Margaret Thatcher's Birth Anniversary

Margaret Thatcher, born on 13 October 1925, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, was a British Conservative Party politician and prime minister (1979–90), Europe’s first woman prime minister. The only British prime minister in the 20th century to win three consecutive terms and, at the time of her resignation, Britain’s longest continuously serving prime minister since 1827, she accelerated the evolution of the British economy from statism to liberalism and became, by personality as much as achievement, the most renowned British political leader since \Winston Churchill. She was a role model for a later prime minister, Liz Truss.

Sister Nivedita's Death Anniversary

 

Nivedita, who passed away on 13 October 1911, in Darjeeling [Darjiling], India, aged 43, was an Irish-born schoolteacher who was a follower of the Indian spiritual leader Vivekananda (Narendranath Datta) and became an influential spokesperson promoting Indian national consciousness, unity, and freedom.

The eldest child of Mary and Samuel Richmond Noble, Margaret became a teacher at the age of 17 and taught in different schools around Ireland and England before establishing her own school at Wimbledon in 1892. A good writer and speaker, she joined the Sesame Club in London, where she met fellow writers George Bernard Shaw and Thomas Huxley.

Noble met Vivekananda when he visited England in 1895, and she was attracted to the universal principles of Vedanta and to Vivekananda’s humanistic teachings. Accepting him as her guru (spiritual teacher) before he left England in 1896, she worked for the Vedanta movement in England until she went to India in 1898. Her great level of devotion compelled Vivekananda to give her the name Nivedita (“Dedicated One”). She went to India primarily to help Vivekananda realize his plans to educate women, and she opened a small school at Calcutta (now Kolkata) in Bengal, where she tried to blend Indian traditions with Western ideas. She closed the school in 1899 to raise funds abroad before returning in 1902 and reopening it. The following year she added courses to train young women in arts and crafts in addition to basic academic subjects.

Nivedita also made notable efforts to serve the poor of Calcutta and Bengal during times of plague, famine, and floods there. Following Vivekananda’s death in 1902, Nivedita turned her attention more toward India’s political emancipation. She objected strongly to the partition of Bengal in 1905 and, as part of her deep involvement in the revival of Indian art, supported the swadeshi (“our own country”) movement that called for the boycott of imported British goods in favour of domestically produced handmade goods. She continued to give lectures in India and overseas, promoting Indian arts and the education of Indian women.

Nivedita’s tireless activity, austere lifestyle, and disregard for her own welfare eventually caused her health to fail, and she died at the age of 44. During her close contact with the Indian people, they came to love their “sister” with devoted admiration bordering on veneration. The poet Rabindranath Tagore, one of her close friends, summed up that sentiment when, after her death, he referred to her as the “mother of the people.” Her school continued in operation in the early 21st century in present-day Kolkata under the management of the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission (a sister organization to the Ramakrishna Mission founded by Vivekananda in 1897).

Ashok Kumar's Birth Anniversary

 

Ashok Kumar (born Kumudlal Ganguly), on 13 October 1911, was an Indian actor who attained iconic status in Indian cinema. He was considered the first big star of Indian cinema as well as the first lead actor to play an anti-hero. He also became the first star to reinvent himself, enjoying a long and hugely successful career as a character actor. He was a member of the cinematic Ganguly family. He was honoured in 1988 with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest national award for cinema artists, by the Government of India. He received the Padma Shri in 1962 and Padma Bhushan in 1999 for his contributions to Indian cinema.

Kishore Kumar's Death Anniversary

 

Kishore Kumar, who passed away on 13 October 1987, in Bombay [now Mumbai], aged 58, was an Indian actor, playback singer, composer, and director known for his comic roles in Indian films of the 1950s and for his expressive and versatile singing voice, which, in the course of a career that spanned nearly four decades, he lent to many of India’s top screen actors.

Kumar was the youngest child of a Bengali professional family that had settled in west-central India, in the present-day state of Madhya Pradesh. When he was a teenager, he got a job in Bombay (now Mumbai) as an occasional chorus singer at the Bombay Talkies film studio, where his elder brother Ashok Kumar was the reigning star. Although his heart was in singing, the younger Kumar made his acting debut in 1946 in the nondescript film Shikari. It was the 1951 release of Andolan, however, that propelled him to stardom as a singer-actor and ultimately freed him from the shadow of his brother Ashok.

In his early years of on-screen celebrity, Kumar appeared principally in slapstick comedies, which revealed his flair both for humorous roles and for singing. In Bimal Roy’s Naukri (1954) and in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s directorial debut, Musafir (1957), he played an unemployed young man desperately seeking a job to support his family. Kumar reached his peak as a comic actor with the film New Delhi (1956), in which he played a North Indian Punjabi pretending to be a South Indian Tamil so that he would be able rent a room in New Delhi, and in the self-produced film Chalti ka naam gaadi  (1958; “That Which Runs Is a Car”), which starred three brothers—Ashok Kumar, Anoop Kumar, and Kishore Kumar—in the roles of three brothers whose lives are upended by two women who present a threat to the brothers’ voIn the late 1940s Kishore Kumar collaborated with the leading actor Dev Anand by serving as his playback singer—the voice for his songs. For the next two decades Kumar sang primarily for Anand, and the partnership between the versatile crooner and the romantic film star created a musical gold mine in films such as Munimji (1955), Funtoosh (1956), Nau do gyarah (1957), and Jewel Thief (1967). A new high point in Kumar’s career came in 1969: the film Aradhana catapulted Rajesh Khanna to superstardom, and Kumar, who had lent his voice to Khanna, became the leading playback singer of the Hindi film industry. Kumar retained that position until he died.

