Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis' Death Anniversary

 

Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, who passed away on 28 June 1972, in Calcutta [now Kolkata], was an Indian statistician who devised the Mahalanobis distance and was instrumental in formulating India’s strategy for industrialization in the Second Five-Year Plan (1956–61).

Born to an academically oriented family, Mahalanobis pursued his early education in Calcutta (now Kolkata). After graduating with honours in physics from Presidency College, Calcutta, in 1912, he moved to England to study physics and mathematics at the University of Cambridge. Just before Mahalanobis left the university in 1915, he was introduced to statistics by one of his tutors. When he returned to India, he accepted a temporary position teaching physics at Presidency College, and he became a professor of physics there in 1922. However, his interest in statistics had evolved into a serious academic pursuit, and he applied statistical methods to problems in anthropology, meteorology, and biology. On 17 December 1931, he established the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta.

Mahalanobis devised a measure of comparison between two data sets that is now known as the Mahalanobis distance. He introduced innovative techniques for conducting large-scale sample surveys and calculated acreages and crop yields by using the method of random sampling. He devised a statistical method called fractile graphical analysis, which could be used to compare the socioeconomic conditions of different groups of people. He also applied statistics to economic planning for flood control.

With the objective of providing comprehensive socioeconomic statistics, Mahalanobis established the National Sample Survey in 1950 and also set up the Central Statistical Organization to coordinate statistical activities in India. He was also a member of the Planning Commission of India from 1955 to 1967. The Planning Commission’s Second Five-Year Plan encouraged the development of heavy industry in India and relied on Mahalanobis’s mathematical description of the Indian economy, which later became known as the Mahalanobis model.

Mahalanobis held several national and international portfolios. He served as the chairman of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Sampling from 1947 to 1951 and was appointed the honorary statistical adviser to the government of India in 1949. For his pioneering work, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, one of India’s highest honours, by the Indian government in 1968.

 

Queen Victoria coronation in 1838

 

The coronation of Victoria as the queen of the United Kingdom took place on Thursday, 28 June 1838, just over a year after she succeeded to the throne of the United Kingdom at the age of 18. The ceremony was held in Westminster Abbey after a public procession through the streets from Buckingham Palace, to which the Queen returned later as part of a second procession.

The ceremony took five hours and suffered from a lack of rehearsal. No one except the Queen and Lord John Thynne (Sub-Dean of Westminster acting for the Dean), knew what should be happening. The coronation ring was painfully forced on to her wrong finger and Lord Rolle, an elderly peer, fell down the steps while making his homage to the Queen. A confused bishop wrongly told her the ceremony was over and she then had to come back to her seat to finish the service. In her Journal Victoria recorded the events of the day, calling it 'the proudest of my life'.

Mercedes-Benz formed in 1926

 

Mercedes-Benz is a world-renowned automobile brand known for its innovative and cutting-edge vehicles. Headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Mercedes-Benz is part of a larger company called Daimler AG that has been making cars since 1926. Ever since hitting the scene, these vehicles have been true leaders in the automotive industry. They’re known for their power and for their innovative qualities. That is what this brand as a whole is also widely known for.

But this legacy and history extend farther back than the 1920s.

The origins of the Mercedes-Benz brand date back to 1886 when Karl Benz's created the first petrol-powered car — the Benz Patent Motorwagen. And the first Mercedes car hit the market in 1901.

Mercedes was founded in 1902 after entrepreneur Emil Jellinek created the trademark, naming the car after his daughter. But over the years, companies merged and more minds entered the picture. There wasn’t just one entrepreneur leading the charge — no, there were several insightful and innovative minds (along with some of the era's best graphic designers) of working to shape this brand into what it became known as, and what it’s known for today.

And on 28 June 1926, Mercedes-Benz was formed after the merging of Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler's two companies.

It was this merger that gave birth to the car brand that we know today, and to the logo that represents such quality, strength and ingenuity — the three-pointed star.

The three-pointed star logo came into existence in 1909, but it wasn’t until this merger that it came in with the Mercedes-Benz logo. This three-pointed star represents the domination of land, air and sea — very fitting for a company that, at the time, was revolutionizing the automotive industry.

Treaty of Versailles signed in 1919

 

The Treaty of Versailles was a peace document signed between Imperial Germany and the Allied Powers on 28th June 1919. The treaty ended the state of war that had existed between Germany and the Allies from 1914 and brought World War I to an end. The treaty gets its name from the Palace of Versailles where it was signed.

Impact of the Treaty of Versailles

World War I had broken out in July 1914 when a Serb nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, assassinated Archduke Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and his wife in Sarajevo. Gavrilo was a member of the Black Hand, a Serb nationalistic group with the aim of uniting Serbs living outside the kingdom of Serbia. This had prompted the Austro-Hungarian Empire to declare war on Serbia and in return Serbia’s allies declared war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire, thus sparking the war.

