Lala Kamlapat Singhania's Death Anniversary

Lala Kamlapat Singhania, who passed away on 31 May 1937, aged 52, in Kanpur, United Provinces, British India, was an Indian industrialist, who founded the J.K. Organisation, one of India's largest conglomerate companies. He was born to a Marwari Bania family in Kanpur, then part of the north-Western Provinces in British Raj. He was the founder of several companies which came under the umbrella of JK Organization. The first major business set up by him was a cotton mill with the name of Juggilal Kamlapat Cotton Spinning & Weaving Mills in 1921 which laid the foundation for JK Organisation.

 

Lala Jagat Narain's Birth Anniversary

 

Lala Jagat Narain, born on 31 May 1899, in Wazirabad, Gujranwala District, British India, was an Indian editor, member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, Member of Parliament and founder of the Hind Samachar media group.

Ahilyabai Holkar's Birth Anniversary

 

Ahilyabai Holkar, born on 31 May 1725, Chaundi village, Hyderabad [now in Ahilyanagar district, Maharashtra], India, was a ruler of the Malwa territory, a part of the Maratha Confederacy, from 1767 to 1795. She is one of the few women to have led an Indian polity during the era. She served first as regent and then as ruler of the Holkar Dynasty with its seats at Maheshwar and Indore in central India,  in a period considered the zenith of the Holkar dynasty. She was also known for her philanthropy, especially the building of multiple Hindu temples. She is known as Punyashlok (“One as Pure as the Sacred Chants”).

World Multiple Sclerosis Day

Observed globally on May 30 every year, World Multiple Sclerosis Day is a dedicated healthcare awareness event. Its primary goal is to highlight the significant financial, social, and cultural challenges faced by individuals affected by multiple sclerosis.

Beyond raising awareness, the day emphasizes the importance of fostering inclusion, acceptance, and comprehensive support for people living with this chronic neurological condition, encouraging communities and policymakers alike to promote understanding and improve the quality of life for those impacted.

World Multiple Sclerosis Day: What Is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is among the most common disorders impacting the central nervous system. According to the World MS Day website, the estimated number of people living with MS worldwide is approximately 2.9 million.

MS is characterized as an inflammatory disease that causes demyelination. It affects a fatty substance called myelin, which normally surrounds and protects nerve fibres. The loss of myelin disrupts the nerves’ ability to transmit electrical signals to and from the brain effectively.

Common symptoms of MS include blurred or disoriented vision, tingling sensations in the limbs, tremors, memory difficulties, and persistent fatigue.

World Multiple Sclerosis Day: History And Significance

Founded in 2009, the first World MS Day was initiated by the MS International Federation (MSIF), a distinctive global network comprising various MS organizations. This federation offers support to individuals affected by multiple sclerosis through a dedicated team of staff and volunteers around the world.

The MSIF includes representatives from many countries, such as Greece, Argentina, Australia, the United States, India, Kenya, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, and Spain, reflecting its broad international reach.

World MS Day holds great significance as it offers a vital platform to educate the public about multiple sclerosis and the challenges faced by those living with the condition.

MS affects millions globally and remains a chronic, often disabling disease surrounded by stigma and misunderstanding. By observing World MS Day, we help break down these barriers, promote greater empathy, and encourage stronger support for individuals impacted by MS, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and compassionate society.

 

Feast of St. Joan of Arc

The Feast of St. Joan of Arc—Patroness of Soldiers and of France is celebrated on May 30^th. It commemorates the saint's martyrdom on May 30, 1431, when she was burned at the stake for heresy. Considered as one of the Catholic Church’s most popular saints, St. Joan is often invoked by individuals who need to accomplish a very difficult, nearly impossible task.

Born Jeanne la Pucelle in 1412 in Domremy, France, St. Joan, at the age of 17, led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years’ War, a prolonged conflict between France and England from 1337 to 1453. Attributing her victories to divine guidance, Charles VII was able to assume his rightful throne as king of France with her at his side.

Following her execution, there were many who felt that Joan of Arc should not have been burned, but honoured and made a saint for her communications with God, and her hand in leading the French to freedom from the English.

Sadly, it was not for several years until she was even cleared of the charges. In 1452, the process of clearing her name would begin, and during that same time the Church declared that a religious play made in her honour at Orleans would qualify as a pilgrimage.

