June 21 - Solar Eclipse 2020

A solar eclipse occurs when the sun, moon and the earth come in a straight line. If at that moment, the moon is furthest away from the earth in its elliptical orbit, it will not cover the disc of the sun completely. This produces a ring of light around the dark silhouette of the moon.

The annular eclipse, often called the 'ring of fire' is set to take place on June 21, 2020. Commonly termed as 'Surya Grahan', the Solar Eclipse 2020 is a phenomenon awaited by scores of skygazers and will be the first Surya Grahan of this year.

20 June - World Juggling Day 2020

World Juggling Day is celebrated on a Saturday which is closet to June 17th. This year the World Juggling Day is celebrated on the 20th of June. World Juggling Day is celebrated to honor the Jugglers around the world as it is also one of the best and difficult artworks. Juggling doesn’t depend on things and it can be done with many things and there are jugglers who do risky juggling as well. Juggling requires amazing skill and artwork which is not for everyone. Jugglers are passionate about juggling and they practice very hard to do juggling.

20 June - World Refugee Day

World Refugee Day, international observance observed June 20 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world.

Refuge Day stamps are issued to bring attention to the hardships of millions of people who were still displaced.

On 4 December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 55/76 decided that, from 2000, 20 June would be celebrated as World Refugee Day. In this resolution, the General Assembly noted that 2001 marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.[1] It is commemorated to honor all refugees, raise awareness and solicit support.

20 June - Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus opened in 1887

20 June 1887 – Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (station code: CSTM (mainline)/ST (suburban)  ,formerly know as Victoria Terminus (station code: BBVT/VT) , opened in Mumbai (Formerly Bombay).

It is a historic terminal train station and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

The terminus was designed by British born architectural engineer Frederick William Stevens, in an exuberant Italian Gothic style. Its construction began in 1878, in a location south of the old Bori Bunder railway station, and was completed in 1887, the year marking 50 years of Queen Victoria's rule, the building being named, Victoria Terminus.

The station's name was changed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (station code CST) in March 1996 to honour Shivaji, the 17th-century founder of the Maratha Empire, whose name is often preceded by Chhatrapati, a royal title. In 2017, the station was again renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (code CSTM), where Maharaj is also a royal title. However, both the former initials "VT" and the current, "CST", are commonly used.

The terminus is the headquarters of India's Central Railway. It is one of the busiest railway stations in India,serving as a terminal for both long-distance- and suburban trains.

19 June - The Ariane Passenger PayLoad Experiment Launch in 1981

The Ariane Passenger PayLoad Experiment (APPLE) was a significant milestone in India's space exploration history. Launched on 19 June 1981, by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), APPLE was an experimental communication satellite equipped with a C-Band transponder. The launch was conducted using Ariane, a launch vehicle developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), and took place from the Centre Spatial Guyanais near Kourou in French Guiana.

Key Points About APPLE:

1. Historical Significance:

   • APPLE was India's first three-axis stabilized geostationary experimental satellite, marking a major advancement in the nation's satellite technology capabilities.
   • The successful launch and operation of APPLE laid the groundwork for subsequent Indian communication satellites and contributed significantly to the country's space communication infrastructure.

2. Technical Features:

   • The satellite featured a C-Band transponder, which is critical for communication applications such as television broadcasting, satellite radio, and data transmission.
   • It incorporated innovative technologies, including a cylindrical structure and a zero-gravity fuel system.

3. Launch and Orbit:

   • APPLE was launched aboard an Ariane-1 rocket, a testament to the collaboration between ISRO and ESA.
   • The satellite was placed into a geostationary orbit, which allows it to remain in a fixed position relative to the Earth, providing consistent communication coverage.

4. Mission Objectives:

   • The primary objective of APPLE was to test and demonstrate the feasibility of satellite-based communication for India.
   • The satellite also aimed to provide practical experience in the design, fabrication, and operation of communication satellites.

5. Legacy and Impact:

   • APPLE's success paved the way for the development of India’s domestic communication satellite program, leading to the launch of more advanced satellites like the INSAT series.
   • It also enhanced India's credibility and capability in space technology on the global stage.

The launch of APPLE on 19 June 1981, represents a landmark achievement for ISRO and highlights the progress and potential of India's space endeavors. It stands as a symbol of technological innovation and international cooperation in the field of space exploration.

Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariane_Passenger_Payload_Experiment

19 June - Kuwait gained independence in 1961

19 June 1961, The day, when Kuwait gained independence from British.
It marks a great event in Kuwait's history, as it was the day the Gulf state gained its independence after being a British protectorate since the agreement was signed in 1899 by the seventh Amir, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, and Britain.

