Raghupati Sahay, also known by his pen name Firaq Gorakhpuri,
born on 28 August 1896, was an Indian writer, critic, and, according to one
commentator, one of the most noted contemporary Urdu poets from India. He
established himself among peers including Muhammad Iqbal, Yagana Changezi,
Jigar Mordabadi and Josh Malihabadi.
Sir Donald George Bradman, born on 27 August 1908, in Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia, nicknamed "The Don", was an Australian international cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time. His cricketing successes have been claimed by Shane Warne, among others, to make Bradman the "greatest sportsperson" in history. Bradman's career Test batting average of 99.94 is considered by some to be the greatest achievement by any sportsman in any major sport.
The story that the young Bradman practiced alone with a cricket stump and a golf ball is part of Australian folklore. His meteoric rise from bush cricket to the Australian Test team took just over two years. Before his 22nd birthday, he had set many records for top-scoring, some of which still stand, and became Australia's sporting idol at the height of the Great Depression. This hero status grew and continued through the Second World War.
During a 20-year playing career, Bradman consistently scored at a level that made him, in the words of former Australia captain Bill Woodfull, "worth three batsmen to Australia". A controversial set of tactics, known as Bodyline, was specially devised by the England team to curb his scoring. As a captain and administrator, Bradman was committed to attacking, entertaining cricket; he drew spectators in record numbers. He hated the constant adulation, however, and it affected how he dealt with others. The focus of attention on Bradman's individual performances strained relationships with some teammates, administrators and journalists, who thought him aloof and wary. Following an enforced hiatus due to the Second World War, he made a dramatic comeback, captaining an Australian team known as "The Invincibles” on a record-breaking unbeaten tour of England.
A complex and highly driven man, not
given to close personal relationships, Bradman retained a pre-eminent position
in the game by acting as an administrator, selector and writer for three
decades following his retirement. Even after he became reclusive in his
declining years, Bradman's opinion was highly sought, and his status as a
national icon was still recognized. Almost fifty years after his retirement as
a Test player, in 1997, Prime Minister John Howard called him the
"greatest living Australian". Bradman's image has appeared on postage
stamps and coins, and a museum dedicated to his life was opened while he was
still living. On the centenary of his birth, 27 August 2008, the Royal
Australian Mint issued a $5 commemorative gold coin with Bradman's image. In
2009, he was inducted posthumously as an inaugural member into the ICC Cricket
Hall of Fame.
World Lake Day on August 27 aims to raise awareness of the importance of lakes and the sustainable management of lake and related ecosystems.
Lakes are one of the most vital natural resources on our planet. They serve as a crucial source of fresh water, play a key role in maintaining biodiversity, contribute to climate regulation, and provide recreational and economic opportunities.
2025 is the
first observance of World Lake Day.
Sir
Dorabji Tata, born on
27 August 1859, in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India, was an Indian
industrialist and philanthropist of the British Raj, and a key figure in the
history and development of the Tata Group. He was knighted in 1910 for his contributions to
industry in British India. He was the elder son of Jamsetji Tata, the
founder of the Tata Group. He played a pioneering role by guiding India
to the Olympics even before the establishment of an independent National
Olympic Association.
Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, on 26 August 1910, better known as Mother Teresa or Saint Mother Teresa, was an Albanian-Indian Catholic nun, founder of the Missionaries of Charity and is a Catholic saint. Born in Skopje, then part of the Ottoman Empire, she was raised in a devoutly Catholic family. At the age of 18, she moved to Ireland to join the Sisters of Loreto and later to India, where she lived most of her life and carried out her missionary work. On 4 September 2016, she was canonized by the Catholic Church as Saint Teresa of Calcutta. The anniversary of her death, 5 September, is now observed as her feast day.
In 1950, Mother Teresa established the Missionaries
of Charity, a religious congregation that was initially dedicated to serving
"the poorest of the poor" in the slums of Calcutta. Over the
decades, the congregation grew to operate in over 133 countries, as of 2012, with
more than 4,500 nuns managing homes for those dying from HIV/AIDS, leprosy,
and tuberculosis, as well as running soup kitchens, dispensaries, mobile
clinics, orphanages, and schools. Members of the order take vows of chastity,
poverty and obedience and also profess a fourth vow: to give
"wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor."
Mother Teresa received several
honours, including the 1962 Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize and the 1979 Nobel
Peace Prize. Her life and work have inspired books, documentaries, and films.
Her authorized biography, written by Navin Chawla, was published in 1992,
and on 6 September 2017, she was named a co-patron of the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Calcutta alongside St Francis Xavier. However, she also drew
criticism for the poor conditions and lack of medical care or pain relief in
her houses for the dying.
Sir Thomas Sean Connery, born on 25 August 1930, in Edinburgh, Scotland, was a legendary Scottish actor widely recognized for being the first to portray James Bond on screen. Beyond his iconic 007 role, he had a decorated career spanning decades, earning an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globes. Connery was also an ardent supporter of Scottish independence and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000.
Career highlights
· James Bond
(1962–1983): Connery originated the role of
the suave British secret agent in the 1962 film Dr. No and
starred in seven films in the franchise. His introduction, "Bond... James
Bond," became a cultural catchphrase and defined the character for a
generation.
· The Untouchables (1987): He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as
veteran Chicago cop Jimmy Malone.
· Indiana Jones and
the Last Crusade (1989): Connery
famously played Harrison Ford's father, Henry Jones Sr., in the Steven
Spielberg-directed adventure film.
· The Hunt for Red
October (1990): He starred as
a defecting Soviet submarine captain in the commercially successful Cold War
thriller.
· The Man Who Would
Be King (1975): In this
critically acclaimed film by director John Huston, Connery starred alongside
his close friend Michael Caine as two British soldiers who crown themselves
kings in a remote land.
· Highlander (1986): He played the mentor figure Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez to
the younger protagonist.
· The Rock (1996): Connery starred as a former SAS soldier turned political prisoner
who helps an FBI agent break into Alcatraz.
August 24 is commemorated as Vesuvius Day, honouring the most famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., which destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
The historical date and its revision
· The traditional
date (August 24, 79 A.D.): For
centuries, this date was widely accepted based on a copy of a letter by Pliny
the Younger, an eyewitness to the event. Pliny wrote his account 20 years after
the disaster, and the date may have been corrupted over 1,400 years of
hand-copying.
· The revised date (October 24, 79 A.D.): In 2018, an inscription found on a wall in Pompeii dated to October 17th of 79 A.D. supported a theory that had been building since the 18th century. Other archaeological evidence, such as findings of autumnal fruits and victims wearing heavy clothing, also points to an autumn eruption.
Commemorating "Vesuvius Day"
Today, August 24 is still observed as "Vesuvius Day" by some as a tribute to the victims, though it's now widely acknowledged that the disaster occurred later in the year. Ways to observe the day include:
· Learning about volcanoes and the history of the eruption.
· Watching documentaries about Pompeii and Herculaneum.
· Creating a model volcano with children.
Visiting Mount Vesuvius today
For those
interested in exploring the site, tours and day trips are available from nearby
cities like Naples and Rome. Visitors can hike to the crater of the volcano and
explore the remarkably preserved ruins of Pompeii.
On May 31, 1859, Big Ben rang over the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, for the first time. In October 1834, a fire destroye...