This set the stage for the sainthood of Joan of Arc, and the creation of a Joan of Arc Day, or St. Joan of Arc feast day to honour her. The push to make her a saint and create a Feast Day of Joan of Arc would gain some steam during the 16th century when Joan of Arc became a symbol of the Catholic League.

By 1849, Monsignor Felix Dupanloup, who was the Bishop of Orleans, made the attempt for Joan of Arc's beatification and a creation of a Joan of Arc Day, until his death in 1878. Sadly, he did not live to see how the process would turn out for Joan of Arc.

Joan of Arc would finally have her beatification in the year 1909, which would lead to the creation of a Feast of St. Joan of Arc. Her official canonization would happen on May 16, 1920, with the Joan of Arc Feast Day being set for May 30. Her canonization was performed by Pope Benedict XV at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. May 30 was chosen as the day for the Saint Joan of Arc Feast Day because it was the day she was burned at the stake. In all, 489 years passed between her death and her canonization, a notoriously long period of time for sainthood.

However, since the creation of the Feast Day of Joan of Arc and her sainthood, Joan of Arc has become one of the most popular saints in the history of the Catholic Church. Joan of Arc Festival or feast is celebrated on May 30th.

 

Dr. Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai's Death Anniversary

Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai, who passed away on 29 May 1979, aged 81, was an Indian physician, educationist, banker and philanthropist, most well-known for building the university town of Manipal, India.

He was the first to start a private, self-financing medical college offering MBBS in India. Pai established the Kasturba Medical College in 1953 and Manipal Institute of Technology in 1957, which was followed by a string of other education institutions including Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Manipal Pre-University College. He, along with his brother Upendra Ananth Pai, also established Syndicate Bank originally in Udupi, Karnataka, which has its headquarters now in Manipal and Bangalore. He was responsible for its popular Pigmy Deposit Scheme.

 

World Dugong Day

 

World Dugong Day is celebrated on May 28th every year. This creature of over 800 pounds is a cousin of the manatee. Also called a sea cow, the dugong is a marine mammal that grazes on seagrasses in shallow coastal waters of the Indian and Western Pacific oceans. The dugong has been hunted for thousands of years for its meat and oil and still is in a few countries in northern Australia and the Pacific islands. Despite being protected in many parts of the world, its long lifespan of 70 years and slow reproduction rate led to a decline in its population. The IUCN list considers it vulnerable to extinction.

 

Whooping Crane Day

Whooping Crane Day is celebrated annually on May 28 to honour the most endangered species of crane. Cranes are typically almost entirely white as adults. Their non-white characteristics consist of black wingtips and facial markings. It is common knowledge that whooping cranes mate for life. The colour of the newborn chickens is cinnamon brown. The male and female whooping cranes lack gender-specific names, unlike most other animals. They are believed to engage in ornate courtship rituals, which typically consist of dances and unison calls.

History Of Whooping Crane Day

In 1973, the population of Whooping Cranes numbered fewer than 50 individuals, putting it on the brink of extinction. The International Crane Foundation, based in Baraboo, Wisconsin, aids in the global conservation of cranes and their ecosystems. The organization provides information, leadership, and motivation to assist in the resolution of issues influencing cranes. To protect and restore Whooping Crane populations and their ecosystems, people must collaborate. The holiday provides a crucial opportunity to educate the public about the plight of Whooping Cranes. More members of society can comprehend what these magnificent organisms experience. This enables us to develop protective measures for them. Once we have a deeper understanding of an animal species, we can aid in their survival and growth.

The Whooping Crane is regarded as one of the world’s oldest surviving bird species. They are well-known, but few individuals are particularly interested. Cranes may be familiar to the average American, but their lifestyles and the challenges they face in their environments are unknown. Cranes represent longevity and faithfulness. The Crane is also symbolic of chastity, vigilance, longevity, and good fortune. In some cultures, cranes also have negative connotations. They can be used to symbolize deceit, mortality, and even the devil. Approximately eleven of the fifteen species are currently threatened with extinction due to hunting, habitat degradation, and poisoning. The conservation of endangered animals has proven to be difficult.