Kumar’s rise to the top of India’s pool of playback singers was an extraordinary feat. Unlike his colleagues in the profession, most of whom were trained in Indian classical music, Kumar had no formal music training whatsoever. Nevertheless, he was a skilled imitator, interpreter, and innovator. He used colourful timbral effects—such as yodelling—in his vocalizations, experimented with electric organs and other atypical instruments in his accompaniments, and enlivened his performances with upbeat rhythms. All those features ultimately imparted an appealing sense of modernity to Kumar’s overall sound.

Aside from acting and singing, Kumar composed music for Indian films. He also directed several productions, including Door gagan ki chhaon mein (1964) and Door ka rahi (1971). In contrast to the light-hearted films in which he typically participated as an actor, singer, or composer, the films that Kumar directed were often tragedies.

World Thrombosis Day

 

The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) created World Thrombosis Day in 2014 on October 13 to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Rudolf Virchow, a pioneering German physician from the 19th century who was the first to identify and explain the mechanics of thrombosis. Vascular medicine got its foundation thanks to his research on blood clots. Since thrombosis is a major cause of mortality and disability globally, the effort aims to address the serious public health concern it poses.

Significance 

The World Thrombosis Day is significant for many reasons, one since it focuses on preventing blood clot-related deaths and complications. The risk factors for thrombosis, such as prolonged immobility, surgery, cancer, and certain drugs, are not well known to many people. Increasing knowledge makes it easier for people to identify symptoms early, seek prompt medical attention, and take preventative action. World Thrombosis Day aims to lower the worldwide burden of thrombosis and promote healthier lifestyles by promoting risk reduction education.

World Thrombosis Day: 5 Tips to reduce the danger of blood clots

• Daily exercise increases blood circulation, which helps keep blood clots from forming. Exercises that improve vascular health and lower the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) include swimming, cycling, and walking.    
• Obesity and excess weight impose additional strain on the cardiovascular system, raising the risk of thrombosis. Additionally, irritation brought on by excess fat can damage blood vessels and encourage the production of clots.      
• The blood may thicken due to dehydration, increasing the risk of a clot. Water consumption throughout the day maintains blood flow and lowers the risk of clotting. It is crucial to stay hydrated during travelling or when you are immobile.   
• Blood can pool in the legs from prolonged sitting or standing without movement, which raises the risk of DVT. Take regular breaks to stretch and move your legs if you work a sedentary job or are at risk for blood clots.      
• Smoking raises the risk of blood clot development and destroys blood vessels. Cigarettes' nicotine and other substances irritate blood arteries, which encourages the formation of clots.

Breast Cancer Awareness Day

Breast Cancer Awareness Day, celebrated every year on October 13, serves as an important opportunity to promote awareness about breast cancer, a disease that affects millions of women globally. This day focusses on celebrating the importance of early detection, educating people about risk factors, and supporting those who are bravely fighting against the disease.

Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers amongst women, and early diagnosis is key to improving survival rates.

One of the central messages of Breast Cancer Awareness Day is the importance of regular screenings. Mammograms and self-examinations are two of the most effective tools for detecting breast cancer early, when treatment is most successful.

Many women, however, are unaware of the need for routine checks or delay them, which can lead to the cancer being diagnosed at a more advanced stage. By promoting regular screenings and educating the public on how to identify early symptoms, such as lumps, changes in breast size or shape, or unusual nipple discharge, the day helps save lives.

Breast cancer has several risk factors. Genetics play a role, with women who have a family history of breast cancer at higher risk. Other factors include age, as the risk increases with age, and hormonal factors such as hormone replacement therapy or having children later in life.

While some of these factors are beyond individual control, lifestyle choices can influence breast cancer risk. Eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, avoiding smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption are all important steps to help lower the risk of developing the disease.

Beyond education, Breast Cancer Awareness Day is also about support. Women diagnosed with breast cancer often face both physical and emotional challenges. This day encourages people to offer emotional support to those affected, whether through personal acts of kindness or by participating in events that raise funds for cancer research and patient care.

The day provides a platform for sharing stories of survival and loss, which can offer hope and solidarity to those currently battling the disease.

Additionally, Breast Cancer Awareness Day emphasises the importance of ongoing research. Advances in treatments, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapy, have improved the prognosis for many patients, but continued research is critical to discovering more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure.

Through awareness, education, and support, Breast Cancer Awareness Day plays a crucial role in the fight against this devastating disease.

International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) is an international day that encourages every citizen and government to take part in building more disaster-resilient communities and nations. The United Nations General Assembly designated October 13 as International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction as part of its proclamation of International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction.

In 2002, by a further resolution, the General Assembly decided to maintain the annual observance as a vehicle to promote a global culture of natural disaster reduction, including prevention, mitigation, and preparedness.

In 2009, the UN General Assembly decided to designate October 13 as the official date for this day, and also changed the name to International Day for Disaster Reduction. The word risk was added to the name later.

Prime Meridian of the World established in 1884

 

Greenwich, London was established as the Universal Time meridian of longitude, from which all World time zones are based on, on this day, i.e., October 13, in 1884. GMT is the name for the mean solar time of the longitude (0°) of the Royal Greenwich Observatory in England. At different times in the past, it has been calculated in different ways and as a result, it cannot be used to specify a precise time unless a context is given. 

As Britain developed into an advanced maritime nation, British mariners kept at least one chronometer on GMT in a bid to calculate their longitude from Greenwich meridian, which was considered to have longitude zero degrees, by a convention adopted in the International Meridian Conference in 1884. This practice then led to GMT being used worldwide as a standard time independent of location. In the following years, GMT was adopted across the island of Great Britain by the Railway Clearing House in 1847 and by almost all railway companies by the following year.