Jan 1 New Year Day
New Year's Day is the first
day of the year. New Year day is all about heading towards a fresh
start of another year; leaving the present year behind. People
celebrate the onset of New Year on the eve of 31st of December. The
countdown to New Year begins and the ecstasy reaches its peak at
24.00 hours (1st Jan). It is also customary to make New Year's
resolutions, which individuals hope to fulfil in the coming year. The
most popular resolutions in the Western world include to quit tobacco
smoking, stop excessive drinking of alcohol, lose weight, get
physically fit, and save money.
New Year’s Day marks the
start of a new year according to the Gregorian calendar. It is a
relatively modern practice. Although Romans began marking the start
of their civil year on January 1 in their calendar (prior to the
Gregorian calendar), the traditional springtime opening of the
growing season and time for major military campaigns still held on as
the popular New Year celebration. Pope Gregory XIII introduced the
Gregorian calendar in 1582. It was adopted immediately in some areas
of Europe but it was not used in various countries until even
centuries later. For example, the United Kingdom and the United
States started observing the Gregorian calendar in 1752, in which 11
days were dropped. However not all cultures follow the Gregorian
calendar in observing New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. For
example the New Year in the Hindu, Chinese, Coptic, Jewish, Islamic
calendars differ to that of the Gregorian calendar.
Jan 2 Mannam Jayanthi
Padmanabhan was involved with the Nair Service Society as its Secretary for 31 years and as its President for three years. He was honoured with the title Bharata Kesari by the President of India. He also received Padma Bhushan in 1966.
Jan 2 Mannam Jayanthi
Sri.Mannathu
Padmanabhan, the leader of the Nair Community, was born
in Perunna village in Changanacherry, Travancore, British India on
2 January 1878 to Eswaran Namboothiri of Nilavana Illam and
Mannathu Parvathy Amma. He began his career as a teacher in 1893
in a Government primary school. From 1905 he changed his
profession and started practising law, in the Magistrates Courts.
On 31 October
1914 with the help of a few others, he established the Nair
Service Society. His main ambition was to uplift the status of the
Nair community. From 1915 onwards, he gave up law practice and
became full-time secretary of the Nair Service Society. Mannam
revived and reshaped the old concept of village societies, the
Karayogams, which practically set the tenor of family and village
life.
In 1924-25 the
NSS persuaded the Travancore Government to enact the Nair
Regulation which broke up the materiarchal joint family providing
for paternal and maternal property to be divided among all the
children. He fought for
social equality, the first phase of being the Vaikom Satyagraha,
demanding the public roads near the temple at Vaikom be opened to
low caste Hindus. In 1924 he took part in the Vaikom and
Guruvayoor temple-entry and anti-untouchability agitation. He
opened his family temple for everyone, irrespective of caste
distinction. He became a member of the Indian National Congress in
1947 and took part in the agitation against Sir C. P. Ramaswamy
Iyer’s administration in Travancore. As the first president of
Travancore Devaswom Board he revitalised many temples which had
almost ceased to function.
In 1949 Padmanabhan became a member of the Travancore
Legislative Assembly. In 1959 he along with Christian Churches led
a united opposition against the State Communist Ministry, which
became known as the Vimochana Samaram (liberation
struggle). The cause of the Vimochana Samaram was the
introduction of an Education Bill by the Minister of Education,
Joseph Mundassery, and the movement caused the dismissal of the
Communist government under E. M. S. Namboodiripad on 31 July 1959.
The consequence of this was the beginning of President’s rule in
the state under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution.Padmanabhan was involved with the Nair Service Society as its Secretary for 31 years and as its President for three years. He was honoured with the title Bharata Kesari by the President of India. He also received Padma Bhushan in 1966.
Jan 4 Swathi
Sangeethotsavam
Swathi
Sangeethotsavam is a 15-day music festival in the month of Dhanu, from
04 to 13 January this year at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, within
the Fort Palace Complex adjoining the Sreepadmanabhaswami Temple.
This festival is held in the majestic Kuthiramalika palace built by
Maharaja Swathi Thirunal himself.
Exclusively,
compositions of Maharaja Swathi Tirunal Rama Varma are rendered at
the festival. This festival is of recent orgin, but the settings of
the Kuthiramalika palace has made it one of the very special
festivals, and is perhaps next only to Navarathri concerts, also held
in the nearby mandapam complex. Concerts start at 6 pm (the concerts
tend to last generally from 150 to 200 minutes, although no time
limit is given to the artists).
Concerts are open
to all lovers of music and are organised by H.H.Sir Rama Varma
Maharaja of Travancore Trust. The entrance to Kuthiramalika is via
Bhajanappura Palace, Thekketheruvu.
More info: http://www.webindia123.com/festival/events/swathimusicfestivalschedule.htm
More info: http://www.webindia123.com/festival/events/swathimusicfestivalschedule.htm
Jan 6 World Day For
War Orphans
The World Day
of War Orphans was initiated by the French organisation, SOS Enfants
en Dtresses. Held on 6th
January each year, this special day enables the International
Community to recognise the plight of a particularly vulnerable group.
An orphan is a child who has no surviving
parent to care for him or her, having lost both parents, either as a
result of bereavement or by being abandoned.
I n the developed world orphans are relatively rare, since most children can reasonably expect both parents to survive their childhood, but in countries that have been and are subjected to wars and great epidemics such as AIDS, there are significant numbers of orphans.
It is estimated, for instance, that World War II created millions of orphans I Europe, with 300,000 orphans in Poland and 200,000 in Yugoslavia alone.
