Satyendra Nath Bose, who passed away on 4 February
1974. was an Indian physicist specialising in theoretical physics. He is best
known for his work on quantum mechanics in the early 1920s, providing the
foundation for Bose–Einstein statistics and the theory of the Bose–Einstein
condensate. A Fellow of the Royal Society, he was awarded India's second
highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan in 1954 by the Government of India.
Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi, born on 4 February 1922,
was an Indian vocalist from Karnataka, in the Hindustani classical tradition.
He is known for the khayal form of singing, as well as for his popular
renditions of devotional music. Bhimsen Joshi belongs to Kirana gharana
tradition of Hindustani Classical Music.
World Cancer Day is marked on February 4 of each year to raise awareness of cancer and its treatment globally. With cancer being the most significant cause of death globally, claiming an estimated 10 million deaths in 2022, it is crucial to sustain global initiatives to combat this ailment.
HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF WORLD CANCER DAY
The concept of World Cancer Day was discussed at the summit that was held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on February 4, 1999.
This meeting resulted in the Paris Declaration or Charter of 2000 where it was decided that cancer care, research and prevention need international measures.
This gave inception to World Cancer Day, which is now observed on 4th February every year to combat the global menace of cancer.
TYPES OF CANCER
Depending on the part of the body where cancer starts, it has five main classifications.
· Carcinomas:
Cancers that start in the skin or in the tissues that cover the internal
organs.
· Sarcomas:
Cancers are discovered in the connective tissues of system organs like bone,
cartilage, muscle, fat, and blood vessels.
· Leukaemia:
Cancers that begin from the bone marrow and afflict the blood cells.
· Lymphoma
and Myeloma: These cancers originate from cells of the immune system.
· CNS
Malignancies: Cancers of the brain and spinal cord that arise within the
central nervous system.
It is possible to prevent cancer by eating healthily, exercising regularly, and avoiding the consumption of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages.
Furthermore, when these types of cancer are detected at an early stage, such as breast, cervical, and colon cancer, the prognosis is much better.
Campaigns 'World Cancer Day' is an educational and awareness campaign that encourages people to actively participate in cancer prevention measures.
World Cancer Day is a day that underlines the reality that treating and preventing cancer requires the collective efforts of the international community and the individual action of every person.
The day helps raise awareness, calls for better treatment
accessibility, and invites advocates of personalised medicine so that the
cancer burden is decreased and the lives affected are improved.
In some
countries, February 3rd is National Golden Retriever Day. There is a
good reason why the Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds.
They are ideal best friends for any dog lover and a cause for celebration and
appreciation because of their placid disposition, intelligence, and
playfulness.
National Golden Retriever Day: History
When Kristen Shroyer discovered there was no day designated as a tribute for these dogs, she founded National Golden Retriever Day. She listed February 3 as the birthday of her late Golden, Quincy, who tragically passed away from cancer at the young age of 7.
National Golden Retriever Day: Significance
Why should one have a Golden Retriever?
The Golden Retriever, a vivacious Scottish gundog with exceptional beauty, is one of the most popular dog breeds in America. The seven intriguing facts about them are as follows:
Johannes
Gutenberg, who
passed away on 3 February 1468, was a German craftsman and inventor who
originated a method of printing from movable type. Elements of his invention
are thought to have included a metal alloy that could melt readily
and cool quickly to form durable reusable type, an oil-based ink that could be
made sufficiently thick to adhere well to metal type and transfer well to
vellum or paper, and a new press, likely adapted from those used in producing
wine, oil, or paper, for applying firm even pressure to printing surfaces. None
of these features existed in the European technique used up to that time for
stamping letters on various surfaces or in woodblock printing.
Gutenberg’s printing press was considered a history-changing invention,
making books widely accessible and ushering in an “information revolution.”
Gutenberg was long thought to have also
invented the punch-matrix system of casting metal type (in which a
character engraved on one end of a hard metal rod, the punch, was used to
strike an impression into a softer metal plate, the matrix, into which
molten metal was poured to form any number of virtually identical pieces of
type). However, in the early 2000s a computer-aided analysis of Gutenberg’s
printed work showed that there was too much variation in characters of a given
sort (e.g., the letter i) for his type to have been cast that way.
Some scholars now think that the punch-matrix system emerged several years
after Gutenberg’s death.