 

 

Three Little Pigs short animated film released in 1933

 

Released on May 27th, 1933, in the USA, the short Three Little Pigs film was such a hit with audiences that some theatres held it over for weeks after it was scheduled to run (in fact, some theatres drew beards on the characters’ faces on the poster, to illustrate how long it was playing).

Additionally, Three Little Pigs gave the country a song that provided hope during the difficult Depression, and the short has become one of Walt Disney and animation’s most iconic films.

Ninety-two years later, the impact of this eight-minute film still resonates.

The famous fable dates back to the 1840s and was first suggested as the basis of a “Silly Symphony” by Walt’s wife, Lillian, and her sister, Hazel Sewell (head of the ink and paint department at the Studio).

The Disney story team removed the fable’s darker elements focusing on the titular characters, the Fifer Pig, who plays the flute; the Fiddler Pig, who fiddles the day away; and the Practical Pig, who is focused on building a sturdy house of brick to protect him when the Wolf comes to the door.

And, the Big Bad Wolf (one of Disney’s first indelible villains) does arrive, huffing and puffing at the houses of straw and stick built by the Fifer and Fiddler Pig. He does indeed blow them both down, and they seek refuge at the brick house of the Practical Pig.

The Wolf tries to huff and puff here but to no avail. He then attempts to come down the chimney but slides into a boiling pot, shooting back up the chimney and leaving the Pigs victorious and safe inside the sturdy house.

Directed by the legendary Burt Gillett, with animation by other legends Norm Ferguson, Dick Lundy, Fred Moore, and Art Babbit, Three Little Pigs crafted indelible personalities for its main characters that not only connected with audiences but also made others in the animation industry take notice.

 

World Redhead Day

 

World Redhead Day is celebrated every year on May 26. It is a day set aside to celebrate everyone who has natural red hair. If you have red hair, you are considered a part of a unique group because less than 2% of the world’s population is born with naturally red hair. Red hair is more common and appears with greater frequency (between 2% and 6%) among those of Northern European descent. Red hair gets its colour from high levels of the reddish pigment pheomelanin and low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin.

 

World Dracula Day

 

World Dracula Day, celebrated annually on May 26, was started by a fan group in 2012 and timed to coincide with the date that Bram Stoker’s vampire novel was first published.

The holiday was founded in 2012 by The Whitby Dracula Society 1897, a Whitby, England, group dedicated to celebrating the cultural importance of Bram Stoker and the novel Dracula, which is believed to have been inspired in part by the Gothic architecture of the town's Whitby Abbey.

The fan group chose May 26 for the holiday because it coincides with the date of Dracula's publication in 1897.

Africa Day

Africa Day (formerly African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day) is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organization of African Unity on 25 May 1963. It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent as well as around the world. The organization was replaced by the African Union on 9 July 2002, but the holiday continues to be celebrated on 25 May.

Global Surgery Day

Global Surgery Day (GSD) is celebrated on May 25th each year. It's a global campaign that aims to raise awareness and demand action for equitable access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical care for everyone. InciSioN - International Student Surgical Network started GSD in 2015

Key Aspects of Global Surgery Day:

Focus on Equity:

GSD highlights the disparity in access to surgical care, with over 5 billion people lacking safe, timely, and affordable options. 

Global Awareness Campaign:

It utilizes social media and other platforms to raise awareness about the issue and encourage action. 

Advocacy and Education:

GSD campaigns often feature advocacy posts and educational content to inform the public and stakeholders about the importance of surgical equity. 

International Collaboration:

The campaign is supported by various organizations, including InciSioN and IFMSA, and involves global audiences and stakeholders. 

Towel Day

 

Towel Day is celebrated every year on 25 May as a tribute to the author Douglas Adams by his fans. On this day, fans openly carry a towel with them, as described in Adams' The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, to demonstrate their appreciation for the books and the author. The commemoration was first held 25 May 2001, two weeks after Adams' death on 11 May.

World Football Day

Last year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to recognize May 25 as World Football Day. In 2024, the day marked the 100th anniversary of the first international football tournament featuring teams from all regions.

Football, known as soccer in the United States, made its Olympic debut in Paris in 1924. This annual celebration is meant to honour the global impact of football as a unifying sport. It also sheds light on the role of football in promoting peace, development and women’s empowerment. The day encourages all countries to celebrate the value of the sport through special events and competitions.

