Shinzo Abe, assassinated on 8 July 2022, in Kashihara, Nara, Japan, aged
67, was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and
President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2006 to 2007 and again
from 2012 to 2020. He was the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese
history, serving for nearly nine years in total.
Amid scenes of great rejoicing and enthusiasm, in which about 150,000 Punjab peasants participated, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru opens the Bhakra-Nangal canal system on 8th July 1954, aiming to irrigate millions of acres of arid land in Punjab, the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), and Rajasthan.
The Kalka-Shimla Railway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 8, 2008, and is listed under the "Mountain Railways of India". This 96.6 km long, single-track railway line connects Kalka to Shimla, passing through 18 stations. It was built between 1898 and 1903 to connect Shimla, then the summer capital of British India, with the rest of the Indian rail system.
It's one of the three mountain railways in India recognized by UNESCO, alongside the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
The railway is known for its
dramatic views, numerous tunnels (102), and bridges (988). It remains a popular tourist route, offering scenic
views of the Himalayan foothills.
Tell the Truth Day, on July 7th, is a day where people are encouraged to tell the truth, no matter what.
One of the most important things that we can do in our lives is to tell the truth. Telling the truth is important because it builds trust, fosters relationships, and creates an environment of honesty and integrity.
Lying, on the other hand, destroys trust, breaks down relationships, and creates an atmosphere of deceit and dishonesty. When we lie, we are not being true to ourselves or to others. We are essentially living a lie.
Remember that the truth is always the best policy
One of the most important reasons why we should tell the truth is because it builds trust. Trust is the foundation of any relationship. If we want to have healthy and strong relationships, we need to build trust. And the only way to build trust is by telling the truth.
When we lie, we are breaking that trust. We are betraying the person who trusts us. Once that trust is broken, it is very difficult to repair. It takes a lot of time, effort, and patience to rebuild trust.
Another important reason why we should tell the truth is because it fosters relationships. Relationships are built on trust and communication. When we lie, we are not being honest with the other person. We are not communicating openly and honestly. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflict.
Telling the truth is essential for healthy and strong relationships
Lastly,
telling the truth creates an environment of honesty and integrity. When we are
honest with ourselves and with others, we create an atmosphere of trust and
respect. People feel safe and secure in an environment where they know that
they can trust the people around them.
International Peace & Love
Day is celebrated on July 7 to spread positive energy across the world.
Peace and love don’t cost a thing, but their power goes far beyond anything
words can capture. Different cultures have their concepts of peace. The
philosophy of ‘Ubuntu’ among the Zulu in Africa teaches that humanity is
linked. To the Japanese, ‘Heiwa’ means “aligning oneself to the common good.”
The spirit of ‘Shalom’ among Hebrews translates to “unity and prosperity, with
a sense of wholeness arising from justice.” Most cultures seem to agree that
the world needs more love and peace.
The 14th Dalai Lama, born on 6 July 1935; full spiritual name: Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, shortened as Tenzin Gyatso; né Lhamo Thondup is the incumbent Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader and head of Tibetan Buddhism. He served as the resident spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet before 1959 and subsequently led the Tibetan government in exile represented by the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, India.
A belief central to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as well as the institution of the Dalai Lama is that the reincarnated person is a living Bodhisattva, specifically an emanation of Avalokiteśvara, (in Sanskrit) or Chenrezig (in Tibetan), the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The Mongolic word dalai means ocean. The 14th Dalai Lama is also known to Tibetans as Gyalwa Rinpoche ("The Precious Jewel-like Buddha-Master"), Kundun ("The Presence"), and Yizhin Norbu ("The Wish-Fulfilling Gem"). His devotees, as well as much of the Western world, often call him His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He is the leader and a monk of the newest Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.
The 14th Dalai Lama was born to a farming family in Takster (Hongya village), in the traditional Tibetan region of Amdo, at the time a Chinese frontier district. He was selected as the tulku of the 13th Dalai Lama in 1937, and formally recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama in 1939. As with the recognition process for his predecessor, a Golden Urn selection process was waived and approved by the Central Government of the then – Republic of China. His enthronement ceremony was held in Lhasa, on 22 February 1940. As Communist Chinese forces re-entered and annexed Central Tibet, Ganden Phodrang invested the Dalai Lama with temporal duties on 17 November 1950 (at 15 years of age) until his exile in 1959.