The Indian Museum (formerly called Imperial Museum of Calcutta before independence) is a massive museum in Central Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is the ninth oldest museum in the world and the oldest and largest museum in Asia, by size of collection. It has rare collections of antiques, armour and ornaments, fossils, skeletons, mummies and Mughal Paintings. It was founded by the Asiatic Society of Bengal in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, on February 2, 1814. The founder curator was Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish botanist.
The present building, opened in 1875, comprises sections devoted to geology, zoology, industry, archaeology, art, and ethnology. The coin room contains the largest collection of Indian coins in the world.
The art section is noted for its textiles, carpets, lacquer-work, glass
and pottery. The gallery displays examples of Persian and Indian paintings, and
the geological section is the largest in Asia and one of the most important in
the world. There is a large collection of statues and bronzes from various
Asian civilizations, including life-size models of people and animals of the
regions of India.
World Ostrich Day was first celebrated in 2020 to raise awareness of the two remaining species of Ostrich. The second day of the second month was chosen because the Ostrich has just two toes on each foot. This day was chosen by Jade Tinker, an ungulates keeper from Auckland Zoo.
There are two species of Ostrich, the Common (Red Necked) Ostrich and the Somali (Blue Necked) Ostrich.
The Common Ostrich Struthio camelus is common and so is of least concern whereas the Somali Ostrich Struthio molybdophanes is vulnerable as the region it inhabits is going through some political strife and there are bandit groups.
The Common Ostrich is now farmed worldwide for its meat, skin and feathers. In the 1980's Ostrich farming was seen to be a big investment but it largely failed. Just because you have a pair of birds doesn't mean they will breed. Ostrich racing takes place in South Africa and the US.
There were a number of Ostrich species and subspecies occurring elsewhere in Africa and Arabia but all are now gone. The last recorded Ostrich in Arabia was in the 1960's.
Why celebrate World Ostrich Day?
· Ostriches are a unique species that play a
vital role in the natural world.
·
Ostriches
are known for their speed and two-toed feet.
·
Ostriches
are often depicted in art as symbols of beauty, nobility, and playfulness.
·
Ostriches
are flightless birds native to Africa.
· Ostriches are threatened by hunting and
habitat destruction.
Every year, on February 1st, the world celebrates International Face and Body Art Day. It is believed that face and body artist Katie Miyaki established International Face and Body Art Day in 2012 to honour face and body painting, tattoos, piercings, performance art, and scarification. It grew as a grassroots movement within the face and body art community. Artists and enthusiasts around the world came together to celebrate the day and showcase their craft and promote the appreciation of this unique form of artistic expression.
Significance of International Face and Body Art Day
International Face and Body Art Day holds
significance as a global celebration of creativity, cultural expression, and
self-adornment. It provides a forum for global artists and art lovers to
showcase their skills, share diverse creative practices and promote an
appreciation of face and body art. The day promotes community spirit, artistic
collaboration and the exploration of identity through the transformative power
of artistic expression on the human canvas through events, workshops and social
media engagement.
Bishnu
Prasad Rabha, born on 31 January 1909, in Dacca,
Bengal Presidency, British India, was an Indian cultural figure from Assam,
known for his contributions in the fields of music, dance, painting, literature
as well as political activism. As an advocate of people's cultural movement, he
drew heavily from different genres of classical and folk cultural traditions.
Considered a doyen of the Culture of Assam, the People of Assam affectionately
call him Kalaguru (meaning: "the master of the arts"). He is also called by Marxists as Sainik Silpi (sainik "soldier", silpi "artist") for his active participation in the armed struggle, led by the Revolutionary Communist Party of India (RCPI).
World Neglected Tropical Diseases (World NTD Day) is a global healthcare event celebrated on 30th January every year since 2021 with the goal of celebrating achievements made toward control of the World Neglected Tropical Diseases and encouraging everyone to join the growing movement in eradicating and eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)
are a set of 20 diseases that include parasites, protozoa, bacterial, and viral
diseases that are primarily seen in tropical regions. They significantly impact
underdeveloped societies (low-income areas) and disproportionately affect
children and women. Access to quality water, health care facilities, and
sanitation are less in these low-income regions. More than 100 crore people
globally suffer from the terrible health, social, and economic effects of these
neglected tropical diseases.
