Mahatma Gandhi relocates the Satyagraha Ashram in 1917

On June 17, 1917, Mahatma Gandhi relocated the Satyagraha Ashram to a 36-acre site on the banks of the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. This new location, known as Sabarmati Ashram, became a significant centre for India's freedom struggle and Gandhi's various experiments in living, including farming and animal husbandry.

Here's a more detailed look:

Initial Location

Gandhi's first ashram in India was established in May 1915 at the Kocharab Bungalow in Ahmedabad. 

Relocation

Gandhi sought a larger space for activities like farming and animal husbandry, leading to the move to the Sabarmati River location on June 17, 1917. 

Significance

The Sabarmati Ashram served as Gandhi's home from 1917 to 1930 and was a key location for the Indian independence movement. 

Dandi March

It was from here, on March 12, 1930, that Gandhi launched the famous Dandi March to protest the British Salt Law. 

Legacy

The Ashram now houses a museum and serves as a reminder of Gandhi's philosophy of truth, non-violence, and self-sufficiency.

 

Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space, in 1963

 

On June 16, 1963, aboard Vostok 6, Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman to travel into space. After 48 orbits and 71 hours, she returned to earth, having spent more time in space than all U.S. astronauts combined to that date.

Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova was born to a peasant family in Maslennikovo, Russia, in 1937. She began work at a textile factory when she was 18, and at age 22 she made her first parachute jump under the auspices of a local aviation club. Her enthusiasm for skydiving brought her to the attention of the Soviet space program, which sought to put a woman in space in the early 1960s as a means of achieving another “space first” before the United States. As an accomplished parachutist, Tereshkova was well equipped to handle one of the most challenging procedures of a Vostok space flight: the mandatory ejection from the capsule at about 20,000 feet during re-entry. In February 1962, she was selected along with three other woman parachutists and a female pilot to begin intensive training to become a cosmonaut.

In 1963, Tereshkova was chosen to take part in the second dual flight in the Vostok program, involving spacecrafts Vostok 5 and Vostok 6. On June 14, 1963, Vostok 5 was launched into space with cosmonaut Valeri Bykovsky aboard. With Bykovsky still orbiting the earth, Tereshkova was launched into space on June 16 aboard Vostok 6. The two spacecrafts had different orbits but at one point came within three miles of each other, allowing the two cosmonauts to exchange brief communications. Tereshkova’s spacecraft was guided by an automatic control system, and she never took manual control. On June 19, after just under three days in space, Vostok 6 reentered the atmosphere, and Tereshkova successfully parachuted to earth after ejecting at 20,000 feet. Bykovsky and Vostok 5 landed safely a few hours later.

After her historic space flight, Valentina Tereshkova received the Order of Lenin and Hero of the Soviet Union awards.

 

Fall of Danish Flag from the sky in 1219

 

The national flag of Denmark is called the Dannebrog. Legend has it that the Dannebrog fell from the sky in Estonia on 15 June 1219.

Dannebrog means "Danish cloth" or "well made material".

The national flag of Denmark is red with a white Nordic cross, which means that the cross extends to the edges of the flag and the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side.

A banner with a white-on-red cross is attested as having been used by the kings of Denmark since the 14th century. An origin legend with considerable impact on Danish national historiography connects the introduction of the flag to the Battle of Lyndanisse (now Tallinn) of 1219. The elongated Nordic cross, which represents Christianity, reflects its use as a maritime flag in the 18th century. The flag became popular as a national flag in the early 16th century. Its private use was outlawed in 1834 but again permitted by a regulation of 1854. The flag holds the world record of being the oldest continuously used flag, that is since 1625.

A commemorative postage stamp of Denmark from the Anniversaries and Events 1969 series depicts the Fall of Danish Flag. The postage stamp issued on 12 June 1969 is 24 x 31 mm in size and at 60 øre - Danish øre face value. It had a print run of 22,675, 000. The designers are Czeslaw Slania (E) and Povl Christensen.