During the 1959 Tibetan uprising, the Dalai Lama escaped to India, where he continues to live. On 29 April 1959, the Dalai Lama established the independent Tibetan government in exile in the north Indian hill station of Mussoorie, which then moved in May 1960 to Dharamshala, where he resides. He retired as political head in 2011 to make way for a democratic government, the Central Tibetan Administration. The Dalai Lama advocates for the welfare of Tibetans and since the early 1970s has called for the Middle Way Approach with China to peacefully resolve the issue of Tibet. This policy, adopted democratically by the Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibetan people through long discussions, seeks to find a middle ground, "a practical approach and mutually beneficial to both Tibetans and Chinese, in which Tibetans can preserve their culture and religion and uphold their identity," and China's assertion of sovereignty over Tibet, aiming to address the interests of both parties through dialogue and communication and for Tibet to remain a part of China. He criticized the CIA Tibetan program, saying that its sudden end in 1972 proved it was primarily aimed at serving American interests.
Until reaching his mid-80s, the Dalai Lama travelled worldwide to give Tibetan Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism teachings, and his Kalachakra teachings and initiations were international events. He also attended conferences on a wide range of subjects, including the relationship between religion and science, met with other world leaders, religious leaders, philosophers, and scientists, online and in-person. Since 2018, he has continued to teach on a reduced schedule, limiting his travel to within India only, and occasionally addressing international audiences via live webcasts. His work includes focus on the environment, economics, women’s rights, nonviolence, interfaith dialogue, physics, astronomy, Buddhism and science, cognitive neuroscience, reproductive health and sexuality.
The Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1889. Time
magazine named the Dalai Lama Gandhi’s spiritual heir to nonviolence. The
12th General Assembly of the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace in New Delhi
unanimously recognized the Dalai Lama's contributions to global peace, his
lifelong efforts in uniting Buddhist communities worldwide, and bestowed upon
him the title of "Universal Supreme Leader of the Buddhist World";
they also designated 6 July, his birthday, as the Universal Day of
Compassion.
Independence Day is a public holiday in Cape Verde, observed on July 5th each year.
This is the National Day of Cape Verde and commemorates the country's independence from Portugal on this day in 1975.
History of Independence Day
Cape Verde is an island country consisting of 10 volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Northwest Africa.
The islands were uninhabited when they were discovered by Portuguese navigators in the middle of the 15th century. Portuguese settlers arrived in 1462, establishing the first permanent European settlement in the tropics.
The islands benefited from their position, first as a stopping off point for the Atlantic slave trade and then as a location for re-supplying ships bound for the Americas.
The call for nationalism had grown louder after the end of the second world war. So much so that in 1951, Portugal changed Cape Verde's status from a colony to an overseas province to try and reduce the increasing disenfranchisement with colonial rule.
The nationalist movement in Cape Verde was entwined with the other Portuguese territory in the area, Portuguese Guinea. In 1956, Amílcar Cabral, a Guinean organized the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). The aims of the PAIGC were to improve the economic, social and political conditions in Cape Verde and Portuguese Guinea and formed the basis of the two nations' independence movements.
These demands erupted into a war on the African mainland, with Portuguese Guinea declaring independence in 1973.
The April 1974 revolution in Portugal led to change of
approach to its overseas territories, and in 1974 the PAIGC and Portugal signed
an agreement providing for a transitional government composed of Portuguese and
Cape Verdeans. On June 30th 1975, Cape Verdeans elected a National Assembly
which received the instruments of independence from Portugal on July 5th 1975.
World Badminton Day, held on July 5th each year is an eagerly anticipated event for passionate badminton enthusiasts worldwide. It pays homage to its journey through the years, while embodying its unrelenting spirit in this annual gathering. Furthermore, it showcases how practicing badminton can catalyze personal growth and positively transform both communities and nations alike.
On July 5th,1934 the International Badminton Federation (IBF) was founded marking a historical moment for world badminton and inclusive badminton activities. Thus, World Badminton Day was inaugurated, to commemorate this momentous occasion. Originally known as the IBF, this unified governing body of badminton sport worldwide, was established by nine founding member nations.
