This Day in History: April 14

National Fire Service Day

National Fire Service Day commemorates the sacrifices made by firefighters, particularly those lost in the devastating 1944 Mumbai dockyard fire, where 66 firefighters died and 87 were injured. The day also emphasizes fire safety education and prevention measures.

B.R. Ambedkar’s Birthday

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution and a champion for social justice, was born in 1891 in Mhow (now Dr. Ambedkar Nagar), Madhya Pradesh. He tirelessly fought against untouchability and the caste system and served as the first Chairman of the drafting committee of the Indian Constitution. Ambedkar faced discrimination as a child due to the caste system. Despite these challenges, he pursued higher education in India and abroad, actively participated in the Indian independence movement, and was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 1990.

Also Read: This Day in History: April 13

Gollapudi Maruthi Rao’s Birthday

Versatile actor and writer Gollapudi Maruthi Rao celebrates his birthday today. Born in Vizianagaram in 1939, he began his career in 1959 as a sub-editor and transitioned into screenwriting in 1963. His first screenplay earned him the prestigious Nandi Award for Best Story. Maruthi Rao’s acting career blossomed with his role in “Intlo Ramayya Veedilo Krishnayya”, leading to opportunities in over 250 films.

Margaret Alva’s Birthday

Margaret Alva, a prominent leader of the Congress party and former governor of Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, was born in 1942 in Mangalore, Karnataka. Born with the name Nazareth, she entered politics in 1974, winning a Rajya Sabha seat. She later served in the Lok Sabha and as a Union Minister before being appointed Governor of Uttarakhand in 2006 and Rajasthan in 2012.

Also Read: This Day in History: April 12

Christiaan Huygens’ Birthday

Christiaan Huygens, a renowned mathematician, was born in 1629 in The Hague. He made significant contributions to science, including proposing the wave theory of light and discovering Saturn’s moon Titan. He also invented the pendulum clock and theorized that light travels as waves through a medium called ether.

Death of Shri Ramana Maharshi

Indian sage and philosopher Ramana Maharshi, born Venkataraman Iyer, passed away in 1950 at Sri Ramanashram in Tiruvannamalai. He attained enlightenment at the young age of 16 and resided in the Arunachala mountains, teaching the paths of Self-knowledge, Advaita, and Moksha.

P.B. Sreenivas’ Death

Popular playback singer P.B. Sreenivas, also known as Prathivadhi Bhayankara Sreenivas, died in 2013 in Chennai. Born in 1930, he captivated audiences with his soulful voice in numerous languages, including Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, and more. Srinivas began his film career in 1952 and sang over 3,000 songs throughout his lifetime.

Also Read: This Day in History: April 11

Death of Ganta Gopal Reddy

Ganta Gopal Reddy, a distinguished agronomist, passed away in 2018. Born in 1932, he is credited with developing upliftment schemes in united Andhra Pradesh, particularly through his efforts to bring previously uncultivated lands under irrigation during the construction of the Nagarjunasagar canal.

RMS Titanic Hits an Iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean

The RMS Titanic, a colossal passenger liner built by Harland and Wolff for the White Star Line, tragically sank on its maiden voyage in 1912. Departing from Southampton, England, bound for New York City, the ship struck an iceberg and sank within two hours on April 15th, claiming the lives of over 1,500 people.

Other Glimpses from World History on April 14

• Gobburi Venkatananda Raghava Rao, the author of the first Telugu astronomical book, was born in 1892 in Parvathipuram, Vizianagaram district.
• Prominent Rationalist and human rights activist Babu Gonineni was born in 1968 in Hyderabad.
• Stage, TV, and radio actor Komaravolu Srinivasa Rao was born in 1953 in Narikellapalli village of Tenali taluka in Chandur mandal of Guntur district.
• Rahul Sankrityayan, the father of Hindi travel literature, passed away in 1963 in Darjeeling, West Bengal.
• The second World Telugu Congress was held in 1981 in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.
• The Ayushman Bharat Scheme was announced as part of the National Health Care Scheme in the 2018-19 budget.
• A 125-foot BR Ambedkar statue erected by the Telangana government near Tank Bund in Hyderabad was unveiled in 2023.