World Automobile Day is celebrated every year on January 29th. It marks the day in 1886 when Karl Benz, a German inventor, applied for a patent for his ‘Motorwagen,’ the first practical car that could be sold. This car, known as the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, was the world’s first petrol-powered car.
However, 117 years prior, French inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot had already constructed the first steam-powered road vehicle in 1769. Then, 39 years later, in 1808, François Isaac de Rivaz, a French-Swiss inventor, designed and built the first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine.
In fact, it was 78 years after this revolutionary discovery that Karl Benz applied for a patent for his ‘Motorwagen’ car in 1886. Nevertheless, it was the American-made Model T, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in 1908, that first gained dominance in the market. Released at a price affordable to the general public, this car was quickly adopted in the United States. It rapidly overtook horse-drawn carriages and established the ‘Ford Model T’ as a favorite in the market.
From the first car patent, in just 138 years, we have
progressed to autonomous cars that operate without human involvement and even
to vehicles capable of flying. Indeed, by 2036, marking 150 years since the
first practical car, the Benz Motorwagen, it is expected that our roads will be
dominated by autonomous vehicles powered by the most eco-friendly fuels.
George Fernandes, who passed away on 29 January 2019,
in New Delhi, aged 88, was an Indian trade unionist, statesman, journalist,
freethinker, and member of Rajya Sabha from Bihar for a short while, and a
member of Lok Sabha for a very long period, starting from Bombay in 1967 but
mostly representing Bihar. He was a key member of the Janata Dal and the
founder of the Samata Party. He held several ministerial portfolios including
communications, industry, railways, and defence.
Every year on January 28th, Lego enthusiasts around the world come together to celebrate International Lego Day, a day dedicated to honouring the iconic Danish toy that has sparked creativity and imagination for generations. This special day commemorates the momentous occasion when Danish carpenter Godtfred Kirk Christiansen submitted his patent for the original Lego brick in 1958, laying the foundation for endless hours of imaginative play.
The Birth of Lego
The story of Lego began in the small Danish town of Billund in the early 1930s, when Ole Kirk Christiansen founded a small woodworking company. In 1932, the company adopted the name "Lego," derived from the Danish words "leg godt," meaning "play well." It wasn't until the late 1940s that the company transitioned from wooden toys to plastic, setting the stage for the creation of the iconic interlocking bricks.
The Lego Brick Patent
On January 28, 1958, Godtfred
Kirk Christiansen, the son of Ole Kirk Christiansen, submitted the patent for
the Lego brick as we know it today. The patent outlined the innovative design
of the brick, featuring the distinctive interlocking system that allows bricks
to connect securely in various configurations. This invention revolutionized
the world of toys, providing a platform for boundless creativity and
construction.
The Impact of Lego on Creativity
Lego bricks quickly gained popularity for their versatility and the limitless possibilities they offered to builders of all ages. The company's commitment to fostering creativity and imagination has been a driving force behind the enduring success of Lego. The iconic plastic bricks have become a staple in households worldwide, transcending generations and cultural boundaries.
In 1998, Lego bricks were one of the original inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester, New York.
International Lego Day Celebrations
International Lego Day is a time for Lego enthusiasts, young and old, to come together and celebrate the enduring legacy of these beloved building blocks. Communities organize events such as Lego building competitions, workshops, and exhibitions to showcase the incredible creations made possible by Lego bricks. Social media platforms buzz with activity as fans share their masterpieces and reminisce about their favourite Lego memories.
Educational Value of Lego
Beyond being a source of entertainment, Lego has also proven to be a valuable educational tool. Many educators incorporate Lego sets into classrooms to promote skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and spatial awareness. Lego Education sets specifically designed for educational purposes further highlight the company's commitment to fostering learning through play.
Lego's Ongoing Innovation
Over
the years, Lego has continued to innovate, introducing themed sets inspired by
popular movies, characters, and landmarks. The company's commitment to
sustainability is evident in its efforts to produce more environmentally
friendly bricks, such as those made from plant-based materials. Lego's
dedication to staying relevant and environmentally conscious ensures its
continued influence in the world of toys.
The first sighting of Antarctica is now widely acknowledged
to have taken place on the 27th or 28th of January 1820 during the voyage of two Russian ships, the Vostok and Mirnyi under the command of Captain Fabien
(Thaddeus) Gottleib von Bellingshausen during a two year exploratory expedition
around the world to discover new lands for the Russian Empire. Bellingshausen's
ships were the first to have crossed the Antarctic Circle since Cook nearly 50
years earlier, they did so on the 26th of January 1820.
