Amrita Sher-Gil Birth Anniversary

 

Amrita Sher-Gil, born on 30 January 1913 in Budapest, Hungary, is often referred to as India's Frida Kahlo for aesthetically blending traditional and Western art forms. Amrita Sher-Gil was one of the most famous painters of India. She is also considered as a revolutionary woman artist and the originator of modern art in India. Though her artworks mainly depicted Western style and culture during the initial stages of her career, the painter gradually began to rediscover herself by depicting Indian subjects using traditional methods. Apart from painting, she was also well-versed in playing piano and fond of reading. She even travelled to different parts of India, France and Turkey and managed to incorporate ideas gained from different techniques into her own works. Throughout her career, she painted her friends, lovers and also made quite a few self-portraits, for which she is often considered as a narcissistic by many. 

National Cleanliness Day (India)

 

National Cleanliness Day is celebrated in India every year on January 30 with the aim of promoting cleanliness and sanitation as a way of life. The significance of this day lies in its ability to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining cleanliness and the role of each individual in keeping the environment clean.

The history of National Cleanliness Day dates back to 2014, when the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, a nationwide cleanliness campaign aimed at transforming India into a clean and hygienic nation. The campaign focuses on creating awareness about the importance of cleanliness and hygiene and encouraging citizens to take responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean.

Martyrs' Day/ Mahatma Gandhi's Death Anniversary

 

Martyrs' Day, also known as Shaheed Diwas or Amar Shaheed Diwas, is observed in India annually on January 30 to commemorate the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, the 'Father of the Nation', who was assassinated on this day in 1948.

On January 30, 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by Hindu nationalist Nathuram Godse at around 5:17 pm, when he was heading to Birla Bhavan, Delhi, to address an evening prayer.

The assassin, Godse, a member of the Hindu Mahasabha, disagreed with Gandhi's views on the partition of India.

Nathuram Godse fired three bullets into Mahatma Gandhi's chest, and it said that the last words Gandhi uttered were "Hey Ram".

Gandhi led the freedom movement in India and emphasised the use of non-violent and peaceful methods to fight the British rule.

Romeo and Juliet likely first performance in 1595

 

“Romeo and Juliet” is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed. 

On 29 January 1595, William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" is thought to have been first performed. It was officially published early 1597. 

Indian Newspaper Day

29th January is observed as National Newspaper Day in India. On this day, the first Indian Newspaper called 'Hicky's Bengal Gazette' was published back in 1780. It was printed in Calcutta (Kolkata) which was the capital of India at that time. Founded by an Irishman named James Augustin Hicky, the newspaper was known for expressing everything freely in an unbiased manner which did not go well with the British.

Hicky's Bengal Gazette was the first newspaper to be printed in Asia. It's publication was stopped in 1782 as the British were aware of the damage the newspapers could do to their regime.

On this day, it is important to pay tributes to the print media industry which played a huge role in erasing myths and inspiring younger generations to bring a positive change in the society.

William Bates Yeats Death Anniversary

 

William Butler Yeats, who passed away on 28 January 1939 was an Irish poet, dramatist and writer, and one of the foremost figures of 20^th-century literature. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival, and along with Lady Gregory founded the Abbey Theatre, serving as its chief during its early years. He was awarded the 1923 Nobel Prize in Literature, and later served two terms as a Senator of the Irish Free State.

Medical College in Calcutta Founded in 1835

 

Medical College, Kolkata, also known as Calcutta Medical College, is a public medical college and hospital located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is one of the oldest existing hospitals in Asia. The institute was established on 28 January 1835 by Lord William Bentinck during British Raj as Medical College, Bengal. It is the second oldest medical college to teach Western medicine in Asia after  Ecole de Médicine de Pondichéry and the first institute to teach in English language. The college offers MBBS degree after five and a half years of medical training.