Ukraine Independence Day

 

August 24 is the Independence Day of Ukraine, marking the anniversary of the nation's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The country observes this historic milestone under the ongoing shadow of war, with international allies visiting Kyiv to pledge fresh financial and defence support.

 

Sir Garfield Sobers' Birth Anniversary

 

Sir Garfield St Auburn Sobers, born on 28 July 1936, in Bridgetown, Barbados, was widely considered the greatest all-rounder in cricket history.

Known affectionately as "Sir Garry," he was an exceptionally versatile "five-in-one cricketer" who dominated international cricket for the West Indies Cricket Team from 1954 to 1974. He could effortlessly switch between elegant middle-order batting, left-arm fast-medium bowling, and two distinct styles of spin (orthodox and wrist-spin), while also acting as a brilliant close-in fielder and strategic captain.

Gorgeous Grandma Day

 

Gorgeous Grandma Day is celebrated annually on July 23to honour grandmothers and older women who break age-related stereotypes. Created in 1984 by radio host Alice Solomon, the day focuses on embracing confidence, individuality, and a vibrant lifestyle, showing that beauty has no age limit.

São João

 

São João is a vibrant Catholic festival celebrated primarily in Goa, India, and Portuguese-speaking countries on June 24th. Honouring St. John the Baptist, the Goan celebration coincided with the monsoon and features men leaping into water bodies wearing floral crowns (kopels).

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.