World Leprosy Day is observed
internationally every year on the last Sunday of January to increase the public
awareness of leprosy or Hansen's Disease. This date was chosen by French
humanitarian Raoul Follereau as a tribute to the life of Mahatma Gandhi who had
compassion for people afflicted with leprosy. The day began to be observed in
1954. Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded diseases in the world. It is an
infectious chronic disease that targets the nervous system, especially the nerves in the cooler parts of the body: the hands, feet, and face. Pope Francis has spoken in support of the observation.
The Cullinan Diamond was found in South Africa on 26th
January 1905. The stone was discovered near Pretoria in modern-day South
Africa in 1905, and is named after the chairman of the mining company, Thomas
Cullinan. In its uncut state, it weighed 3,106 metric carats and boasted a size
of 10.1 x 6.35 x 5.9 cm. The Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality rough
diamond ever found, weighing 3,106 carats (621.20 g), discovered at the Premier
No. 2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa, on 26 January 1905. It was named
after Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the mine.
Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana, an iconic television series that was
aired on Doordarshan from January 25, 1987. The 74-episode show was originally aired from January 25,
1987, to July 31, 1988. In India, the series was originally broadcast on DD
National from 25 January 1987 to 31 July 1988 with widespread acclaim. BBC
recorded that it had a viewership of 82 percent, highest viewership in the
world.
International Day of Education is observed every year on January 24, which was declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 3, 2018. This day reminds every one of the importance of education in bringing peace, development, and equality across the globe. The first International Day of Education was celebrated on January 24, 2019, marking a significant global initiative to promote inclusive and equitable quality education as a fundamental human right and a catalyst for sustainable development.
Importance of the Day
Education is regarded as a key enabler of breaking the poverty cycle and gender equality. It empowers the individual and communities, fostering individual development and collective progress. The UNGA has said that education is fundamental to building peace and attaining the SDGs, with special focus on SDG 4, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong opportunities for all.
Historical Context
This day was co-sponsored
by Nigeria and 58 other countries, showing the world's strong commitment to
education. Since its inception, the International Day of Education has been a
platform for advocating transformative actions aimed at ensuring that all people
have access to quality education. The resolution by the UNGA emphasizes the
collaborative efforts among governments, organizations, businesses, and
individuals in making education accessible to everyone.
Wankhede Stadium is an international cricket stadium in Mumbai, India. It is owned and operated by Mumbai Cricket Association and is the home ground of the Mumbai Indians. It houses the headquarters of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the MCA and the Indian Premier League. The stadium is situated near Marine Drive in the Churchgate neighbourhood. Several old cricket clubs are near the stadium, including Hindu Gymkhana, Parsi Gymkhana and Cricket Club of India (CCI). The stadium has been host to numerous high-profile cricket matches in the past, most notably the 2011 Cricket World Cup Final, in which India defeated Sri Lanka and became the first country to win the Cricket World Cup on home soil. It hosted the last match of Sachin Tendulkar's international career.
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) marked a significant milestone by setting a new Guinness World Records title. This achievement was for the 'Largest Cricket Ball Sentence,' celebrating the 50th anniversary of Wankhede Stadium.
The record was set using 14,505 cricket balls to form the sentence: "Fifty Years of Wankhede Stadium." This event took place on January 23, 2025, commemorating the stadium's first international match in 1975.
In honour of this historic occasion, MCA paid tribute to the late Eknath Solkar and other notable Mumbai cricketers who have passed away. Solkar had scored a century in the inaugural Test match at Wankhede against West Indies from January 23 to 29, 1975. The association's dedication to excellence was evident as they meticulously arranged the cricket balls on the field.
World Prosthodontist Day is celebrated on January 22nd every year. It honours the contributions of the prosthodontics community, which specializes in replacing teeth.
How is it celebrated?
Competitions
Colleges and
dental institutions celebrate World Prosthodontist Day with competitions that
showcase artistic ability. These competitions can include smile selfies,
memes, video competitions, and dental art.
Talks and workshops
Colleges and
dental institutions may also conduct talks and workshops for students,
especially interns. These talks and workshops can cover topics such as
implants and complete dentures.
