20 February - Shabari Jayanti

 

Shabari Jayanti is a Hindu festival that celebrates the devotion and unwavering faith of Shabari, a prominent character in the Indian epic Ramayana. Shabari is revered as a symbol of pure devotion (bhakti) and is particularly celebrated in parts of South India, especially in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.

Significance of Shabari:

Shabari was a devoted disciple of the sage Matanga and a fervent devotee of Lord Rama. According to the Ramayana, she spent years in asceticism, waiting for Lord Rama to visit her hermitage. When Lord Rama finally arrived, she offered him berries that she had first tasted to ensure they were sweet, an act that symbolized her selfless love and devotion. Despite being of a humble background and from a tribal community, Shabari's devotion was so pure that she was blessed by Lord Rama himself.

Observance of Shabari Jayanti:

• Date: Shabari Jayanti is celebrated on the Saptami (7th day) of the Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the moon) in the month of Phalguna, which usually falls in February or March according to the Gregorian calendar.

• Rituals and Traditions: On this day, devotees remember and honor Shabari's devotion by reading and reciting her story from the Ramayana. Special prayers, bhajans (devotional songs), and rituals are performed in temples, especially in those dedicated to Lord Rama. In some regions, people visit temples and participate in communal prayers to celebrate Shabari’s unyielding devotion.

• Cultural Importance: Shabari Jayanti is not just a celebration of a mythological figure but also a reminder of the spiritual teachings of the Ramayana, emphasizing that devotion and purity of heart transcend caste, creed, and social status. Shabari's story is often used to highlight the idea that true devotion is the path to attaining the grace of the divine.

Shabari Jayanti is thus a day to reflect on the values of humility, devotion, and the belief that divine grace can be attained by anyone who possesses a pure heart and sincere faith.

20 February - Maria Goeppert Mayer birth anniversary

 

Maria Goeppert Mayer (1906–1972) was a German-American physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963 for her work on the nuclear shell structure. She was born on June 28, 1906, in Kattowitz, Germany (now Katowice, Poland), and later became a naturalized American citizen.

Mayer earned her Ph.D. in theoretical physics from the University of Göttingen in 1930. She faced challenges in her early career due to gender discrimination, but she continued her scientific pursuits. During World War II, she worked on the Manhattan Project, contributing to the development of the atomic bomb.

Her groundbreaking work, for which she was awarded the Nobel Prize, focused on the development of the nuclear shell model. Mayer, along with J. Hans D. Jensen and Eugene Paul Wigner, made significant contributions to understanding the structure of atomic nuclei. They proposed a model that explained the arrangement of protons and neutrons in atomic nuclei in a way that resembled the structure of electron shells in atoms. This work laid the foundation for the understanding of the nuclear structure and was essential in advancing nuclear physics.

Maria Goeppert Mayer was the second woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics, following Madame Curie, and her contributions have had a lasting impact on the field of nuclear physics. She passed away on February 20, 1972.

20 February - World Anthropology Day

 

Every year on the third Thursday of February, World Anthropology Day is observed. And it occurs on February 20 this year. The day is designated to honour the untapped area and educate the general public about anthropology. However, let's first define anthropology before moving on to the history and significance of World Anthropology Day.

The scientific study of humanity is known as anthropology. It investigates the beginnings and progression of human societies and cultures. Different scientific methodologies are used to examine traits in historical and contemporary communities. The study also aids in our understanding of how the world functions, the reasons behind our behavior, and how our environments are influenced by us.

image from Postbleed.com

19 February - National Arabian Horse Day

 

National Arabian Horse Day is an informal U.S. holiday that is celebrated on February 19. It is one of those animal holidays that millions of Americans cherish. This is because Arabian horses have become so widespread in the country that, even though they could only be owned by people of affluence originally, they are now beasts that any average American can own. Despite the Middle East being the earliest origin of the horse breed, more than half of the few million Arabian horses in the world are found in the U.S. ground.