Football traces its roots to ancient civilisations, with early versions of the game being played in China, Greece, and Rome. The modern version, however, emerged in 19th-century England, when official rules first came into place, leading to the foundation of the Football Association in 1863.

World Football Day: History

From dusty fields to state-of-the-art stadiums, football has now grown into a global passion, with tournaments like the FIFA World Cup uniting nations and cultures. The proposal to designate May 25 as World Football Day was put forward by Libya’s ambassador to the United Nations, Taher El-Sonni. The initiative received widespread support, with over 160 UN member states showing a thumbs-up to the resolution.

While presenting the proposal, Ambassador El-Sonni highlighted football’s global reach, emphasizing its presence in communities of all sizes—from small villages to major cities. He also admitted it to be the most popular sport in the world.

World Football Day: Significance

World Football Day celebrates the power of football to unite people across cultures, nations, and backgrounds. The sport promotes teamwork, fair play, and mutual respect, while also driving social inclusion, community development, and peace-building efforts. It also honours football’s cultural impact and its ability to inspire youth and encourage healthy lifestyles.

 

Kazu Nazrul Islam's Birth Anniversary

Kazi Nazrul Islam, born on 24 May, 1899, in Churulia, Bengal [now in West Bengal, India], was an influential and prolific Bengali poet and anti-imperial activist. He was known as Bidrohi Kobi (“Rebel Poet”) because of his revolutionary activities and participation in the Indian Independence Movement. His literary output includes poems, songs, short stories, novels, essays, and plays. Nazrul Islam significantly contributed to Bengali music with between 2,000 and 4,000 musical compositions collectively known as Nazrul Geeti (“Songs of Nazrul”). His writings are admired for their themes of freedom, social justice, gender equality, and communal harmony. He migrated to Bangladesh in 1972 and was later named the country’s national poet.

World Wrestling Day

World Wrestling Day commemorates the first Greco-Roman wrestling world championships held on May 23, 1904 in Vienna, Austria.

Today, World Wrestling Day is used as a time to celebrate and promote all styles of amateur wrestling around the world.

The month of May is regarded as “World Wrestling Month”

On May 23, 1904, competitors from 5 surrounding countries participated in the inaugural Greco-Roman World Championship held in Vienna, Austria.

The host country, Austria, was heavily represented, accounting for 19 out of 26 total competitors, while Demark, Germany, Hungary, and Bohemia also brought representatives.

Sherlock Holmes Day

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is best known for being the author of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle’s birthday, May 22, is celebrated as Sherlock Holmes Day for fans of one of the most famous literary detectives of all time.

Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1859. While he wrote some short stories as a young adult, Doyle did not originally pursue a career as an author. He went to medical school and graduated with his bachelor’s in 1881 and earned his M.D. in 1885. One of Doyle’s professors, Dr. Joseph Bell, was a master of diagnostics and deduction. His observational prowess would provide inspiration for the character of Sherlock Holmes.

“A Study in Scarlet”, the first Sherlock Holmes story, was published in 1887. The adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were immediately popular with readers, but Doyle wasn’t passionate about the characters. He considered the Sherlock Holmes stories to have more popular “commercial” value compared to his other writing. He wanted to be regarded as a more “serious” author for the other novels, plays and poems he wrote. 

Doyle continued to practice medicine, got married and had a family, all while pursuing a literary career. While he explored writing nonfiction and penned many pieces on spiritualism, it was Sherlock Holmes who would reign supreme. The last of Sherlock Holmes’s stories were published in 1927, and Doyle passed away in 1930.

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

 

Held every year on 21 May, the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development celebrates not only the richness of the world’s cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development. The United Nations General Assembly first declared this World Day in 2002, following UNESCO’s adoption of the 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, recognizing the need to “enhance the potential of culture as a means of achieving prosperity, sustainable development and global peaceful coexistence.” 

With the adoption in September 2015 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations, and the Resolution A/C. 2/70/L.59 on Culture and Sustainable Development adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2015, the message of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is more important than ever. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals can best be achieved by drawing upon the creative potential of the world’s diverse cultures, and engaging in continuous dialogue to ensure that all members of society benefit from sustainable development. 

World Metrology Day

World Metrology Day is celebrated globally on May 20 every year to highlight the importance of the science of measurement in our daily lives and raise awareness around it.