Today in Afghanistan, after nearly 30 years of fighting, there are now over two million orphaned children with over 600,000 sleeping on the streets. Over a million suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome and the prevalence of the use of anti-personnel weaponry has resulted in over 400,000 children being maimed by land mines.
A quarter of all children in Afghanistan die before the age of five, which according to UNICEF figures is the fourth highest level in the world. Of those who continue to survive, one in ten is severely malnourished and more than half suffer from stunted growth.
There is a similarly bleak picture in other parts of the world. In the continent of Africa over 34 million children, or nearly 12%, are orphans either as a result of war or epidemics such as AIDS.
In recent years the proportion of civilian casualties in armed conflicts has increased dramatically. This is now estimated to be about 90%, half of whom are children. In the last ten years alone some 2 million children have died as a direct result of armed conflict. Many others have witnessed parents and relatives being butchered in the most appalling circumstances.
Around 20 million children have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict or human rights violations and it is estimated that 300,000 boys and girls under the age of 18 are involved in more than 30 conflicts worldwide.
World Day for War Orphans is a day to remember these children. Every one of them is precious and they all deserve a future that will enable them to fulfil their dreams.
-
I n the developed world orphans are relatively rare, since most children can reasonably expect both parents to survive their childhood, but in countries that have been and are subjected to wars and great epidemics such as AIDS, there are significant numbers of orphans.
It is estimated, for instance, that World War II created millions of orphans I Europe, with 300,000 orphans in Poland and 200,000 in Yugoslavia alone.
Today in Afghanistan, after nearly 30 years of fighting, there are now over two million orphaned children with over 600,000 sleeping on the streets. Over a million suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome and the prevalence of the use of anti-personnel weaponry has resulted in over 400,000 children being maimed by land mines.
A quarter of all children in Afghanistan die before the age of five, which according to UNICEF figures is the fourth highest level in the world. Of those who continue to survive, one in ten is severely malnourished and more than half suffer from stunted growth.
There is a similarly bleak picture in other parts of the world. In the continent of Africa over 34 million children, or nearly 12%, are orphans either as a result of war or epidemics such as AIDS.
In recent years the proportion of civilian casualties in armed conflicts has increased dramatically. This is now estimated to be about 90%, half of whom are children. In the last ten years alone some 2 million children have died as a direct result of armed conflict. Many others have witnessed parents and relatives being butchered in the most appalling circumstances.
Around 20 million children have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict or human rights violations and it is estimated that 300,000 boys and girls under the age of 18 are involved in more than 30 conflicts worldwide.
World Day for War Orphans is a day to remember these children. Every one of them is precious and they all deserve a future that will enable them to fulfil their dreams.
-
Jan 9 Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (
Non Resident Indian Day) is celebrated in India on 9 January each
year to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the
development of India. The day commemorates the return of Mahatma
Gandhi from South africa in Bombay on 9 January 1915. Established in
2003, it is sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs of
the Government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce in India (FICCI) the Confederation of India Industry (CII)
and the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region of India.
The occasion is marked by special programmes to
recognize the contributions of NRI/PIO individuals of exceptional
merit, felicitate NRI/PIO individuals who have made exceptional
contributions in their chosen field/profession -Pravasi
Bharathiya Samman and provide a forum to discuss issues and
concerns of people of the diaspora. The event has been organized
every year since 2003, and is sponsored by the Ministry
of Overseas Indian Affairs and the CII, initially sponsored
by FICCI,Venues
The annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Program since 2003 has been organized in the following cities:- 2003 1st Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
- 2004 2nd Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
- 2005 3rd Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Mumbai
- 2006 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Hyderabad
- 2007 5th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
- 2008 6th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
- 2009 7th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Chennai
- 2010 8th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
- 2011 9th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
- 2012 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Rajsthan (Jaipur)
- 2013 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Kerala (Kochi)
- 2014 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
- 2015 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Gujarat (Gandhinagar)
- 2016 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
Jan 10 World Hindi Day
(Vishwa Hindi Diwas)
The
Indian constitution, adopted in 1950, declares Hindi shall be written
in the Devanagari Script and will be the official language of the
Federal Government of India. However, English continues to be used as
an official language along with Hindi. Hindi is also enumerated as
one of the twenty-two languages of the Eighth Schedule of the
Constitution of India, which entitles it to representation on the
Official Language Commission. The Constitution of India has
effectively instituted the usage of Hindi and English as the two
languages of communication for the Union Government. Most government
documentation is prepared in three languages: English, Hindi, and the
primary official language of the local state, if it is not Hindi or
English.
The first World Hindi Conference was organised on 10 January 2006 in Nagpur and since then every 10 January is observed as the World Hindi Day. The Ministry of External Affairs is also committed to propagate Hindi as a language abroad through Indian Missions/posts.
Apart from this, the World Hindi Day is also observed in the Indian Embassy of Nepal as Vishwa Hindi Diwas in Kathmandu.
Spread of Hindi movies and television along with the religious bhajans has made Hindi popular in Nepal and people in the country understand Hindi as much translation is not required to be done.
At present Hindi as a language is spoken in more than 20 countries around the world and is being taught in 150 Universities of the world.
Jan 10 Death
anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri
Born:
October 2, 1904
Died: January 10, 1966
Died: January 10, 1966
Lal
Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904 at Mughalsarai, Uttar
Pradesh. His parents were Sharada Prasad and Ramdulari Devi. Lal
Bahadur's surname was Srivastava but he dropped it as he did not want
to indicate his caste. Lal Bahadur's father was a school teacher and
later on he became a clerk in the Revenue Office at Allahabad. Though
Sharada Prasad was poor, he lived a life of honesty and integrity.
