Vladimir Lenin's Birth Anniversary

 

Vladimir Lenin, (full Name: Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov), born on 22 April 1860, was a Marxist Revolutionary and Soviet Leader.

He played a leading role in the October Revolution of 1917, overthrowing the Provisional Government and establishing a one-party state under the new Communist Party that became the Soviet Union.

Vladimir Lenin became interested in Marxism while at university and was later exiled to Siberia for sedition. After travelling through Europe Lenin returned to Russia to join the 1917 Russian Revolution, writing his April Theses for the Bolshevik Party on the way.

In power, Lenin began reforms to shift crown and private estates into soviet worker's control. He consolidated power through imposing censorship and authorizing the "Red Terror".

Ideologically a Marxist, his political theories are known as Leninism.

On his death in 1924, Saint Petersburg was renamed Leningrad in his honour and his body was embalmed and placed on display in a Mausoleum in Red Square.

Miguel de Cervantes' Death Anniversary

 

Miguel de Cervantes, who passed away on 22 April 1616, in Madrid, aged 68, was a Spanish novelist, playwright, and poet, the creator of Don Quixote (1605, 1615) and the most important and celebrated figure in Spanish literature. His novel Don Quixote has been translated, in full or in part, into more than 60 languages. Editions continue regularly to be printed, and critical discussion of the work has proceeded unabated since the 18th century. At the same time, owing to their widespread representation in art, drama, and film, the figures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza are probably familiar visually to more people than any other imaginary characters in world literature. Cervantes was a great experimenter. He tried his hand in all the major literary genres save the epic. He was a notable short-story writer, and a few of those in his collection of Novelas exemplares (1613; Exemplary Stories) attain a level close to that of Don Quixote, on a miniature scale.

Portuguese Discover Brazil in 1500

 

Pedro Álvares Cabral was chosen by the Portuguese crown to lead a major expedition to India in 1500. A fleet of 13 ships and an estimated 1500 men left Portugal to follow in the footsteps of Vasco da Gama’s earlier expedition in search of new trade routes.

It is still unclear today whether Cabral's journey into the west Atlantic was deliberate or not but on the 22nd April 1500 land was spotted at what Cabral christened Monte Pascoal in what is now modern Brazil. The expedition went on to spend about 10 days exploring the coast and interacting with indigenous peoples. Cabral claimed the lands for the Portuguese crown under the conditions of the Treaty of Tordesillas, agreed with Spain which granted Portugal sway over undiscovered lands along the meridian of 370 leagues.

The rest of the expedition was equally momentous. Cabral lost six of his ships in a storm off Mozambique before reaching India, where he battled with locals and competing Arab merchants before loading up with spices and returning home in July 1501.

World Earth Day

World Earth Day is an annual event observed across the globe on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Earth Day reminds citizens of the world of the importance of environment conservation and sustainability, encouraging us to come together and take action for a healthier planet and brighter future. The day raises awareness and inspires change, fostering a deep connection with nature.

World Earth Day: History and Significance:

The origin of Earth Day can be traced back to 1970. The idea behind the event originated from Gaylord Nelson, a US senator, and Denis Hayes, a Harvard student. They were both deeply disturbed by the deteriorating environment in the United States and the massive January 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Deeply disturbed by the environmental impacts, he wanted to infuse the energy of student protests into an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution. He recruited Denis Hayes, a young activist, to manage the campus teach-ins and to scale the idea of environment conservation to a broader public. They choose April 22, a weekday between Spring Break and Final Exams, to increase student participation. Its immediate success was evident with a massive turnout of 20 million people across the US.

By 1990, Earth Day became a global event transcending national borders. The day holds significance as it shifts our perspective, prompting us to see ourselves not separate from nature but intricately connected. It encourages humans to make small changes in our daily lives, supporting environmental causes and contributing to a more sustainable future.