World Badminton Day signifies not only a celebration but it showcases the essential values ingrained in badminton. It emphasizes inclusivity that promotes global badminton culture, collaboration and elevates development at all levels. This day acts as a catalyst in promoting awareness about badminton. We witness diverse age groups and backgrounds come together to celebrate. This includes players, athletes and enthusiasts who have driven badmintons' success to become one of the most compelling sports of modern history.
World Badminton Day collaboratively develops events with vibrant themes
that encompasses culture, music and food. This helps to broaden its network and
enrich the platform appropriately. It provides players globally with a
sense of camaraderie fostering unity- a bond irrefutable by geographical borders. This
occasion transcends limitations and unites people from diverse backgrounds
through their mutual admiration for badminton.
Alluri Sitarama Raju, born on 4 July 1897 or 1898, in Pandrangi, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Andhra Pradesh, India), was an Indian revolutionary who waged an armed rebellion against the British colonial rule in India. He led the Rampa rebellion (1922–1924) which was borne from rising discontent towards British colonial rule in the backdrop of the non-cooperation movement (1920–1922). To recruit for his force, Raju harnessed grievances caused by the 1882 Madras Forest Act that effectively restricted the free movement of adivasis in their forest habitats and prevented them from practicing their traditional form of agriculture called ‘podu’, which threatened their very way of life. Mustering combined forces of tribals and other sympathisers to the cause, he engaged in guerilla campaigns against British forces across the border regions of present-day Andhra Pradesh and Odisha states in India. He was given the title "Manyam Veerudu" (transl. Hero of the Jungle) by the local people for his exploits.
Born into a Telegu family in present day Andhra Pradesh as Alluri Rama Raju, he prefixed the name "Sita" to his in memory of a girl whom he loved during his youth and whose untimely demise at a young age left him heartbroken. He later took up sannyasa at the age of 18 and grew to become a charismatic leader of the downtrodden tribal people in the 20th century colonial India. As the leader of the Manyam rebellion or the Rampa Rebellion of 1922, Alluri Sitarama Raju led his forces against the British colonial rulers with an aim of expelling them from the Eastern Ghats region in the erstwhile Madras Presidency. During the rebellion he led numerous raids on the imperial police stations to acquire firearms for his under-equipped forces. After each raid, he would leave a written note in the station signed by him informing the police about the details of his plunder there, including details of the weaponry he acquired daring them to stop him if they could.
Police stations in and around areas of Annavaram, Addateegala,
Chintapalle, Dammanapalli, Krishna Devi Peta, Rampachodavaram, Rajavommangi,
and Narsipatnam were all targeted by his forces, which resulted in significant
police casualties. In response to these raids and to quell the rebellion, the
British colonial authorities undertook a nearly two year long manhunt for
Alluri Sitarama Raju that resulted in expenditures reaching over
₹4 million rupees. Eventually, in 1924, he was trapped at Koyyuru village
in Chintapalle forests. There, he was captured, tied to a tree, and was summarily
executed by a firing squad. A mausoleum with his final remains was built in the
village of Krishnadevipeta in Andhra Pradesh.
Gulzarilal Nanda, born on 4 July 1898, in Sialkot, Punjab, British India [now in Pakistan], was an Indian politician who twice served briefly as interim prime minister, in 1964 following the death of Jawaharlal Nehru and in 1966 upon the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri. Nanda was a member of the cabinet of both prime ministers whom he succeeded, and he was known for his work on labour issues.
Nanda grew up in Punjab and was educated in Lahore, Agra, and Allahabad. He researched labour problems at the University of Allahabad in 1920–21 before becoming an economics professor at the National College in Bombay (now Mumbai). He joined Mahatma Gandhi’s non-cooperation movement and was twice jailed for civil disobedience.
Nanda was elected to Bombay’s legislative assembly in 1937, where he served as Parliament secretary for labour and excise (1937–39) and as Bombay’s secretary of labour (1946–50). In the latter capacity, he was instrumental in forming the Indian National Trade Union Congress (and later became its president), and in 1947 he represented India at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, where he was a member of its Freedom of Association Committee.
Nanda held several cabinet positions in the government of India. He
was named minister of planning in 1951, and the following year, after his
election to the Lok Sabha (legislative assembly), he was also given
the portfolio of irrigation and power. In 1957 he became minister of labour,
employment, and planning. He also served as minister of labour and employment
(1962–63) and of home affairs (1963–66) in addition to being called on as
interim prime minister. He later was minister of railways (1970–71). In 1997, Nanda
was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.