Lal Bahadur lost his father when he was only one. Ramdulari Devi
raised Lal Bahadur and her two daughters at her father's house.
He played a leading role in Indian freedom struggle; became Parliamentary Secretary of Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant, the then chief minister of Uttar Pradesh; became the Minister of Police and Transport in Pant's Cabinet; appointed as the Railways and Transport Minister in the Central Cabinet; also held the portfolios of Transport & Communications, Commerce and Industry, and Home Ministry in the Central cabinet; became Prime Minister of India in 1964; led India to victory over Pakistan in 1965 war.
Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of independent India. Though diminutive in physical stature he was a man of great courage and will. He successfully led country during the 1965 war with Pakistan. To mobilize the support of country during the war he coined the slogan of "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan". Lal Bahadur Sastri also played a key role in India's freedom struggle. He led his life with great simplicity and honesty and was a great source of inspiration for all the countrymen.
He passed away on January 10, 1966 and 10 January every year the renowned personality is remembered all over India.
He played a leading role in Indian freedom struggle; became Parliamentary Secretary of Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant, the then chief minister of Uttar Pradesh; became the Minister of Police and Transport in Pant's Cabinet; appointed as the Railways and Transport Minister in the Central Cabinet; also held the portfolios of Transport & Communications, Commerce and Industry, and Home Ministry in the Central cabinet; became Prime Minister of India in 1964; led India to victory over Pakistan in 1965 war.
Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of independent India. Though diminutive in physical stature he was a man of great courage and will. He successfully led country during the 1965 war with Pakistan. To mobilize the support of country during the war he coined the slogan of "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan". Lal Bahadur Sastri also played a key role in India's freedom struggle. He led his life with great simplicity and honesty and was a great source of inspiration for all the countrymen.
He passed away on January 10, 1966 and 10 January every year the renowned personality is remembered all over India.
Jan 12 National Youth
Day
Youth
is the period between childhood and adulthood. It is the the period
of physical and psychological development from the onset of puberty
to maturity and early adulthood.
The
youth of today is the driving force of tomorrow. It has some
responsibility towards its country, which it must acknowledge and
practice. The youth need to learn from yesterday and live with hope
for a better tomorrow. They have the potential to uplift the country
to great levels in all areas.
The day 12th January, the National Youth Day is commemorated in India. This is the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. He was born on 12th Jan 1863 and lived merely 39 years. Swami Vivekananda was a colossal philosopher.
The day 12th January, the National Youth Day is commemorated in India. This is the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. He was born on 12th Jan 1863 and lived merely 39 years. Swami Vivekananda was a colossal philosopher.
He
was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Sri Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa and the founder of Ramakrishna MissionSwami.
Vivekananda's ideas have had a great influence on the Indian youth.
He is motivation to the youth, the incarnation of Indian ethnicity
and astuteness. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, the Master of Swami
Vivekananda taught him to give lectures and writings about Indian
Spiritual Culture.
He
wanted to incite plentiful youth associations, learning surrounds and
overhaul assignments concerning the youth. In the year 1984, the
Government of India proclaimed that Swami Vivekananda birthday should
be observed as ‘National Youth Day’ from the year 1985 onwards.
The Government of India stated that the allusion ‘the attitude of
Swamiji and the principles that he stayed alive and worked could be
an enormous source of appreciation for the Indian Youth’.
National Youth Day is observed with great devotion towards Swami Vivekananda at headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission as well as their branch centres. Members of the organizations observe birthday of Swami Vivekananda in different manner. Celebrations of Swami’s birthday, according to Hindu calendar follow typical Hindu manner of celebrations. This include mangalarati, homa (Special worship of fire), meditation, devotional songs, religious discourses, sandhyarti. The National Youth Day is also celebrated at various schools and colleges.
National Youth Day is observed with great devotion towards Swami Vivekananda at headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission as well as their branch centres. Members of the organizations observe birthday of Swami Vivekananda in different manner. Celebrations of Swami’s birthday, according to Hindu calendar follow typical Hindu manner of celebrations. This include mangalarati, homa (Special worship of fire), meditation, devotional songs, religious discourses, sandhyarti. The National Youth Day is also celebrated at various schools and colleges.
Jan 14 Makara
Sankranthi
Makar
Sankranti, marks the transition of the Sun into Makara rashi
(Capricorn) on
its celestial path.
Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the Hindu Calendar month of Magha.
Traditionally,
this has been one of many harvest days in India. It is one of the
most auspicious occasions for the Hindus though other religions
celebrate it too with great devotion, fervour & gaiety.
Hindus
believe that Sun stands for knowledge, spiritual light and wisdom and
they consider Sun as a God who symbolises victory of Light over
Darkness i.e. victory of Good over evil .
Most of the traditional Indian Calendar is based on lunar positions,
Sankranti is a solar event. So while dates of all Hindu
festivals keep changing as per the Gregorian calendar, the date of
Makar Sankranti remains constant, 14th January. Makar Sankranti
festival holds special significance according to the solar calendar
as the day and night are of exactly equal duration on this day. For
the people of northern hemisphere, the northward path of the sun
marks the period when the sun is getting closer to them. This
signifies that the days will get longer and warmer after Makar
Sankranti.
rom Uttarayana starts the ‘day’ of Devatas, while dakshinayana is said to be the ‘night’ of devatas, so most of the auspicious things are done during this time. Uttarayana is also called as Devayana, and the next half is called Pitrayana.
Also, it was on this day when Lord Vishnu ended the ever increasing terror of the Asuras by finishing them off and burying their heads under the Mandara Parvata. So this occasion also represents the end of negativities and beginning of an era of righteous living.
