24 March - National Tree Planting Day Uganda

 

National Tree Planting Day in Uganda is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of tree planting and environmental conservation. The Ugandan government, along with various organizations and communities, organizes tree planting activities across the country to combat deforestation, promote sustainable land use, and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The government of Uganda recognizes the significance of trees in maintaining ecological balance, preserving biodiversity, and improving the livelihoods of its citizens. National Tree Planting Day serves as a platform to engage citizens in tree planting initiatives, educate them about the benefits of trees, and encourage sustainable environmental practices.

Tree planting events on National Tree Planting Day often involve government officials, community leaders, schools, youth groups, and environmental organizations coming together to plant trees in designated areas such as schools, public parks, forests, and degraded landscapes. These activities aim to not only increase the country's forest cover but also promote community participation in environmental conservation efforts.

By celebrating National Tree Planting Day, Uganda reaffirms its commitment to environmental sustainability and encourages its citizens to take proactive steps towards preserving the country's natural heritage for future generations.

24 March - Rural Postal Life Insurance Day

 

Rural Postal Life Insurance Day is observed on March 24th each year. This day commemorates the establishment of the Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) scheme in India. RPLI is a unique insurance scheme provided by the Department of Posts, Government of India, which aims to provide life insurance coverage to people living in rural areas, especially those who do not have easy access to insurance services offered by traditional insurance companies.

The Rural Postal Life Insurance scheme was launched to cater to the insurance needs of rural populations and to promote financial inclusion by extending insurance services to remote and underprivileged areas. It has played a significant role in providing affordable life insurance coverage to millions of people in rural India, thus contributing to social security and financial stability in these communities.

On Rural Postal Life Insurance Day, various awareness programs, workshops, and events may be organized to highlight the importance of insurance and to educate rural populations about the benefits of the RPLI scheme. It's a day to recognize the efforts of the postal department in extending financial services to the rural masses and to encourage more people to avail themselves of the benefits of life insurance.

24 March - Queen Elizabeth I death anniversary

 

March 24th marks the anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England, who passed away on March 24, 1603. Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, reigned from 1558 until her death. Her reign is often referred to as the Elizabethan Era, a period known for its flourishing of English literature and exploration, as well as its stability and prosperity. Queen Elizabeth I was one of England's most influential and successful monarchs, known for her intelligence, political savvy, and strong leadership. Her death marked the end of the Tudor dynasty, as she left no direct heirs, and she was succeeded by James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England, uniting the crowns of England and Scotland.

 

24 March - Georgius Agricola born in 1494

 

Georgius Agricola, born on 24 March 1494, was a German Humanist scholar, mineralogist and metallurgist. Born in the small town of Glauchau, in the Electorate of Saxony of the Holy Roman Empire, he was broadly educated, but took a particular interest in the mining and refining of metals. For his groundbreaking work De Natura Fossilium published in 1546, he is generally referred to as the Father of Mineralogy.

23 March - Earth Hour

 

Earth Hour is an annual event that encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour as a symbol of their commitment to the planet. It was initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and first took place in Sydney, Australia, in 2007.

Earth Hour usually occurs on the last Saturday of March each year, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time. During this hour, participants are encouraged to switch off lights in their homes, offices, and other non-essential electronic devices to raise awareness about energy consumption, climate change, and environmental sustainability.

The event has grown significantly since its inception and has become a global movement, with millions of people in over 190 countries participating each year. Earth Hour aims to demonstrate that individual actions, when combined, can have a significant impact in addressing environmental challenges and promoting a more sustainable way of living.

 

23 March - Japanese occupation of the Andamans 1942

 

The Japanese occupation of the Andamans is perhaps one of the least talked about episodes of the Second World War. Japanese forces landed in South Andamans on 23 March 1942 and in the next three to four hours gained complete control over the area.

The mid twentieth century is fondly recollected in India as the time when she realised nationhood, freeing herself from the reigns of European power. However, the time at with the country was overflowing with the ripe forces of nationalism, an East Asian country had also forced its exploitative control over one of the country’s territories, much to the astonishment of both the natives and the British. The Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Eastern shores of the country is the only part of India to have been occupied by a non-European power, that being the Japanese.

Until 1938 the British government used them as a penal colony for Indian and African political prisoners, who were mainly put in the notorious Cellular Jail in Port Blair, the biggest town (port) on the islands.

23 March - Subhadra Joshi born in 1919

 

Subhadra Joshi (23 March 1919 – 30 October 2003), a noted Indian freedom activist, politician and parliamentarian from Indian National Congress. She took part in the 1942 Quit India movement, and later remained the president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC). She was born on 23 March 1919 in Sialkot, Punjab, British India.

23 March - Pakistan the first Islamic republic in the world 1956

 

On 23 March 1956, Pakistan became the first Islamic republic in the world. This date is now celebrated as Republic Day in Pakistan.

23 March - Mahatma Gandhi’s first visit to Odisha in 1921

 

 

A host of programmes marked the centennial anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s first visit to Odisha in Millennium city on 23 March 2021

Gandhi had visited Odisha for the first time 100 years back, in 1921, and addressed a massive public meeting as part of his non-cooperation movement here.

To commemorate the occasion, a rally was taken out in the city from the railway station to High Court Square amid rendition of ‘Ramdhun’.

A  tableau, ‘Gandhi Pragyapana Medha’ too was part of the rally.  The newly constructed freedom fighter memorial at Swaraj Ashram was also inaugurated by Tourism and Culture Minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi.  

In the afternoon, a commemorative postage stamp on ‘100 years of first visit of Mahatma Gandhi to Odisha’ was released by Union Minister Sanjay Dhotre at the ashram.

08 November - Sant Eknath birth

 

Sant Eknath (8 november 1533–1599),commonly known as Sant Eknath was an Indian Hindu saint, philosopher and poet.

Sant Eknath Maharaj, considered the Spiritual successor to the work of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Namadev, was a great Saint from Maharashtra. Sant Eknath was known for His spiritual prowess as well as His immense efforts in awakening people and safeguarding Dharma. Sant Eknath id the author of numerous hymns and books on Bhakti and Spirituality, including the famous Eknathi Bhagwat, the spiritual essence of the Bhagavad Geeta and his magnum opus Bhavarth Ramayan

Eknath Maharaj’s life showed the people that the worldly pursuits can also be Spiritual pursuits. He raised the aspirations of people and instilled pride into them towards Bhagwat Dharma and to build strong characters. However it was unfortunate that before the ideas and teachings of Eknath Maharaj could be properly instilled into the hearts and minds of people, invasions by foreigners diverted the peoples efforts and His efforts were shortlived.