IMPORTANT DAYS- JULY

Special days- July

Jul 1 - National Doctors' Day

            Doctor’s Day in India was established by the Government of India in 1991 to be recognized and celebrated every year on 1^st of July as National Doctors day. It is celebrated on 1^st of July on the birth and death anniversary of the most famous physician of India Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy (Dr. B C Roy) to pay lots of honor and tribute. He was honored with the great Indian civilian award called Bharat Ratna on 4^th of February in 1961. He was born on 1^st of July in 1882 in the Patna, Bihar. He had completed his medical graduation from Calcutta and returned to the India in 1911 after completing his MRCP and FRCS degrees in London and began his medical career as a physician in India in the same year.

                Later he joined the Calcutta Medical College as a teaching staff and afterward he moved to the Campbell Medical School and then to Carmichael Medical College. He was a most famous physician and renowned educationist as well as a freedom fighter as he joined the Mahatma Gandhi during Civil Disobedience Movement. Later he became Indian National Congress leader and then Chief Minister of the West Bengal. He passed away on his birthday means 1^st of July in 1962, after 80 years of his great service in this world. Behind his name, Dr. B. C. Roy National Award was instituted in the year 1976 to pay honor, respect and tribute.He is the 2^nd Chief Minister of the West Bengal, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.
              National doctors day is being celebrated for years by the government and non-government healthcare organizations in order to get familiar with the doctors contributions. Staff of the healthcare organizations organizes variety of events and activities for the campaign celebration. “Rotary Club of the North Calcutta and North East Calcutta Social & Welfare Organization” organizes big event every year for the grand celebration of the doctors day.
              General screening test camps are also organized to assess the health status, health counseling, health nutrition talks and chronic diseases awareness among poor people and senior citizens. Free blood test, random blood sugar test, ECG, EEG, blood pressure checkup and etc activities are organized to aware people about the priceless roles of doctors in everyone lives.

Jul-11 World Population Day

                     World Population Day is a great event being celebrated all through the world annually on 11^th of July. It is celebrated to increase the awareness of the people towards the worldwide population issues. It was first started in the year 1989 by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It was exalted by the interest of the public when the global population became near about five billion at 11^th of July in the year 1987.
                  This great awareness event is to bring a population revolution globally as well as breaking sleep of all the deeply slept people to pay their full attention and help in combating this population issue.
                 The aim of the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme is paying great attention towards the reproductive health problems of the community people as it is the leading cause of the ill health as well as the death of the pregnant women worldwide. It has been distinguished that around 800 women are dying daily in the procedure of giving birth to a baby. The campaign of the World Population Day every year increases the knowledge and skills of the people worldwide towards their reproductive health and family planning.
            Around 1.8 billion youngsters are entering to their reproductive years and it’s very necessary to call their attention towards the primary part of the reproductive health. According to the statistics, it is noted that the world population on 1^st of January 2014 has been reached to 7,137,661,030. The annual celebration of world population day is planned with lots of activities and events to make aware people about the reality.
Some of the objectives of celebrating the world population day are mentioned below:

• It is celebrated to protect and empower youths of both gender like girls and boys.
• To offer them detail knowledge about the sexuality and delay marriages till they become able to understand their responsibilities.
• Educate youths to avoid unwanted pregnancies by using reasonable and youth friendly measures.
• Educate people to remove the gender stereotypes from society.
• Educate them about the pregnancy related illnesses to raise the public awareness about dangers of early childbirth.
• Educate them about STD (sexually transmitted diseases) to get prevented from various infections.
• Demand for some effective laws and policies implementation in order to protect girl child rights.
• Make sure about the access of equal primary education to both girls and boys.
• Make sure the easy access of reproductive health services everywhere as part the basic primary health for each couple.
  The themes of Population Day Celebrations
  

• The theme of 2015 will be announced soon.
• The theme of 2014 was “A time to reflect on population trends and related issues” and “Investing in Young People”.
• The theme of 2013 was “Focus is on Adolescent Pregnancy”.
• The theme of 2012 was “Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services”.
• The theme of 2011 was “7 Billion Actions”.
• The theme of 2010 was “Be Counted: Say What You Need”.
• The theme of 2009 was “Fight Poverty: Educate Girls”.
• The theme of 2008 was “Plan Your Family, Plan Your Future”.
• The theme of 2007 was “Men at Work”.
• The theme of 2006 was “Being Young is Tough”.
• The theme of 2005 was “Equality Empowers”.
• The theme of 2004 was “ICPD at 10”.
• The theme of 2003 was “1,000,000,000 adolescents”.
• The theme of 2002 was “Poverty, Population and Development”.
• The theme of 2001 was “Population, Environment and Development”.
• The theme of 2000 was “Saving Women’s Lives”.
• The theme of 1999 was “Start the Count-up to the Day of Six Billion”.
• The theme of 1998 was “Approaching the Six Billion”.
• The theme of 1997 was “Adolescent Reproductive Health Care”.
• The theme of 1996 was “Reproductive Health and AIDS”.
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Jul- 17 World Day for International Justice