In Kerala the importance of Makara sankranthi is connected with the holy Makara Vilakku at the renowned Sabarimala Sri Sastha Temple which is witnessed by lakhs of devotees from all over India, especially the South.
rom Uttarayana starts the ‘day’ of Devatas, while dakshinayana is said to be the ‘night’ of devatas, so most of the auspicious things are done during this time. Uttarayana is also called as Devayana, and the next half is called Pitrayana.
Also, it was on this day when Lord Vishnu ended the ever increasing terror of the Asuras by finishing them off and burying their heads under the Mandara Parvata. So this occasion also represents the end of negativities and beginning of an era of righteous living.
In Kerala the importance of Makara sankranthi is connected with the holy Makara Vilakku at the renowned Sabarimala Sri Sastha Temple which is witnessed by lakhs of devotees from all over India, especially the South.
Sikhs
celebrate it as Maghi. The tenth Sikh Guru Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji
tore the Beydaava written by 40 Sikhs and gave them Mukhti on this
day. These 40 Sikhs later came to be known as 40 Mukhta.
Jan
15 Indian Army Day
Indian
Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year in India, in
recognition of Lieutenant General
(later Field Marshal) K.
M. Cariappa's becoming the first Indian Commander-in-Chief in 1948.
The day is celebrated in the form of parades and other military
shows.
The Indian Army is the largest branch of the armed forces of India and bears responsibility for land-based military operations. It is the world's third largest. Its primary objectives include defending India from external aggression, maintaining peace and security within the country, patrolling borders and conducting counter-terrorist operations. It also conducts rescue and humanitarian operations during calamities and other disturbances.
The Indian Army is the largest branch of the armed forces of India and bears responsibility for land-based military operations. It is the world's third largest. Its primary objectives include defending India from external aggression, maintaining peace and security within the country, patrolling borders and conducting counter-terrorist operations. It also conducts rescue and humanitarian operations during calamities and other disturbances.
Jan
23 Netaji Jayanti
Born: January 23, 1897
Died: August 18, 1945
.
Subhas Chandra Bose, affectionately called as Netaji, was one of the most prominent leaders of Indian freedom struggle.He has been denied his rightful place in the annals of Indian history. He founded Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to overthrow British Empire from India and came to acquire legendary status among Indian masses.
Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa. His father Janaki Nath Bose was a famous lawyer and his mother Prabhavati Devi was a pious and religious lady. Subhas Chandra Bose was a brilliant student right from the childhood. He topped the matriculation examination of Calcutta province and graduated with a First class in Philosophy from the Scottish Churches College in Calcutta. He was strongly influenced by Swami Vivekananda's teachings. Later he went to England in 1919 to compete for Indian Civil Services. In England he appeared for the Indian Civil Service competitive examination in 1920, and came out fourth in order of merit. However, Subhas Chandra Bose was deeply disturbed by the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, and left his Civil Services apprenticeship midway to return to India in 1921
After returning to India Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and joined the Indian National Congress. On Gandhiji's instructions, he started working under Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das.
Died: August 18, 1945
.
Subhas Chandra Bose, affectionately called as Netaji, was one of the most prominent leaders of Indian freedom struggle.He has been denied his rightful place in the annals of Indian history. He founded Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to overthrow British Empire from India and came to acquire legendary status among Indian masses.
Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa. His father Janaki Nath Bose was a famous lawyer and his mother Prabhavati Devi was a pious and religious lady. Subhas Chandra Bose was a brilliant student right from the childhood. He topped the matriculation examination of Calcutta province and graduated with a First class in Philosophy from the Scottish Churches College in Calcutta. He was strongly influenced by Swami Vivekananda's teachings. Later he went to England in 1919 to compete for Indian Civil Services. In England he appeared for the Indian Civil Service competitive examination in 1920, and came out fourth in order of merit. However, Subhas Chandra Bose was deeply disturbed by the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, and left his Civil Services apprenticeship midway to return to India in 1921
After returning to India Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and joined the Indian National Congress. On Gandhiji's instructions, he started working under Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das.
Soon he showed his
leadership mettle and gained his way up in the Congress' hierarchy.
In 1928 the Motilal Nehru Committee appointed by the Congress
declared in favour of Domination Status, but Subhas Chandra Bose
along with Jawaharlal Nehru opposed it, and both asserted that they
would be satisfied with nothing short of complete independence for
India. Subhas also announced the formation of the Independence
League. Subhas Chandra Bose was jailed during Civil Disobedience
movement in 1930. He was released in 1931 after Gandhi-Irwin pact was
signed. He protested against the Gandhi-Irwin pact and opposed the
suspension of Civil Disobedience movement specially when Bhagat Singh
and his associates were hanged.
Subash Chandra Bose was soon arrested again under the infamous Bengal Regulation. After a year he was released on medical grounds and was banished from India to Europe. He took steps to establish centres in different European capitals with a view to promoting politico-cultural contacts between India and Europe. Defying the ban on his entry to India, Subash Chandra Bose returned to India and was again arrested and jailed for a year. After the General Elections of 1937, Congress came to power in seven states and Subash Chandra Bose was released.
Subash Chandra Bose was soon arrested again under the infamous Bengal Regulation. After a year he was released on medical grounds and was banished from India to Europe. He took steps to establish centres in different European capitals with a view to promoting politico-cultural contacts between India and Europe. Defying the ban on his entry to India, Subash Chandra Bose returned to India and was again arrested and jailed for a year. After the General Elections of 1937, Congress came to power in seven states and Subash Chandra Bose was released.