Community outreach
Some colleges
and dental institutions may also participate in community outreach programs,
such as signing memorandums of understanding with old age homes to provide
treatment
Vladimir Lenin, (full Name: Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov), who passed away on 21 January 1924, in Gorki Leninskie, Russia, aged 53, was a Marxist Revolutionary and Soviet Leader.
He played a leading role in the October Revolution of 1917, overthrowing the Provisional Government and establishing a one-party state under the new Communist Party that became the Soviet Union.
Vladimir Lenin became interested in Marxism while at university and was later exiled to Siberia for sedition. After travelling through Europe Lenin returned to Russia to join the 1917 Russian Revolution, writing his April Theses for the Bolshevik Party on the way.
In power, Lenin began reforms to shift crown and private estates into soviet worker's control. He consolidated power through imposing censorship and authorizing the "Red Terror".
Ideologically a Marxist, his political theories are known as Leninism.
On his death in 1924, Saint
Petersburg was renamed Leningrad in his honour and his body was embalmed and
placed on display in a Mausoleum in Red Square.
International Day of Acceptance takes place on the 20th of January every year as a powerful reminder of the importance of social acceptance and the inclusion of people with disabilities.
This day is dedicated to fostering a more inclusive society that recognises the abilities, contributions, and rights of all individuals, regardless of their physical or mental challenges.
It emphasises the need to embrace diversity in all its forms and to advocate for equal opportunities and accessibility in every aspect of life. International Day of Acceptance is not only about raising awareness but also about taking action to create environments where differences are respected and celebrated.
It’s a call to individuals, organisations, and governments to
promote understanding, respect, and equality for people with disabilities,
thereby enriching communities with diverse perspectives and talents.
World Religion Day takes place every January on the third Sunday of the month aiming to promote interfaith understanding and dialogue between all religions as well as mutual understanding and tolerance between people from different backgrounds.
The day is a global observance for people of all faiths and
beliefs to come together to celebrate diversity, foster peace, and promote
religious tolerance. It was established by the Bahá’à Faith community in the
United States in 1950. Its purpose is to encourage people of all backgrounds to
explore the teachings and principles of various religions and to promote unity
and understanding among different faiths.
World Snow Day, celebrated annually on the third Sunday of January, is a globally recognized occasion. Initiated by the International Ski Federation (FIS), this day emphasizes the importance of involving children and families in snow-based sports such as skiing and snowboarding. It’s an event that goes beyond mere enjoyment in the snow; it’s an invitation to discover the thrill and beauty of winter sports, while also promoting family togetherness and outdoor activities.
The essence of World Snow Day lies in its global appeal. Imagine families from different corners of the world, all reveling in the snowy landscapes of their regions, sharing a common joy. The day is a unifying event, bringing together communities through a shared love for winter sports and the natural beauty of snow.
History of World Snow Day
World Snow Day traces its roots to the ‘Bring Children to the Snow’ campaign initiated by the FIS in 2007. The first official celebration of World Snow Day took place in January 2012, marking the second phase of this campaign. The goal was simple yet ambitious: to create the world’s largest snow day. This initiative successfully brought together people from across the globe to enjoy and appreciate the wonders of snow and snow-based activities.
The FIS, which was established in 1910 and later named as such in 1924, has always been at the forefront of promoting skiing and snowboarding activities. With over 180 national skiing organizations under its umbrella, FIS plays a critical role in advocating for the participation of children in snow sports. This vision is not just about creating future champions but more about embedding skiing and snowboarding into the lives of children as a fun and healthy activity.
Why is World Snow Day Important?
World Snow Day holds significant importance for various reasons:
1. Promoting Physical Health: Engaging in snow sports like skiing and
snowboarding is an excellent way for children and adults alike to stay active
and healthy. These activities provide a fun way to exercise in the winter
months.
2. Family Bonding: This day offers a unique opportunity for families to spend quality
time together, creating lasting memories while enjoying the thrill of winter
sports.
3. Environmental Awareness: By celebrating snow and winter landscapes,
World Snow Day raises awareness about the importance of preserving these
natural environments for future generations.
4. Cultural Exchange: As a global event, it fosters cultural exchange and understanding,
with people around the world sharing their local snow traditions and
experiences.
5. Stress Relief and Mental Health: The joy of playing in the snow and
participating in snow sports can be a great stress reliever and contribute to
overall mental wellbeing.
