This Day in History: February 19

Chhatrapati Shivaji’s Birth Anniversary

Shivaji Raje Bhosle popularly known as Chhatrapati Shivaji was born in 1627 to Shahaji and Jiziyabai in Shivneri Fort near Junnar town in Pune district. He established the Maratha Empire in Western India and opposed the Mughal Empire. At the age of 17, Shivaji fought for the first time and captured the Torna Fort of the Bijapur Empire. Jyeshtha Shuddha Trayodashi is celebrated every year to commemorate Chhatrapati Shivaji’s coronation in 1674.

Birth Anniversary of Nicolaus Copernicus

The famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in 1473 in the town of Toruń, Poland. He scientifically proved the heliocentric theory. He studied law, mathematics and astronomy at the University of Bologna in Italy. Aryabhatta and Omar Khayyam proposed the models and theories of heliocentricity hundreds of years before him. However, Copernicus gained prominence by theoretically proving the heliocentric theory in his writings.

K. Vishwanath’s Birth Anniversary

Kalathapasvi, K. Vishwanath was born on February 19, 1930 in Peda Pulivarru, a village in Repalle Taluka of Guntur District. He is a famous Indian film director who worked majorly Telugu. A especially hailed as the person who brought respect and recognition to Telugu cinema. Vishwanath turned director with Akkineni Nageshwara Rao’s Aatma Gowravam (1965). He started acting in films after his stint as a director waned. He received the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award and the Padma Shri in 1992. He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2016 for his contribution to cinema.

Death of Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Indian freedom fighter and social worker Gopalakrishna Gokhale died on February 19, 1915. A senior leader of the Indian National Congress, he was born on 9 May 1866 at Kotluk in present-day Maharashtra. From 1885 to 1905, he played a prominent role in the Indian National Congress, which was dominated by moderates. He was a member of the Indian Legislative Council from 1902 to his death in 1915. In 1905 he formed the Servants of India Society. He was the political mentor of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Mahatma Gandhi.

Death Anniversary of Actress Nirmalamma

Actress Nirmalamma passed away on February 19, 2009. Born on 18 July 1920 in Machilipatnam, Krishna District. She is a natural actress who has given life to grandma’s roles in Telugu cinema. Nirmalamma acted in hundreds of Telugu films. She is recognized as a natural actress.

A few more important events on February 19

• Today is the birth anniversary of Balwantrai Mehta, the second Chief Minister of Gujarat state. He is known as a freedom fighter and a pioneer of the Panchayati Raj system.
• Popular Telugu comedy actor Gundu Hanumantha Rao passed away on February 19, 2018. He acted in about 400 films and many serials.
• G. Sayanna who served as Cantonment MLA passed away on February 19, 2023. He won as MLA on behalf of TDP and BRS.
• The Boeing 757 took to the skies for the first time in 1982, on February 19.
• Cuban President Fidel Castro, who had been in power since 1959, resigned on February 19, 2008.