Sohrab Modi, who passed away on 28 January 1984, was
an Indian stage and film actor, director and producer. His films include Khoon
Ka Khoon (1935), a version of Shakespeare's Hamlet, Sikandar, Pukar, Prithvi
Vallabh, Jhansi ki Rani, Mirza Ghalib, Jailor and Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957). His
films always carried a message of strong commitment to social and national
issues.
Data Privacy Day is an
international event that occurs every year on 28 January. The purpose of Data
Privacy Day is to raise awareness and promote privacy and data protection best
practices. It is currently observed in the United States, Canada, Qatar,
Nigeria, Israel and 47 European countries.
Nayyar made his debut in
the Hindi cinema, with 1949 movie 'Kaneez' and in 1952 as music director
in 'Aasmaan'.
Nayyar worked closely with
renowned singers of the era - Mohammed Rafi, Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle. Nayyar
played a main role in Asha’s singing career. It was also speculated that Asha
and Nayyar were in a relationship in the late 1950s. The two ended their
professional collaboration in 1972, after which Asha went on to work with
another legendary music composer, RD Burman.
After a disagreement with Mohammed Rafi, Nayyar began
working with singer Mahendra Kapoor. Kapoor performed Nayyar’s songs 'Badal
Jaaye Agar Maali' and 'Chaman Hotaa Nahi Khaali' in 'Bahaaren
Phir Bhi Aayengi'.
Nayyar also worked with developing lyricists such as
Jan Nisar Akhtar, Qamar Jalalabadi, S. H. Bihari and Ahmed Wasi.
He began the tradition of assigning full, three-minute
songs to comedians. Om Prakash sang Nayyar’s 'Churi Bane Kanta Bane' in 'Jaali
Note', and Jonny Walker sang 'Jaane Kahan Mera Jigar Gaya Jee' in
'Mr. & Mrs. 55'.
It was Nayyar who wrote 'Yeh Desh Hai Veer
Jawaanonkaa' for 'Naya Daur', the song that earned him the 1958
Filmfare Best Music Director Award.
Nayyar was more active
during the 1960s than he was in the following decade, and did not compose music
for younger actors such as Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan.
His films included Dilip
Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Guru Dutt, Dharmendra, Shammi Kapoor, Asha
Parekh, Mumtaz, Sharmila Tagore, Madhubala and Rekha. He made a brief comeback
during the 1990s with 'Mangni' and 'Nishchay' in 1992 and
'Zid' in 1994.
Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa, born on
28 January 1899, 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.
Lala Rajpat Rai, born on 28 January 1865, created a legacy of nationalism, unity and strength as he was a freedom fighter who was a firm believer in India’s independence, dedicated his whole life to the cause and played an important role in the Independence movement. Rai was born in Dhudike, Punjab to a Jain family and his liberal views and Hindu beliefs were shaped by his parents, which he then used to reform Indian policy and religion through politics and journalistic writing.
In 1880, Rai joined the Government College at Lahore to major in law, where he was influenced by the Hindu reformist movement of Swami Dayanand Saraswati and became a member of existing Arya Samaj Lahore (founded 1877) and Founder-Editor of Lahore-based Arya Gazette. Popularly known as Punjab Kesari, Lala Lajpat Rai was one-third of the triumvirate ‘Lal Bal Pal’, which included Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal.
An integral part of the Indian National Congress, he took part in political agitations in Punjab and was subsequently deported to Mandalay without trial in May 1907 however, the freedom fighter was allowed to return in November that year, after then Viceroy Lord Minto decided there was insufficient evidence to hold him in prison. Lala Lajpat Rai was elected President of the Indian National Congress in the Calcutta Special Session of 1920.
In 1921, he founded Servants of the People Society, a non-profit welfare organisation but he is perhaps best known for leading the non-violent march in protest of the Simon Commission that was set up by the British government and headed by Sir John Simon. The protesters chanted “Simon go back” and carried black flags and it was during this protest that the police lathi charge occurred against the protestors where Rai was personally assaulted and extremely injured.
He subsequently addressed the
crowd with his now famous words and said, “I declare that the blows struck at
me today will be the last nails in the coffin of British rule in India”. He did
not fully recover from his injuries and died on 17 November 1928 of a heart
attack.
Renowned Victorian author Lewis Carroll was born Charles
Lutwidge Dodgson on January 27, 1832, in Daresbury, Cheshire, England. The son
of a clergyman, Carroll was the third child born to a family of eleven
children. From a very early age he entertained himself and his family by
performing magic tricks and marionette shows, and by writing poetry for his
homemade newspapers. In 1846 he entered Rugby School, and in 1854 he graduated
from Christ Church College, Oxford. He was successful in his study of
mathematics and writing, and remained at the college after graduation to teach.
His mathematical writings include An
Elementary Treatise on Determinants (1867), Euclid
and His Modern Rivals (1879), and Curiosa
Mathematica (1888). While teaching, Carroll was ordained as a deacon;
however, he never preached. He also began to pursue photography, often choosing
children as the subject of his portraits. One of his favorite models was a
young girl named Alice Liddell, the daughter of the Dean at Christ’s Church,
who later became the basis for Carroll’s fictional character, Alice. He
abandoned both photography and public speaking between 1880 and 1881, and
focused on his writing.
Many of Carroll’s philosophies were based on games. His interest
in logic came purely from the playful nature of its principle rather than its
uses as a tool. He primarily wrote comic fantasies and humorous verse that was
often very childlike. Carroll published his novel Alice’s
Adventures in Wonderland in 1865, followed by Through the Looking Glass in 1872.
Alice’s story began as a piece of extemporaneous whimsy meant to entertain
three little girls on a boating trip in 1862. Both of these works were
considered children’s novels that were satirical in nature and in
exemplification of Carroll’s wit. Also famous is Carroll’s poem “Jabberwocky,”
in which he created nonsensical words from word combinations. Carroll died in
Guildford, Surrey, on January 14, 1898.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born on 27 January 1756,
in Salzburg, Austria, was one of the greatest composers of all times. He created his own
distinct style, blending traditional and contemporary.
His inspiration is often described as 'divine', but he worked assiduously, not only to become the great composer he was, but also a conductor, virtuoso pianist, organist and violinist. Mozart's music embraces opera, symphony, concerto, chamber, choral, instrumental and vocal music, revealing an astonishing number of imperishable masterpieces.
World Bollywood Day is celebrated annually on September 24 to honour the vibrant music, dance, and storytelling of the Hindi film industry...
