06 September - John Dalton birth anniversary

 

John Dalton was born on September 6, 1766, and passed away on July 27, 1844. He was an English chemist and physicist whose groundbreaking work in the early 19th century laid the foundation for modern atomic theory. His birth and death dates span a lifetime dedicated to scientific inquiry.

Dalton's most renowned contribution was his atomic theory, which proposed that all matter is composed of indivisible particles known as atoms. His theory revolutionized the field of chemistry by providing a clear framework for understanding the composition and behavior of elements and compounds. Additionally, he formulated the Law of Multiple Proportions, which further supported the concept of atoms as the fundamental units of matter.

Dalton's work on atomic weights and his system of relative atomic weights based on hydrogen as the standard were instrumental in advancing our knowledge of the composition of elements. His legacy endures as a cornerstone of modern chemistry, and his birth and death dates mark the remarkable journey of a scientist whose ideas continue to shape our understanding of the physical world.

 

06 September - Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation of Refugees created in 1947

 

 

On September 6, 1947, the Indian government create a new ministry called the "Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation of Refugees" to address the significant refugee crisis resulting from the partition of India into two separate nations, India and Pakistan.

This ministry was established to provide assistance and support to the millions of people who were displaced and faced dire humanitarian conditions during and after the partition. It played a crucial role in helping refugees rebuild their lives and find new homes.

05 September - Jagdeo Prasad death anniversary

Babu Jagdeo Prasad ( 02 February 1922 – 05 September 1974) was a prominent Indian socialist leader and activist, often referred to as the "Lenin of Bihar" for his unwavering dedication to social justice and the rights of the oppressed. Born into a poor, socially marginalized family in Kurtha, Arwal district, Bihar, Prasad experienced firsthand the harsh realities of caste-based discrimination and economic inequality. He pursued higher education at Patna University, where he became deeply involved in socialist ideologies and student politics. Throughout his political career, Prasad was a fierce advocate for the backward classes, Dalits, and other marginalized communities, opposing the entrenched upper-caste dominance in Bihar.

In 1967, he founded the Shoshit Dal (Party of the Exploited), which focused on representing the interests of these communities and pushing for land reforms, reservations in education and employment, and greater political representation. Prasad's fiery speeches and commitment to challenging social injustices made him a significant figure in Bihar's socialist movement. Tragically, on 5 September 1974, he was killed by police forces during a protest in his hometown, marking him as a martyr for the cause of social justice. His legacy continues to inspire movements for equality and justice in India, particularly in Bihar, where his contributions are deeply revered.

05 September - Jayant Pandurang Naik birth anniversary

 

Jayant Pandurang Naik, also known as J. P. Naik (5 September 1907 – 30 August 1981) was an Indian educator.

A great humanist, freedom fighter, polymath, encyclopedic thinker and socialist educationist. Recognized by the UNESCO alongside Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi as three pioneering educationists, J.P. Naik is also known as an institution maker. Born at very small town in Kolhapur district Bahirewadi, Taluka-Ajara

He founded the Indian Institute of Education in 1948

He served as Member Secretary of the Indian Education Commission from 1964 to 1966

He also was Educational Adviser to the Government of India

05 September - Munich massacre occurred during the Summer Olympics in Munich in 1972

 

 

On September 5, 1972, the Munich massacre occurred during the Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. Members of a Palestinian terrorist group known as "Black September" stormed the Olympic Village, where athletes were staying, and took 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team hostage. The terrorists demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel and the release of two German radicals in exchange for the hostages' lives.

Tragically, the situation escalated when a failed rescue attempt by German authorities at the Fürstenfeldbruck airbase resulted in a shootout between the terrorists and the police. In the end, all 11 Israeli athletes, along with a German police officer and five of the terrorists, lost their lives during the tragic events that unfolded. This event remains one of the most infamous acts of terrorism in the history of the Olympic Games and had a profound impact on future security measures at international sporting events.

 

04 September - Google was officially incorporated as a company

 

Google's journey began in 1995 when Larry Page and Sergey Brin met at Stanford University. Initially, they didn't get along, but their shared interest in the World Wide Web brought them together. They started working on a research project called "BackRub," a search engine that analyzed backlinks to rank the importance of websites. This project laid the foundation for what would become Google.

Key Milestones in Google's Early History:

1. 1996: The Birth of BackRub:

   • Larry Page and Sergey Brin developed BackRub, a search engine that operated on Stanford's servers. It was innovative because it used backlinks to determine the relevance and importance of web pages, rather than just counting keyword appearances.