Fakir Mohan Senapati's Death Anniversary

Fakir Mohan Senapati, who passed away on 14 June 1918, aged 75, in Balasore, Odisha, was an Indian writer, poet, philosopher and social reformer. He is often referred to as Utkala Byasa Kabi (Odisha’s Vyasa). He is regarded as the father of Odia nationalism and modern Odia literature. He played a leading role in establishing the distinct identity of Odia language. He is known to have introduced novel writing, short story, and autobiography genres in Odia literature. Chha Maana Atha Guntha (translating into English as ‘Six Acres and a Third’) is the first Indian novel written by him in Odia to deal with the exploitations of landless peasants by the feudal Lord. It was written much before the October revolution of Russia or much before the emerging of Marxist ideas in India. His “Rebati” (1898) is widely recognized as the first Odia short story. He wrote a long poem, Utkala Bhramanam, that first appeared in 1892.

World Wide Knit in Public Day

 

World Wide Knit in Public Day was started in 2005 by Danielle Landes and takes place on the second Saturday of June each year. It began as a way for knitters to come together and enjoy each other's company.

Knit in Public Day is the largest knitter run event in the world. Each local event is put together by a volunteer or a group of volunteers. They bring their own fresh ideas into planning where the event should be held, and what people would like to do.

In the past, some people have used this event as a means to show the general public that "not only grannies knit". Knit in Public Day is about showing the general public that knitting can be a community activity in a very distinct way. In some places, there are many different knitting groups that never interact with each other, except on Knit in Public Day when they come together in one place, making them hard to miss.

In 2005, there were about 25 local events around the world. In 2006, there were about 70 local events, and in 2007, there were almost 200.

Over the years there have been local events in Australia, China, Serbia, England, Finland, France, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, United States, Canada, and Germany.

Sir Ram Nath Chopra's Death Anniversary

 

Sir Ram Nath Chopra CIE, IMS who passed away on 13 June 1973, aged 90, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, was an Indian Medical Service offer and doyen of science and medicine of India. He is considered the "Father of Indian Pharmacology” for his work on pharmaceuticals and his quest for self-sufficiency of India in drugs through the experimental evaluation of indigenous and traditional drugs. After service in the army, he established a research laboratory where he worked as a professor of Pharmacology at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine which was established in 1921. He also served as the director of this institute from the year 1935 to 1941.

Chopra was born in Gujranwala. His father Raghu Nath was a government official. After school in Lahore he went to the Government College there and then went to England in 1903 and studied at the Downing College, Cambridge. In 1905 he qualified in the Natural Sciences Tripos and was admitted BA. He received a B.Chir in 1908 and an MA in 1909. He worked under Walter E. Dixon, professor of the newly established position in pharmacology. He was inspired by the experimental approaches in pharmacology. While at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London, Chopra wrote the examination for the Indian Medical Service and stood third in it. Chopra was commissioned a lieutenant in the Indian Medical Service on 1 August 1908 and promoted to captain on 1 August 1911. He saw active service in East Africa and in the Afghan War of 1919. He was promoted to the temporary rank of major on 7 May 1919 and confirmed in the substantive rank on 1 August 1920, (back-dated to 1 February 1920). In 1922 he was appointed Professor of Pharmacology at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine which had been established the year before. He took a special interest in indigenous drugs and noted that a key aim for India should be self-sufficiency in drug resources. He conducted pioneering studies on herbal remedies including Rauvolfia serpentina. He headed a Drugs Enquiry Committee of 1930–31 which examined the need for imports, control and legislation.

Chopra took an interest in public health. He was invested as a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) in the 1934 New Year Honours list and knighted in the 1941 New Year Honours list. Government of India issued a postal stamp on his 101st birth anniversary with a denomination of Fifty paise^.

 

Helsinki Day

Helsinki Day (Finnish: Helsinki-päivä, Swedish: Helsingforsdagen) is an annual celebration in Finland, held on 12 June, to celebrate the date of the city’s foundation in 1550. The number of attendees in the events on the day exceeds one hundred thousand. On the day, the Helsinki Medal is awarded to noteworthy citizens by the city council.

