November

United Nations General Assembly in 2001 declared November 6 as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict and the day is observed annually on November 6 across the world.

The day aims to educate people about what effects do war and armed conflict have on the environment. The day also raises awareness about the protection of the environment and ecosystem in any circumstance and aims to ensure that no harm is done to the environment during armed conflict.

In 2016, a resolution was adopted by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to identify the role of healthy ecosystems and sustainably managed resources in reducing the risk of armed conflict and minimize the impact of wars and armed conflicts on the environment.

The purpose of the day is to raise awareness about the safety of new-born and to safeguard their lives by providing suitable care for infants. It should be made clear that babies confront several challenges owing to a lack of sufficient protection and care.

According to a World Health Organization data, 2.4 million babies died in their first month of birth in 2019. Every day, over 7,000 children die, accounting for 47 percent of all child mortality (under the age of 5 years), with one-third of deaths occurring on the day of delivery and roughly three-quarters occurring within the first week of life.

Infants are the citizens of tomorrow, and they must be protected since they are the world’s future. The Indian government has launched a number of initiatives to help new-borns.

It is critical to safeguard new-borns in order to ensure a peaceful tomorrow and to help the world become a better place. Children are not anybody’s possession; they are neither their families’ nor society’s, but they are undeniably our shared responsibility.

World Radiology Day is observed on November 8 every year. The day marks the anniversary of the discovery of X-rays in 1895. World Radiology Day is celebrated to raise public awareness of radiographic imaging and therapy, which play an important role in the diagnosis and the treatment of patients and, most importantly, ensuring radiation is kept to the minimum required, hence improving the quality of patient care.

X-rays were discovered by the German Scientist Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen in 1895. In 1901, Rontgen became the first recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics for this achievement.

"Röntgen earned his undergraduate degree at the ETH Zurich University and received his doctorate in physics from the University of Zurich. Following his studies, Wilhelm Röntgen worked at universities in Strasbourg, Giessen, and Würzburg, where he carried out his Nobel Prize-awarded research. In 1900, Röntgen transferred to the University of Munich, where he remained for the rest of his life, despite plans to emigrate to the US. Wilhelm Röntgen married Bertha Ludwig in 1872. The couple later adopted the daughter of Bertha’s brother," according to nobel.prize.org.

Radiographers Association of Madhya Pradesh has celebrated World Radiology Day since 1996.

The International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists have celebrated November 8 as World Radiography Day since 2007.

To raise the importance and relevance of science in our daily lives. This day highlights the significant role of science in society and the need to engage the wider public in debates on emerging scientific issues.

The main aim is to ensure that citizens are kept informed of developments in science.

The first World Science Day for Peace and Development was celebrated worldwide on November 10, 2002, under UNESCO auspices.

It was considered as an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to attaining the goals proclaimed in the Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific Knowledge every year.

Every year, 11th November is celebrated as National education day, which commemorates the birth anniversary of independent India’s first education minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

In 2008, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (Now Ministry of Education) decided to celebrate Azad’s birthday as National Education Day.

Birth:

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, originally named Muhiyuddin Ahmad, was born on 11th November 1888 in Mecca, Saudi-Arabia.

Azad was a brilliant debater, as indicated by his name - “Abul Kalam” which literally means “Lord of Dialogues”.

Brief Profile:

He donned many hats of being a journalist, freedom fighter, politician, and educationist.

Contributions (Pre-Independence):

He was a proponent of Hindu Muslim unity, opposed to Partition.

Azad supported the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) started by Gandhiji and entered the Indian National Congress in 1920.

In 1923, he was elected as the president of Indian National Congress. At an age of 35, he became the youngest person to serve as the President of the Indian National Congress.

In 1912, he started a weekly journal in Urdu called Al-Hilal which played an important role in forging Hindu-Muslim unity after the bad blood created between the two communities in the aftermath of Morley-Minto reforms (1909).

An Educationist:

In the field of education, Maulana Azad had been an uncompromising exponent of universalism, a truly liberal and humanitarian educational system.

