Acharya Shivpujan Sahay Death Anniversary

 

Acharya Shivpujan Sahay, passed away on 21 January 1963, was a noted Hindi and Bhojpuri novelist, editor and prose writer. He contributed in pioneering modern trends in, as well as in fiction. His texts "Mata ka Anchal" also printed in CBSE Book. In the text Mata ka Anchal, he has shown a wonderful bond with mother. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1960.

Hemu Kalani Death Anniversary

 

Hemu Kalani, who passed away on 21 January 1943, was a Sindhi revolutionary and freedom fighter during the Indian Independence Movement. He was one of the youngest revolutionaries to be martyred for the nation's freedom struggle, being executed by the British when he was only 19, two months before his 20th birthday. Kalani exhaled his final breaths, while grinning and uttering the phrases “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” He was a leader of Swaraj Sena, a student organisation which was affiliated with All India Students Federation (AISF).

Rash Behari Bose Death Anniversary

Rash Behari Bose, passed away on 21 January 1945, was an Indian revolutionary leader against the British Empire. He was one of the key organisers of the Ghadar Mutiny and founded the Indian Independence League. Bose also led the Indian National Army (INA) which was formed in 1942 under Mohan Singh. 

 

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Birth Anniversary

 

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, born on 21 January 1908, was a writer of Malayalam literature. He is popularly referred to as Beypore Sulthan.

He was a writer, humanist, freedom fighter, novelist, and short story writer. He is noted for his path-breaking, down-to-earth style of writing that made him equally popular among literary critics as well as the common man. His notable works include Balyakalasakhi, Shabdangal, Pathummayude Aadu, Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu, Mathilukal, Janmadinam, and Anargha Nimisham and the translations of his works into other languages have earned him worldwide acclaim.

The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri in 1982. He was also a recipient of the Sahitya Academy Fellowship, the Kerala Sahitya Academy Fellowship, and the Kerala State Film Award for Best Story. He was a recipient of the Vallathol Award in 1993.

Joachim Alva Birth Anniversary

 

Joachim Alva, born on 21 January 1907, was an Indian lawyer, journalist and politician from Mangalore. He was a prominent Mangalorean Christian figure involved in the Indian independence movement. After Independence, Alva was appointed Sheriff of Bombay in 1949 for the Bombay state. In 1950, he entered the Provisional Parliament of India. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1952, 1957, and 1962 from North Kanara. He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1968 and retired from the Rajya Sabha in 1974.

George Orwell Death Anniversary

 

George Orwell, who passed away on 21 January 1950, in London, is one of the world’s most influential writers, the visionary author of Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-four and eyewitness, non-fiction classics Down and Out in Paris in London, The Road to Wigan Pier and Homage to Catalonia.

George Orwell was born Eric Blair in India in 1903 into a comfortable ‘lower-upper-middle class’ family. Orwell’s father had served the British Empire, and Orwell’s own first job was as a policeman in Burma. Orwell wrote in “Shooting an Elephant” (1936) that his time in the police force had shown him the “dirty work of Empire at close quarters”; the experience made him a lifelong foe of imperialism.

By the time of his death in 1950, he was world-renowned as a journalist and author: for his eyewitness reporting on war (shot in the neck in Spain) and poverty (tramping in London, washing dishes in Paris or visiting pits and the poor in Wigan); for his political and cultural commentary, where he stood up to power and said the unsayable (‘if liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear’); and for his fiction, including two of the most popular novels ever written: Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Squirrel Appreciation Day

January 21 is Squirrel Appreciation Day. A day to acknowledge the role that squirrels play in nature and the environment. It is an unofficial holiday started by North Carolina wildlife rehabilitator Christy McKeown in 2001, as a way to encourage people to put out seeds and nuts for these cute rodents.

Squirrels are found almost everywhere on Earth. They are native to Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and have been introduced to Australia. 

In North America, the western and eastern grey squirrels are very common. In Europe, the red squirrel is more common, but its numbers in Great Britain and Ireland are decreasing. The decrease in the red squirrel population is linked to the introduction of the eastern grey squirrel from North America. Squirrels can range anywhere from a few inches to a few feet long. The smallest known squirrel species, the African pygmy squirrel, are on average only about 3 inches. The largest squirrels, the Indian giant squirrel, can be as long as 3 feet. A group of squirrels is called a dray or a scurry, though the term dray or drey usually refers to a squirrel nest. 

Tripura Full Statehood Day

Tripura, historically an independent administrative unit under the maharajas of the Manikya dynasty, gained full statehood on January 21, 1972, under the 1971 Act. 

Tripura celebrated the Golden Jubilee of its Statehood on January 21, 2022. On the occasion, India Post released a commemorative stamp.

Tripura is a state in Northeast India. It is the third smallest state in the country, and the seventh-least populated state. It is bordered by Assam and Mizoram to the east and by Bangladesh to the north, south and west. Tripura is divided into 8 districts and 23 sub-divisions, where Agartala is the capital and the largest city in the state. Tripura has 19 different tribal communities with a majority of the Bengali population. Bengali, English and Kokborok are the state's official languages.

The area of modern Tripura - ruled for several centuries by the Manikya Dynasty - was part of the Tripuri Kingdom (also known as Hill Tippera). It became a princely state under the British Raj during its tenure, and acceded to independent India in 1947. It merged to independent India in 1949 and was designated as 'Part C State' (union territory). It became a full-fledged state of India in 1972.

Tripura is widely known for tea plantations, fascinating scenic views, delicious views and historic places. However, being a home of several tribal communities, Tripura has gained fame for featuring unique handicrafts, hand woven fabrics, products made of bamboo, and many more things made by local tribes.

Meghalaya Full Statehood Day

 

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, formulated a policy to preserve and protect the culture of the tribal people in Meghalaya. The region was granted special protection in the Indian Constitution, and it obtained autonomy. In 1970, Meghalaya became an autonomous state within Assam, achieving full statehood on January 21, 1972.

Meghalaya celebrated the Golden Jubilee of its Statehood on January 21, 2022. On the occasion, India Post released a commemorative stamp.

Meghalaya is a state in northeastern India, Meghalaya was formed on January 21, 1972 by carving out two districts of Assam: (a) the United Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills and (b) the Garo Hills.

The state is bound to the south by the Bangladesh divisions of Mymensingh and Sylhet, to the west by the Bangladeshi division of Rangpur, and to the north and east by India's State of Assam. The capital of Meghalaya is Shillong. During the British rule of India, the British imperial authorities nicknamed it the "Scotland of the East". English is the official language of Meghalaya. Unlike many Indian states, Meghalaya has historically followed a matrilineal system where the lineage and inheritances are traced through women; the youngest daughter inherits all wealth and she also takes care of her parents.

Meghalaya is for the nature lover and adventurers delight. It has among the most amazing waterfalls and caves to explore, and the Living Root Bridges too.

Manipur Full Statehood Day

Manipur attained statehood on January 21, 1972 under the North-East Area (Re-organisation) Act 1971. 

Manipur celebrated the Golden Jubilee of its Statehood on January 21, 2022. On the occasion, India Post released a commemorative stamp.

Manipur is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanmar, Sagaing Region to the east and Chin State to the south.

Manipur is famous for its natural beauty, hand-woven crafts, markets, vibrant culture and heritage and the fact that it enjoys being a secluded part pf India. On that part, the Loktak Lake and the Khonghampat Orchidarium are some of the best tourist attractions.