The event was started by mayor Lauri Aho and secretary of the Helsinki Society Jorma Waronen in the late 1950s. The first Helsinki day was celebrated in 1959 on the 409th anniversary of the founding of Helsinki.

The number of attendees at events on Helsinki Day already exceeded ten thousand in the early 1960s. In the same decade, the events were made more entertaining and diverse. Main events, such as ice hall concerts, were added. As the day gained popularity, the association of neighbourhood societies wanted to expand the celebration to a full Helsinki Week in the late 1970s, but the city council denied permission. Nowadays, Helsinki Week, culminating on Helsinki Day, has been established, and it is directed by the event unit of the Helsinki city council.

Since the 1990s, various units of the city council, organizations and corporations have organized events on Helsinki Day. The free-of-charge "Kaivari" concert in Kaivopuisto is probably the best known among the public, as well as the dinner under the sky which has been held in Helsinki since 2013.

Helsinki Day includes the selection of the annual Stadin Kundi ("Man of the city") and Stadin Friidu ("Woman of the city") by Stadin Slangi ry.

National Corn on the Cob Day (United States)

Corn on the cob is a popular barbecue and picnic treat during the summer season, so it is not surprising that it is one of the foods that have their own unofficial holiday. National Corn on the Cob Day is celebrated annually on June 11.

Corn on the cob is a dish consisting of a cooked ear of sweet corn that is eaten directly off the cob. The corn for cooking corn on the cob is usually harvested while the kernels are still tender, which is why the dish is most often cooked in the beginning and middle of summer. It is one of the most popular Fourth of July foods; according to statistics, corn and potatoes are the most consumed grilled side dishes at Independence Day barbecues.

Corn on the cob has a long history. It was eaten by Native American tribes long before the arrival of European settlers. Sweet corn eaten off the cob was a staple food and a prominent source of sustenance for aboriginal peoples in Central America and what is now the Midwestern United States and Southern Canada.

Corn on the cob can be fried, grilled, roasted, baked, boiled, steamed, or even microwaved. It tastes the best if cooked on the same day the corn is harvested because as the time passes, the sugar in the kernels begins to convert into starch, making the corn lose its sweetness. Most cooking methods require removing the green husk leaves. However, corn on the cob can be roasted or grilled with the husk, which helps to retain moisture and flavour. In this case, the husk is removed before serving.

Corn on the cob is usually served with butter, salt, and black pepper and eaten while still warm. It is a tricky food to eat. It is perfectly appropriate to eat corn on the cob holding it at each end with your fingers; you can use a napkin to keep your fingers clean. You can also use special utensils called corn cob holders, which are inserted into each end of corn on the cob, or slice off the kernels with a special knife.

You can celebrate National Corn on the Cob Day by inviting your friends and family over for a BBQ party or simply cooking some delicious corn on the cob for lunch or dinner if you’re not in the mood for partying. 

 

Gustave Courbet's Birth Anniversary

 

Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet, born on 10 June 1819, in Ornans, Doubs, France, was a French painter who led the Realism movement in 19^th-century French painting. Committed to painting only what he could see, he rejected academic convention and the Romanticism of the previous generation of visual artists. His independence set an example that was important to later artists, such as the Impressionists and the Cubists. Courbet occupies an important place in 19th-century French painting as an innovator and as an artist willing to make bold social statements through his work.

Courbet's paintings of the late 1840s and early 1850s brought him his first recognition. They challenged convention by depicting unidealized peasants and workers, often on a grand scale traditionally reserved for paintings of religious or historical subjects. Courbet's subsequent paintings were mostly of a less overtly political character: landscapes, seascapes, hunting scenes, nudes and still lives. Courbet was imprisoned for six months in 1871 for his involvement with the Paris Commune and lived in exile in Switzerland from 1873 until his death four years later.