World
Meerkat Day is celebrated annually on July 3rd to
raise awareness about meerkats and promote their conservation.
Significance of the Day
History
Patrice Émery Lumumba, born Isaïe Tasumbu Tawosa;on 2 July 1925, in Onalua, Belgian Congo [now Democratic Republic of the Congo], was a Congolese politician and independence leader who served as the first Prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (then known as the Republic of the Congo) from June until September 1960, following the May 1960 election. He was the leader of the Congolese National Movement (MNC) from 1958 until his assassination in 1961. Ideologically an African nationalist and pan-Africanist, he played a significant role in the transformation of the Congo from a colony of Belgium into an independent republic.
Shortly
after Congolese independence in June 1960, a mutiny broke out in the army,
marking the beginning of the Congo Crisis. After a coup, Lumumba attempted
to escape to Stanleyville to join his supporters who had established
a new anti-Mobutu state called the Free Republic of the Congo. Lumumba was
captured enroute by state authorities under Joseph-Désiré Mobutu (Sese Seko),
sent to the State of Katanga and, with the help of Belgian
mercenaries, tortured and executed by the separatist Katangan authorities
of Moïse Tshombe. In 2002, Belgium formally apologized for its role in the execution,
admitting "moral responsibility", and in 2022, they returned
Lumumba’s tooth to his family. He is seen as a martyr for the pan-African
movement.
Olav V, born on 2 July 1903, in Appleton House, near Sandringham, Norfolk, England, was the king of Norway (1957-91), succeeding his father, King Haakon VII.
Olav was educated at the Norwegian military academy and at the University of Oxford in England. As crown prince he was a celebrated athlete and sportsman, excelling at ski jumping and yachting. He won a gold medal in yachting at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. In 1929 Olav married Princess Martha of Sweden, who died in 1954. They had three children.
After having resisted the German invaders for two months during World
War II, Olav left for England with the king and the government in June 1940. He
was named head of the Norwegian armed forces in 1944. He returned a few weeks
before the king in 1945, serving briefly as regent. He again became regent in
1955 when his father suffered an accident, serving in that capacity until
Haakon’s death in 1957. Like other constitutional monarchs, Olav’s
duties were largely ceremonial. He was succeeded in 1991 by his son, Harald V.
Independence Day is a public holiday in Burundi on July 1st.
This is Burundi's National Day and commemorates independence from Belgium on July 1st 1962.
Burundi is a landlocked region in central Africa. It was an independent kingdom until it became part of the colony of German East Africa, which included Burundi, Rwanda, and the mainland part of Tanzania in the 1890s.
After Germany's defeat in the First World War, control of the western part of German East Africa was ceded to Belgium under the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
In October 1924,
Ruanda-Urundi, which consisted of modern-day Rwanda and Burundi, became a
Belgian League of Nations mandate territory.
Despite the control by the two European powers, the monarchy in Burundi had continued, and In 1959, Burundi's ruler Mwami Mwambutsa IV requested independence from Belgium and dissolution of the Ruanda-Urundi union.
The country declared its independence on July 1st 1962 and changed its name from Ruanda-Urundi to Burundi. Burundi became a constitutional monarchy with Mwami Mwambutsa IV as king. On September 18th 1962 Burundi joined the United Nations.
Following independence, Burundi has had a tumultuous series
of decades with coups, civil war and genocide. The country has been peaceful
since 2006 and Independence Day is seen as a day to show patriotism for Burundi
but also to bring people together after the violent past.
Canada Day, the national holiday of Canada, is celebrated with parades, displays of the flag, the singing of the national anthem, “O Canada,” and fireworks. When July 1 falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on the following day.
The possibility of a confederation between the colonies of British North America was discussed throughout the mid-1800s. On July 1, 1867, a dominion was formed through the British North America Act as approved by the British Parliament. It consisted of territories then called Upper and Lower Canada and of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The act divided Canada into the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and it included provisions for other colonies and territories to join in the future, which made possible the growth of Canada into its present form. The act served as Canada’s constitution until 1982, and July 1 was celebrated as Dominion Day.
By terms of the Canada Act of 1982, the British North America Act was
repatriated from the British to the Canadian Parliament, and Canada became a
fully independent country. At the same time, the name of the national holiday
was changed to Canada Day.