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the eleventh Amir of Kuwait, came to realize that, in light of changes, Kuwait had come to have sufficient resources and that its people could no longer tolerate the limitations of being a British protectorate, and thus made the initiative to substitute it with an agreement of friendship.

Thus, on 19 June 1961, the British government cancelled the agreement of 23 January 1899, on grounds that it conflicted with Kuwait's independence and sovereignty and signed the declaration of independence, bringing Kuwait into a new era.

June 17 - World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is a United Nations observance each June 17.Its purpose is to raise awareness of the presence of desertification and drought, highlighting methods of preventing desertification and recovering from drought. Each year's global celebration has a unique, novel emphasis that had not been developed previously.

This day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/49/115 on January 30, 1995, after the day when United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is drafted.

17 June - Jyoti Prasad Agarwala birth anniversary

Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (17 June 1903 – 17 January 1951) was a noted Assamese playwright, songwriter, poet, writer and film maker from Assam. He was considered as Assamese cultural icon, deeply revered for his creative vision and output and is popularly called the Rupkonwar of Assamese culture.In fact, he is regarded as the founder of Assamese cinema for Joymoti (1935).His death anniversary (17 January) is observed as Silpi divas (Artists' Day) in his honor.

In honor of Agarwala's contributions to Assamese literature and film, the Government of Assam issued a commemorative stamp of "Agarwala" in 2004. 

17 June - Begum Mumtaj Mahal, wife of Shah Jahan Death

Begum Mumtaj Mahal, wife of Shah Jahan, Emperor of India, passed away at Burhanpur a few hours after the birth of a daughter. She was married in 1612 and the Taj Mahal was built for her.

Mumtaz Mahal born Arjumand Banu; 27 April 1593 – 17 June 1631) was the Empress consort of the Mughal Empire from 19 January 1628 to 17 June 1631 as the chief consort of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.The Taj Mahal in Agra, often cited as one of the Wonders of the World, was commissioned by her husband to act as her tomb.

Mumtaz Mahal was born Arjumand Banu Begum in Agra to a family of Persian nobility. She was the daughter of Abu'l-Hasan Asaf Khan, a wealthy Persian noble who held high office in the Mughal Empire, and the niece of Empress Nur Jahan, the chief wife of Emperor Jahangir and the power behind the emperor.She was married at the age of 19 on 30 April 1612 to Prince Khurram, later known by his regnal name Shah Jahan, who conferred upon her the title "Mumtaz Mahal" (Persian: the exalted one of the palace).Although betrothed to Shah Jahan since 1607,she ultimately became his second wife in 1612. Mumtaz and her husband had fourteen children, including Jahanara Begum (Shah Jahan's favourite daughter),and the Crown prince Dara Shikoh, the heir-apparent,anointed by his father, who temporarily succeeded him, until deposed by Mumtaz Mahal's sixth child, Aurangzeb, who ultimately succeeded his father as the sixth Mughal emperor in 1658.

Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631 in Burhanpur, Deccan (present-day Madhya Pradesh), during the birth of her fourteenth child, a daughter named Gauhar Ara Begum.Shah Jahan had the Taj Mahal built as a tomb for her, which is considered to be a monument of undying love. As with other Mughal royal ladies, we have no contemporary likenesses that are accepted as of her, but numerous imagined portraits were created from the 19th century onwards.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumtaz_Mahal

16 June - Martyrdom of Guru Arjan in 1606

On 16 June 1606, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir ordered that Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru be tortured and sentenced to death after the Guru had refused to stop preaching his message of God as started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The Guru was made to sit on a burning hot sheet while boiling hot sand was poured over his body. After enduring five days of unrelenting torture, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was taken for a bath in the river. As thousands watched he entered the river, never to be seen again.

Accordingly, on the 16 of June of every year since 1606, the Sikhs commemorate the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Guru and the first Sikh Martyr. Before the arrest, torture, and martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, the Sikhs had nothing to do with weapons or violence, as all the Sikh Gurus had taught the message of compassion, love, dedication, hard work, worship of one God, and the commitment to peace and harmony for all the peoples of the world.

On Martyrdom day,the Pakistan government released a postal stamp of Dehra Saheb sahidi asthana of Guru Arjan Devji .This is first time in islamic world. The stamp was issued on 400th Anniversary of Sri Guru Arjun Dev Jee Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore . 

Issue Date : 16 June 2006