2. 1997: The Name "Google":

   • They decided to rename their search engine "Google," a play on the mathematical term "googol," which refers to the number 1 followed by 100 zeros. This name reflected their mission to organize the vast amount of information on the web.

3. 1998: Google Inc.:

   • On September 4, 1998, Google was officially incorporated as a company in Menlo Park, California. Their initial funding came from family, friends, and angel investors, including a $100,000 check from Andy Bechtolsheim, co-founder of Sun Microsystems.

4. 1998: First Google Doodle:

   • The first Google Doodle appeared in August 1998 as a playful message to users that the founders were attending the Burning Man Festival. This started the tradition of Google's creative doodles.

5. 1999: Moving to Palo Alto:

   • As Google’s popularity grew, they moved from their garage office to a more spacious location in Palo Alto, California, and later to Mountain View, where the current Googleplex headquarters is located.

6. 2000: AdWords Launch:

   • Google introduced AdWords, an online advertising platform that allowed businesses to create ads and target specific keywords. This became one of Google's main revenue sources.

7. 2004: IPO:

   • Google went public on August 19, 2004, with an initial public offering (IPO) that raised $1.67 billion. This move solidified Google's position as a tech giant.

Google's Growth and Impact:

• Search Dominance: Google quickly became the dominant search engine due to its innovative PageRank algorithm, which provided more relevant results than its competitors.
• Product Expansion: Over time, Google expanded beyond search, launching products like Gmail, Google Maps, and YouTube (acquired in 2006).
• Android and Chrome: Google entered the mobile OS market with Android in 2008 and launched the Chrome browser, which quickly became one of the most popular web browsers.
• Alphabet Inc.: In 2015, Google restructured under a parent company called Alphabet Inc., allowing it to focus on a broader range of ventures beyond its core search and advertising business.

Today, Google is one of the most influential tech companies in the world, driving innovation in search, advertising, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.

 

04 September - George Eastman received patent for his camera that used roll film under Kodak

 

George Eastman registered the trademark "Kodak" and played a significant role in the development of photography, particularly with the introduction of roll film. On September 4, 1888, he received a patent for his camera that used roll film, which was a groundbreaking innovation in photography at the time. This camera was known as the Kodak camera.

The Kodak camera was designed to be user-friendly and accessible to the general public. It came pre-loaded with a roll of film capable of taking 100 circular exposures. After all the exposures were used, the entire camera was sent back to the Kodak company, where the film was developed, prints were made, and a new roll of film was loaded into the camera. This simplified approach to photography made it more accessible to a broader audience and marked the beginning of consumer photography.

Eastman's contributions to photography didn't stop there. He went on to found the Eastman Kodak Company, which became a major player in the photography industry for many years and popularized the use of film and cameras worldwide. George Eastman's innovations had a profound and lasting impact on the way people captured and preserved images.

04 September - Saint Teresa Canonisation Day in Albania

 

Saint Teresa, also known as Mother Teresa, was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church on September 4, 2016. Therefore, her canonization day is celebrated annually on September 4th. This date marks the official recognition by the Catholic Church of her holiness and her contributions to society through her selfless work with the poor and marginalized.

Mother Teresa, born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Skopje, which is now part of North Macedonia but was part of the wider Albanian region during her birth, dedicated her life to serving the destitute and sick in the slums of Kolkata (Calcutta), India. Her canonization was a significant event in the Catholic Church and was celebrated by Catholics worldwide.

On Saint Teresa's canonization day, various events and ceremonies are held in her honor, including special Masses, prayers, and charitable activities. It is a day to reflect on her legacy of compassion and selflessness, as well as to encourage people to follow her example of helping those in need.

03 September - The British Empire skipped 11 days starting September 3 when it adopted the Gregorian calendar 1752

 

In 1752, the British Empire made a significant change by adopting the Gregorian calendar, which led to the skipping of 11 days. The changeover was part of a calendar reform to align the British calendar with the Gregorian calendar, which had already been adopted by many other European countries.

The Calendar Change

Before 1752, the British Empire used the Julian calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BCE. However, the Julian calendar had a small error in calculating the length of a year, leading to a gradual misalignment with the solar year. By the 16th century, this misalignment had grown to about 10 days. To correct this, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1582.