Juan Emilio Bosch y Gaviño, born on 30 June 1909, in La Vega, Dominican Republic, also known as El Profesor (Spanish for the Teacher), was a Dominican politician, historian, writer of short stories and novels, essayist, educator, and the first democratically elected president of the Dominican Republic for seven months in 1963.
Previously he had been the leader of the Dominican opposition in exile
to the dictatorial regime of Rafael Trujillo for over 25 years. He is
remembered as an honest politician and regarded as one of the most
prominent writers in Dominican literature. He helped found the Dominican
Revolutionary Party (PRD) in 1939, and left it in 1973 to found the Dominican
Liberation Party (PLD).
Elizabeth Monroe, born on 30 June 1768, in New York, New York, United States, was an American first lady (1817–25), the wife of James Monroe, fifth president of the United States. Although she was noted for her beauty and elegance, her aloofness made her unpopular.
Elizabeth Monroe is best
remembered for her role in choosing new furniture for the presidential mansion
when it was rebuilt in 1817 (after its destruction by the British during the
War of 1812). Elizabeth had developed a great appreciation for French style and
workmanship, and she and the president instructed an agent in Paris to spend a
special congressional appropriation there. When the White House was refurbished
in the early 1960s, these purchases were considered some of its finest
holdings.
Army Day, or ‘Día del Ejército’ commemorates all of the fallen soldiers that have served in the Guatemalan armed forces. It also celebrates the anniversary of an important turning point in Guatemalan history, the Liberal Revolution.
History of Army Day in Guatemala
In 1871, the ruler of Guatemala was President Vincente Cerna, who
carried out much of the similar policies as his conservative predecessor,
Rafael Carrera. Both of these men were considered to be dictators by many
Guatemalans. The people were finally pushed to their limit when Marshal Serapio
Cruz, an outspoken opposer of the Cerna regime, was assassinated. Generals
Justo Rufino Barrios and Miguel García Granados lead soldiers into the capital,
Guatemala City, and defeated Cerna’s forces on June 29th, 1871. The next day,
Cerna fled to Honduras and the two generals entered the presidential palace.
The International Day of Parliamentarism is celebrated every year on 30 June, the date in 1889 on which the IPU was founded. The Day was established in 2018 through a United Nations General Assembly Resolution.
Instituting an international day for parliaments is particularly important at this critical time for parliamentary democracy, when people are losing trust in political institutions and democracy itself is facing challenges from populist and nationalist movements. If democracy is to thrive, then parliaments, as the cornerstone of functioning democracies, need to be strong, transparent, accountable and representative.
The International Day of Parliamentarism is a time to review the progress
that parliaments have made in achieving some key goals to be more
representative and move with the times, including carrying out
self-assessments, working to include more women and young MPs, and adapting to
new technologies.
National Camera Day is observed annually on June 29 to honour one of the most groundbreaking inventions in human history- the camera. This day is a perfect occasion for photography lovers and enthusiasts to appreciate the device that captures memories, tells stories, and preserves moments forever.
From grainy film cameras to today’s sleek digital marvels, the
journey of the camera is nothing short of a captivating tale of creativity and
innovation.
International Lightning Safety Day is observed annually on June 28th. It was established to raise awareness about the dangers of lightning and promote safety measures. The date is significant as it marks the anniversary of a tragic lightning strike in Uganda that killed 18 children in 2011, according to the VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies.
Key aspects of International Lightning Safety Day:
Raising Awareness:
The day aims to educate the public about the dangers of lightning and the importance of taking precautions during thunderstorms.
Promoting Safety Measures:
It encourages individuals to learn and implement lightning safety guidelines, such as seeking shelter indoors or in a hard-topped vehicle when thunder is heard.
Remembering the Tragedy:
The date, June 28th, serves as a reminder of the devastating 2011 lightning strike in Uganda.
International Focus:
The day is observed globally, with various organizations and countries participating in awareness campaigns and events.
Continued Effort:
The day is part of ongoing efforts to reduce
lightning-related deaths and injuries worldwide.
27 June is World ATM Day. Did
you know that the world's smallest ATM is on a Bagel stall in New York City,
while the 'wettest' is in County Cork, Ireland? On June 27th, 1967, the world's
first semi-automated cash dispenser was introduced by Barclays Bank in North
London. Today, there are more than 3.2 million ATM - Automated Teller Machine.
