International Jaguar Day

Every year, November 29 is celebrated as International Jaguar Day to raise awareness about the importance of jaguars and their conservation. As one of the apex predators in the Americas, jaguars play a crucial role in maintaining the health and balance of their ecosystems. However, these magnificent big cats face numerous threats that endanger their survival, making this day a pivotal moment for reflection and action.

History of International Jaguar Day

International Jaguar Day was established in 2018 during a global effort to conserve the species. This initiative was led by Panthera, an organisation dedicated to protecting wild cats, in collaboration with multiple governments and conservation groups. The date, November 29, was chosen to commemorate the adoption of the Jaguar Corridor Initiative, a landmark program designed to protect the jaguar's natural habitat across 18 countries, from Mexico to Argentina. 

 Significance of the Day

The jaguar, also known as Panthera onca, is the largest big cat in the Americas and the third-largest in the world, after tigers and lions. Beyond their striking beauty, jaguars play a key role as keystone species, helping to regulate prey populations and maintain the balance of their ecosystems.

International Jaguar Day aims to:

·       Educate people about the ecological importance of jaguars and the threats they face.

·   Highlight initiatives like protected reserves and wildlife corridors that allow jaguars to roam freely.

·     Encourage governments, organisations, and individuals to contribute to jaguar conservation through funding, advocacy, and sustainable practices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sobha Singh's Birth Anniversary

 

Sobha Singh, born on 29 November 1901, was a painter from Punjab, India. Sobha Singh painted hundreds of paintings. His main focus was Sikh gurus, their life and work. His series on the Sikh gurus have dominated to an extent that his paintings dominate the public's perception associated with Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh ji. The portrait he made in honor of the 500th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in 1969 is the one most people believe to be the visage of Guru Nanak. Sobha Singh painted pictures of other gurus as well, Guru Amar Das, Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Har Krishan. His paintings of Sohni Mahiwal and Heer Ranjha were also very popular. He also painted impressive portraits of national heroes and leaders like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, etc. His murals are displayed in the art gallery of Indian Parliament House in New Delhi. The panel depicting the evolution of Sikh history features Guru Nanak with Bala and Mardana on one side; and Guru Gobind Singh in meditation on the other.

Thakkar Bapa's Birth Anniversary

Thakkar Bapa, born on 29 November 1869, was an Indian social worker who worked for upliftment of tribal people in Gujarat state in India. He became a member of the Servants of India Society founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1914. In 1922, he founded the Bhil Seva Mandal. Later, he became the general secretary of the Harijan Sevak Sangh founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932. The Bharatiya Adimjati Sevak Sangh was founded on 24 October 1948 on his initiative. When Indian constitution was in process, Kenvi visited remotest and most difficult parts of India and conducted probe into the situation of tribal and Harijan people. He added valuable inputs in the process of constitution. Mahatma Gandhi would call him 'Bapa'.

J.R.D. Tata's Death Anniversary

 

J. R. D. Tata (Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata), who passed away on 29 November 1993, was an Indian aviator, entrepreneur, chairman of Tata Group and the shareholder of Tata Sons. Born into the Tata family of India, he was the son of noted businessman Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and his wife Suzanne Brière.