Marco Polo Death Anniversary

Marco Polo, who passed away on 8 January 1324, was a Venetian merchant and adventurer who travelled from Europe to Asia in 1271-95. It is believed that Marco Polo journeyed across Asia at the height of the Mongol Empire. He first set out at age 17 with his father and uncle, traveling overland along what later became known as the Silk Road. Upon reaching China, Marco Polo entered the court of powerful Mongol ruler Kublai Khan, who dispatched him on trips to help administer the realm. Marco Polo remained abroad for 24 years. Though not the first European to explore China—his father and uncle, among others, had already been there—he became famous for his travels thanks to a popular book,whose Il milione (“The Million”), known in English as the Travels of Marco Polo,  he co-authored while languishing in a Genoese prison.

Elvis Presley Birth Anniversary

 

Elvis Aaron Presley, born on 8 January 1935, also known mononymously as Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Known as ‘King of Rock and Roll, he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20^th century. Flaunting his curled lip, long sideburns, swivelling hips, and over-greased pompadour, he popularized rock and roll music in America in the '50s. His charm left many ladies floored back then while men took tips from him on how to woo women. 

In 1956, following his six television appearances on The Dorsey Brothers' "Stage Show", Elvis was cast in his first acting role, in a supporting part in Love Me Tender (1956), the first of 33 movies he starred in. The 31 feature films as an actor and two theatrically released concert documentary films, all enjoyed financial success. For a number of years, he was one of Hollywood's top box office draws and one of its highest-paid actors.

In 1977, the three-time Grammy winner's shocking death left the world saddened. He reportedly suffered from a heart attack, likely brought on by his diet and drug use. Even though the singer is not with us anymore, he lives on through his legacy.

Known both for his iconic songs which are still considered as classic hits and his high-octane performances on-stage, the singer-actor was given the honorific title of the ‘King of Rock and Roll’ for his many achievements over a short but influential span of his career.

On this special occasion for the best-selling solo artist of all time, let’s take a trip down the streets of his timeless music released decades ago, which is still listened to and enjoyed by millions of his fans worldwide. Here are a few of the many tunes which make Elvis an evergreen artist.

JAILHOUSE ROCK

This funky and upbeat number from Elvis’ 1957 film having the same name was an instant success on the musical charts worldwide at the time. The song’s jovial and suggestive lyrics were contrasted by the intense and raspy vocals of the three-time Grammy Award-winning singer, making for an interestingly rocking number that fans love to this day.

IF I CAN DREAM

This solemn and heart-stirring ballad was performed by Elvis in tribute to legendary Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 at a Television special. His rich and moving vocal performance was appreciated by many and is considered one of his best works to date.

CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE

This romantic mid-tempo number has some of the most romantic lyrics in the musical repertoire of Elvis. Released in 1961 as part of his album ‘Blue Hawaii’, the song is an evergreen Valentine’s Day classic and has been sung by several prominent artists, including Celine Dion and Britney Spears.

SUSPICIOUS MINDS

Originally recorded in 1968 by songwriter Mark James, the song became an overnight success once Elvis released his version in 1969. The lyrics highlight issues faced by a couple in a relationship, stressing the need to overcome them. The song was released just two years into Elvis’ marriage with Priscilla Presley, leading to fans’ belief that the Guinness Record-holding artist had poured some of his personal emotions while singing the song.

BLUE SUEDE SHOES

This catchy number is iconically associated with Elvis not just because of its infectious energetic vibe but also because the singer himself owned a pair of blue suede shoes, which became famous after this song came out in 1956. The number was originally a #1 hit by Carl Perkins, a friend of Elvis, but today, it is remembered as an evergreen song of the rock and roll legend.

 

 

 

Earth's Rotation Day

Earth's Rotation Day is celebrated on January 8 every year to mark the anniversary of the demonstration by French physicist Léon Foucault of the Earth's rotation on its axis.