Shortly afterwards he was
elected President of the Haripura Congress Session in 1938 and was
re-electedin 1939. Clouds of World War II were on the horizon and
he brought a resolution to give the British six months to hand India
over to the Indians, failing which there would be a revolt. There was
much opposition to his rigid stand, and he resigned from the post of
president and formed a progressive group known as the Forward
Block.
In January 1941, Subhas Chandra Bose disappeared from his home in Calcutta and reached Germany via Afghanistan. Working on the maxim that "an enemy's enemy is a friend", he sought co-operation of Germany and Japan against British Empire. In January 1942, he began his regular broadcasts from Radio Berlin, which aroused tremendous enthusiasm in India. In July 1943, he arrived in Singapore from Germany. In Singapore he took over the reins of the Indian Independence Movement in East Asia from Rash Behari Bose and organised the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) comprising mainly of Indian prisoners of war. He was hailed as Netaji by the Army as well as by the Indian civilian population in East Asia. Azad Hind Fauj proceeded towards India to liberate it from British rule. Enroute it lliberated Andeman and Nicobar Islands. The I.N.A. Head quarters was shifted to Rangoon in January 1944. Azad Hind Fauj crossed the Burma Border, and stood on Indian soil on March 18 ,1944.
However, defeat of Japan and Germany in the Second World War forced INA to retreat and it could not achieve its objective. Subhas Chandra Bose was reportedly killed in an air crash over Taipeh, Taiwan (Formosa) on August 18, 1945. Though it is widely believed that he was still alive after the air crash not much information could be found about him.Read more at http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/subhash-chandra-bose.html#DljyOz6meddpYJXc.99
In January 1941, Subhas Chandra Bose disappeared from his home in Calcutta and reached Germany via Afghanistan. Working on the maxim that "an enemy's enemy is a friend", he sought co-operation of Germany and Japan against British Empire. In January 1942, he began his regular broadcasts from Radio Berlin, which aroused tremendous enthusiasm in India. In July 1943, he arrived in Singapore from Germany. In Singapore he took over the reins of the Indian Independence Movement in East Asia from Rash Behari Bose and organised the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) comprising mainly of Indian prisoners of war. He was hailed as Netaji by the Army as well as by the Indian civilian population in East Asia. Azad Hind Fauj proceeded towards India to liberate it from British rule. Enroute it lliberated Andeman and Nicobar Islands. The I.N.A. Head quarters was shifted to Rangoon in January 1944. Azad Hind Fauj crossed the Burma Border, and stood on Indian soil on March 18 ,1944.
However, defeat of Japan and Germany in the Second World War forced INA to retreat and it could not achieve its objective. Subhas Chandra Bose was reportedly killed in an air crash over Taipeh, Taiwan (Formosa) on August 18, 1945. Though it is widely believed that he was still alive after the air crash not much information could be found about him.Read more at http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/subhash-chandra-bose.html#DljyOz6meddpYJXc.99
Jan
24 Rashtriya Balika Divas
Rashtriya
Balika Diwas is a day dedicated towards the welfare of the girl child
in India. The day is observed on 24th January every year to address
the needs and concerns of a girl child’s health, nutrition and
education among the masses.
The
day is also meant to inform young girls about legislations such as:
Dowry Prohibition Act 2006, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006
and Domestic Violence Act 2009, in order to be better prepared to
face the numerous challenges in her life. Girl child day is
observed because girl child in India faces various types of
discriminations and negative social attitudes. The girl child in
India is killed, mistreated and abused in most of the families. As
per the government records – “The 1991 Census of India
highlighted a serious and worsening decline in the sex ratio in the
0-6 age group. The 2001 Census revealed a further decline in the 0-6
age group and an even lower female-male ratio in the 15 to 19 age
group”. These figures are the result of the rising prevention of
female births, and the incidence of female infanticide and deliberate
neglect of girl children’s health, nutrition and safety. As per
savegirchild.org - India represents one of the most adverse Child Sex
Ratio (CSR) figures amongst the Southeast Asian countries. As of 2011
records the sex ratio of India is 940 women per 1000 men.
{Girl
Child India: Facts and Figures (as
per savegirchild.org)}
India witnesses more than 27, 00,000
child deaths a year, with the figures for female children being much
higher than male children
- 53% of girls in the age group 5 to 9 years are illiterate
- 75% of married Indian women were underage when they got married
- One in every two girls in India is malnourished
- Out of the 12 million girls born in India, 1 million die before the first year of life
- One out of sixth girl child dies due to gender discrimination
- One out of every 10 women report instances of child sexual abuse (CSA)
- Female mortality is higher in 224 out of 402 districts in India
Such conditions are not conducive for
any society both socially and economically. Marriage of men will
become more difficult resulting in rise of crime rate and will
further deteriorate the position of women.
The initiative of setting up this day
as a Rashtriya Balika Diwas was undertaken by the United Progressive
Alliance (UPA) government during 2009. The date 24th marks the day in
1966 when Indira Gandhi became the ‘First Woman Prime Minister of
India’. At the international level, various countries have their
separate ‘Girl Child Day’; India didn’t have such a specific
day. The Ministry of Women and Child Development took the initiative
of implementing and organising the day. To address the urgent need to
raise awareness and improve the status of girl child, Planning
Commission constituted a Working Group on “Development of Children”
for the Eleventh Five Year Plan. This was done under the
Chairpersonship of Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child
Development.
Dowry Prohibition Act, Child
Marriage Restraint Act, Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic
Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, free and compulsory education for the girl
child, awareness campaigns and many more are producing good results.
Nonetheless, a lot still needs to be done.
