Balidan Diwas: Honoring Rani Durgavati’s Martyrdom on June 24*
On June 24, 1564, Rani Durgavati was martyred while valiantly fighting the Mughals. Born on October 5, 1524, in Banda, she married Dalpat Shah, king of Gondwana, and had a son, Veer Narayan. After her husband’s death, Rani Durgavati took control of Gondwana, ruling on behalf of her young son. She displayed remarkable strength and courage, successfully repelling an attack by Akbar’s Mughal commander Asaf Khan in 1562. However, in 1564, Asaf Khan attacked again. Severely injured in battle, Rani Durgavati chose to sacrifice herself with her sword rather than be captured. Her bravery is commemorated annually as Balidan Diwas, making her an immortal heroine in Indian history.
24 June, 1564: Rani Durgavati sacrificed her life while fighting the Mughals
– Rani Durgavati was born on 5 October, 1524 in Banda
– Rani Durgavati was married to King Dalpat Shah of Gondwana
*Birth of Revolutionary Damodar Hari Chapekar on June 24, 1869*
Born on June 24, 1869, in Pune, Maharashtra, Damodar Hari Chapekar was a prominent revolutionary who, along with his brothers Balkrishna and Vasudev, dedicated his life to India’s independence. Known collectively as the Chapekar brothers, they played crucial roles in the freedom struggle and were closely associated with Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, whom they regarded as their mentor. On June 22, 1897, Damodar and Balkrishna assassinated British officer W.C. Rand and his escort Lieutenant Ayerst in Pune, marking a significant act of extreme nationalism following the 1857 revolt. The British subsequently sentenced all three brothers to death. The Chapekar brothers’ bravery and sacrifice are remembered as a heroic saga in India’s fight for independence.
– Damodar Hari Chapekar was born on June 24, 1869 in Pune, Maharashtra
– Damodar Hari Chapekar was a freedom fighter and Indian revolutionary
– The British sentenced Damodar Hari Chapekar to death
*Remembering V.V. Giri: Former President of India*
V.V. Giri, who passed away on June 24, 1980, was the third Vice President and fourth President of India. Born in Brahmapur, Odisha, he was the son of lawyer Jogih Pantulu. Giri studied law at Dublin University and, upon returning to India, became involved in the labor movement and the Indian National Congress. He was elected president of the All India Trade Union Congress for the first time in 1926. In 1969, after President Zakir Hussain’s death, Giri ran as an independent candidate and became the first President to defeat the Congress Party’s candidate. In 1975, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, and a 25 paise postage stamp was issued in his honor.
V.V. Giri died on June 24, 1980
– V.V. Giri was the third Vice President and fourth President of the country
– V.V. Giri was born in Brahmapur, Odisha
– V.V. Giri was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1975
*Shelly Kristen Ride: Pioneering American Woman in Space*
On June 24, 1983, American astronaut Shelly Kristen Ride successfully returned to Earth, marking her historic achievement as the first American woman to fly into space. Serving as a flight engineer, Ride’s mission aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger was NASA’s seventh Space Shuttle mission and Challenger’s second. This milestone demonstrated women’s capabilities in space exploration, breaking the previous male-only precedent. Shelly Ride joined NASA in 1978, and her STS-7 mission proved pivotal in showcasing women’s potential and importance in space research. Prior to Ride, two women from the Soviet Union had already traveled to space, but Ride’s journey marked a significant step forward for NASA and women globally.
On June 24, 1983, Shelley Kristen Ride successfully returned to Earth from space
– Shelley Kristen Ride was the first American woman to fly in space
– This was NASA’s 7th Space Shuttle mission and the second mission of Challenger
*The Longest Match in Tennis History: Isner vs. Mahut*
On June 24, 2010, the longest match in tennis history concluded after 11 hours and 5 minutes of play. This epic match between John Isner of America and Nicolas Mahut of France, known as the Mahabali match, began on June 22 and ended on June 24. The fifth set alone lasted 8 hours and 11 minutes. Isner won the first set, Mahut took the second and third, and Isner made a comeback to win the fourth set and ultimately the match. The final score saw Isner winning 70 aces to Mahut’s 68 in a total of 183 games. This historic match led Wimbledon to introduce a new rule: if a first-round match lasts over 11 hours, the next day’s match will not be extended too long.
On June 24, 2010, the longest match in the history of tennis was played for the first time
– The match was played between John Isner of America and Nicolas Mahut of France
– This tennis match is known as the Mahabali match
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