India's Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest World Chess Champion

 

India's Gukesh Dommaraju became the youngest world chess champion, defeating defending champ Ding Liren (of China), on Thursday, 12 December 2024. It was a dramatic affair in the decisive 14th game in Singapore, as a blunder from Liren in the end game saw Gukesh come out on top. Gukesh also became the 18th world champion at the age of 18, four years younger than Garry Kasparov, who had been the youngest world champion since 1985 when he reigned supreme against Anatoly Karpov.

Baba Raghav Das' Birth Anniversary

Baba Raghav Das, born on 12 December 1896, was an Indian guru, freedom fighter, reformer, philosopher, member of parliament, and an activist. He is best known for his social contributions.

Zorawar Singh Kahluria's Death Anniversary

Zorawar Singh Kahluria, who passed away on 12 December 1841, was a military general of the Dogra Rajput ruler, Gulab Singh of Jammu. He served as the governor (wazir-e-wazarat) of Kishtwar and extended the territories of the kingdom by conquering Ladakh and Baltistan. He also boldly attempted the conquest of Western Tibet (Ngari Khorsum) but was killed in battle of To-yo during the Dogra-Tibetan war. In reference to his legacy of conquests in the Himalaya Mountains including Ladakh, Tibet, Baltistan and Iskardu as General and Wazir, Zorowar Singh has been referred to as the "Napoleon of India", and "Conqueror of Ladakh". 

T. N. Rajarathnam Pillai's Death Anniversary

T. N. Rajarathnam Pillai', who passed away on 12 December 1956, was an Indian Carnatic musician, nadaswaram maestro, vocalist and film actor. He was popularly known as "Nadaswara Chakravarthi" (literally, the Emperor of Nadaswaram). 

Ramanand Sagar's Death Anniversary

Ramanand Sagar, who passed away on 12 December 2005, was an Indian film director. He is most famous for making the Ramayan television series, a 78-part TV adaptation of the ancient Hindu epic of the same name, starring Arun Govil as Lord Ram and Deepika Chikhalia as Sita. This TV serial was then widely watched and liked across the country. The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of Padma Shri in 2000.

Maithili Sharan Gupt's Death Anniversary

 

Maithili Sharan Gupt, who passed away on 12 December 1964, was one of the most important modern Hindi poets. He is considered one among the pioneers of Khari Boli (plain dialect) poetry and wrote in Khari Boli dialect, at a time when most Hindi poets favoured the use of Braj Bhasha dialect. He was a recipient of the third highest (then second highest) Indian civilian honour of Padma Bhushan. For his book Bharat-Bharati (1912), widely quoted during India's freedom struggle, he was given the title of Rashtra Kavi by Mahatma Gandhi.