Jan 25 National Voters' Day
In order to encourage more
young voters to take part in the political process, Government of
India has decided to celebrate January 25 every year as 'National
Voters' Day'. It started from January 25th 2011 to mark Commission's
foundation day..It was observed that new voters, who have attained
the age of 18 years, were showing less interest in getting enrolled
in the electoral rolls and that the level of their enrolment was as
low as 20 to 25 per cent in certain cases. Such
eligible voters would be enrolled on time and handed over their
Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) on January 25 every year. This
initiative is expected to give the youth a sense of empowerment,
pride and inspire them to exercise their franchise.
However, the National voters' Day
will be celebrated on 24 January 2015 as per Governmant orders this
year.(Probably because Jan 25 is Sunday)
Jan
25 India Tourism Day
India Tourism Day is celebrated on January 25th. It is
aimed at increasing awareness about tourism through a range of
activities. Cultural Heritage Tourism is the fastest growing segment
within the tourism industry.Tourism is increasingly playing a major
role in contributing to the overall growth and sustainability of
destinations and local communities by creating direct and indirect
jobs.
Therefore
it is a important sector in the services economy. Apart from economic
benefits, Tourism brings together people of different cultures and
regions and fosters better mutual understanding. Peace and Harmony
are the two requirements for Effective and Durable Tourism. It is,
therefore, rightly said that tourism is the greatest peace movement
in the world.
Tourism generates many more jobs for relatively less investment. It is capable of creating large-scale employment opportunities, particularly in rural and backward areas where there are many attractive sites for tourists. It is, potentially, the biggest generator of foreign exchange. Truly speaking, tourism is a non-polluting industry but due to lack of awareness we end up in polluting the tourist places.
Tourism generates many more jobs for relatively less investment. It is capable of creating large-scale employment opportunities, particularly in rural and backward areas where there are many attractive sites for tourists. It is, potentially, the biggest generator of foreign exchange. Truly speaking, tourism is a non-polluting industry but due to lack of awareness we end up in polluting the tourist places.
Jan
26 Republic Day
Although India gained independence from the British rule on 15th August 1947 but the seeds of a republican nation were sowed at the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress at the midnight of 31st December 1929. The session was held under the presidency of Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru. Those present in the meeting took a pledge to mark January 26 as "Independence Day" in order to march towards realizing the dream of complete independence from the British. The Lahore Session paved way to the Civil Disobedience movement. It was decided that January 26, 1930 would be observed as the Purna Swaraj (complete Independence) Day. Many Indian political parties and Indian revolutionaries from all over the country united to observe the day with honour and pride.
The professed pledge was successfully redeemed on 26th January 1950, when the Constitution of India framed by the Constituent Assembly of India came into force, although the Independence from the British rule was achieved on 15th August 1947. After the Constitution was written and adopted on November 1949, 26 January 1950 the following year was chosen as the day when India would finally arrive as a nation, complete with the lengthiest and the most detailed constitution in the world. Since than Republic day is celebrated all over the country.
It was on 26th January 1950 that India became a nation
in the true sense, with a constitution and elected representatives of
the people.The country finally realized the dream of Mahatma Gandhi
and the numerous freedom fighters who, fought for and sacrificed
their lives for the Independence of their country. So, the 26th of
January was decreed a national holiday and has been recognized and
celebrated as the Republic Day of India, ever since.
Modern day celebrations, to mark the importance of this occasion, include a grand parade which is held in the capital, New Delhi, from the Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's Palace), along the Rajpath, past India Gate and on to the historic Red Fort. The different regiments of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force march past in all their finery and official decorations. The President of India who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, takes the salute. Floats exhibiting the cultures of the various states and regions of India are in the grand parade, which is broadcast nationwide on television and radio. Also part of the parade are children who win the National Bravery Award for the year.The parade also includes other vibrant displays and floats and traditionally ends with a flypast by Indian Air Force jets. The parade and the ensuing pageantry is telecast by the National Television and is watched by millions of viewers in every corner of the country.
Modern day celebrations, to mark the importance of this occasion, include a grand parade which is held in the capital, New Delhi, from the Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's Palace), along the Rajpath, past India Gate and on to the historic Red Fort. The different regiments of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force march past in all their finery and official decorations. The President of India who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, takes the salute. Floats exhibiting the cultures of the various states and regions of India are in the grand parade, which is broadcast nationwide on television and radio. Also part of the parade are children who win the National Bravery Award for the year.The parade also includes other vibrant displays and floats and traditionally ends with a flypast by Indian Air Force jets. The parade and the ensuing pageantry is telecast by the National Television and is watched by millions of viewers in every corner of the country.
Celebrations are also held in state capitals, where the
Governor of the state unfurls the national flag. If the Governor of
the state is unwell, or is unavailable for some reason, the Chief
Minister of the state assumes the honour of unfurling the National
Flag of India.
Jan
28 Lala Lajpat Rai Jayanti
In 1928, British Government decided to send Simon Commission to India to discuss constitutional reforms. The Commission had no Indian member. This greatly angered Indians. In 1929, when the Commisssion came to India there were protests all over India. Lala Lajpat Rai himself led one such procession against Simon Commission. While the procession was peaceful, British Government brutally lathicharged the procession. Lala Lajpat Rai received severe head injuries and died on November17, 1928.
Born: January 28,
1865
Martyrdom: November17, 1928
Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the foremost leaders who fought against British rule in India. He was popularly known as Punjab Kesari (Lion of the Punjab).
Lala Lajpat Rai was born on January 28, 1865 in village Dhudike, in present day Moga district of Punjab. He was the eldest son of Munshi Radha Kishan Azad and Gulab Devi. His father was an Aggarwal Bania by caste. His mother inculcated strong moral values in him.