Metrology has constantly pushed scientific and technological advancements; this day highlights metrology’s impact on quality of life and conservation of the environment, thereby aligning with UNESCO’s objective to advance science for a better world.

Plant Something Day (United States)

Plant Something Day is a holiday that is celebrated in the United States every year on May 19. It encourages people to take a few minutes to plant something around them. It could be a flower, a tree, or an indoor plant. Any plant that grows would suffice. During the holiday, local businesses like nurseries and landscapers usually host community events to plant in public spaces together. People can plant at home, in schools, in parks, and in other community gardens. The planting initiates help to protect the environment and enhance the beauty of public spaces.

 

Birth Anniversary of St. John Paul II

 

St. John Paul II, born on 18 May 1920, in Wadowice, Poland, was born, Karol Józef Wojtyła. He was the third longest serving pope and the first non-Italian for 455 years who held office from 1978 to his death in 2005.

He was beatified on 1 May 2011; canonized 27 April 2014; and has his feast day on 22 October, a date chosen to remember the anniversary of the liturgical inauguration of his Papacy in 1978.

As part of his effort to promote greater understanding between nations and between religions, he undertook numerous trips abroad, traveling far greater distances than had all other popes combined, and he extended his influence beyond the church by campaigning against political oppression and criticizing the materialism of the West. He also issued several unprecedented apologies to groups that historically had been wronged by Catholics, most notably Jews and Muslims. His unabashed Polish nationalism and his emphasis on nonviolent political activism aided the Solidarity movement in communist Poland in the 1980s and ultimately contributed to the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. More generally, John Paul used his influence among Catholics and throughout the world to advance the recognition of human dignity and to deter the use of violence. His centralized style of church governance, however, dismayed some members of the clergy, who found it autocratic and stifling. He failed to reverse an overall decline in the numbers of priests and nuns, and his traditional interpretations of church teachings on personal and sexual morality alienated some segments of the laity.

International Child Helpline Day

International Child Helpline Day takes place on May 17 every year. The holiday is dedicated to celebrating the work of child helplines all around the world. The efforts of these workers ensure that children and youth in need are listened to and assisted in a timely manner. Millions of children contact the network of child helplines asking for support. Suggestions have been made through the analysis of child helpline data from 181 countries, to make policy changes for the improvement of children’s lives. Child helplines hold various activities and celebrations to highlight their work and achievements. This helps to enhance public awareness.

 

International Day of Living Together in Peace

 

Living together in peace is all about accepting differences and having the ability to listen to, recognize, respect and appreciate others, as well as living in a peaceful and united way.

The UN General-Assembly, in its resolution 72/130, declared 16 May the International Day of Living Together in Peace, as a means of regularly mobilizing the efforts of the international community to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding and solidarity. The Day aims to uphold the desire to live and act together, united in differences and diversity, in order to build a sustainable world of peace, solidarity and harmony. 

Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa's Death Anniversary

 

Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa, who passed away on 15 May 1993, aged 94, in Bengaluru, was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army. A national hero with many firsts to his credit, he was instrumental in the transition of the Indian military from colonial to independent India and his legacy is still honoured today. Under his leadership, the Indian armed forces proved their mettle during a critical period of transition and a competent and capable military establishment was formed. Kodandera's election was a major turning point in the growth of India's independent defence sector. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of military personnel by highlighting the importance of discipline, leadership and dedication in serving the nation. 

Military career

Cariappa had a distinguished military career spanning nearly three decades. Joining the British Indian Army after World War I, he was commissioned as a temporary first lieutenant into the 2/88 Carnatic Infantry. Cariappa became the first Indian officer to attend the Staff College, Quetta, and later commanded the 1/7 Rajputs, making him the first Indian to lead a battalion. He served in various staff roles and commands, eventually becoming the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. During World War II, Cariappa served in the Middle East and Burma, earning accolades for his leadership. His historic achievements include being the first Indian to command a battalion in the Indian Army.

Post-Independence, Cariappa assumed the role of deputy chief of the general staff. He orchestrated three successive attack operations—Kipper, Easy, and Bison—with the aim of reclaiming strategic areas like Naushera, Jhangar, Poonch, Zoji La, Dras, and Kargil. However, plans to expel Pakistani forces from Kashmir were thwarted by the United States' intervention. On July 6, 1948, the Army HQ imposed strict restrictions on conducting major operations without its authorization. Cariappa opposed this policy, warning that it endangered Leh, Kargil, and ultimately the Kashmir Valley, jeopardizing the nation's security.

