

His poems are taught as a part of syllabus in Gujarat Board Schools (GSEB). He passed away on 9 March 1947.

08 March - Ferdinand von Zeppelin death anniversary

 

Ferdinand von Zeppelin, born on 08 July 1838, in Konstanz, Germany, was a pioneering German general and aviation innovator renowned for creating the Zeppelin rigid airship. His fascination with aviation began during his service as an observer in the American Civil War, where he made his first ascent in a tethered balloon. Zeppelin's vision of a rigid airship, featuring a durable framework and filled with hydrogen for lift, culminated in the successful flight of the LZ 1 over Lake Constance on 02 July 1900. Despite initial challenges, his airships gained commercial success, with the German airship company DELAG operating passenger services by 1910. Zeppelins played significant roles in both military reconnaissance and civilian aviation, most notably with the LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin's round-the-world flight in 1929. However, the Hindenburg disaster in 1937, which saw the destruction of the LZ 129 Hindenburg, marked the decline of rigid airships. Ferdinand von Zeppelin's contributions to aviation were widely celebrated until his death on 08 March 1917, in Berlin. His innovations laid foundational work in aeronautics, leaving a legacy that endures in both historical and cultural contexts.

08 March - William Howard Taft death anniversary

 

William Howard Taft, born on 15 September 1857, in Cincinnati, Ohio, was an American statesman, jurist, and the 27th President of the United States. Here is a brief overview of William Howard Taft:

1. Education and Early Career: Taft came from a prominent family and graduated from Yale College in 1878. He then attended Cincinnati Law School, graduating in 1880. Taft practiced law in Cincinnati and served as a judge in the Ohio Superior Court.

2. Governor-General of the Philippines: In 1900, President William McKinley appointed Taft as the first civilian Governor-General of the Philippines, overseeing the American administration of the islands.

3. Secretary of War: In 1904, Taft became Secretary of War under President Theodore Roosevelt. He played a key role in the administration's efforts to modernize the armed forces and implement progressive reforms.

4. Presidential Election of 1908: Taft won the 1908 presidential election as the Republican candidate, succeeding Theodore Roosevelt. He defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan.

5. Dollar Diplomacy: Taft's foreign policy, known as "Dollar Diplomacy," aimed to promote American economic interests abroad, especially in Latin America and East Asia. It involved using American investment to boost stability and influence in other countries.

6. Challenges and Progressive Reforms: Taft faced internal divisions within the Republican Party, particularly with progressive Republicans. He initiated antitrust suits, supported the 16th Amendment (income tax), and expanded conservation efforts.

7. Presidential Election of 1912: In the election of 1912, Taft faced a divided Republican Party, leading to the formation of the Progressive Party with Theodore Roosevelt as its candidate. Taft lost to Woodrow Wilson, the Democratic candidate.

8. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: After leaving the presidency, Taft taught law at Yale and later served as the 10th Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, nominated by President Warren G. Harding.

9. Later Years: Taft's tenure as Chief Justice was marked by efforts to streamline the Supreme Court's workload. He served until his resignation in 1930 due to health issues.

10. Death: William Howard Taft passed away on 08 March 1930, in Washington, D.C.

William Howard Taft's legacy includes his contributions to the legal and judicial system, as well as his presidency during a period of significant political and social change in the United States.

08 March - Maha Shivaratri

 

Maha Shivaratri, also known as Shivratri, is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is observed annually in honor of Lord Shiva's marriage to Goddess Parvati. The name "Maha Shivaratri" translates to the "Great Night of Shiva," and the festival usually falls on the 13th night and 14th day of the lunar month of Phalguna or Maagha in the Hindu calendar.

Key aspects of Maha Shivaratri include fasting, meditation, prayers, and offerings to Lord Shiva. Devotees often visit Shiva temples, perform Rudra Abhishekam (a ritual of offering various items to Lord Shiva), and participate in night-long vigils. Many Hindus believe that observing Maha Shivaratri with devotion and sincerity can bring blessings, cleanse sins, and lead to spiritual awakening.

The festival holds significance in various legends associated with Lord Shiva, and it is celebrated with enthusiasm in different parts of India and other countries with Hindu communities. The date of Maha Shivaratri varies each year in the Gregorian calendar, as it is based on the Hindu lunar calendar.

08 March - Johannes Diderik van der Waals death anniversary

 

Johannes Diderik van der Waals (1837–1923) was a Dutch physicist and thermodynamicist known for his work in the field of molecular sciences. He was born on November 23, 1837, in Leiden, Netherlands.

Van der Waals' most significant contributions were in the study of the behavior of gases and the development of the van der Waals equation. In 1873, he proposed an equation of state for gases that accounted for the finite size of gas molecules and the attractive forces between them. This equation, known as the van der Waals equation, provided a more accurate description of real gas behavior than the ideal gas law, particularly at higher pressures and lower temperatures.

His work helped to bridge the gap between the idealized behavior described by the ideal gas law and the observed behavior of real gases. Van der Waals' equation laid the groundwork for further developments in the field of thermodynamics and played a crucial role in the understanding of phase transitions.

Johannes Diderik van der Waals was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1910 for his work on the equation of state for gases and liquids. His contributions to the understanding of molecular interactions and the behavior of fluids have had a lasting impact on the field of physical chemistry. Johannes Diderik van der Waals passed away on March 8, 1923.

 

08 March - Otto Hahn birth anniversary

 

Otto Hahn (1879-1968) was a German chemist who is best known for his pioneering work in the field of nuclear chemistry. He was born on March 8, 1879, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

One of Hahn's most significant contributions to science was the discovery of nuclear fission. In 1938, working with Fritz Strassmann, Hahn discovered that when uranium nuclei are bombarded with neutrons, they can split into smaller fragments, releasing a large amount of energy. This groundbreaking discovery laid the foundation for the development of nuclear power and atomic weapons.

Although Hahn made the discovery, it was his collaborator, Lise Meitner, who provided the theoretical explanation for nuclear fission. Despite this, Hahn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1944 for the discovery of the fission of heavy atomic nuclei.

Otto Hahn's later years were marked by his opposition to the use of nuclear technology for military purposes, particularly after witnessing the devastating effects of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. He became an advocate for peaceful applications of nuclear energy.

Otto Hahn's contributions to science and his ethical stance on the use of nuclear technology have left a lasting impact on the field of nuclear chemistry and the broader scientific community.