India paid tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 57th death anniversary on 11 January, 2023. Known for his slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’, Shastri served as India’s second Prime Minister from 1964 till his sudden death in January, 1966. He was also known for his leadership during the Indo-Pakistan war in 1965.
Did you know that the Government of India declared 12 January as the National Youth Day in 1984? Since then, India celebrates National Youth Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and to encourage the youth to take inspiration from his life. On this day, interested individuals participate in various educational and cultural activities.
Did you know that Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, also known as NRI Day, was first observed in India in 2003? The day is observed on 9 January, to commemorate the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa, in 1915. The day is also celebrated to acknowledge the contribution of the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) community to the development of India.
15-year-old Vineel Mittapalli, started an organization named ‘GivingGreat’ in August 2022, to provide opportunities for aspiring and talented basketball players to showcase their talent and to improve the infrastructure facilities of basketball courts. In the past five months, Vineel has managed to organise five basketball tournaments with an average of 100 participants in each event.
Did you know that Hindi is the fourth most spoken language in the world? World Hindi Day, also known as ‘Vishwa Hindi Divas’ is celebrated all over the world annually on 10 January. The day is observed to commemorate the anniversary of the first time that Hindi was spoken in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1949.
It is unfortunate that children, who have never been a part of a war, often end up suffering the most at the end of wars. World Day for War Orphans is observed annually on 6 January, to create awareness about the plight and challenges faced by children who have lost their parents because of wars and conflicts.
Did you know that Balshastri Jambhekar, is the first journalist in Marathi language? To honour the pioneer of the Marathi journalism, the Government of Maharasthra has declared the birth anniversary of Balshastri Jambhekar, to be celebrated as Marathi Journalists’ Day or ‘Marathi Patrakar Din’ every year in the state on 6 January. The first Marathi daily ‘Darpan’, started by Jambhekar, was also first published on 6 January, 1832.
Krishna Nayaka embarked on a 15,000 km walkathon from Mysuru, Karnataka, in October 2022 to promote the health benefits of yoga among people. The 29-year-old, who aims to complete his mission in two years, walks 30 km a day and has covered 2,000 km so far. Krishna also visits educational institutions to spread yoga awareness among the students.
The Indian Cricket team defeated Sri Lanka in the first T20 International (T20I) match by two runs at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on 3 January, 2023. With this win, the Indian team takes a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Choosing to bat first, the Indian team scored 162/5 in 20 overs. With the help of bowlers Shivam Mavi, Harshal Patel, and Umran Malik, the team successfully restricted Sri Lanka to 160 runs in 20 overs.
Did you know that it was Louis Braille, a Frenchman accidently rendered blind at a young age, who invented the famous Braille system? Braille is a writing system, which helps millions of blind and visually impaired people to read. World Braille Day is celebrated every year on 4 January, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Louis Braille and honour his life and work.