 

 

 

 

First documented vaccination against smallpox

 

On May 14, 1796, the first documented vaccination against smallpox, by Edward Jenner, an English physician and scientist, took place. Jenner inoculated eight-year-old James Phipps with matter from a cowpox sore on the hand of milkmaid Sarah Nelmes. Phipps suffered a local reaction and felt poorly for several days but made a full recovery. In July 1796, Jenner inoculated Phipps with matter taken from a fresh human smallpox sore, as if he were variolating the boy, in an attempt to challenge the protection from cowpox. Phipps remained healthy. Jenner next demonstrated that cowpox matter transferred in a human chain, from one person to the next, provided protection from smallpox.

Jenner was not precisely sure about the nature of the cowpox material he used. He suspected that cowpox actually came from horsepox; in other words, he speculated that cows became infected with the same agent that caused a similar disease in horses. Recent genetic analysis of old samples of smallpox vaccine have revealed that the samples were more closely related to horsepox virus than cowpox virus. 

 

World Cocktail Day

World Cocktail Day takes place on May 13th every year, giving us a reason to raise our glasses and celebrate the art of mixology. Whether you’re a seasoned cocktail enthusiast or just dipping your toes into the world of mixed drinks, this day is for you. Mark your calendars because the fun happens annually on this date!

This special day commemorates the first definition of the word “cocktail” in 1806, appearing in The Balance and Columbian Repository. It’s a celebration of creativity, taste, and the joy of sharing a well-crafted drink with friends. From classic concoctions like the Martini and Mojito to innovative blends dreamed up by bartenders around the world, cocktails bring people together in cheers and camaraderie.

International Day of Plant Health

The United Nations designated 12 May the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development. The Day is a key legacy of the International Year of Plant Health 2020, which was marked in 2020-2021.

The observance was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly in a resolution (A/RES/76/256) co-signed by Bolivia, Finland, Pakistan, the Philippines, Tanzania and Zambia in March 2022. The resolution sets out that healthy plants constitute the foundation for all life on Earth, as well as ecosystem functions, food security and nutrition, adding that plant health is key to the sustainable development of agriculture required to feed a growing global population by 2050.

Sirhind Fateh Diwas

 

Sirhind Fateh Diwas is a historical event celebrated to mark the victory of the Sikh army led by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur over the Mughal forces in the Battle of Chappar Chiri on May 12, 1710. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur captured the city of Sirhind in this battle to avenge the deaths of ‘Chote Sahibzadas’ - the young and brave sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, brutally murdered by Wazir Khan.

Asaf Ali's Birth Anniversary

 

Asaf Ali, born on 11 May 1888, in Bijnor, was an Indian independence activist and noted lawyer. He was the first Indian Ambassador to the United States.  He was appointed governor of Odisha for two terms and later, Indian Ambassador to Switzerland.

World Migratory Bird Day (second Saturday in May)

 

World Migratory Bird Day is observed twice a year during the second Saturday in May and again on the second Saturday in October. The goal is to raise awareness of issues affecting migratory birds and to inspire action around the world to take measures for their conservation.

Migrating birds may fly from 15 to 600 miles or more per day during migration, depending on when they are migrating, how far they have to go, and the conditions they face along the route. While most migrating birds fly at heights lower than 2,000 feet, birds have been recorded migrating at up to 30,000 feet high, a record held by the bar-headed goose. Hawks, swifts, swallows, and waterfowl migrate primarily during the day, while many songbirds migrate at night, in part to avoid the attention of migrating predators.

Mother Ocean Day

Mother Ocean Day sets sail on the waves of our calendar each 10th of May, honouring the vast and wondrous expanse of our planet’s oceans. 

This special day serves as a reminder of the vital role oceans play in sustaining life on our planet. From regulating the climate to providing food and livelihoods for millions of people, our oceans are truly the lifeblood of Earth. Mother Ocean Day encourages us to appreciate and protect these precious ecosystems for generations to come.