Judy Garland's Birth Anniversary

 

Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm; on 10 June 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, U.S., was an American actress and singer. Possessing a strong contralto voice, she was celebrated for her emotional depth and versatility across film, stage, and concert performance. Garland achieved international recognition for her portrayal of Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Her recording of "Over the Rainbow” became an enduring song in American popular music. Over a career spanning more than forty-five years, she recorded eleven studio albums, and several of her recordings were later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. 

At the age of two, Garland began her career by performing with her two sisters as a vaudeville act, The Gumm Sisters. In 1935, she signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at thirteen and appeared in supporting roles in ensemble musicals such as Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) and Thoroughbreds Don’t Cry (1937). The success of The Wizard of Oz propelled her into leading roles in MGM musicals including Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), Easter Parade (1948) and Summer Stock (1950). In the 1950s and early 1960s she expanded her range with dramatic performances in A Star Is Born (1954) and Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), both of which earned her Academy Award nominations and demonstrated her capacity to convey vulnerability and resilience on screen.

Beyond her film work, Garland cultivated a distinguished career in live performance and recordings. Her 1961 live album Judy at Carnegie Hall won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, capping a series of sold-out engagements at the Hollywood Bowl and concerts. That same year she became the first woman—and, at thirty-nine, the youngest recipient—of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion pictures. Her honours also included a Golden Globe Award, an Academy Juvenile Award for her early contributions, and a Special Tony Award for her role in reviving vaudeville. In 1997 she was posthumously awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 1999 the American Film Institute ranked her eighth among the greatest female screen legends of classic Hollywood cinema.

Garland's personal life was marked by both public fascination and private struggle. She married five times and had three children, including actress and singer Liza Minnelli. From her teenage years onward, she faced health challenges exacerbated by studio pressures on her appearance and performance, and she developed dependencies on prescription medications that affected her physical and mental well-being. Financial difficulties, including substantial tax debts, added to her burdens. She died in London in 1969 from an accidental barbiturate overdose at age forty-seven. Garland's resilience, artistic range and enduring recordings have ensured her lasting impact on popular culture and her reputation as a cultural icon.

Michael III, prince of Serbia assassinated in 1868

Michael III, who passed away on 10 June [29 May, Old Style], 1868, aged 44, in Košutnjak, near Belgrade) was the prince of Serbia (1839–42, 1860–68) and modern Serbia’s most enlightened ruler, who instituted the rule of law and attempted to found a Balkan federation aimed against the Ottoman Empire.

The second son of Miloš Obrenović, Michael succeeded to the Serbian throne on the death of his elder brother, Milan, on July 8, 1839, but fled into exile after a revolt in 1842. Having travelled widely, he returned on his father’s restoration to the throne (1858), served as commander in chief of the army, and became prince again on Miloš’s death in 1860. An enlightened though increasingly authoritarian ruler, Michael gradually freed Serbia from Turkish controls until all Ottoman soldiers had left the country in 1867. Nevertheless, his Balkan League, designed to unite all South Slavs against Turkey, collapsed soon after his death. In domestic affairs, Michael reformed the judicial system, revised the electoral laws, and instituted a regular conscript army (1861), for which Russia furnished supplies; he also established a state mortgage bank (1862), the Serbia Learned Society (1864), the first Serbian coinage since the Middle Ages (1868), and the national theatre. His reign was cut short by his assassination.

 

Donald Duck Day (United States)

 

Every year on 9 June, fans across the globe celebrate Donald Duck Day — a tribute to one of Disney’s most iconic and endearing characters. Donald made his first appearance in The Wise Little Hen, released on 9 June 1934, and quickly waddled his way into hearts with his sailor suit, trademark hat, and unforgettable voice.

Unlike the ever-smiling Mickey Mouse, Donald is known for his short temper, hilarious tantrums, and determined spirit. These quirks made him relatable and loveable, especially when he stubbornly refused to give up, even in the most absurd situations. Over the decades, Donald has starred in more than 150 theatrical films, making him one of the most prolific Disney characters ever. He even won an Academy Award in 1943 for the wartime short Der Fuehrer’s Face.

