Narendra Modi's 75th Birthday

 

Narendra Damodardas Modi, born 17 September 1950, in Vadnagar, Bombay State (present-day Gujarat), is an Indian politician who has served as the prime minister of India since 2014.

Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is member of parliament (MP) for Varanasi. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindutva paramilitary volunteer organisation. He is the longest-serving prime minister outside the Indian National Congress.

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi's Birth Anniversary

 

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi, born on 16 September 1916, in Madurai, Madras Presidency, British India, was an Indian Carnatic singer. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour and also the first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award in 1974. She was the first Indian to perform at the United Nations General Assembly in 1966.

National Engineers' Day - India

National Engineers’ Day is an annual observance in India, marked on September 15, marking the birth anniversary of India’s renowned and greatest engineer, Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya.

Sir Visvesvaraya was born on September 15, 1861, and is largely regarded as the creator of contemporary Indian engineering methods.

He made groundbreaking contributions to the field of civil engineering, including the design and implementation of significant infrastructure projects, which influenced modern engineering practices and national development in India.

Engineers’ Day honours his genius, contributions, and far-reaching impact in water resources, infrastructure, and national development.

It holds significant importance as it acknowledges and celebrates the profound contributions of engineers to society and development.

Along with India, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania, these countries commemorate Visvesvaraya’s remarkable works by observing September 15 as Engineer’s Day.

Engineers’ Day serves as a recognition of the critical role that engineering plays in advancing technology, improving the quality of life, and driving economic growth. Here’s all you need to know about the day.

Benjamin Peary Pal's Death Anniversary

 

Benjamin Peary Pal or B. P. Pal FRS, who passed away on 14 September 1989, in New Delhi, aged 83, was an Indian plant breeder and agronomist who served as a director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Delhi and as the first Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. He worked on wheat genetics and breeding but was also known for his interest in rose varieties.

Uncle Sam Day

On September 13, the United States recognizes Uncle Sam Day to commemorate Sam Wilson, the man behind the iconic image and fascinating nickname for the United States government who was born on September 13, 1766.

The origin of Uncle Sam

·        The War of 1812: During the war, Samuel Wilson was a meatpacker in Troy, New York, who provided barrels of beef to U.S. Army soldiers. 

·        The nickname begins: The barrels were stamped with "U.S." for "United States." Soldiers began joking that the initials stood for "Uncle Sam," the nickname of Samuel Wilson.

·  Spreading the story: The nickname caught on and spread among soldiers, eventually becoming a popular personification of the U.S. government.  

The modern image

The now-famous visual of Uncle Sam—a stern, white-haired gentleman in a red, white, and blue top hat—was popularized decades later: 

Thomas Nast: Cartoonist Thomas Nast helped refine the modern image of Uncle Sam in the 1870s.

James Montgomery Flagg: Artist James Montgomery Flagg's iconic 1917 "I Want You for U.S. Army" recruiting poster cemented the figure in the public imagination. The image is based on a British recruitment poster from World War I featuring Lord Kitchener. 

How the day became official

·     In 1961, the U.S. Congress formally recognized Samuel Wilson as the inspiration for the national symbol of Uncle Sam. 

·    A congressional joint resolution later designated September 13, Samuel Wilson's birthday, as "Uncle Sam Day". 

 

 

National Video Games Day (USA)

 

National Video Games Day is celebrated on September 12th to honour the history, culture, and innovation of video games. While there was a prior observance on July 8th, September 12th is now the recognized date for this holiday. It's a day for gamers to play their favourite titles, connect with others online, visit arcades, or introduce new people to the world of gaming.

History

·  National Video Games Day began as an informal celebration among gaming enthusiasts. 

·    Its origins led to an official observance that has grown in popularity. 

·  The date was established as September 12th to commemorate the Magnavox Odyssey, the first home video game console. 

Significance 

Innovation: The day highlights the technological advancements and creative storytelling within the video game industry. 

Culture: It acknowledges the impact and cultural significance of video games in modern society. 

Community: National Video Games Day celebrates the connections and communities that video games foster among people of all ages. 

How to Celebrate 

·   Play a favourite video game.

·   Host a gaming tournament with friends.

·   Visit a local arcade.

·    Share your gaming experiences on social media using #NationalVideoGamesDay.

·    Introduce a new person to the world of video games.

 

 

 

Mahadevi Verma's Death Anniversary

 

Mahadevi Varma, who passed away on 11 September 1987, in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, aged 80, was an Indian Hindi-language poet, essayist and short-story writer. A prominent figure of Hindi literature, Varma is considered one of the four major pillars of the Chhayawadi era in Hindi literature.

Varma published eight collections of poetry between 1930 and 1988, as well as several books containing her essays, speeches, and other prose work. Varma's work depicts her experiences before and after Indian independence, as well as her own work as a social reformer, primarily in the cause of women’s liberation.

She has also been addressed as the modern Meera. Poet Nirālā once called her "Saraswati in the vast temple of Hindi Literature". These works, especially her anthology Deepshikha, greatly influenced both readers and critics.

She developed a soft vocabulary in the Hindi poetry of Khadi Boli, which previously was considered possible only in Braj Bhasha. She was also well-versed in music, and her songs were characterized by a tone that conveyed sharp expressions in a nuanced and euphemistic style.

She started her career as a teacher and went on to become the principal of Prayag Mahila Vidyapeeth. Varma chose to live an ascetic life, despite being married. She was also a painter and translator. She received all the major awards in Hindi literature.

As the most celebrated female writer of the last century, she remains highly revered. Her birth centenary was celebrated in 2007. Later, Google also celebrated this day through its Google Doodle.