The Skip

To align with the Gregorian calendar, the British Empire skipped 11 days in September 1752. The day after 02 September  1752, was adjusted to be 14 September 1752. This meant that the days between 03 September and 13 September were effectively removed from the calendar.

Impact and Reactions

• Public Confusion and Unrest: The sudden loss of 11 days led to confusion and, in some cases, public unrest. There were reports, though likely exaggerated, of protests demanding the "return" of the lost 11 days. Some people believed they had been robbed of part of their lives.

• Legal and Financial Adjustments: Legal documents, financial transactions, and other records had to be adjusted to account for the missing days. For instance, rents and wages were prorated to ensure fairness during the transition.

• New Year Date Change: Along with adopting the Gregorian calendar, the British Empire also shifted the start of the new year from March 25 to January 1, bringing it in line with most of Europe.

Historical Context

The adoption of the Gregorian calendar was a crucial step in standardizing timekeeping across Europe. While many Catholic countries had adopted the Gregorian calendar soon after its introduction in 1582, Protestant countries, including Britain, were slower to make the change due to religious and political differences.

The calendar reform in 1752 marked a significant moment in British history, aligning its timekeeping with much of the rest of the world and avoiding further discrepancies with the solar year.

03 September - Sadhguru, Indian yogi, mystic birthday

 

Sadhguru, born Jagadish Vasudev on September 3, 1957, in Mysore, Karnataka, is a renowned Indian yogi, mystic, and spiritual leader. He is the founder of the Isha Foundation, a non-profit organization that offers yoga programs and promotes humanitarian causes on a global scale.

Early Life and Background

Sadhguru was born into a well-educated family. His father was an ophthalmologist with Indian Railways, which led the family to move frequently. From a young age, Sadhguru exhibited a deep connection with nature and a profound sense of curiosity about life. He pursued his education in English literature at the University of Mysore. Despite his academic pursuits, he was deeply drawn to exploring the spiritual and mystical aspects of life.

Spiritual Journey

Sadhguru's transformative spiritual experience occurred at the age of 25 when he was meditating on a rock on the Chamundi Hill in Mysore. He described this experience as a moment of profound inner realization, where he felt a deep sense of unity with the universe. This experience was pivotal in shaping his path as a spiritual leader.

Isha Foundation

In 1992, Sadhguru founded the Isha Foundation in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The foundation offers a range of programs designed to promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. One of the foundation's flagship programs is the Inner Engineering course, which combines ancient yogic practices with modern science to help individuals achieve inner balance and fulfillment.

Key Initiatives

• Rally for Rivers: Launched in 2017, this nationwide campaign aimed to raise awareness about the depleting rivers in India. Sadhguru traveled over 9,300 kilometers across 16 Indian states to gather support for the cause. The campaign led to the drafting of a river revitalization policy, which was submitted to the Indian government.

• Cauvery Calling: Another significant environmental initiative, Cauvery Calling, focuses on revitalizing the Cauvery River by encouraging farmers to plant trees on their land. The project aims to plant 2.42 billion trees, covering over 83,000 square kilometers of the river basin.

• Save Soil Movement: Sadhguru initiated this global campaign in 2022 to address soil degradation. The movement emphasizes the importance of soil health for sustaining life on Earth and calls for policy changes to increase organic content in soil.

Books and Teachings

Sadhguru is also a prolific author, having written several books on spirituality, self-improvement, and inner well-being. Some of his notable works include:

• "Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy" – A comprehensive guide to achieving inner happiness and fulfillment through yoga and meditation.
• "Mystic's Musings" – A collection of teachings and insights that explore the deeper aspects of life and existence.
• "Death: An Inside Story" – A book that delves into the concept of death from a spiritual perspective, offering a unique understanding of life's end.

Recognition and Influence

Sadhguru's influence extends beyond the spiritual realm. He has been invited to speak at prestigious forums such as the United Nations, World Economic Forum, and leading universities like MIT and Harvard. His teachings attract millions of followers worldwide, and his programs have been attended by people from all walks of life, including celebrities, politicians, and business leaders.

Personal Life

Sadhguru was married to Vijaya Kumari (also known as Vijji), who passed away in 1997 under circumstances that he describes as a voluntary "mahasamadhi," a yogic act of leaving the body consciously. He has one daughter, Radhe Jaggi, who is a classical dancer.

Sadhguru continues to be a prominent figure in both India and the global community, advocating for spiritual growth, environmental sustainability, and human well-being.