 

Donald’s popularity goes beyond animation — he has inspired comics, merchandise, theme park attractions, and generations of fans who see a bit of themselves in the flustered but well-meaning duck.

 

Birsa Munda's Martyrdom Day

 

Birsa Munda, who passed away on 9 June 1900, aged 24, in Ranchi, Bengal Residency (now in Jharkhand), was an Indian tribal independence activist, and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe. He spearheaded a tribal religious millenarian movement that arose in the Bengal Residency (now Jharkhand) in the late 19th century, during the British Raj, thereby making him an important figure in the history of the Indian independence movement. The revolt mainly concentrated in the Munda belt of Khunti, Tamar, Sarwada and Bandgaon.

Birsa received his education in Salga under the guidance of his teacher Jaipal Nag. Later, Birsa converted to Christianity to join the German Mission School. After dropping out of school, Birsa Munda created a faith called Birsait. Members of the Munda community soon started joining the faith which in turn became a challenge for the British activities. The Birsaits openly declared that the real enemies were the British and not Christian Mundas. The cause of the Munda revolt was the 'unfair land grabbing practices by colonial and local authorities that demolished the tribal conventional land system'. Birsa Munda is known for challenging the British Christian missionaries and revolting against the conversion activities along with the Munda and Oraon communities. His portrait hangs in the Indian Parliament Museum.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Birth Anniversary

Frank Lloyd Wright, born on 8 June 1867, in Richland Center, Wisconsin, U.S., was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years.

A defining figure in 20th-century architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright (1867 – 1959) is one of a handful of masters who shaped the world of architecture as we know it today, influencing it as few others did. His name crosses boundaries and disciplines, breaking out of the sometimes-introspective world of architecture to touch on art, design and the way we live. With his roots in residential architecture, and his rich portfolio being instrumental in the development of modernist architecture, this is a creative that was both meticulous and versatile; organic and highly refined. By the time of his death, he completed hundreds of projects in the US and abroad. 

Frank Lloyd Wright’s work ranges from sprawling Prairie houses of the American countryside to more compact urban Usonian homes, and of course, the instantly recognizable, flagship modernism of Fallingwater and the New York Guggenheim, which have since become shorthand for the entire mid-century movement. At the same time, he wrote and taught, famously founding Taliesin West, a laboratory of architecture operating to this day. 

Francis Crick's Birth Anniversary

 

Francis Crick, born on 8 June 1916, in Holmfield Way, Northampton, United Kingdom, was an English molecular biologist, biophysicist, and neuroscientist. He is best known for his work with James Watson which led to the identification of the structure of DNA in 1953, drawing on the work of Maurice Wilkins, Rosalind Franklin and others.

This discovery proved to be of enormous importance to biomedical research - and to life and health - and earned Crick, Watson and Wilkins the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962.

Crick began his scientific career in physics, obtaining a BSc from University College London in 1937. During World War Two he worked as a scientist for the Admiralty Research Laboratory, working on the design of magnetic and acoustic mines.

In 1947, Crick made the transition from physics into biology, which he described as "almost as if one had to be born again". His early studies at Cambridge were supported by a studentship from the Medical Research Council (MRC). 

In 1949, Crick joined the MRC unit headed by Max Perutz, which subsequently became the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. During this period, he worked on the X-ray crystallography of proteins, obtaining his PhD in 1954.

in 1929, Vatican City becomes a Sovereign Country

 

On June 7, 1929, Vatican City was officially declared as a sovereign country. Situated within the city of Rome, Vatican City is the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. The Lateran Treaty, signed on this momentous day, granted Vatican City its independent status, recognizing its autonomy and sovereignty as a distinct entity. This agreement, reached between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy, marked the resolution of longstanding disputes and solidified the Vatican’s position as a self-governing state. Since then, Vatican City has continued to serve as the spiritual heart of the Catholic faith and a symbol of religious influence and cultural heritage worldwide.

