William Bates Yeats Death Anniversary

 

William Butler Yeats, who passed away on 28 January 1939 was an Irish poet, dramatist and writer, and one of the foremost figures of 20^th-century literature. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival, and along with Lady Gregory founded the Abbey Theatre, serving as its chief during its early years. He was awarded the 1923 Nobel Prize in Literature, and later served two terms as a Senator of the Irish Free State.

Medical College in Calcutta Founded in 1835

 

Medical College, Kolkata, also known as Calcutta Medical College, is a public medical college and hospital located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is one of the oldest existing hospitals in Asia. The institute was established on 28 January 1835 by Lord William Bentinck during British Raj as Medical College, Bengal. It is the second oldest medical college to teach Western medicine in Asia after  Ecole de Médicine de Pondichéry and the first institute to teach in English language. The college offers MBBS degree after five and a half years of medical training.

Sohrab Modi Death Anniversary

 

Sohrab Modi, who passed away on 28 January 1984, was an Indian stage and film actor, director and producer. His films include Khoon Ka Khoon (1935), a version of Shakespeare's Hamlet, Sikandar, Pukar, Prithvi Vallabh, Jhansi ki Rani, Mirza Ghalib, Jailor and Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957). His films always carried a message of strong commitment to social and national issues.

Daisy Day

 

Daisy Day celebrated on January 28 is possibly an offshoot of an old tradition that took place at the Hook Lighthouse, Wexford, Ireland, in which daisies were hunted for the New Year.

The daisy, formally known as the Asteraceae or Compositae, has more than 23,000 varieties. Daisy origates from Old English which means "day's eye."

Daisies symbolize purity, innocence, virtue, patience, and simplicity. Conversely, in Norse mythology they mean love, sensuality, and fertility.

Many varieties of daisies are edible and healthy when eaten in salads or used to decorate sweet baked goods such as cakes.

Daisies have also been known to contain medicinal properties. For instance, wild daisy tea can be used for a number of maladies, including cough, kidney problems, bronchitis, inflammation and problem with the liver.

Data Privacy Day

 

Data Privacy Day is an international event that occurs every year on 28 January. The purpose of Data Privacy Day is to raise awareness and promote privacy and data protection best practices. It is currently observed in the United States, Canada, Qatar, Nigeria, Israel and 47 European countries.

O P Nayyar Death Anniversary

Omkar Prasad Nayyar better known as O P Nayyar, who passed away on 28 January 2007, in Mumbai, was an Indian film music composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, and musician. He is considered to be one of the most rhythmic and melodious music directors of the Hindi film industry.

Nayyar made his debut in the Hindi cinema, with 1949 movie 'Kaneez' and in 1952 as music director in 'Aasmaan'.

Nayyar worked closely with renowned singers of the era - Mohammed Rafi, Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle. Nayyar played a main role in Asha’s singing career. It was also speculated that Asha and Nayyar were in a relationship in the late 1950s. The two ended their professional collaboration in 1972, after which Asha went on to work with another legendary music composer, RD Burman.

After a disagreement with Mohammed Rafi, Nayyar began working with singer Mahendra Kapoor. Kapoor performed Nayyar’s songs 'Badal Jaaye Agar Maali' and 'Chaman Hotaa Nahi Khaali' in 'Bahaaren Phir Bhi Aayengi'.

Nayyar also worked with developing lyricists such as Jan Nisar Akhtar, Qamar Jalalabadi, S. H. Bihari and Ahmed Wasi.

He began the tradition of assigning full, three-minute songs to comedians. Om Prakash sang Nayyar’s 'Churi Bane Kanta Bane' in 'Jaali Note', and Jonny Walker sang 'Jaane Kahan Mera Jigar Gaya Jee' in 'Mr. & Mrs. 55'.

It was Nayyar who wrote 'Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawaanonkaa' for 'Naya Daur', the song that earned him the 1958 Filmfare Best Music Director Award.

Nayyar was more active during the 1960s than he was in the following decade, and did not compose music for younger actors such as Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan.

His films included Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Guru Dutt, Dharmendra, Shammi Kapoor, Asha Parekh, Mumtaz, Sharmila Tagore, Madhubala and Rekha. He made a brief comeback during the 1990s with 'Mangni' and 'Nishchay' in 1992 and 'Zid' in 1994.

Field Marshall K.M. Cariappa Birth Anniversary

Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa, born on 28 January 1899, was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army. A national hero with many firsts to his credit, he was instrumental in the transition of the Indian military from colonial to independent India and his legacy is still honoured today. Under his leadership, the Indian armed forces proved their mettle during a critical period of transition and a competent and capable military establishment was formed. Kodandera's election was a major turning point in the growth of India's independent defence sector. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of military personnel by highlighting the importance of discipline, leadership and dedication in serving the nation. 

Military career

Cariappa had a distinguished military career spanning nearly three decades. Joining the British Indian Army after World War I, he was commissioned as a temporary first lieutenant into the 2/88 Carnatic Infantry. Cariappa became the first Indian officer to attend the Staff College, Quetta, and later commanded the 1/7 Rajputs, making him the first Indian to lead a battalion. He served in various staff roles and commands, eventually becoming the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. During World War II, Cariappa served in the Middle East and Burma, earning accolades for his leadership. His historic achievements include being the first Indian to command a battalion in the Indian Army.

Post-Independence, Cariappa assumed the role of deputy chief of the general staff. He orchestrated three successive attack operations—Kipper, Easy, and Bison—with the aim of reclaiming strategic areas like Naushera, Jhangar, Poonch, Zoji La, Dras, and Kargil. However, plans to expel Pakistani forces from Kashmir were thwarted by the United States' intervention. On July 6, 1948, the Army HQ imposed strict restrictions on conducting major operations without its authorization. Cariappa opposed this policy, warning that it endangered Leh, Kargil, and ultimately the Kashmir Valley, jeopardizing the nation's security.

 

Lala Lajpat Rai Birth Anniversary

Lala Rajpat Rai, born on 28 January 1865, created a legacy of nationalism, unity and strength as he was a freedom fighter who was a firm believer in India’s independence, dedicated his whole life to the cause and played an important role in the Independence movement. Rai was born in Dhudike, Punjab to a Jain family and his liberal views and Hindu beliefs were shaped by his parents, which he then used to reform Indian policy and religion through politics and journalistic writing.

In 1880, Rai joined the Government College at Lahore to major in law, where he was influenced by the Hindu reformist movement of Swami Dayanand Saraswati and became a member of existing Arya Samaj Lahore (founded 1877) and Founder-Editor of Lahore-based Arya Gazette. Popularly known as Punjab Kesari, Lala Lajpat Rai was one-third of the triumvirate ‘Lal Bal Pal’, which included Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal.

An integral part of the Indian National Congress, he took part in political agitations in Punjab and was subsequently deported to Mandalay without trial in May 1907 however, the freedom fighter was allowed to return in November that year, after then Viceroy Lord Minto decided there was insufficient evidence to hold him in prison. Lala Lajpat Rai was elected President of the Indian National Congress in the Calcutta Special Session of 1920.

In 1921, he founded Servants of the People Society, a non-profit welfare organisation but he is perhaps best known for leading the non-violent march in protest of the Simon Commission that was set up by the British government and headed by Sir John Simon. The protesters chanted “Simon go back” and carried black flags and it was during this protest that the police lathi charge occurred against the protestors where Rai was personally assaulted and extremely injured.

He subsequently addressed the crowd with his now famous words and said, “I declare that the blows struck at me today will be the last nails in the coffin of British rule in India”. He did not fully recover from his injuries and died on 17 November 1928 of a heart attack.