10 February - India’s first Test match victory in 1952

 

On February 10, 1952, India achieved its first-ever Test match victory. The match took place at Madras (now Chennai) at the Chepauk Stadium (M. A. Chidambaram Stadium) against England. Vijay Hazare captained the Indian side in that historic match, where India won by an innings and 8 runs. This victory marked a significant milestone in Indian cricket history and is remembered as a watershed moment for Indian Test cricket.The team members congratulated each other and went home with their booty of Rs 250 per head.

10 February - Jagannath Shankar Murkute Birth Anniversary

 

Hon. Jagannath Shankarsheth Murkute (also spelled as Jugonnath Sunkersett),popularly known as Nana Shankarsheth (10 February 1803 – 31 July 1865) was an Indian Philanthropist and Educationalist. He was born in 1803 in the wealthy Murkute family in Murbad,Thane. So high was his credit that Arabs, Afghans and other foreign merchants chose to place their treasures in his custody rather than with banks.He soon acquired a large fortune, much of which he donated to the public.He was one of few founder member of the Indian Railway Association including Cursetjee Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy who reviewed and approved report of G. T. Clark, an English engineer

10 February - HMS Dreadnaught was launched in 1906

 

HMS Dreadnought, a revolutionary battleship that played a significant role in naval history, was launched on February 10, 1906. The launch of HMS Dreadnought marked a milestone in naval technology and strategy. It introduced a new class of battleship characterized by an "all-big-gun" armament, featuring a main battery of large-caliber naval guns, and it utilized steam turbine propulsion.

HMS Dreadnought's design rendered existing battleships obsolete, triggering a naval arms race among major powers to develop similar vessels. The term "dreadnought" subsequently became synonymous with this new type of battleship.

 

10 February - When Man Lost to Computer

 

On 10 February 1996, Deep Blue beat Garry Kasparov in the first game of a six-game match—the first time a computer had ever beat a human in a formal chess game. Two other games in that match were draws. The next year, Kasparov and Blue faced off again and Kasparov lost the match. It was a new frontier in computing.

“The result was met with astonishment and grief by those who took it as a symbol of mankind’s submission before the almighty computer,” Kasparov wrote in 2010. It was a pivotal moment in computing, one that changed both computers and chess forever.

Two decades later, computers now regularly beat humans at chess, writes Klint Finley for Wired. The great contest of man-versus-computer chess is over. “Today, for $50, you can buy a home PC program that will crush most grandmasters,” Kasparov wrote. The search for a computer that can beat even the best at chess was only really interesting between 1994, when computers were too weak, and 2004, when they got too strong.

10 February - J. R. D. Tata obtained the first pilot licence issued in India in 1932

 

JRD Tata founded Air India, India's first domestic carrier airline, in 1932. The airline was later nationalised in 1953 with JRD Tata as chairman. Ironically, it was recently acquired by Tata Group in 2022. JRD Tata became the first Indian citizen to get a commercial pilot's license on February 10, 1929.

10 February Tom and Jerry first appeared in Puss Gets the Boot in 1940

 

Tom and Jerry made their screen debut in Puss Gets the Boot on February 10, 1940.

William Hanna and Joseph Barbera established the American animated media phenomenon Tom and Jerry in 1940, along with a series of comedic short films. The series, which is most known for its 161 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer theatrical short films, is centered on the rivalry between the titular Tom and Jerry, a mouse and cat. Multiple recurring characters can also be found in many shorts.

The first short in what would eventually become the Tom and Jerry cartoon series, Puss Gets the Boot is an animated short from 1940 that was made in the United States, though neither character was yet known by these names. Produced by Fred Quimby and Rudolf Ising, it was directed by William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, and Rudolf Ising. It was based on The Cat and the Mice, an Aesop fable. As was customary for MGM shorts at the time, Rudolf Ising receives sole credit. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer opened it in theaters on February 10, 1940.

10 February - Korean New Year

 

The Korean New Year, known as "Seollal" (설날) in Korean, is a significant and traditional holiday celebrated in South Korea and by Koreans around the world. Seollal is based on the lunar calendar and typically falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which places it between late January and mid-February. This year it is on 10 February.

Key features and customs associated with the Korean New Year (Seollal) include:

1. Family Gatherings: Seollal is a time for family reunions, and it is one of the most important times for family members to come together. Many Koreans make an effort to return to their hometowns to celebrate with their families.

2. Ancestral Rituals (Charye): Families pay respects to their ancestors through a ritual called "charye." This involves setting up a special table with various offerings, such as traditional foods, fruits, and beverages, to honor deceased family members.

3. Sebae (New Year's Bow): Younger members of the family perform a deep bow, called "sebae," to their elders as a gesture of respect and good wishes for the new year. In return, they often receive blessings and gifts, including money in special envelopes called "sebaetdon."

4. Traditional Foods: Special foods are prepared for Seollal, including "tteok" (rice cakes), "jeon" (pan-fried or grilled dishes), and other festive delicacies. Tteokguk, a soup with sliced rice cakes, is commonly eaten to symbolize gaining a year in age.

5. Hanbok (Traditional Clothing): Many Koreans wear traditional clothing called "hanbok" during Seollal. Hanbok is characterized by vibrant colors and elegant designs, and it holds cultural and symbolic significance.