                World Day for International Justice, also referred to as Day of International Criminal Justice or International Justice Day is celebrated throughout the world on July 17 as part of an effort to recognize the emerging system of international criminal justice. July 17 was chosen because it is the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the International Criminal Court. On 1 June 2010, at the Review Conference of the Rome Statute held in Kampala (Uganda), the Assembly of State Parties decided to celebrate 17 July as the Day of International Criminal Justice.

               Each year, people around the world use this day to host events to promote international criminal justice, especially support for the International Criminal Court. The day has been successful enough to attract international news attention, and for groups to use the day to focus attention on particular issues such as genocide in Darfur, Falun Dafa, and serious crimes of violence against women.

July 17 Eid Ul Fitr

 

              Eid-al-Fitr is also called as the Eid-ul-Fitr, Idul-Fitr or Ramzan Id which indicates the end of Ramadan month means the month of fasting. This is the most religious and holy festival for the people belongs to the Muslim religion during which they break their fast (Fitr means to break).

             It is the end of Ramadan month indicating 1^st day of Islamic month of Shawwal. It is the festival of breaking fast in the end of Ramadan month (also known as the “Islam’s month of fasting” means month of fasting and prayer). People from Muslim community go for the communal prayers, listen khutba (means sermon) and help people by donating required things while celebrating festival.

           They celebrate this festival as the first Eid of the year whereas Eid al-Adha is the second Eid. Eid ul Fitr is celebrated all over the world at the end of holy Ramadan as well as 1^st day of Shawwal month. A special prayer is offered during this celebration called Salat or Islamic prayer in an open field or any large hall. They continue their fast in the faith of God till last day of the Ramadan month during which they pay “Zakat and fitra” before Eid prayers.
              Eid-ul-Fitr 2015 would be celebrated by the people of Muslim religion on 17^th of July, at Friday.
              However, it is celebrated on different dates in various countries of the world such as in the North America it would fall on 18^th of July, at Saturday. But according to the Muslim calendar, it falls during sunset of previous day means on 16th of July, at Thursday.
              According to the Islamic calendar (lunar calendar), it always falls on the same day however, according to the Gregorian calendar (solar calendar), date varies from year to year. The difference in the dates of festival celebration in both calendars is 11 days every year. The date of the festival celebration also varies from country to country according to the moon status. However, an actual date for celebrating the Eid-al-Fitr has been adopted by the Fiqh Council of North America which is based on the astronomical calculations.
More reading at : http://www.indiacelebrating.com/festivals/eid-ul-fitr/

July 21 NATIONAL MOON DAY

Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin

               National Moon Day is observed annually on July 20 (IST : July 21, 1.48 a.m.)and commemorates the day man first walked on the moon in 1969.   This event was reported by NASA as being “… the single greatest technological achievement of all time…”.
                On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed the first humans, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on the moon.  Armstrong was the first to step onto the lunar surface, six hours after landing and spent two and a half hours outside the spacecraft.  Aldrin spent slightly less time but together they collected 47.5 pounds of lunar material to bring back to Earth.  Michael Collins was the pilot of the spacecraft and remained alone in orbit until Armstrong and Aldrin returned.
Watched by millions, the event was broadcast on live TV to a world-wide audience and all witnessed as Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface and described the event as “one small step for [a]  man, one giant leap for mankind.”


                 Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first humans on the Moon, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on July 20, 1969, at 20:18 UTC. Armstrong became the first to step onto the lunar surface six hours later on July 21 at 02:56 UTC. Armstrong spent about two and a half hours outside the spacecraft, Aldrin slightly less, and together they collected 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) of lunar material for return to Earth. The third member of the mission, Michael Collins, piloted the command spacecraft alone in lunar orbit until Armstrong and Aldrin returned to it just under a day later for the trip back to Earth. 

Saturn V carrying Apollo 11 rises past the launch tower camera

                      Launched by a Saturn V rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, on July 16, Apollo 11 was the fifth manned mission of NASA's Apollo program. The Apollo spacecraft had three parts: a Command Module (CM) with a cabin for the three astronauts, and the only part that landed back on Earth; a Service Module (SM), which supported the Command Module with propulsion, electrical power, oxygen, and water; and a Lunar Module (LM) for landing on the Moon (which itself was composed of two parts). After being sent toward the Moon by the Saturn V's upper stage, the astronauts separated the spacecraft from it and traveled for three days until they entered into lunar orbit. Armstrong and Aldrin then moved into the Lunar Module and landed in the Sea of Tranquility. They stayed a total of about 21 ¹⁄₂ hours on the lunar surface. After lifting off in the upper part of the Lunar Module and rejoining Collins in the Command Module, they returned to Earth and landed in the Pacific Ocean on July 24.

