14 April -Shamshad Begum birth anniversary

 

Shamshad Begum was born on  14 April 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab, British India (now in Punjab, India). She passed away on  23 April 2013, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She was an Indian singer who was one of the first playback singers in the Hindi film industry. She had a distinctive voice and was a versatile artist, singing over 6,000 songs in Hindi and Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil and Punjabi languages and of them 1287 songs were Hindi film songs. She worked with maestros including  Naushad Ali, S. D. Burman, C. Ramchandra_ and _O. P. Nayyar.Her songs from the 1940s to the early 1970s remain popular and continue to be remixed.

14 April - Ustad Ali Akbar Khan birth anniversary

 

Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (14 April 1922 – 18 June 2009) was a musician and sarod player. Ustad Khan was active in presenting Indian music to Western audiences. His music was rooted in the Hindustani (Northern) tradition of Indian music. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1971 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1988 by the Government of India and has kept the Indian classical music flag flying high in the world for the past five decades. Ustad Ali Akbar Khan was born on 14 April 1922

14 April - Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar birth anniversary

 

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, often referred to as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was a prominent Indian jurist, economist, politician, and social reformer. He was born on 14 April 1891, in the town of Mhow in the Central Provinces of British India (now in Madhya Pradesh, India), and he passed away on 06 December 1956.

Ambedkar is best known for his tireless efforts to eradicate social discrimination and caste-based oppression in India. He was born into the Dalit (formerly known as "untouchable") community and faced discrimination throughout his life. Despite facing numerous challenges, he pursued education vigorously and became one of the most educated Indians of his time.

Ambedkar played a key role in drafting the Constitution of India, serving as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee. He was also India's first Minister of Law and Justice in the newly independent nation. Throughout his life, he advocated for the rights of marginalized communities, particularly Dalits, and worked to promote social justice and equality.

Among his significant contributions was his work towards the upliftment of Dalits, including the campaign for the right to access public water sources and temples. He also fought against the practice of untouchability and worked to secure political representation and social equality for Dalits.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's legacy as a social reformer, jurist, and champion of the oppressed remains profound in India. He is revered as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and as a symbol of the struggle for social justice and equality. His birthday, 14 April is celebrated as Ambedkar Jayanti in India, commemorating his life and contributions to the nation.

12 April - Sugar Ray Robinson death anniversary

 

Sugar Ray Robinson, born Walker Smith Jr. on 03 May 1921, was an iconic American professional boxer widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. He was known for his exceptional skills, dazzling speed, and fluid movement inside the boxing ring.

Robinson's boxing career spanned from 1940 to 1965, during which he competed in the welterweight and middleweight divisions. He held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951 and the world middleweight title from 1951 to 1952, and again from 1955 to 1958. Over the course of his career, he won 173 fights, with 108 of them being knockouts, making him one of the most prolific knockout artists in boxing history.

Sugar Ray Robinson was not only known for his boxing prowess but also for his charisma and style. He was a pioneer in the sport, popularizing techniques such as the use of the left jab and the "rope-a-dope" strategy, later employed by Muhammad Ali. Robinson's fights were often characterized by his ability to adapt to his opponents' styles and his uncanny ability to land powerful combinations.

Beyond his achievements in the ring, Sugar Ray Robinson's impact on the sport of boxing and his influence on future generations of fighters is immeasurable. He remains a legendary figure in boxing history, revered for his skill, athleticism, and enduring legacy. Robinson passed away on 12 April 1989, but his name and legacy continue to resonate within the boxing community.

12 April - Mahesh Chandra Nyayratna Bhattacharyya death anniversary

 

Mahesh Chandra Nyayratna Bhattacharyya was indeed a prominent Indian scholar of Sanskrit and served as the principal of the Sanskrit College in Kolkata, India, from 1876 to 1895. He was born on 22 February 1836, and he passed away on 12 April 1906.

Bhattacharyya made significant contributions to the study and promotion of Sanskrit literature and language. As the principal of the Sanskrit College, he played a crucial role in the institution's academic and administrative affairs, helping to shape the education and scholarship of numerous students.

During his tenure, Bhattacharyya worked to preserve and propagate Sanskrit culture and knowledge, emphasizing its importance in Indian heritage and intellectual tradition. He also contributed to Sanskrit scholarship through his writings and research, furthering the understanding and appreciation of Sanskrit literature and philosophy.

Mahesh Chandra Nyayratna Bhattacharyya's dedication to Sanskrit studies and his leadership at the Sanskrit College have left a lasting legacy in the field of Sanskrit education in India. He is remembered as a distinguished scholar and educator who played a vital role in the preservation and promotion of Sanskrit heritage.

12 April - "Vinoo" Mankad birth annivesary

Mulvantrai Himmatlal "Vinoo" Mankad (12 April 1917 – 21 August 1978) was an Indian cricketer who appeared in 44 Test matches for India between 1946 and 1959. He was best known for his world record setting opening partnership of 413 runs with Pankaj Roy in 1956, a record that stood for 52 years, and for running out a batsman "backing up" at the non-striker's end. Mankadding in cricket is named after him. In June 2021, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India.

11 April - Kasturbai Mohandas Gandhi born

 

Kasturbai Mohandas Gandhi (born Kasturbai Gokuldas Kapadia; 11 April 1869 – 22 February 1944) was an Indian political activist. She was married to Mohandas Gandhi, more commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi, in 1883. With her husband and her eldest son, Harilal, she was involved in the Indian independence movement in British India. National Safe Motherhood Day is observed on April 11 every year in India, coinciding with Kasturbai Gandhi's birthday.Mohandas affectionately called her Baa and in letters referred to her as Mrs. Gandhi.

10 April - Arya Samaj founded in 1875

 Arya Samaj, is a monotheistic Indian Hindu reform movement that promotes values and practices based on the belief in the infallible authority of the Vedas. The samaj was founded by the sannyasi Dayanand Saraswati on 10 April 1875. Members of the Arya Samaj believe in one God and reject the worship of idols.

10 April - Joseph Pulitzer birth annivesary

 

Joseph Pulitzer, born on 10 April 1847, was a newspaper publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the New York World. He became a leading national figure in the Democratic Party and was elected congressman from New York. He crusaded against big business and corruption, and helped keep the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Today, his name is best known for the Pulitzer Prizes, which were established in 1917 as a result of his endowment to Columbia University. The prizes are given annually to recognize and reward excellence in American journalism, photography, literature, history, poetry, music and drama. Pulitzer founded the Columbia School of Journalism by his philanthropic bequest; it opened in 1912.

09 April - The Bataan Death March

 

The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer by the Imperial Japanese Army of between 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war from Saysain Point, Bagac, Bataan and Mariveles to Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac, via San Fernando, Pampanga.

The transfer began on April 9, 1942, after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II. The total distance marched from Mariveles to San Fernando and from the Capas Train Station to various camps was 65 miles long. Sources also report widely differing prisoner of war casualties prior to reaching Camp O'Donnell: from 5,000 to 18,000 Filipino deaths and 500 to 650 American deaths during the march. If an American soldier was caught on the ground or fell, he would be instantly shot. All the American soldiers who are known to have died or were killed now have a gravestone honoring them.

The march was characterized by severe physical abuse and wanton killings. After the war, the Japanese commander, General Masaharu Homma and two of his officers, Major General Yoshitaka Kawane and Colonel Kurataro Hirano, were tried by United States military commissions for war crimes and sentenced to death on charges of failing to prevent their subordinates from committing war crimes. Homma was executed in 1946, while Kawane and Hirano were executed in 1949.