This Day in History: February 26

Birthday of Shivaji Raja

Telugu film and TV actor Shivaji Raja was born on February 26, 1962, in Bhimavaram to Ramaraju and Chandravati. Making his film debut in 1985, he has since appeared in over 260 films. Notably, Shivaji Raja gained acclaim for his role in a film adaptation of a drama written by Gollapudi and directed by MV Raghu, earning him the prestigious Nandi Award for Best New Actor. Additionally, he portrayed the central character, Amrutha Rao, in several episodes of the popular serial “Amrutham” on Gemini TV, directed by Gunnam Gangaraju. He also briefly hosted the serial “Sambarala Rambabu” on Maa TV. Currently, he continues to be actively involved in both the film and TV industries.

Death of Anandi Gopal Joshi

Anandi Gopal Joshi is credited as the first Indian woman doctor to graduate in Western medicine. The name given to her by her parents is Yamuna. She died on February 26, 1887. After marriage, her husband called her Anandibai. She set a record as the first Hindu woman to enter America. On March 11, 1886, she received her doctorate in medical education. Google put her doodle in 2018 to celebrate her birthday. Anandibai was born on 31 March 1865 in Pune.

Also Read: This Day in History: February 25

Cricketer Venugopala Rao’s Birthday

Yalaka Venugopal Rao, a cricketer from Andhra Pradesh, was born in Visakhapatnam on February 26, 1982. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm-off spin bowler. He played for the Andhra team between 1998-2007. Later he played for Maharashtra during 2007-2008 and now plays for Rajasthan. He played for the Deccan Chargers in IPL between 2008-2010 and Delhi Daredevils in 2011-2013. He has been a member of the SunRisers Hyderabad team since 2014. He played 18 ODIs for the Indian cricket team. His highest score for India was 61 runs.

Death of Ayyadevara Kaleswara Rao

Ayyadevara Kaleswara Rao, a revered freedom fighter and the inaugural Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, passed away on February 26, 1962. Born on January 22, 1881, in Nandigama, Krishna district, his remarkable life has been chronicled in the biography “Navyandhram Na Jeevat Katha.” In 1939, he contested and triumphed in the Madras Legislative Assembly elections, representing Vijayawada-Bandar on the Congress Party ticket. Post-independence, he secured a seat in the Vijayawada South Constituency in the 1955 Legislative Assembly elections. Serving as the Speaker of the AP Legislative Assembly from 1956 to 1962, Rao left an indelible mark on the state’s legislative landscape. Notably, he championed Telugu as the official language of the assembly on December 14, 1959, and reinforced the protocol of seeking the Speaker’s permission before making any announcements or speeches in the House on August 11, 1961. A towering figure in Andhra Pradesh’s political history, Ayyadevara Kaleswara Rao’s contributions remain etched in memory.

Also Read: This Day in History: February 24

Hemalatha Lavanam’s birthday

Hemalatha Lavanam was born on February 26, 1932, in Vinukonda, Guntur district. The daughter of Telugu poet Gurram Joshua, she studied BA at Queen’s College, Madras and got a gold medal. She established Vasavya Vidyalaya in 1961 and promoted equality. She established a service organization called ‘Arthika Samatha Mandalil’ in Srikakulam and Krishna Districts, and undertook many programs to empower the backward and lower castes. In 1981, she founded an organization called ‘Navavikas’ in Kavali and helped the oppressed communities through it. She received many awards for her services.

A few more important events on February 26

• French poet and novelist Victor Hugo was born on February 26, 1802.

• The first company to make blue jeans was Levi Strauss and Co., founded by Levi Strauss, who was born on February 26, 1829.

• Afzal-ud-Daula, Asaf Jah V, the fifth Nizam of Hyderabad, died on February 26, 1869.

• On February 26, 1990, Kuwait was freed from the captivity of Iraq, marking a historic moment in its history. Since then, February 26th has been celebrated annually as Kuwait Liberation Day.

• India’s first Kite Museum was opened on February 26, 1975, at the Sanskar Kendra in Ahmedabad.