The German people were furious that this fact was ignored by the Allies and Germany was made the sole party responsible for all the horrors of World War I. The nation’s burden of reparations crossed 132 billion gold Reichsmarks. It was a sum so huge that economists like John Maynard Keynes pointed out that Germany would not be able to pay it in full and even if, by chance that it did, the European economy would collapse.

The economic hardship and the resentment of the treaty within Germany were fertile grounds for ultra-nationalist sentiments, which were exploited by Hitler and his Nazi Party to seize power and laid the groundwork for World War II, a conflict far deadlier and devastating than World War I had ever been.

Muhammad Yunus' 84th Birthday

Muhammad Yunus, born on 28 June 1940, is a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur, banker, economist and civil society leader who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for founding the Grameen Bank and pioneering the concepts of microcredit and microfinance. These loans are given to entrepreneurs that are too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans. Yunus and the Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for their efforts through microcredit to create economic and social development from below". The Norwegian Nobel Committee said that "lasting peace cannot be achieved unless large population groups find ways in which to break out of poverty" and that "across cultures and civilizations, Yunus and Grameen Bank have shown that even the poorest of the poor can work to bring about their own development". Yunus has received several other national and international honours. He received the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010.

In February 2011, Yunus together with Saskia Bruysten, Sophie Eisenmann and Hans Reitz co-founded Yunus Social Business – Global Initiatives (YSB). YSB creates and empowers social businesses to address and solve social problems around the world. As the international implementation arm for Yunus' vision of a new, humane capitalism, YSB manages incubator funds for social businesses in developing countries and provides advisory services to companies, governments, foundations and NGOs.

In 2012, he became Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland, a position he held until 2018. Previously, he was a professor of economics at Chittagong University in Bangladesh. He published several books related to his finance work. He is a founding board member of Grameen America and Grameen Foundation, which support microcredit.

Yunus also served on the board of directors of the United Nations Foundation, a public charity to support UN causes, from 1998 to 2021.

 

P.V. Narasimha Rao's Birth Anniversary

P.V. Narasimha Rao, born on 28 June 1921, near Karimnagar, India, was a leader of the Congress (I) Party faction of the Indian National Congress (Congress Party) and prime minister of India from 1991 to 1996. Widely recognized for his efforts to liberalize the Indian economy in the early 1990’s, Rao was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, posthumously in 2024.

Rao was born in a small village near Karimnagar (now in Telangana, India). He studied at Fergusson College in Pune and at the Universities of Bombay (now Mumbai) and Nagpur, eventually receiving a law degree from the latter institution. He entered politics as a Congress Party activist working for independence from Britain. He served in the Andhra Pradesh state legislative assembly from 1957 to 1977, supporting Indira Gandhi in her split from the Congress Party organization in 1969; initially called the New Congress Party, the splinter group took the name Congress (I) Party in 1978. He held various ministerial positions in the Andhra Pradesh government from 1962 to 1973, including that of chief minister (head of government) from 1971. In that latter post he implemented a revolutionary land-reform policy and secured political participation for the lower castes. He was elected to represent Andhra Pradesh districts in the Lok Sabha (lower chamber of the Indian parliament) in 1972 and, under Gandhi and her son and successor, Rajiv Gandhi, served in various ministries, notably as foreign minister (1980–84, 1988–89). Besides his political career, Rao was known as a distinguished scholar-intellectual who once was chairman of the Telugu Academy in Andhra Pradesh (1968–74). He was fluent in six languages, translated Hindi verses and books, and wrote fiction in Hindi, Marathi, and Telugu.

After Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in May 1991, the Congress (I) Party chose Rao as its leader, and he became India’s 9th prime minister after the general elections in June. Rao almost immediately began efforts to restructure India’s economy by converting the inefficient quasi-socialist structure left by Jawaharlal Nehru and the Gandhis into a free-market system. His program involved cutting government regulations and red tape, abandoning subsidies and fixed prices, and privatizing state-run industries. Those efforts to liberalize the economy spurred industrial growth and foreign investment, but they also resulted in rising budget and trade deficits and heightened inflation. During Rao’s tenure, Hindu fundamentalism became a significant force in national politics for the first time, as manifested in the growing electoral strength of the Bharatitya Janata Party and other right-wing political groupings. In 1992 Hindu nationalists demolished the Babri Masjid, leading to sectarian violence between Hindus and Muslims that persisted throughout Rao’s term as prime minister. Corruption scandals rocked the Congress (I) Party, which continued its long decline in popularity and lost control of several major state governments to opposition parties in 1995.

Rao stepped down as prime minister in May 1996 after the Congress Party—the “(I)” designation had been dropped by then—was soundly defeated in parliamentary elections in which it garnered an all-time low share of the popular vote. Rao resigned as party chief that September, and the following year he was charged with corruption and bribery in an alleged vote-buying scheme dating from 1993. Rao, the first Indian prime minister (in or out of office) to face trial on criminal charges, was found guilty in 2000, but his conviction was later overturned.