Azad’s ideal was a fusion of the Eastern and Western concepts of man, to create a fully integrated personality. Whereas the Eastern concept dwelt on spiritual excellence and individual salvation, the Western concept laid stress on worldly achievements and social progress.

He was one of the founding members of the Jamia Milia Islamia University, originally established at Aligarh in the United Provinces in 1920.

Contributions (Post-Independence):

• In 1947, he became the first education minister of free India and remained at this post till his death in 1958. In his tenure, he did tremendous work for the upliftment of the country.

• The first IIT, IISc, School of Planning and Architecture and the University Grants Commission were established under his tenure as the education minister.

• Indian Council for Cultural Relations, for introduction of Indian culture to other nations.

Following three academics were formed:

• Sahitya Academy for development of literature;

• Sangeet Natak Academy for the development of Indian music and dance;

• Lalit Kala Academy for the development of painting.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was posthumously awarded India's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna in 1992.

This day came into effect in the year 2009 to raise awareness regarding the complications and issues related to pneumonia. According to the World Health Organization(WHO), the rate of severity is more in children less than 5 years of age. Therefore, precautions need to be taken to prevent the disease at an early stage.

Pneumonia is a disease that affects the lungs and aggravates the air sacs of the lungs. This might happen because the lungs are filled with discharge or liquids.

The symptoms can be mild or severe in kids less than 5 years of age to adults more than 65 years of age who have the risk of suffering this disease.

Factors that can cause pneumonia:

• Poor nutritional intake

• Inadequate ventilation

• steroids or other immunosuppressant medications for organ transplant or autoimmune disorders

• Uncontrolled diabetes

Across India, November 14 is celebrated as Children’s Day also known as Bal Diwas, to pay tribute to India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary. Born in 1889, he was fondly called Chacha Nehru. He was well recognized and appreciated for his affection towards children. In a bid to make indigenous cinema exclusively for children and to promote every child right to entertainment, Nehru established Children’s Film Society India in 1995.

Until 1956, the Children’s Day celebration across the country was observed as ‘Universal Children’s Day’ on November 20, the same day with the United Nations but after Nehru’s demise in 1964, the celebrations moved to the date of his birth anniversary owing to his fondness for children and to commemorate him.

The United Nations Universal Children’s Day is still celebrated worldwide on November 20 every year. It is basically celebrated to promote togetherness, peace and awareness among kids.

Nehru was a strong advocate of children’s education and he truly believed that if every child and youngster in the country is provided with the right education, then they can make India progress. Nehru once said that the way we will bring up our children, that will decide the future of the country.

He was key in the establishment of pioneer institutions across the country including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) and the National Institutes of Technology (NIT).

As Nehru is also dearest among kids, the day is celebrated with full enthusiasm in all schools with various events and special activities for children.

World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on November 14 to mark the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who discovered the insulin hormone along with Charles Herbert Best in 1922. According to experts, an estimated 463 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, with Type-2 diabetes that needs to be treated with insulin sensitizers making up about 90 per cent of the cases.

Health professionals estimate that the figures will continue to rise, and considering the fact that diabetes at least doubles a person's risk of early death, the need to raise awareness about the metabolic disorder and tips on maintaining blood sugar levels are at an all-time high.

Logo

The campaign is represented by a blue circle logo that was adopted in 2007 after the passage of the UN Resolution on diabetes. The blue circle is the global symbol for diabetes awareness. It signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes epidemic.

World Diabetes Day: History

World Diabetes Day was established by the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1991, as a response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by the ailment.

World Diabetes Day was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2006 with the passage of a resolution to this effect.

World Diabetes Day: Significance

Learning about the diabetes mellitus disease and actively participating in its treatment are important since complications are far less common and less severe in people who have well-managed blood sugar levels.

One of the greatest freedom fighters and social workers, fought for the poor, following the path by Mahatma Gandhi of truth and non-violence.