The son of the ATM's 'inventor', James Shepherd-Barron, founded The ATM Appreciation
Society to draw attention to how crucial and indispensable ATMs are in our
daily lives and their pivotal role in reducing disaster risk and enhancing
financial inclusion.
Madagascar was an independent kingdom before becoming a French colony in 1896. The country was under French rule until 1960, when it became the Republic of Madagascar. Since then, Malagasy people celebrate their Independence Day every year on June 26.
Celebrations:
Every year, Malagasy people prepare the arrival of this event some weeks in advance. Indeed, you would notice the Malagasy flag proudly displayed against every household’s wall or balcony from the very beginning of June. Madagascar’s Independence Day is traditionally celebrated with a lot of food (composed especially of poultry – goose, chicken or duck, and rice), drinking and dancing.
Additionally, the celebration makes the joy of children who are eagerly
awaiting the nights of June 25 and 26 to admire the fireworks and also to show
their colourful Arendrina or lanterns. These are probably the noisiest
nights of the year due to firecrackers used as a remembrance of the gunfire occurring
during the war for independence.
On June 25, 1947, Anne Frank's diary, "Het Achterhuis" (The Secret Annex), was first published in the Netherlands. This publication occurred after the end of World War II and marked the beginning of the diary's global recognition.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Publication:
The first edition of "The Diary of a Young Girl" was published by Contact in Amsterdam. It was initially titled "Het Achterhuis," meaning "The Secret Annex".
Initial
Reception:
The book was well-received in the Netherlands, with the first edition of 3,036 copies quickly selling out.
Global
Impact:
The diary was eventually translated into over 65 languages and adapted for stage and screen, becoming a global symbol of the Holocaust.
Otto
Frank's Role:
Anne's father, Otto Frank, played a key role in getting the diary published after the war. He compiled the book from Anne's diary entries and rewritten versions, also correcting some language errors.
Anne's Wish Fulfilled:
The publication of her diary was a long-held wish of Anne's, as she had expressed a desire to be a writer or journalist.
Continued Significance:
The
diary continues to be read worldwide, offering a powerful testament to the
human cost of the Holocaust and the importance of tolerance and understanding.
Global Beatles Day (also
known as World Beatles Day) is an annual holiday held on 25 June
each year to commemorate the legacy and cultural impact of the English rock
band, the Beatles. The date, 25 June, was chosen to commemorate the date that
the Beatles participated in the BBC show Our World in 1967,
performing "All You Need Is Love” broadcast to an international audience.
The holiday was created and first celebrated in 2009 by Faith Cohen, who called
it "a thank you or love letter" to the band.
Tara Singh, born on 24 June 1885, in Haryal, near Rawalpindi, Punjab, British India (present-day Pakistan), was a Sikh leader known chiefly for his advocacy of an autonomous Punjabi-speaking Sikh nation in the Punjab region. He was a champion of Sikh rights against the dominant Hindus, Muslims, and British.
Tara Singh was born a Hindu, but while a student in Rawalpindi he
became attracted to Sikhism and underwent the required initiation
ceremony. Upon graduation from Khalsa College at Amritsar in
1907, he entered the Sikh school system in Lyallpur, becoming a high
school teacher, or “master,” a title associated with him thereafter.
A devout worker for the cause of Sikh religious and political integrity, Tara Singh often found himself in opposition to civil authority. He was jailed for civil disobedience 14 times between 1930 and 1966. In 1930 he became deeply involved with the civil disobedience (satyagraha) movement of Mohandas K. Gandhi and was a leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD; Supreme Akali Party), the principal Sikh political organization, and of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (Supreme Committee of Temple Management), which oversees the gurdwaras (Sikh houses of worship). He was best known as an agitator for a Punjabi-speaking state as a means of keeping Sikh religious and political traditions intact.
In 1961, Tara Singh declared that he would fast until the Indian prime
minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, ceded a portion of the Punjab as a Sikh state or
until death claimed him. He began his fast in August at the Harmandir
Sahib (Golden Temple) at Amritsar, but Nehru responded that submission to
Tara Singh’s demands would be against India’s secular constitution
and unfair to the Hindus in Punjab. After a personal letter from Nehru
promising to investigate Sikh claims, Tara Singh broke his 48-day fast,
incurring the wrath of the Sikh people. Tara Singh was brought to trial before
a council of pijaras (Sikh religious leaders) and pleaded guilty.
