Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar was born on May 31, 1725, in Chaundi village, which is now known as Ahilyanagar, situated in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. She became renowned as the illustrious queen of the Maratha Empire, having been married to Khanderao Holkar, the son of Subedar Malhar Rao Holkar. Upon the demise of her father-in-law, husband, and her only son, Ahilyabai established Maheshwar as the capital and reigned there.Despite the tragic loss of her husband Khanderao Holkar in the Kumher war of 1754, followed by the passing of her father-in-law Malhar Rao Holkar twelve years later, and the demise of her son Malerao, Rajmata Ahilyabai displayed remarkable resilience. Ahilyabai’s legacy is defined by the construction of temples in Maheshwar and Indore, alongside major infrastructure projects such as the Calcutta to Banaras road and temples in Banaras and Gaya. She also founded dharamshalas in key pilgrimage sites nationwide. Revered as ‘Devi’ by her people for her divine contributions, Ahilyabai tirelessly pursued the welfare and progress of her subjects, regardless of challenges, extending her dedication to the betterment of all societal strata.
On May 31, 1981, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) initiated the launch of the RS-D1 satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Weighing 38 kg, RS-D1 was an experimental spin stabilized satellite with a power handling capacity of 16W. While the launch was partially successful, with the satellite failing to reach its intended altitude and remaining in orbit for just 9 days, the mission played a crucial role in advancing sensor technology for remote sensing applications.
The Titanic ship was fully completed on May 31, 1911, following its construction started on March 31, 1909. As the largest steam-powered passenger ship of its era, it was famously deemed unsinkable. However, tragedy struck on April 15, 1912, during its inaugural and final voyage from Southampton to New York, when it collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean and sank, resulting in the loss of over 1500 lives. This disaster remains one of the world’s most horrific accidents. The Titanic’s global fame is largely attributed to its own notoriety. In 1997, director James Cameron’s film “Titanic” further propelled its recognition worldwide, winning 11 Oscars. The ship’s remains were discovered in 1985, more than 70 years after its sinking, with the aid of a robot submarine.
On May 31, 1929, the beloved cartoon character Mickey Mouse found his voice. Disney released a cartoon titled “Carnival Kid,” marking the first time Mickey Mouse was heard speaking. This groundbreaking moment made Mickey Mouse the world’s first talking cartoon character. The original voice actor behind Mickey was Carl Sterling. Mickey Mouse made his screen debut on May 15, 1928, in a test screening of his first short film, “Plane Crazy.” Created by Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse’s success led Walt to establish two companies: the Mickey Mouse Club and the Fan Club for Children. Disney went on to create numerous characters to accompany Mickey, who became known to audiences as Mickey Mouse’s friends.
Every year on May 31, World No Tobacco Day is observed globally to raise awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use. Originating in 1987, member countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated the celebration, officially designated on May 31 the following year. Since then, May 31 has been dedicated to this cause annually. Each year, a different theme is chosen to commemorate the day. This year’s theme is ‘Protecting children from tobacco industry interference.’
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