On 9 February 2024, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Rao will be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, posthumously. The award comes almost a decade after Rao’s death following cardiac arrest at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Delhi, on 23 December 2004. In his announcement, Prime Minister Modi praised Rao for his visionary leadership, which “was instrumental in making India economically advanced, laying a solid foundation for the country’s prosperity and growth.”

 

Constitution Day of Ukraine

 

Constitution Day of Ukraine is observed on June 28 every year and celebrates the date of the adoption of a new constitution in the Ukraine. On this day in 1996, the Ukrainian parliament — also known as ‘Verkhovna Rada’ — voted for the acceptance of the new document. Since then, Constitution Day has been celebrated as a national holiday every year.

History Of Constitution Day in Ukraine

Ukraine’s trajectory towards constitutional governance began with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Emerging from decades of Soviet rule, Ukraine embarked on a path towards self-determination and democratic governance. This journey culminated in the adoption of the current constitution on June 28, 1996, a document that enshrines the principles of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. Central to the constitutional process was President Leonid Kuchma, whose leadership and commitment to democratic reforms played a pivotal role. Following his election in 1994, President Kuchma initiated the Constitutional Commission, tasked with drafting a new constitution reflective of Ukraine’s aspirations for liberty and self-governance.

The approval of the new constitution by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, marked a historic moment for the nation. In an extraordinary session lasting an entire day and night, Ukrainian deputies voted overwhelmingly in favour of the constitution, underscoring their dedication to a future founded on democratic principles and respect for human rights.

Key Provisions of the Constitution

The Ukrainian Constitution serves as a bulwark against tyranny, guaranteeing essential liberties such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion. By delineating the boundaries of governmental power, the constitution ensures that the rights and dignity of every Ukrainian citizen are protected.

Promotion of Democratic Governance

Central to the constitution is the establishment of democratic institutions that uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and the separation of powers. Through mechanisms such as free and fair elections, Ukraine reaffirms its commitment to democratic governance and the rule of law.

Recognition of Linguistic and Cultural Diversity

In a nation characterized by cultural richness and diversity, the constitution recognizes the importance of preserving and promoting Ukraine’s linguistic and cultural heritage. While Ukrainian is designated as the official language, the constitution affirms the rights of national minorities to preserve and develop their languages and cultures.

Constitution Day Celebrations

Each year, Constitution Day is celebrated with fervour across Ukraine, with cities adorned in the national colours of blue and yellow. Festivities include vibrant parades, cultural performances, and fireworks displays, serving as a testament to the nation’s unity and resilience. Constitution Day provides an opportunity for Ukrainians to express their patriotism and pride in their national identity. From displaying the Ukrainian flag to participating in community events, citizens come together to celebrate their shared history and aspirations for the future.

Significance Of Constitution Day in Ukraine

Constitution Day holds profound significance for Ukrainians, serving as a symbol of their hard-won freedoms and aspirations for a better tomorrow. As the nation commemorates this historic milestone each year, it reaffirms its commitment to the ideals of democracy, human rights, and national sovereignty.

 

Vietnamese Family Day

 

Vietnamese Family Day is an important cultural event in Vietnam, celebrated annually on June 28th

Vietnamese Family Day is an esteemed cultural occasion designed to pay homage to the profound cultural values and traditions embedded within Vietnamese families. On this day, families gather to commemorate their unity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of kinship that defines Vietnamese familial relationships.

1. The history of Vietnamese Family Day

Vietnamese Family Day is celebrated annually on June 28th, and its origin is a topic of great interest and inquiry for many. Specifically, according to the directive of Uncle Ho (President Ho Chi Minh), on June 28th, 2000, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam issued instructions to party committees at all levels regarding the enhanced leadership in the protection, care, and education of children.

By May 4th, 2001, the Prime Minister had issued a decision to designate June 28th as Vietnamese Family Day. The decision highlighted the significance of this date to emphasize the responsibility of ministries, departments, organizations, associations, and each family in building happy, prosperous, equal, and progressive families. It aimed to promote the care, education, and protection of children, thereby contributing to the construction and defence of the Fatherland.

2. The special meaning of Vietnamese Family Day

Families are regarded as the fundamental units of society, providing an ideal environment for shaping, nurturing, and educating every individual. The well-being and progress of every nation are deeply connected to the care and protection of its families. Throughout the history of Vietnam, the formation and growth of Vietnamese families have been intertwined with valuable moral standards, playing a significant role in constructing the national cultural identity.

Vietnamese Family Day on June 28th carries the significance of honouring the core values of family life. It provides an opportunity for families to exchange experiences in building a culturally rich family and aims to foster sustainable development within the family amid the challenges of rapid industrialization, modernization, and international integration.