Lala Lajpat Rai joined the Government College at Lahore in 1880 to study Law. While in college he came in contact with patriots and future freedom fighters like Lala Hans Raj and Pandit Guru Dutt. The three became fast friends and joined the Arya Samaj founded by Swami Daya Nand Saraswati. He passed his Vakilship Examination in Second Division from Government College in 1885 and started his legal practice in Hissar. Besides practicing, Lalaji collected funds for the Daya Nand College, attended Arya Samaj functions and participated in Congress activities. He was elected to the Hissar municipality as a member and later as secretary. He shifted to Lahore in 1892.
Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the three most prominent Hindu Nationalist members of the Indian National Congress. He was part of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio. The other two members of the trio were Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. They formed the extremist faction of the Indian National Congress, as opposed to the moderate one led first by Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Lalaji actively participated in the struggle against partition of Bengal. Along with Surendra Nath Banerjee, Bipin Chandra Pal and Aurorbindo Ghosh, he galvanized Bengal and the nation in a vigorous campaign of Swadeshi. Lalaji was arrested on May 3, 1907 for creating "turmoil" in Rawalpindi. He was put in Mandalay jail for six months and was released on November 11, 1907.
He founded the Indian Home League Society of America and wrote a book called "Young India". The book severely indicted British rule in India and was banned in Britain and India even before it was published.
He was able to return to India
in 1920 after the end of World War. After his return, Lala Lajpat
Rai,led the Punjab protests against the Jalianwala Bagh Massacre and
the Non-Cooperation Movement. He was arrested several times. He
disagreed with Gandhiji's suspension of Non-Cooperation movement due
to the Chauri-Chaura incident, and formed the Congress Independence
Party, which had a pro-Hindu slant.Martyrdom: November17, 1928
Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the foremost leaders who fought against British rule in India. He was popularly known as Punjab Kesari (Lion of the Punjab).
Lala Lajpat Rai was born on January 28, 1865 in village Dhudike, in present day Moga district of Punjab. He was the eldest son of Munshi Radha Kishan Azad and Gulab Devi. His father was an Aggarwal Bania by caste. His mother inculcated strong moral values in him.
Lala Lajpat Rai joined the Government College at Lahore in 1880 to study Law. While in college he came in contact with patriots and future freedom fighters like Lala Hans Raj and Pandit Guru Dutt. The three became fast friends and joined the Arya Samaj founded by Swami Daya Nand Saraswati. He passed his Vakilship Examination in Second Division from Government College in 1885 and started his legal practice in Hissar. Besides practicing, Lalaji collected funds for the Daya Nand College, attended Arya Samaj functions and participated in Congress activities. He was elected to the Hissar municipality as a member and later as secretary. He shifted to Lahore in 1892.
Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the three most prominent Hindu Nationalist members of the Indian National Congress. He was part of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio. The other two members of the trio were Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. They formed the extremist faction of the Indian National Congress, as opposed to the moderate one led first by Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Lalaji actively participated in the struggle against partition of Bengal. Along with Surendra Nath Banerjee, Bipin Chandra Pal and Aurorbindo Ghosh, he galvanized Bengal and the nation in a vigorous campaign of Swadeshi. Lalaji was arrested on May 3, 1907 for creating "turmoil" in Rawalpindi. He was put in Mandalay jail for six months and was released on November 11, 1907.
He founded the Indian Home League Society of America and wrote a book called "Young India". The book severely indicted British rule in India and was banned in Britain and India even before it was published.
In 1928, British Government decided to send Simon Commission to India to discuss constitutional reforms. The Commission had no Indian member. This greatly angered Indians. In 1929, when the Commisssion came to India there were protests all over India. Lala Lajpat Rai himself led one such procession against Simon Commission. While the procession was peaceful, British Government brutally lathicharged the procession. Lala Lajpat Rai received severe head injuries and died on November17, 1928.
(http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/lala-lajpat-rai.html)
Jan
30 National Cleanliness Day
Cleanliness
is the absence of dirt, including dust, stains, bad smells and
garbage. Most public places in India, be it a street, a lane, a
government office, a railway station, a bus station, a hospital, or a
public park, look filthy. The offensive sites of littered garbage,
overflowing sewage, defaced walls, people in hordes easing out in the
public and water logged areas dot our city and country. A clean
environment is a pleasure to live in. It is the duty of all to keep
the environment clean and healthy. Sometimes people keep their
environment very dirty with the result that it badly affects their
health. The cleanliness of a city, village or an entire town begins
from the cleanliness of individual homes. This
responsibility for environmental cleanliness is highlighted by the
observation of National Cleanliness Day on January 30th in India. The
day calls to maintain high standards of cleanliness in out homes,
work place, road/streets and public places.
India needs to focus on cleanliness to claim a respectable place in
the eyes, hearts, minds and souls of its countrymen as well as
foreigners.
Sanitation campaigns are held by panchayats and villages. Debates, painting, essay and quiz competitions are organised for the school children under the campaign. Individual toilets are constructed in villages to make the State completely free of open defecation. More Measures are taken for the management of solid waste and dirty water. Solutions to Garbage segregation, vermi-composting of organic waste, sanitary landfills for inorganic waste, drains to channel water, waste water treatment and reuse, biogas for cooking and regular cleaning of the village are advised. The Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP):- Government of India has initiated an incentive scheme for fully sanitized and open defecation free gram panchayats, blocks, and districts called the ' Nirmal Gram Puraskar'. Students and educational institutions play a major role in generating mass awareness.
