Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Birthday

 

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the ‘Druk Gyalpo’ or ‘Dragon King’ of the Kingdom of Bhutan, was born on February 21, 1980.

Wangchuck is the current ‘Druk Gyalpo’ or ‘Dragon King’ of the kingdom of Bhutan. He  is the eldest son of the fourth Dragon King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. King Namgyel ascended the throne in 2006 when his father, the fourth dragon king, abdicated the throne in his favor two years earlier than planned, making Wangchuck one of the youngest monarchs in the world.

Wangchuck is immensely popular among the people of Bhutan and is mostly referred to as the ‘People’s King,’ who has cordial interactions with the people. He is also well-known and popular in India and Thailand. Before becoming king, he toured around the kingdom with his father and frequently represented Bhutan at many public events and foreign conferences, including the twenty-seventh U.N. General Assembly. Wangchuck attended Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s sixtieth-anniversary celebrations in 2006. This event cemented his popularity among the general public, particularly among ladies. The tabloids even dubbed him ‘Prince Charming of the Himalayas.’

Wangchuck married his long-time girlfriend, Jetsun Pema in October 2011 in a small, private ceremony — a three-day celebration in Bhutan

Suryakant Tripathi (Nirala) Birth Anniversary

 

 

Suryakant Tripathi (Nirala), born on 21 February 1896, was a poet, novelist, essayist and story-writer. He also drew many sketches.

Mirra Alfassa Birth Anniversary

Mirra Alfassa, born on 21 February 1878, was a spiritual guru, an occultist and a collaborator of Sri Aurobindo, who considered her to be of equal yogic stature to him and called her by the name "The Mother". She founded the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and established Auroville as a universal town; she was an influence and inspiration to many writers and spiritual personalities on the subject of Integral Yoga.

Kittur Chennamma Death Anniversary

 

Kittur Chennamma, who passed away on 21 February 1829, was an Indian revolutionary, freedom fighter and Rani of the Kittur, a former princely state in Karnataka. She led an armed force against the British East India Company in 1824 in defiance of the doctrine of lapse in an attempt to maintain Indian control over the region, but was defeated in the third war and died imprisoned. The one of the first female rulers to rebel against British rule, she has become a folk hero in Karnataka and symbol of the independence movement in India.

Nutan Death Anniversary

Nutan, who passed away on 21 February 1991, was an Indian film actress. In a career spanning nearly four decades, she appeared in more than 70 Hindi films, many in starring roles. Regarded as one of the finest female actors in the history of Indian cinema, Nutan was noted for playing unconventional parts and her performances often received praise and accolades. Nutan holds the record of five wins of the Best Actress award at Filmfare, which was held only by her for over 30 years until it was matched by her niece Kajol in 2011. In 1974, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.

International Mother Language Day

 

International Mother Language Day is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism. First announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999, it was formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly with the adoption of UN resolution 56/262 in 2002. Mother Language Day is part of a broader initiative "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world" as adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 May 2007, which also established 2008 as the International Year of Languages. The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, 21 February is the anniversary of the day when the people of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) fought for recognition for the Bangla language. It is also celebrated in West Bengal.