6. Games and Activities: Families engage in various traditional games and activities, such as "yutnori," a board game, and "neolttwigi," a seesaw game.

7. Visiting Ancestral Graves: Some families visit the graves of their ancestors to perform rituals and pay their respects.

8. New Year's Day Events: Public events, parades, and cultural performances are organized in various places, providing an opportunity for people to celebrate together.

Seollal is a time of reflection, family bonding, and looking forward to the future. It is one of the most important and cherished holidays in Korean culture, and the celebrations can last for several days. The exact date of Seollal varies each year based on the lunar calendar.

10 February - Global Movie Day

 

Global Movie Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of February every year, to coincide with the Oscar season. This year, it takes place on February 10. This day was established to celebrate the power of movies and their capacity to inspire and move people, and transform lives. Global Movie Day offers people an opportunity to celebrate movies and catch up on the latest movie releases. Set in the thick of Oscar season, the date is perfect for movie buffs to come together to watch and discuss the latest movies. This allows them to bond over their shared love of good stories told on celluloid!

09 February - A set of six stamps were released during the inauguration of New Delhi as the capital of India in 1931

 

On 9 February 1931, A set of six stamps were released during the inauguration of New Delhi as the capital of India. It was shifted from Calcutta.

The 1931 postage stamp series celebrated the inauguration of New Delhi as the seat of government. The one rupee stamp shows George V with the "Secretariat Building" and Dominion Columns.

Until December 1911 Calcutta was the capital of India during the British Rule. However, it had become the centre of the nationalist movements since the late nineteenth century, which led to the Partition of Bengal by Viceroy Lord Curzon. This created massive political and religious upsurge including political assassinations of British officials in Calcutta. The anti-colonial sentiments amongst the public led to a complete boycott of British goods, which forced the colonial government to reunite Bengal and immediately shift the capital to New Delhi.

Old Delhi had served as the political and financial centre of several empires of ancient India and the Delhi Sultanate, most notably of the Mughal Empire from 1649 to 1857. During the early 1900s, a proposal was made to the British administration to shift the capital of the British Indian Empire, as India was officially named, from Calcutta on the east coast, to Delhi. The Government of British India felt that it would be logistically easier to administer India from Delhi, which is in the centre of northern India. The land for building the new city of Delhi was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act 1894.

During the Delhi Durbar on 12 December 1911, George V, Emperor of India, while laying the foundation stone for the viceroy's residence in the Coronation Park, Kingsway Camp, declared that the capital of the Raj would be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. Three days later, George V and his consort, Queen Mary, laid the foundation stone of New Delhi at Kingsway Camp. Large parts of New Delhi were planned by Edwin Lutyens, who first visited Delhi in 1912, and Herbert Baker, both leading 20th-century British architects. The contract was given to Sobha Singh. The original plan called for its construction in Tughlaqabad, inside the Tughlaqabad Fort, but this was given up because of the Delhi-Calcutta trunk line that passed through the fort. Construction really began after World War I and was completed by 1931. The gardening and planning of plantations was led by A.E.P. Griessen, and later William Mustoe. The city that was later dubbed "Lutyens' Delhi" was inaugurated in ceremonies beginning on 10 February 1931 by Viceroy Lord Irwin. Lutyens designed the central administrative area of the city as a testament to Britain's imperial aspirations

09 February - International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome

 

Autism Sunday, also known as the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome, is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about autism and supporting individuals on the autism spectrum. The day is marked by various activities and initiatives aimed at fostering understanding, acceptance, and inclusion.

Here are some key points about Autism Sunday:

1. Origin: Autism Sunday was first initiated by the United Kingdom's Ivan Corea and his wife Charika in 2002. The event was initially known as the International Day of Prayer for Autism, and it aimed to bring attention to the challenges faced by individuals with autism and their families.

2. Date: Autism Sunday is observed on the second Sunday in February each year. The specific date may vary annually.

3. Focus: The primary focus of Autism Sunday is to raise awareness about autism and Asperger's Syndrome, promote understanding, and encourage acceptance and inclusion in communities.

4. Activities: Various activities take place on Autism Sunday, including prayer services, educational events, seminars, and community gatherings. These activities aim to engage the public, educators, and religious communities in discussions about autism.

5. Global Observance: While Autism Sunday originated in the United Kingdom, it has gained international recognition. Many countries around the world participate in the event, organizing their activities to support individuals with autism and their families.

6. Symbolism: Blue is often associated with Autism Sunday, and many events and initiatives encourage people to wear blue on this day as a symbol of solidarity and support for individuals on the autism spectrum.

7. Advocacy: Autism Sunday serves as a platform for advocacy and encourages individuals, organizations, and communities to work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for people with autism.

8. Inclusion of Faith Communities: Given its origins in prayer and faith, Autism Sunday often involves the participation of religious communities, including churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples. It provides an opportunity for religious leaders to address their congregations about autism awareness and acceptance.

Autism Sunday plays a vital role in promoting understanding and acceptance of autism on a global scale. It serves as a reminder to communities to embrace diversity and support individuals with autism and their families.