Sanitation campaigns are held by panchayats and villages. Debates, painting, essay and quiz competitions are organised for the school children under the campaign. Individual toilets are constructed in villages to make the State completely free of open defecation. More Measures are taken for the management of solid waste and dirty water. Solutions to Garbage segregation, vermi-composting of organic waste, sanitary landfills for inorganic waste, drains to channel water, waste water treatment and reuse, biogas for cooking and regular cleaning of the village are advised. The Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP):- Government of India has initiated an incentive scheme for fully sanitized and open defecation free gram panchayats, blocks, and districts called the ' Nirmal Gram Puraskar'. Students and educational institutions play a major role in generating mass awareness.
Jan
30 Martyr's Day
January
30 is marked as the Martyrs' Day. It is an annual observance in India
to honor all the freedom fighters who gave up their lives in service
of the Nation. January 30 is also the date when Father of the Nation,
Mahatma Gandhi was shot by an assassin. Martyrs day is dedicated to
all the brave people who sacrificed themselves on the altar of
freedom. Earlier, January 26 was the somber reminder of all the
martyrs but later on, 30th January was declared as the new Martyrs’
Day.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, fondly known as “Bapu” was one of the greatest leaders of the last century. His popularity is not just restricted to Indian boundaries. Millions of people across the globe hold him in highest esteem. Universally recognized leader like Nelson Mandela took inspiration from Gandhi Ji. He was no ordinary leader. His method of non-violence paid great dividends.
Martyrs’ Day remind us of great people who attained martyrdom while defending the sovereignty of the country. On this day, the Prime Minister of India and the three chiefs of the armed forces salute the martyrs at India Gate. All the Indian citizens are expected to cease their normal activities and observe silence for two minutes, paying homage to the souls of those martyred. The top leadership visit Rajghat to remember the man who single handedly led us to the freedom. Multi-faith prayers are organized and floral offerings are made. Schoolchildren sing devotional songs.
All-religion prayer is offered by religious leaders of different faiths. Classical musical renderings including bhajans and devotional songs are held on this day. Martyrs’ Day is dutifully observed by the entire nation.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, fondly known as “Bapu” was one of the greatest leaders of the last century. His popularity is not just restricted to Indian boundaries. Millions of people across the globe hold him in highest esteem. Universally recognized leader like Nelson Mandela took inspiration from Gandhi Ji. He was no ordinary leader. His method of non-violence paid great dividends.
Martyrs’ Day remind us of great people who attained martyrdom while defending the sovereignty of the country. On this day, the Prime Minister of India and the three chiefs of the armed forces salute the martyrs at India Gate. All the Indian citizens are expected to cease their normal activities and observe silence for two minutes, paying homage to the souls of those martyred. The top leadership visit Rajghat to remember the man who single handedly led us to the freedom. Multi-faith prayers are organized and floral offerings are made. Schoolchildren sing devotional songs.
All-religion prayer is offered by religious leaders of different faiths. Classical musical renderings including bhajans and devotional songs are held on this day. Martyrs’ Day is dutifully observed by the entire nation.
Jan 31 World Leprosy Day
Leprosy
is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an
acid-fast, rod-shaped bacillus. It is one of the oldest recorded
diseases in the world. The disease mainly affects the skin, the
peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and also the
eyes, apart from some other structures. Leprosy is not highly
infectious. It is transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth,
during close and frequent contacts with untreated cases. Leprosy is
curable and treatment provided in the early stages averts disability.
In the last few years there is a decrease in the prevalence of
leprosy. But high endemicity still remains in some areas of Angola,
Brazil, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo,
India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, and the United Republic of
Tanzania. These countries remain highly committed to eliminating the
disease, and continue to intensify their leprosy control activities.
World Leprosy Day was created in 1954 by Raoul Follereau “so that people affected by leprosy could be cared for like all others who are ill and so that that those in good health could be cured of their absurd and often criminal fear of this disease and those who are affected by it”. He also initiated ILEP, a federation of associations fighting against Leprosy. International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP) is an international federation of fifteen non-governmental anti-leprosy organisations, based in London, U.K. which is involved in raising awareness and raising funds for Leprosy and it's related issues. He also created the International Foundation Raoul which is responsible for disseminating the message of their founder and educate local people, associations. Follereau supports projects for rehabilitation of disabled patients and let them regain their independence and their place in the society. World Leprosy Day is observed internationally on January 31 or last Sunday of January, each year, to increase the public awareness of the Leprosy or Hansen's Disease. ILEP members working in the field in leprosy endemic countries obtain MDT (Multidrug Therapy) supplies free of charge from WHO, via the national programme (Ministry of Health). In some countries or areas facing civil strife, or where the Ministry of Health has specifically requested it, WHO may supply ILEP members directly.
Courtesy: various sources from the web.
World Leprosy Day was created in 1954 by Raoul Follereau “so that people affected by leprosy could be cared for like all others who are ill and so that that those in good health could be cured of their absurd and often criminal fear of this disease and those who are affected by it”. He also initiated ILEP, a federation of associations fighting against Leprosy. International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP) is an international federation of fifteen non-governmental anti-leprosy organisations, based in London, U.K. which is involved in raising awareness and raising funds for Leprosy and it's related issues. He also created the International Foundation Raoul which is responsible for disseminating the message of their founder and educate local people, associations. Follereau supports projects for rehabilitation of disabled patients and let them regain their independence and their place in the society. World Leprosy Day is observed internationally on January 31 or last Sunday of January, each year, to increase the public awareness of the Leprosy or Hansen's Disease. ILEP members working in the field in leprosy endemic countries obtain MDT (Multidrug Therapy) supplies free of charge from WHO, via the national programme (Ministry of Health). In some countries or areas facing civil strife, or where the Ministry of Health has specifically requested it, WHO may supply ILEP members directly.
Courtesy: various sources from the web.
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