Alan Turing's Death Anniversary

 

Alan Turing, who passed away on 7 June 1954, aged 41, in Wilmslow, Cheshire, was a British mathematician and logician who made major contributions to mathematics, cryptanalysis, logic, philosophy and mathematical biology and also to the new areas later named computer science, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and artificial life.

National VCR Day (United States)

National VCR Day is observed on June 7th. It celebrates the video cassette recorder (VCR), a technology that revolutionized home entertainment and allowed people to record and playback video content on magnetic tapes. This retro holiday encourages people to appreciate the impact of this once-common device and learn more about its history. 

International Day of Caves and the Subterranean World.

On June 6th, the world celebrates the International Day of Caves and the Subterranean World. This day is observed by the International Show Caves Association (ISCA) and is marked by show caves, mines, and organizations worldwide. It's a time to raise awareness about the importance of caves and underground environments for environmental conservation, education, and the preservation of these unique ecosystems. ISCA organizers often feature events like special tours, educational activities, and lectures by experts in speleology.

World Green Roof Day

 

World Green Roof Day is celebrated on June 6 every year to appreciate the beautiful green roofs that contribute to a better environment and raise awareness about their importance to climate change. Did you know the first record of green roofing was the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, planted in Iraq in 500 B.C.? Also known as living roofs, they consist of vegetation that partially or completely covers a waterproofing system. Green roofing lowers the cost of cooling and reduces stormwater runoff. World Green Roof Day is an initiative by Chris Bridgman and Dusty Gedge, experts in sustainable green roofs.

National Eyewear Day (United States)

 

June 6 is National Eyewear Day, an awareness day founded in 2016 to encourage people to schedule their next eye exam. The eye care community, including eye doctors and opticians, observes the day by educating the public about eye health and why it’s important to get regular eye exams.

Why National Eyewear Day is important

National Eyewear Day is a reminder that taking care of your eyes should be part of your annual health care routine. Having a comprehensive eye exam every year is the best way to make sure that:

·    Your eyes are healthy.

·    Your vision is clear (with or without correction).

·   Any changes in your eye health or vision are monitored and acted on appropriately.

 

International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing

 

The UN General Assembly declared June 5th as the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing in December 2017. The date coincides with the entry into force of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), which is the first international legally binding treaty specifically addressing IUU fishing. This day is observed annually to raise awareness about IUU fishing and its impact on sustainable fisheries, livelihoods, and food security. 

 

Indian Arrival Day in Suriname

 

On June 5, 1873, Lalla Rookh, a ship, landed on the shore of Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname. On board the ship were 400 Indian indentured labourers, who became the first people of Indian origin to arrive in the then Dutch colony; the first of over 34000 that eventually arrived in Suriname between 1873 and 1916. The first 400, like the rest, were mostly poor, rural workers from modern day Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Tamil Nadu. These indentured labourers, brought on a contract, found themselves in gruelling conditions on sugarcane plantations thousands of miles away from home.

Descendants of these Indians now make up the single largest demographic in Suriname, accounting for 27.4% of the country’s population. These descendants of indentured labourers are no longer just that, as they now are politicians, artists, teachers, leaders, entrepreneurs, and more, having shaped Suriname’s national fabric. And hence, June 5, is etched into the cultural and emotional memory of the Indo-Surinamese population and is observed as Indian Arrival Day aka Prawas Din. Apart from Suriname, countries like Fiji (May 14), Grenada (May 1), Guyana (May 5), Jamaica (May 10), Mauritius (November 2), Saint Lucia (May 6), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (June 1), South Africa (November 16), Trinidad and Tobago (May 30), all have their own Indian Arrival Days.

 

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

 

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is a United Nations observance held on June 4 every year. It was established on 19 August 1982.

Originally focused on victims of the 1982 Lebanon War, its purpose expanded to "acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. This day affirms the UN's commitment to protecting the rights of children.”

The Great Auk went extinct in 1844

 

The great auk was a large bird, that could not fly. People hunted it for meat and feathers. It grew rare, because it was too easy to kill, and the ones left could not breed fast enough to make up for the lost ones.