More at : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11

July- 22 National Flag Adoption Day

              The Indian National Flag came into existence in its present form at the meeting of Constitutional Assembly on 22nd July 1947. 22 July is thus celebrated as National Flag Adoption Day. The Indian National Flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya.

             Gandhi first proposed a flag to the Indian National Congress in 1921. The flag was designed by Pingali Venkaya. In the centre was a traditional spinning wheel, symbolising Gandhi's goal of making Indians self-reliant by fabricating their own clothing. The design was then modified to include a white stripe in the centre for other religious communities, and provide a background for the spinning wheel. Subsequently, to avoid sectarian associations with the colour scheme, saffron, white and green were chosen for the three bands, representing courage and sacrifice, peace and truth, and faith and chivalry respectively.

          On 13 April 1923, during a procession by local Congress volunteers in Nagpur commemorating the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the Swaraj flag with the spinning wheel, designed by Pingali Venkayya, was hoisted. This event resulted in a confrontation between the Congressmen and the police, after which five people were imprisoned. Over a hundred other protesters continued the flag procession after a meeting. Subsequently, on the first of May, Jamnalal Bajaj, the secretary of the Nagpur Congress Committee, started the Flag Satyagraha, gaining national attention and marking a significant point in the flag movement. The satyagraha, promoted nationally by the Congress, started creating cracks within the organisation in which the Gandhians were highly enthused while the other group, the Swarajists, called it inconsequential.

Finally, at the All India Congress Committee meeting in July, 1923, at the insistence of Jawaharlal Nehru and Sarojini Naidu, Congress closed ranks and the flag movement was endorsed. The flag movement was managed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with the idea of public processions and flag displays by common people. By the end of the movement, over 1500 people had been arrested across all of British India.
        The flag was proposed by Nehru at the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947 as a horizontal tricolour of deep saffron, white and dark green in equal proportions, with the Ashoka wheel in blue in the centre of the white band. Nehru also presented two flags, one in Khadi-silk and the other in Khadi-cotton, to the assembly. The resolution was approved unanimousl It served as the national flag of the Dominion of India between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950, and has served as the flag of the Republic of India since then.


         Khadi or hand-spun cloth is the only material allowed to be used for the flag, and flying a flag made of any other material is punishable by law with imprisonment up to three years, besides a fine. Raw materials for khadi are restricted to cotton, silk and wool. There are two kinds of khadi used: The first is the khadi-bunting which makes up the body of the flag, and the second is the khadi-duck, which is a beige-coloured cloth that holds the flag to the pole. The khadi-duck is an unconventional type of weave that meshes three threads into a weave, compared to the two threads used in conventional weaving. This type of weaving is extremely rare, and there are fewer than twenty weavers in India professing this skill. The guidelines also state that there should be exactly 150 threads per square centimetre, four threads per stitch, and one square foot should weigh exactly 205 grams (7.2 oz)
          The woven khadi is obtained from two handloom units in the Dharwad and Bagalkot districts of northern Karnataka. Currently, Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha based in Hubli is the only licenced flag production and supply unit in India. Permission for setting up flag manufacturing units in India is allotted by the Khadi Development and Village Industries Commission, though the BIS has the power to cancel the licences of units that flout guidelines. The hand-woven khadi for the National Flag was initially manufactured at Garag, a small village in the Dharwad district. A Centre was established at Garag in 1954 by a few freedom fighters under the banner of Dharwad Taluk Kshetriya Seva Sangh and obtained the Centre's licence to make flags.
               Once woven, the material is sent to the BIS laboratories for testing. After quality testing, the material, if approved, is returned to the factory. It is then separated into three lots which are dyed saffron, white and green. The Ashoka Chakra is screen printed, stencilled or suitably embroidered onto each side of the white cloth. Care also has to be taken that the chakra is completely visible and synchronised on both sides. Three pieces of the required dimension, one of each colour, are then stitched together according to specifications and the final product is ironed and packed. The BIS then checks the colours and only then can the flag be sold.