His failure to starve to death in defence of his ideals had discredited him as
a leader of the SAD, and Sant Fateh Singh was elected in his place. Tara
Singh’s dream of a Punjabi-speaking state was realized in 1966, when the Indian
state of Punjab was divided and the Hindi-speaking portion of it was created as
the separate state of Haryana.
Balaji Baji Rao, often referred to as Nana Saheb I, passed away on 23 June 1761, aged 40, at Parvati Hill, Pune, Maratha Confederacy (modern day Maharashtra, India). He was the 8th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. He was appointed as Peshwa in 1740 upon the death of his father, Peshwa Bajirao I.
During his tenure, the Chhatrapati (Maratha Emperor) was a mere figurehead. At the same time, the Maratha empire started transforming into a confederacy, in which individual chiefs—such as the Holkars, the Scindias and the Bhonsles of Nagpur kingdom — became more powerful. During Balaji Rao's tenure, the Maratha territory reached its zenith. A large part of this expansion, however, was led by the individual chiefs of the Maratha Empire.
Balaji Bajirao's administration worked with his cousin Sadashivrao
Bhau, introducing new legislative and financial systems in the state. Under his
leadership, the borders of the Maratha Empire expanded to Peshawar in
present-day Pakistan, Srirangapatna in Karnataka, and Medinipur in West
Bengal. Nanasaheb built canals, bridges, temples and lodges for travellers in
the capital city of Pune and in other parts of the Maratha Empire. In his
twenty-year reign as the Peshwa, Nanasaheb subdued three major powers under his
tenure, viz. Mughals in the North, the Nizam in the South and the Bengal
Sultanate. Along with that he also weakened the Afghan control over Punjab,
stopped their repeated invasions on the imperial capital of Delhi, subdued
the Rajputs and Rohillas and neutralized the state of Oudh.
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Giuseppe Mazzini, born on 22 June 1805, was an Italian politician, journalist, and activist for the unification of Ital (Risorgimento) and spearhead of the Italian revolutionary movement. His efforts helped bring about the independent and unified Italy in place of the several separate states, many dominated by foreign powers, that existed until the 19th century. An Italian nationalist in the historical radical tradition and a proponent of a republicanism of socio-democratic inspiration, Mazzini helped define the modern European movement for popular democratic in a republican state.
Mazzini's thoughts had a very
considerable influence on the Italian and European republican movements, in
the Constitution of Italy, about Europeanism and more nuanced on many
politicians of a later period, among them American president Woodrow
Wilson, British prime minister David Lloyd George, Mahatma Gandhi, Indian
prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and Indian independence activist Vinayak
Damodar Savarkar.
Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, also known by his moniker Doctorji, who passed away on 21 June 1940, aged 51, in Nagpur, was an Indian physician who founded the Hindutva paramilitary organization, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Nagpur in 1925.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was part of the movement against British rule and as a response to rioting between Hindus and Muslims.
Hedgewar was heavily influenced by the writings of the Hindu nationalist
ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and adopted much of his rhetoric concerning the need for the creation of a
“Hindu nation.” Hedgewar formed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as
a disciplined cadre
consisting mostly of upper-caste Brahmins who were dedicated to independence
and the protection of Hindu political, cultural, and religious interests.
World Wi-Fi Day is celebrated on June 20th each year. It's a global initiative by the Wireless Broadband Alliance to highlight the importance of Wi-Fi and bridge the digital divide. The day aims to connect the unconnected and recognize the contributions of those working to improve internet access.
Here's a bit more detail:
Purpose:
World Wi-Fi Day focuses on the role of Wi-Fi in connecting people and promoting social mobility, computer literacy, and educational opportunities.
Organizer:
The Wireless Broadband Alliance, under the leadership of the Connected Communities Forum, organizes World Wi-Fi Day.
Digital Divide:
The initiative aims to address the growing digital divide, where many people lack access to reliable internet.
Global Impact:
The day recognizes efforts to connect people in both developed and developing countries.
How to Participate:
People can get involved by
sharing information about World Wi-Fi Day on social media using the hashtag
#worldwifiday and by downloading and using the "I Love Wi-Fi"
campaign materials.
Shinzo Abe, assassinated on 8 July 2022, in Kashihara, Nara, Japan, aged 67, was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Jap...