On 3 June 1844, the last two confirmed specimens were killed on Eldey, off the coast of Iceland, ending the last known breeding attempt. Later reports of roaming individuals being seen or caught are unconfirmed. A report of one great auk in 1852 is considered by some to be the last sighting of a member of the species. It lived mostly in the water, like a duck.

Penguins got their name from the great auk. The word "penguin" was the Celtic word for "great auk". When sailors saw penguins for the first time, they thought they looked like great auks.

The great auk was covered in black feathers, but had white feathers on its chest and abdomen. It had very short wings, like stubs, which meant it could not fly. On land it stood upright and was about 75 cm tall. They spent most of their time at sea, coming to shore in the summer to breed. They lived in large breeding colonies on low rocky islands in the north Atlantic Ocean from Canada to Norway. Females laid one egg on bare rock. In winter they went as far south as Florida and southern Spain.  

Charles Drew's Birth Anniversary

Charles Richard Drew, born on 3 June 1904, in Washington D.C., U.S., was an African American physician and surgeon who was an authority on the preservation of human blood for transfusion.

Drew was educated at Amherst College (graduated 1926), McGill University, Montreal (1933), and Columbia University (1940). While earning his doctorate at Columbia in the late 1930s, he conducted research into the properties and preservation of blood plasma. He soon developed efficient ways to process and store large quantities of blood plasma in “blood banks.” As the leading authority in the field, he organized and directed the blood-plasma programs of the United States and Great Britain in the early years of World War II, while also agitating the authorities to stop excluding the blood of African Americans from plasma-supply networks.

Drew resigned his official posts in 1942 after the armed forces ruled that the blood of African Americans would be accepted but would have to be stored separately from that of whites. He then became a surgeon and professor of medicine at Freedmen’s Hospital, Washington, D.C., and Howard University (1942–50). He was fatally injured in an automobile accident in 1950.

Raj Kapoor's Death Anniversary

 

Raj Kapoor, who passed away on 2 June 1988, aged 63, in New Delhi, was an Indian motion-picture actor and director whose Hindi -language films were popular throughout India, the Middle East, the Soviet Union, China, and Southeast Asia. Along with Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand, he dominated Bollywood during its golden age (1940s–60s). He is known for tackling complex themes in his films, many of which are counted among India’s most acclaimed cinematic works, and for creating a screen persona modelled on Charlie Chaplin’s Little Tramp. Often described as “the showman of Indian cinema,” he is credited with elevating Indian films to the global stage.

Thomas Hardy's Birth Anniversary

 

Thomas Hardy, born on 2 June 1840, in Stinsford, Dorset, England, was an English novelist and poet. A Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry of William Wordsworth. He was highly critical of much in Victorian society, especially on the declining status of rural people in Britain such as those from his native South West England.

While Hardy wrote poetry throughout his life and regarded himself primarily as a poet, his first collection was not published until 1898. Initially, he gained fame as the author of novels such as Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891) and Jude the Obscure (1895). During his lifetime, Hardy's poetry was acclaimed by younger poets (particularly the Georgians) who viewed him as a mentor. After his death his poems were lauded by Ezra Pound, W.H. Auden and Philip Larkin.

Many of his novels concern tragic characters struggling against their passions and social circumstances, and they are often set in the semi-fictional region of Wessex; initially based on the medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom, Hardy’s Wessex eventually came to include the counties of Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon, Hampshire and much of Berkshire, in south-west and south-central England. Two of his novels, Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Far from the Madding Crowd, were listed in the top 50 on the BBC’s survey of best-loved novels, The Big Read.

Marilyn Monroe's Birth Anniversary

Marilyn Monroe, born on 1 June 1926, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., was an American actress who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful films during the 1950s. These included Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and Some Like It Hot (1959). Behind the scenes, however, Monroe struggled to find happiness, and in 1962 she died from a drug overdose. She later became a pop culture icon.