1859, Big Ben chimes for the first time

 

On May 31, 1859, Big Ben rang over the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, for the first time.

In October 1834, a fire destroyed much of the Palace of Westminster, the medieval royal palace used as the home of the British parliament. The design for the new palace included a tower to house a large clock. One requirement for the clock was that the first stroke of the hour bell should be correct to within one second per day. Construction of the clock began in September 1843. When completed in 1859, it was the world's largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock.

The Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster is commonly known as Big Ben. Although the name Big Ben only refers to the bell, it is commonly associated with the whole clock tower. In addition to the Great Bell, the belfry houses four quarter bells, which play on the quarter hours.

The original bell was cast in August 1856. Since the tower was not finished, the bell was mounted in New Palace Yard. During testing, the bell cracked beyond repair and a replacement had to be made. The new bell was recast in April 1858 and first rang over the Houses of Parliament on May 31, 1859. In September, this bell also cracked. The hammer was discovered to be more than twice the maximum weight specified. A lighter hammer was installed, and the bell was repaired, although the crack remained. The bell gave an eighth turn so the new hammer struck an undamaged section. This is the bell we hear today.

Michael Clarke's Birthday

 

Michael John Clarke, born on 2 April 1981, in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia, is an Australian former cricketer. He was captain of the Australian cricket team in both Test and One Day International (ODI) between 2011 and 2015, leading Australia to victory in the 2015 Cricket World Cup. He also served as captain of the Twenty20 International (T20I) team between 2007 and 2010. With his time representing Australia, Clarke won multiple ICC titles with the team: the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the 2015 Cricket World Cup which he was the winning captain, and the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy.

Nicknamed "Pup", Clarke was a right-handed middle-order batsman, an occasional left-arm orthodox spin bowler and also a slip catcher. He represented New South Wales at the domestic level.

Clarke retired from all forms of cricket after the final Test of the 2015 Ashes series.

Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar's Birth Anniversary

 

Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, born on 1 April 1889, in Nagpur, was an Indian physician and the founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He served as its first Sarsanghchalak (Supreme Leader) from its inception in 1925 until his death in 1940. 

Key Facts

• Founder of RSS: He established the RSS on the day of Vijayadashami in 1925 in Nagpur. His goal was to organise Hindu society and instill national character and discipline.
• Medical Background: He studied medicine at the National Medical College in Calcutta, receiving his degree in 1916.
• Political Involvement:
• Before founding the RSS, he was a member of the Indian National Congress and served as the joint secretary of the Provincial Congress in 1922.
• He was involved in revolutionary activities in Calcutta with the Anusheelan Samiti.
• He participated in the Non-cooperation Movement (1921) and the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930), serving prison time for both.
• Philosophy: Hedgewar's vision focused on cultural regeneration and the idea of a united India rooted in indigenous ideology. He was heavily influenced by leaders like V.D. Savarkar and Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
• Innovations: He introduced the concept of the Shakha (daily meeting/branch) where volunteers engage in physical exercises, patriotic songs, and discussions to build a sense of discipline and unity. He famously designated the Saffron Flag (Bhagwa Dhwaj) as the "Guru" of the organisation to promote loyalty to a philosophy rather than an individual. 

 

Johann Sebastian Bach's Birth Anniversary

Johann Sebastian Bach, born on 31 March 1685, in Eisenach, Germany, was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential figures in Western classical music history. 

Key Highlights of His Life

• Early Life: Born into a legendary musical family in Eisenach, he was orphaned by age 10 and raised by his older brother, Johann Christoph, who gave him his first keyboard lessons.
• Career Path: He held several prestigious positions, most notably as Kapellmeister at the court of Prince Leopold in Köthen (1717–1723) and as Thomaskantor (Director of Church Music) in Leipzig (1723–1750).
• Prolific Output: Bach composed over 1,100 works across nearly every major Baroque genre, including cantatas, concertos, suites, and passions, with the notable exception of opera.

Land Day (Palestine)

 

Land Day marks the Palestinian people’s collective uprising against Israeli systematic land theft and dispossession. On March 30, 1976, Israeli forces massacred six Palestinian protestors during mass demonstration s against the Israeli occupation’s theft of thousands of dunums of Palestinian land in the Galilee. Since 1976, the struggle has only intensified. Today, the Israeli settler colonial project and ethnic cleansing campaign continue to steal land, forcibly displace communities, and intensify its structural oppression across all of Palestine.

Jal Manekji Cooper's Birth Anniversary

Jal Manekji Cooper, born on 29 March 1905, in Mumbai, was an Indian philatelist, and an expert and authenticator of the postage stamps and postal history of India. Cooper was also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the author of several philatelic handbooks. He was both a stamp dealer and a collector and was associated with philatelists like C.D. Desai, N. D. Cooper, and Robson Lowe.

Cooper is occasionally but erroneously credited with having discovered the Inverted Head 4 Annas.

The 1891 reprints show that this error was already known. E. A. Smythies said the error was first discovered at a meeting of the Philatelic Society of London in 1874.

The Jal Cooper Philatelic Society, in Varanasi, India, is named after him and India Post issued a 10 rupees commemorative stamp in 1997 depicting Cooper and Indian postmarks, on the occasion of INDEPEX 97.

 

 

Barnum & Bailey Day

 

March 28 marks an exciting celebration in the world of entertainment—it’s Barnum & Bailey Day! This day commemorates the iconic American circus known as “The Greatest Show on Earth,” which combined the talents of P.T. Barnum, J.A. Bailey, and the Ringling Brothers. It’s a day to remember the magic, excitement, and wonder that the circus has brought to audiences around the world. 

 

Five Fun Facts about Barnum & Bailey Day

·        The Barnum & Bailey Circus was created when P.T. Barnum’s circus merged with James Anthony Bailey’s in 1881.

·        Known for its elaborate spectacles, the circus travelled across the country in special trains.

·        The phrase “The Greatest Show on Earth” was actually coined by P.T. Barnum, showcasing his flair for the dramatic.

·        The circus was famous for its vast menagerie of animals, breathtaking acrobatic performances, and unique attractions.

·        Barnum & Bailey Day celebrate not just the circus, but the imagination and innovation that can turn dreams into reality.