This Day in History: April 9

Ugadi

Ugadi, the Telugu New Year, is celebrated annually on Chaitra Shuddha Padyami according to the Hindu calendar. This year, it falls on April 9th, marking the beginning of the year named Sri ‘Krodhi.’ Legend associates the creation of the universe with this day, believing that Lord Brahma commenced creation on Ugadi. Another tradition suggests that Ugadi originated when Lord Vishnu, in his Matsya avatar (fish form), retrieved the Vedas and revived them.

Jaya Bachchan’s Birthday

Veteran actress and politician Jaya Bachchan celebrates her birthday today. She has garnered acclaim for her roles in films like Abhimaan, Chupke Chupke, Sholay, and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Married to legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, she is a recipient of a record nine Filmfare Awards and the Padma Shri honour.

Also Read: This Day in History: April 8

Death of A.M. Rajah

Renowned singer and music director A.M. Raja was born on July 1st, 1929, in Chittoor district. He rose to fame with his songs in the Telugu movie “Pakkinti Koduku.” Interestingly, while both Ghantasala and Raja sang for the film, Raja never sang under Ghantasala’s musical direction, though Ghantasala did sing under Raja’s compositions. A tragic accident claimed his life in 1989 while boarding a moving train on his way to a concert. Raja’s legacy includes over a thousand songs across various languages and music direction for around 30 films.

Invention of the Phonograph

While today we have numerous devices for recording sound, from mobile phones to tape recorders, the journey began with the phonograph. This revolutionary machine, invented by Frenchman Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville on April 9, 1860, marked the first method for recording sound. He received a patent for his invention on March 25, 1857.

Also Read: This Day in History: April 07

Birth of Barbie

Barbie, the iconic doll that has captured the hearts of countless girls worldwide, made her debut at the American Toy Fair in New York on April 9, 1959. The immense popularity of Barbie resulted in a staggering three lakh dolls being sold in the first instance. The creation of a new Barbie doll takes a significant amount of time, with the design and production process spanning 13 to 18 months.

Mannava Balayya’s Birthday

Actor Mannava Balayya, born on April 9, 1930, initially worked as a lecturer before pursuing a career in films. He entered the industry in 1958 with the movie “Bhookku Pai Bhookku” and went on to act in over 350 films, sharing screen space with legendary actors like N.T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao. He portrayed diverse roles throughout his career.

Also Read: This Day in History: April 6

Other Glimpses from World History on April 9

• The Indian Institute of Peace Management announced a one-crore rupee inter-state peace award for social activist Anna Hazare in recognition of his fight against corruption.
• Communist leader and Indian freedom fighter C. Rajeswara Rao passed away in 1994.
• Telangana politician and former legislator Kaveti Sammaiah passed away.