Bertrand Russell Death Anniversary

Bertrand Russell, who passed away on 2 February 1970, was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, writer, essayist, social critic, political activist, and Nobel laureate.

He was the figure in the analytic movement in Anglo-American philosophy, and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950. Russell’s contributions to logic, epistemology, and the philosophy of mathematics established him as one of the foremost philosophers of the 20th century. To the general public, however, he was best known as a campaigner for peace and as a popular writer on social, political, and moral subjects. During a long, productive, and often turbulent life, he published more than 70 books and about 2,000 articles, married four times, became involved in innumerable public controversies, and was honoured and reviled in almost equal measure throughout the world.

Mohan Lal Sukhadia Death Anniversary

 

Mohan Lal Sukhadia, who passed away on 2 February 1982, was an Indian politician, who served as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan state for 17 years (1954–1971). He became chief minister at age 38 and was responsible for bringing major reforms and developments in Rajasthan. For this, he is still widely revered as the "founder of modern Rajasthan".

Later in his career, Sukhadia also served as the Governor of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur Birth Anniversary

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, born on 2 February 1889, was an Indian activist and politician. Following her long-lasting association with the Indian independence movement, she was appointed the first Health Minister of India in 1947 and remained in office until 1957. During her tenure, Kaur ushered in several healthcare reforms in India and is widely remembered for her contributions to the sector and her advocacy of women's rights. Kaur was also a member of the Indian Constituent Assembly, the body that framed the Constitution of India.

Lalit Narayan Mishra Birth Anniversary

Lalit Narayan Mishra, born on 2 February 1923, was the Minister of Railways in the government of India from 1973 to 1975. He was brought into politics by the first Chief Minister of Bihar, Krishna Sinha, when he was made parliamentary secretary at his insistence to the First Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1975, he died in a bomb blast at Samastipur railway station.

Hedgehog Day

 

February 2 is Hedgehog Day. Apparently, Hedgehog Day dates all the way back to the Romans. They looked to see if a hedgehog saw his shadow in the moonlight. If so, he would return to his burrow and winter would hold on for six more weeks. At some point the Romans brought their beliefs to Europe and the beliefs melded into watching the hedgehog emerge from hibernation during the day. On a sunny day, he would see his shadow and there would be six more weeks of winter.

There are 17 different types of hedgehogs, including both domesticated breeds and wild species. These are African Pygmy Hedgehog, Algerian Hedgehog, Egyptian Long-Eared Hedgehog, Indian Long-Eared Hedgehog, European Hedgehog, Southern White-Breasted Hedgehog, Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog, Amur Hedgehog, Somali Hedgehog, Southern African Hedgehog, Daurian Hedgehog, Hugh's Hedgehog, Desert Hedgehog, Indian Hedgehog, Brandt's Hedgehog, Gaoligong Forest Hedgehog and Bare-Bellied Hedgehog.

Dmitri Mendeleev Death Anniversary

Russia, 2009: Minisheet commemorating Dmitri Mendeleev’s discovery of the Periodic Table of Elements

Dmitri Mendeleev, who passed away on 2 February 1907, in Saint Petersburg, aged 72, was a Russian chemist and inventor who is best known for formulating the Periodic Law and creating a version of the periodic table of elements. This table - which was arranged by atomic weight and presented the elements in a grid where elements in the same column exhibited similar chemical properties - was a significant breakthrough in the history of chemistry. 

In his formulation of the Periodic Law, Mendeleev predicted the properties of elements yet to be discovered. He left gaps in his table for these elements, and remarkably, when they were discovered, their properties matched Mendeleev's predictions. These accurate forecasts lent significant credibility to his work and solidified the acceptance of the periodic table.

Aside from his work on the periodic table, Mendeleev made significant contributions to other areas of chemistry, metrology, and technology. He also made efforts towards improving Russia's higher education, and he advocated for modernization and industrialization in Russia. The crater Mendeleev on the Moon, as well as element number 101, the radioactive mendelevium, are named after him.

World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on February 2 with the aim to create awareness of the vital role wetlands play for people and the planet.

The proposal for the convention of wetlands was first made on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar.

Wetlands are the parts of the earth where the soil is covered with water. They support both terrestrial and aquatic species.

There are five major types of wetlands. They are marine, estuarine, lacustrine, riverine, and palustrine. It is essential to conserve wetlands as they are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, supporting a diverse array of plant and animal species. They serve as vital habitats for numerous species of birds, fish, amphibians, and mammals, many of which are endangered or threatened. Wetlands also provide essential ecosystem services such as water purification, flood control, and carbon storage.