19 February - International Tug-of-War Day

 

International Tug-of-War Day celebrates tug of war, a game where two teams compete, trying to pull a rope so that a center marker comes to their team's side. Sometimes a puddle of mud or pool of water is put in the middle, so that the losing team will be pulled into it. Usually each team has eight members, although other numbers are possible. At times it has even been a two person sport, and in Taiwan in 1997, there were 1,600 participants in one game.

Tug of war was played in ancient Egypt, Greece, China, and India. It originated in ancient ceremonies, and then came to be used to train warriors, entertain kings, and settle disputes. Sometimes it was used as a game to train for others sports. In some circumstances, a wooden stake has been used instead of a rope.

Over 50 countries have formal national tug of war organizations; there are tug of war clubs, and outdoor and indoor competitions. Tug of war was an Olympic sport from 1900 until 1920, when a decision was made to have less participants in the Olympic games, and the sport was cancelled. The Tug of War International Federation was created in 1960 out of a need for international competition, and shortly thereafter, a competition was held in Sweden. In 1965, the first European Championships began being held in England, and continued until 1975, when countries outside of Europe joined to create the first World Championships, held in the Netherlands. Today, World Championships are held every other year, with European Championships in the intervening years. In 1999, the Tug of War International Federation received provisional recognition from the International Olympic Committee, and in 2002, they received formal recognition. As of late there has been a push to bring tug of war back into the summer Olympics.

 

19 February - U. V. Swaminatha Iyer birth anniversary

 

U. V. Swaminatha Iyer, also known as "Tamil Thatha" (Grandfather of Tamil), was a prominent scholar, researcher, and pioneer in the field of Tamil literature and language. He played a crucial role in reviving and preserving ancient Tamil literary works and promoting the Tamil language.

Born on 19 February 1855, in Uthamadhanapuram, Tamil Nadu, India, Swaminatha Iyer dedicated his life to the study and promotion of Tamil literature. He made significant contributions to Tamil scholarship by collecting, editing, and publishing numerous ancient Tamil literary works that were on the verge of being lost or forgotten.

One of Swaminatha Iyer's most notable achievements was his efforts to compile and publish the works of the Sangam poets, a group of Tamil poets who lived over 2,000 years ago. He traveled extensively across Tamil Nadu, visiting remote villages and libraries, and collecting manuscripts of ancient Tamil texts.

Swaminatha Iyer's meticulous work in collecting and editing these manuscripts helped preserve invaluable Tamil literary treasures, including the famous Sangam anthologies such as "Purananuru" and "Kurunthogai." His editions of these texts are considered authoritative and have been instrumental in advancing the study of Tamil literature.

In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Swaminatha Iyer was also a prolific writer and lecturer, advocating for the importance of Tamil language and literature in Indian culture and society. His efforts earned him the title of "Tamil Thatha" and made him a revered figure among Tamil scholars and enthusiasts.

Swaminatha Iyer passed away on 28 April 1942, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of the greatest contributors to Tamil literature and language revival. His dedication to preserving and promoting Tamil literary heritage has had a profound impact on the preservation and appreciation of Tamil culture for generations to come.

19 February - Beant Singh birth anniversary

 

Beant Singh was an Indian politician who served as the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Punjab. He was born on 19 February 1922, in Kot Harkarn, Amritsar, Punjab, India, and he was assassinated on 31 August 1995, in Chandigarh, India.

Key points about Beant Singh:

1. Political Career: Beant Singh was a prominent member of the Indian National Congress party. He entered politics and gained prominence for his role during the Punjabi Suba movement, which aimed at the creation of the state of Punjab in the 1960s.

2. Chief Minister of Punjab: Beant Singh served as the Chief Minister of Punjab from 1992 until his assassination in 1995. During his tenure, he took strong measures to combat terrorism and insurgency in Punjab, particularly addressing the Khalistan movement.

3. Operation Blue Star: Beant Singh was in office during the Operation Blue Star in June 1984, a military action ordered by the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, to remove Sikh militants who had fortified the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. The operation resulted in a significant loss of life and damage to the holy site.