In 1851, Foucault accomplished this through an experiment using a pendulum, famously known as the Foucault Pendulum. It provided visual proof of Earth's rotation. The pendulum's plane of oscillation rotates over time, a phenomenon that can only be explained by the Earth rotating beneath it. Foucault's pendulum became a symbol, which is displayed in museums worldwide. January 8 was chosen to mark the day Foucault proved that the Earth rotates on its axis.

Galileo Galilei Death Anniversary

Galileo Galilei, who passed away on 8 January 1642, was an Italian philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician who made essential contributions to the sciences of astronomy, motion and strength of the material and several developments of scientific methods.

If we talk about his discoveries, Galileo was the first person to report telescopic observations of the mountains on the moon, the rings of Saturn, the moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus. He calculated the law of free fall, conceived by the principle of inertia; he also determined the parabolic trajectory of projectiles and promoted the relativity of motion.

Galileo’s significant contributions were observational data, which he obtained with a telescope he made himself. He was the first astrophysicist to scan the spaces with a light-magnifying instrument; he is also referred to as the father of observational astronomy.

Telescopic Discoveries of Galileo

Galileo was not only the first inventor of the reflecting telescope, but he also significantly enhanced its power. What set Galileo apart was that he quickly figured out how to improve the instrument.

Galileo was the first to observe the rough, cratered surface of the moon; Jupiter’s four largest satellites named the Galilean moons; dark spots on the sun’s surface, known as sunspots; and the phases of the phases of Venus with his unprecedentedly powerful telescopes.

Earth’s Orbit

Soon after the invention of the telescope in the Netherlands, Galileo created his own from improvised spectacle lenses. He learned how to make unprecedentedly powerful telescopes, which he used to study the solar phases of the planet Venus. He also concluded that the sun is the central point of the solar system, not the Earth, as was formerly assumed, after noticing and studying the similar phases of Venus and the moon. Such discoveries of Galileo took the world of inventions to another level.

The Law of Falling Bodies

The Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle taught that heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones, but Galileo wasn’t convinced. By climbing to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Galileo demonstrated this theory by dropping items of various weights off the side, which states that every object will fall at an equal rate. All items hit the ground simultaneously. This law of falling bodies was his crucial contribution in the field of motion.

The Principle of Pendulum

The law of the pendulum was discovered by Galileo Galilei, which made the young scientist famous. Galileo observed that no matter how big the swings are, the time it will take for each swing to complete will be the same because the kinetic energy left in the pendulum will always be the same; it is just shifted from one direction to the other. This law is eventually used to regulate clocks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Hawking Birth Anniversary

 

Stephen Hawking, born on 8 January 1942, was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author. Hawking is regarded as one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists in history. His work on the origins and structure of the universe, from the Big Bang to black holes, revolutionized the field, while his best-selling books have appealed to readers who may not have Hawking's scientific background. 

Bimal Roy Death Anniversary

Bimal Roy, who passed away on 8 January 1966, was a Bengali Indian film director. He is particularly noted for his realistic and socialistic films such as Do Bigha Zamin, Parineeta, Biraj Bahu, Madhumati, Sujata, Parakh and Bandini, making him an important director of Hindi cinema. Inspired by Italian neo-realistic cinema, he made Do Bigha Zamin after watching Vittorio De Sica's Bicycle Thieves (1948). His work is particularly known for his mise en scène which he employed to portray realism. He won a number of awards throughout his career, including eleven Filmfare Awards, two National Film Awards, and the International Prize of the Cannes Film Festival. Madhumati won 9 Filmfare Awards in 1958, a record held for 37 years.

Ashapoorna Devi Birth Anniversary

Ashapoorna Devi, born on 8 January 1909, was a prominent Indian novelist and poet in Bengal. For her contribution as a novelist and short story writer, the Sahitya Akademi conferred its highest honour, the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship upon her in 1994.  

During her lifetime, Ashapurna composed more than thirty novels, poetry, ten volumes of collected works, besides children’s fiction. However, it was her powerful trilogy which catapulted her to fame and glory.

The three novels (written between 1964-1974) Pratham Protisruti, Subarnalata, and Bokul Katha depict the women’s liberation from colonial to independent India.