In 1874, Horse Drawn Carriage at (Bombay) Mumbai started

 

Horse Drawn Carriage at (Bombay) Mumbai was started on 09.05.1874. The Bombay Tramway Company was set up in 1873. After a contract was signed between the Bombay Tramway Company, the municipality and the Stearns and Kitteredge company, the Bombay Presidency enacted the Bombay Tramways Act, 1874 licensing the company to run a horsecar tram service in the city. On 9 May 1874, the first horse-drawn carriage made its début in the city, plying the Colaba–Pydhone via Crawford Market, and Bori Bunder to Pydhonie via Kalbadevi routes. The initial fare was three annas (12 paise pre-decimalisation), and no tickets were issued. As the service became increasingly popular, the fare was reduced to two annas (8 pre-decimalisation paise). Later that year, tickets were issued to curb increasing ticket-less travel. Stearns and Kitteredge reportedly had a stable of 1,360 horses over the lifetime of the service. A mass public-transport system for Mumbai (then Bombay) was proposed in 1865 by an American company, which applied for a licence to operate a horse-drawn tram system. Although a licence was granted, the project was never realised due to the city's economic depression.

Talat Mahmood's Death Anniversary

Talat Mahmood, who passed away on 9 May 1998, aged 74, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, was an Indian playback singer who is considered as one of the greatest and most popular Indian male film song and ghazal singers. Although he tried his luck as a film actor, he did not succeed a great deal in acting.

Talat Mahmood received the Padma Bhushan award in 1992, in recognition of his artistic contributions in the spheres of cinematic and ghazal music.

He was particularly famous for singing soft and sombre ghazals in his quivering and silky voice. Romantic and tragic were the moods he liked most and it was he who helped a great deal in shaping the style and method of modern ghazal singing in India during the 1950s and 1960s.

Henry Dunant's Birth Anniversary

 

Henri Dunant, born on 8 May 1828, in Geneva, Switzerland, was a Swiss humanitarian, founder of the Red Cross (now Red Cross and Red Crescent) and the World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations. He was cowinner (with Frédéric Passy) of the first Nobel Prize for Peace in 1901.

An eyewitness of the Battle of Solferino (24 June 1859), which resulted in nearly 40,000 casualties, Dunant organized emergency aid services for the Austrian and French wounded. In Un Souvenir de Solférino (1862; A Memory of Solferino), he proposed the formation in all countries of voluntary relief societies for the prevention and alleviation of suffering in war and peacetime, without distinction of race or creed; he also proposed an international agreement covering the war wounded. In 1863 he founded the International Committee for the Relief of the Wounded (now International Committee of the Red Cross), and the following year the first national societies and the first Geneva Convention came into being.

Having gone bankrupt because he neglected his business affairs, Dunant left Geneva in 1867 and spent most of the rest of his life in poverty and obscurity. He continued to promote interest in the treatment of prisoners of war, the abolition of slavery, international arbitration, disarmament, and the establishment of a Jewish homeland. After he was “rediscovered” by a journalist in Heiden, Switzerland, in 1895, Dunant received many honours and annuities.

 

 

World Thalassaemia Day

 

World Thalassaemia Day is observed on May 8 to spread awareness about thalassaemia being a blood disorder, myths related to the disease, and to help the patients lead a normal life. The day also deals with the social stigma attached to the lives of individuals who are suffering from or living with this disease. The efforts of doctors and medical professionals are also honoured on this day for helping patients and bringing advancements.

The day is observed to encourage those who struggle to live with the disease. This day is a commemoration day in honour of all patients suffering from thalassemia and their parents who have never lost hope for life, despite the burden of their disease and also to all scientists who are doing hard work with dedication and trying to provide improved quality of life to people with thalassemia across the globe.

What is Thalassemia Disease?

It is an inherited blood disorder that passes from parents to children. There are several types of thalassaemia disease and its treatment depends on its types and severity. In this disease, the ability of the body to produce haemoglobin and red blood cells gets affected. Or we can say that a person suffering from thalassemia disease will have a few red blood cells and very little haemoglobin. Its impact may range from mild to severe and even life-threatening. This disease is most common in people of Mediterranean, South Asian and African ancestry.

So, this day is dedicated to the patients suffering from thalassemia disease and provides them with a special chance to live like a normal person, as well as to prevent the spread of the disease in society, state, community, country, etc.