6. Educational Value: The day also serves as a platform to educate children about snow
safety and the environmental aspects of snow and winter.
7. Economic Boost: World Snow Day helps stimulate local economies, especially in regions
where winter tourism is a significant industry.
Every January 19th, we pause to celebrate the vibrant beauty and heartfelt joy flowers bring to our lives. International Flower Day is not just about bouquets or gardens — it's about connection, kindness, and spreading happiness.
The holiday sprouted from a sweet gesture by Rohan and Brooke Levy, a father-daughter duo from Tasmania. Their tradition of gifting 300 flowers to strangers each year is as heartwarming as a sunflower on a sunny day.
Why Celebrate Flowers?
Flowers have been nature’s love language for centuries. Whether you’re
wooing someone with roses, calming your nerves with lavender, or decorating
your desk with daisies, blooms add beauty and positivity to every moment.
Oliver Hardy, born on 18 January 1892, in Harlem, Georgia, U.S., was an American comedic film actor best known as half of the Laurel and Hardy comedy duo. Teamed with Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy made some 100 comedies—many of them classics—between 1921 and 1950.
Norvell Hardy was the youngest of five children. His father died in late 1892; in tribute, the younger Hardy later adopted his father’s first name, Oliver, though he was known as “Babe” by friends and family. As a boy he toured in singing and vaudeville acts. While managing a movie theatre in 1913, Hardy decided that he could do better—or at least no worse—than the actors he saw on-screen, so he went to work at the Lubin studio in Jacksonville, Florida, the following year. He played the menacing “heavy” role in many of these early motion pictures. During the next decade Hardy appeared in more than 200 mostly short films for various studios (beginning with Outwitting Dad [1914] and including an appearance as the Tin Man in the 1925 silent version of The Wizard of Oz). In 1926 he and Laurel separately joined the Hal Roach Studios, one of Hollywood’s great comedy factories. The two soon became members of Roach’s “All-Stars,” an ensemble of comic performers featured in several short comedies. As producer Roach and director-supervisor Leo McCarey noticed the chemistry between Laurel and Hardy, the comics started to work together more often. By the end of 1927 they had officially become a team; their first successful joint comedy was the silent movie Putting Pants on Philip (1927).
In their comedies they played two
friends who were brainless but eternally optimistic. Laurel was the guileless
nitwit who caused most of their troubles, while Hardy was the pompous, irascible,
overbearing windbag whose plans always went awry. With their incredible
ignorance and stupidity, they typically managed to convert a simple, everyday
situation into “another nice mess.” The robust but agile Hardy was often
the skilled slapstick victim of Laurel’s chronic clumsiness, and, in turn,
would take his anger out on his friend. One classic and oft-repeated skit
involved the two men seamlessly swapping their iconic bowler
hats, with Hardy becoming increasingly flustered to find Laurel’s too-small hat
repeatedly perched on his head. Hardy was often portrayed as a gallant flirt
who would coyly toy with his necktie, only to be left embarrassed by
Laurel’s ineptitude as the plot progressed. As the silent film era ended, the
pair achieved great popularity in comedies such as The Battle of the
Century (1927), Leave ’Em Laughing (1928), Two
Tars (1928), Liberty (1929), and Big
Business (1929).
Unlike many other actors of the silent era, Laurel and Hardy easily made the transition to sound motion pictures. Hardy’s Southern tones were perfectly suited to his character, and, with the rise in popularity of musical films, the trained singer was eventually able to utilize his dulcet tenor in a number of pictures. An expert in performance, he generally left to his partner the work of writing and creating their comedy routines. Continuing to work for the Roach studio, the two made sound shorts at first. The Music Box (1932) won an Academy award for best short subject. Starting with Pardon Us (1931), they also made full-length feature films. Of their features, Sons of the Desert (1933) and Way Out West (1937) are generally regarded as classics.
The Laurel and Hardy films of the 1940s, made for other studios, were
generally not as successful. In the early 1950s the two toured England with a
stage act. They were set to make a series of U.S. television specials in 1956
when Hardy suffered a disabling stroke. He died the following year with his third
wife, Virginia Lucille Hardy, at his side. He had no children.
Satyendra Nath Bose, who passed away on 4 February 1974. was an Indian physicist specialising in theoretical physics. He is best known fo...
