First Sighting of Antarctica in 1820

 

The first sighting of Antarctica is now widely acknowledged to have taken place on the 27^th or 28th of January 1820 during the voyage of two Russian ships, the Vostok  and Mirnyi  under the command of Captain Fabien (Thaddeus) Gottleib von Bellingshausen during a two year exploratory expedition around the world to discover new lands for the Russian Empire. Bellingshausen's ships were the first to have crossed the Antarctic Circle since Cook nearly 50 years earlier, they did so on the 26th of January 1820.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

 

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, is an international Memorial Day on 27 January that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the genocide of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities by Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945, an attempt to implement its "final solution" to the Jewish question. 27 January was chosen to commemorate the date when the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army in 1945.

World Leprosy Day 2025

World Leprosy Day is observed internationally every year on the last Sunday of January to increase the public awareness of leprosy or Hansen's Disease. This date was chosen by French humanitarian Raoul Follereau as a tribute to the life of Mahatma Gandhi who had compassion for people afflicted with leprosy. The day began to be observed in 1954. Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded diseases in the world. It is an infectious chronic disease that targets the nervous system, especially the nerves in the cooler parts of the body: the hands, feet, and face. Pope Francis has spoken in support of the observation.

Cullinan Diamond found in 1905

 

The Cullinan Diamond was found in South Africa on 26^th January 1905. The stone was discovered near Pretoria in modern-day South Africa in 1905, and is named after the chairman of the mining company, Thomas Cullinan. In its uncut state, it weighed 3,106 metric carats and boasted a size of 10.1 x 6.35 x 5.9 cm. The Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, weighing 3,106 carats (621.20 g), discovered at the Premier No. 2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa, on 26 January 1905. It was named after Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the mine.

Ramayana first aired on Doordarshan in 1987

Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana, an iconic television series that was aired on Doordarshan from January 25, 1987. The 74-episode show was originally aired from January 25, 1987, to July 31, 1988. In India, the series was originally broadcast on DD National from 25 January 1987 to 31 July 1988 with widespread acclaim. BBC recorded that it had a viewership of 82 percent, highest viewership in the world.

International Day of Education

International Day of Education is observed every year on January 24, which was declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 3, 2018. This day reminds every one of the importance of education in bringing peace, development, and equality across the globe. The first International Day of Education was celebrated on January 24, 2019, marking a significant global initiative to promote inclusive and equitable quality education as a fundamental human right and a catalyst for sustainable development.

Importance of the Day

Education is regarded as a key enabler of breaking the poverty cycle and gender equality. It empowers the individual and communities, fostering individual development and collective progress. The UNGA has said that education is fundamental to building peace and attaining the SDGs, with special focus on SDG 4, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong opportunities for all.

Historical Context

This day was co-sponsored by Nigeria and 58 other countries, showing the world's strong commitment to education. Since its inception, the International Day of Education has been a platform for advocating transformative actions aimed at ensuring that all people have access to quality education. The resolution by the UNGA emphasizes the collaborative efforts among governments, organizations, businesses, and individuals in making education accessible to everyone.

 

50th Anniversary of Wankhede Stadium

 

Wankhede Stadium is an international cricket stadium in Mumbai, India. It is owned and operated by Mumbai Cricket Association and is the home ground of the Mumbai Indians. It houses the headquarters of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the MCA and the Indian Premier League. The stadium is situated near Marine Drive in the Churchgate neighbourhood. Several old cricket clubs are near the stadium, including Hindu Gymkhana, Parsi Gymkhana and Cricket Club of India (CCI). The stadium has been host to numerous high-profile cricket matches in the past, most notably the 2011 Cricket World Cup Final, in which India defeated Sri Lanka and became the first country to win the Cricket World Cup on home soil. It hosted the last match of Sachin Tendulkar's international career.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) marked a significant milestone by setting a new Guinness World Records title. This achievement was for the 'Largest Cricket Ball Sentence,' celebrating the 50th anniversary of Wankhede Stadium.

The record was set using 14,505 cricket balls to form the sentence: "Fifty Years of Wankhede Stadium." This event took place on January 23, 2025, commemorating the stadium's first international match in 1975.

In honour of this historic occasion, MCA paid tribute to the late Eknath Solkar and other notable Mumbai cricketers who have passed away. Solkar had scored a century in the inaugural Test match at Wankhede against West Indies from January 23 to 29, 1975. The association's dedication to excellence was evident as they meticulously arranged the cricket balls on the field.