4. Assassination: Beant Singh was assassinated on 31 August 1995, in a bomb blast at the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh. The attack was carried out by Sikh extremists associated with the Khalistan movement who opposed Beant Singh's strong stance against terrorism.

5. Legacy: Beant Singh is remembered for his tough stance against terrorism and efforts to restore peace in Punjab during a challenging period. His daughter, Gurkanwal Kaur, is also involved in politics.

The assassination of Beant Singh was a significant event in Indian political history and had implications for the ongoing challenges related to extremism and communal tensions in the state of Punjab.

 

19 February - Deng Xiaoping death anniversary

 

Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) was a Chinese revolutionary and statesman who played a crucial role in the modernization and transformation of China. Here are some key aspects of Deng Xiaoping's life and political career:

1. Early Life and Education:

   • Deng Xiaoping was born on 22 August 1904, in Guang'an, Sichuan province, China.
   • He joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1923 while studying in France.

2. Early Political Career:

   • Deng participated in the Long March (1934–1935), a strategic military retreat by the Red Army of the CCP.
   • During the Chinese Civil War (1927–1949), he held various military and political positions within the CCP.

3. Post-1949 and Cultural Revolution:

   • After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Deng held several key positions in the government.
   • However, during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), he fell out of favor with Mao Zedong and was purged.

4. Reform and Opening-Up:

   • Deng Xiaoping re-emerged in the late 1970s after the end of the Cultural Revolution.
   • He initiated economic reforms and the policy of "Four Modernizations" to modernize China's agriculture, industry, science, and defense.
   • The most significant policy was the "Open Door Policy," which encouraged foreign investment and economic liberalization.

5. Special Economic Zones:

   • Deng Xiaoping established special economic zones (SEZs) in coastal areas to attract foreign investment and promote economic development.

6. "One Country, Two Systems":

   • Deng applied the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" to Hong Kong and Macau, ensuring a high degree of autonomy for these regions after their return to Chinese sovereignty.

7. Legacy:

   • Deng's leadership and economic reforms are credited with transforming China into a major global economic power.
   • While praised for economic successes, Deng's legacy is also complex due to his role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, where the Chinese government cracked down on pro-democracy demonstrators.

8. Later Years and Death:

   • Deng retired from most official positions in the late 1980s but continued to exert influence behind the scenes.
   • He passed away on 19 February 1997, in Beijing.

Deng Xiaoping is remembered as a pragmatic leader who prioritized economic development and modernization, steering China away from the extreme ideologies of the Cultural Revolution.

 

19 February - Armed Forces Day Mexico

 

Mexico celebrates its Armed Forces Day on February 19th each year. This day is dedicated to honoring and recognizing the contributions and sacrifices of the Mexican military forces, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

On Armed Forces Day in Mexico, various events and ceremonies are organized to pay tribute to the men and women serving in the military. These may include parades, demonstrations of military capabilities, and other activities that showcase the professionalism and dedication of the armed forces.

 

18 February - Malayapuram Singaravelu birth anniversary

 

 Malayapuram Singaravelu (18 February 1860 – 11 February 1946), also known as M. Singaravelu and Singaravelar, was a pioneer in more than one field in India. In 1918, he founded the first trade union in India. On 1 May 1923 he organised the first ever celebration of May Day in the country. Singaravelar was a major leader of the Indian independence movement, initially under the leadership of Gandhi, but later, joining the budding communist movement. In 1925, he became one of the founding fathers of the Communist Party of India; and chaired its inaugural convention in Kanpur. Though the British Government arrested him along with other leaders on charges of conspiring to wage war against the Crown, he was set free, soon after, on account of his failing health. Singaravelar was also a path-breaking social reformer who in his early life took to Buddhism, seeing it as a weapon against the evil of untouchability, which was particularly severe in the 19th-century India. He was also in the forefront of Self respect movement, in the Madras Presidency that fought for equal rights for backward castes. Though in his advanced years, he withdrew from active politics, Singaravelar remained a staunch advocate of the causes he had pioneered till his death at the age of 85