For a detailed reading : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_India

 

Jul-26 Kargil Vijay Diwas

         Kargil Vijay Diwas, named after the success of Operation Vijay. On this day, 26 July 1999, India successfully took command of the high outposts which had been lost to Pakistani intruders. The Kargil war was fought for more than 60 days, ended on 26 July. and resulted in the loss of life on both sides, India and Pakistan. Pakistan retreated after international diplomatic pressure

Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 26 July every year in honour of the Kargil War's Heroes. This day is celebrated in the Kargil - Dras sector and the national capital New Delhi, where the Prime Minister of India, pays homage to the soldiers at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate every year. Functions are also organized all over the country to commemorate the contribution of the Armed forces.

           After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, there had been a long period with relatively few direct armed conflicts involving the military forces of the two neighbors – notwithstanding the efforts of both nations to control the Siachen Glacier by establishing military outposts on the surrounding mountains ridges and the resulting military skirmishes in the 1980s. During the 1990s, however, escalating tensions and conflict due to separatist activities in Kashmir, some of which were supported by Pakistan[citation needed], as well as the conducting of nuclear tests by both countries in 1998, led to an increasingly belligerent atmosphere. In an attempt to defuse the situation, both countries signed the Lahore Declaration in February 1999, promising to provide a peaceful and bilateral solution to the Kashmir conflict.During the winter of 1998 -1999, some elements of the Pakistani Armed Forces were covertly training and sending Pakistani troops and paramilitary forces, some allegedly in the guise ofmujahideen, into territory on the Indian side of the LOC. The infiltration was code named "Operation Badr",its aim was to sever the link between Kashmir and Ladakh, and cause Indian forces to withdraw from the Siachen Glacier, thus forcing India to negotiate a settlement of the broader Kashmir dispute. Pakistan also believed that any tension in the region would internationalise the Kashmir issue, helping it to secure a speedy resolution. Yet another goal may have been to boost the morale of the decade-long rebellion in Indian Administered Kashmir by taking a proactive role.

      Initially, with little knowledge of the nature or extent of the infiltration, the Indian troops in the area assumed that the infiltrators were jihadis and claimed that they would evict them within a few days. Subsequent discovery of infiltration elsewhere along the LOC, and the difference in tactics employed by the infiltrators, caused the Indian army to realize that the plan of attack was on a much bigger scale. The total area seized by the ingress is generally accepted to between 130 km² – 200 km².
            The Government of India responded with Operation Vijay, a mobilisation of 200,000 Indian troops.Finally war came to an official end on July 26, 1999,thus making it the Vijay Diwas.
          527 soldiers from Indian Armed Forces sacrificed their lives during the war

Jul-28 World Hepatitis Day

            World Hepatitis Day, observed on July 28 every year, aims to raise global awareness of hepatitis — a group of infectious diseases known as Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E — and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Hepatitis affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, causing acute and chronic disease and killing close to 1.4 million people every year.

Approximately 500 million people worldwide are living with either hepatitis B or hepatitis C.If left untreated and unmanaged, hepatitis B or C can lead to advanced liver scarring (cirrhosis) and other complications, including liver cancer or liver failure. While many people worry more about contracting AIDS than hepatitis, the reality is that every year 1.5 million people worldwide die from either hepatitis B or C faster than they would from HIV/AIDS.

The inaugural International Hepatitis C Awareness day, coordinated by various European and Middle Eastern Patient Groups, took place on October 1, 2004, However many patient groups continued to mark 'hepatitis day' on disparate dates. For this reason in 2008, the World Hepatitis Alliance in collaboration with patient groups declared May 19 the first global World Hepatitis Day.

Following the adoption of a resolution during the 63rd World Health Assembly in May 2010, World Hepatitis Day was given global endorsement as the primary focus for national and international awareness-raising efforts and the date was changed to July 28 (in honour of Nobel Laureate Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of the hepatitis B virus, who celebrates his birthday on that date). The resolution resolves that "28 July shall be designated as World Hepatitis Day in order to provide an opportunity for education and greater understanding of viral hepatitis as a global public health problem, and to stimulate the strengthening of preventive and control measures of this disease in Member States."
      World Hepatitis Day is now recognised in over 100 countries each year through events such as free screenings, poster campaigns, demonstrations, concerts, talk shows, flash mobs and vaccination drives, amongst many others. Each year a report is published by the WHO and the World Hepatitis Alliance detailing all the events across the world.
     World Hepatitis Day provides an opportunity to focus on actions such as:

• Raising awareness of the different forms of hepatitis and how they are transmitted;
• Strengthening prevention, screening and control of viral hepatitis and its related diseases;
• Increasing hepatitis B vaccine coverage and integration into national immunization programmes; and
• Coordinating a global response to hepatitis.
  

Themes of previous years

2014: Hepatitis: Think Again

• 2013: More must be done to stop this silent killer.
• 2012: It’s closer than you think.
• 2011: Hepatitis affects everyone, everywhere. Know it. Confront it.