Vinoba, a well-known social reformer and a disciple of Gandhi Ji, contributed to many social reforms like the Bhoodan movement of Maharashtra.

Today, on the death anniversary of the greatest freedom fighter, the nation remembers his contribution to the Indian freedom struggle.

Born on September 11, 1895, in a Chitpav Brahmin family in Gagoda village of Konkan, Maharashtra, Vinayak Narhari Bhave was a powerhouse of knowledge.

Vinoba’s mother, Rukmini Devi, was a religious woman, and he was deeply influenced by her.

Apart from listening to the stories of Guru Ramdas, Saint Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram, Namdev, and Shankaracharya, he also studied religious texts like Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Upanishads.

Since childhood, Vinoba was inclined towards spirituality. When he was in high school, Vinoba left for the Himalayas on a spiritual journey. Vinoba stayed in Kashi for a long time in search of knowledge.

Meanwhile, after reading about Gandhiji in the newspapers, he was deeply influenced by the ideas of Gandhiji and made him his political and spiritual guide.

It is said that he wrote a letter to Gandhiji, and on receiving the invitation, he immediately left for Ahmedabad. Vinoba met Gandhiji on June 7, 1916. It was this meeting that made both of them friends for life. After meeting Gandhiji, he became aware of finding the right path. The relation between teacher-disciple became stronger and together they carried out many movements leading up to India’s independence.

Vinoba continued to carry forward Gandhiji’s legacy after his death. The Bhoodan movement in Maharashtra in 1951 is known as his greatest contribution.

In the last days, Vinoba had given up food and water and adopted Samadhi Maran, which is also called Santhara in Jainism. He breathed his last on November 15, 1982. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had postponed her visit to Moscow to attend his funeral ceremony.

Remembering the Queen of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmi Bai on her birth anniversary

One of India's Most Iconic Freedom Fighter

Born 19 November 1828 Died 18 June 1858

She was married to the Maharaja of Jhansi, Raja Gangadhar Newalkar in May 1842.

Refused to accept the 'Doctrine of Lapse' imposed by the British Government.

About Doctrine of Lapse

1. It was an annexation policy followed widely by Lord Dalhousie when he was India’s Governor-General from 1848 to 1856.

2. According to this, any princely state that was under the direct or indirect control of the East India Company where the ruler did not have a legal male heir would be annexed by the company.

3. As per this, any adopted son of the Indian ruler could not be proclaimed as heir to the kingdom.

4. By applying the doctrine of lapse,

Dalhousie annexed the States of:

• Satara (1848 A.D.),

• Jaitpur, and Sambalpur (1849 A.D.),

• Baghat (1850 A.D.),

• Udaipur (1852 A.D.),

• Jhansi (1853 A.D.), and

• Nagpur (1854 A.D.)

One of the leading warriors of the Indian Rebellion of 1857

Bravely fought against the British force and kept them at bay till she breathed her last.

Lakshmibai fought bravely against the British and gave a tough fight to Sir Hugh Rose so as to save her empire from annexation. She died fighting on the battlefield on June 17, 1858.

Indian National Army started its first female unit (in 1943), it was named after the valiant queen of Jhansi.

World Children’s Day also known as Universal Children’s Day is observed every year across the world on 20th November.

The purpose of this day is to improve child welfare worldwide, promote and celebrate children’s rights and promote togetherness and awareness amongst all children.

This day is promoted and coordinated by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which works towards the improvement of children’s welfare.

Background

The World Children’s Day celebrate on 20 November every year was first established as Universal Children’s Day in 1954.

Later it was officially adopted by United Nations General Assembly on 14 December 1954 by adopting resolution 836 (IX).

This resolution had recommended all the countries to institute a Universal Children’s Day as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children.

Why November 20?

It is an important date as it is the date in 1959 when UNGA adopted Declaration of Rights of the Child.

It is also the date in 1989 when UNGA adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, World Children’s Day also marks the anniversary of the date that UNGA adopted both the Declaration and the Convention on children’s rights.