23 April in Indian and World History is celebrated, observed, and remembered for various reasons. 23 April is the birth anniversary of Pandita Ramabai Medhavi, Ganga Prasad Srivastava, and Annapurna Devi.
23 April is also observed as the death anniversary of Pt. Madhavrao Sapre, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Dhirendra Verma, and Satyajit Ray.
Birth Anniversary
23 April in Indian history is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the following personalities:
Pandita Ramabai Medhavi (23 April 1858 – 5 April 1922), an eminent scholar, and social reformer and dedicated to the upliftment of Indian women from their backward status. Medhavi Crater is named after Ramabai Medhavi. He was born on 23 April 1858.
Ganga Prasad Srivastava (23 April 1889 – 30 August 1976), a Hindi writer. Apart from being a good storyteller, storyteller, Ganga Prasad was also a better actor. He has acted powerfully in many plays. During that time Srivastava ji was a strong actor of singles. Matured by the virtue of simplicity and acting, the name Ganga Babu is known as one of the early Hindi soloists. Ganga Babu was decorated with decorations like ‘Sahitya Varidhi’ and ‘Sahitya Maharathi’. He was born on 23 April 1889 in Saran, Bihar.
Annapurna Devi (original name Roshanara Khan, 23 April 1927 – 13 October 2018), the only female master to play the surbahar instrument (bass sitar) in the Indian classical music genre. She is the daughter and disciple of eminent musician Alauddin Khan. His father was the founder of the then famous ‘Seniya Maihar Gharana’ or ‘Seniya Maihar School’. The Gharana maintained its position as an iconic Gharana for Indian classical music in the 20th century. He was born on 23 April 1927 in Madhya Pradesh.
Read More: 22 April in Indian and World History
Death Anniversary
23 April in Indian history is observed as the death anniversary of the following personalities:
Pt. Madhavrao Sapre (19 June 1871 – 23 April 1926), a prolific thinker, sage editor, freedom fighter and a series of activists dedicated to public works The creators were the motivators-guides. Madhavrao Sapre ji’s story ‘Ek Basket Bhar Mitti’ has the credit of being the first story in Hindi. He died on 23 April 1926.
Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (2 April 1902 – 23 April 1968), counted among the greatest singers and musicians of India. He was a master of wonderful melodious voice. Listening to his singing, the listeners lost their senses and lost themselves for some time. Music connoisseurs from every corner of India used to send invitations to Khan Saheb to sing. Whether royalty or modest school student, Khan Saheb’s velvety voice mesmerized everyone. Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, the owner of the heart-touching voice, gave a new vibe and tone to Thumri through his innovative style. According to experts, Ustad took thumri out of the bounds of the well-known genre due to his experimental music. He died on 23 April 1968.
Dhirendra Verma (17 May 1897 – 23 April 1973), a famous poet and writer of Hindi and Brajbhasha. The work that Acharya Ramchandra Shukla did in the field of Hindi review, Dr. Dhirendra Verma did the same work in the field of Hindi research. While Dhirendra Verma was an excellent administrator of the Hindi department, on the other hand he was also an ideal professor. He died on 23 April 1973 in Prayag.
Satyajit Ray (2 May 1921 – 23 April 1992), one of the world’s greatest film personalities of the twentieth century, who, besides giving a new direction to the films of the realistic stream, such as literature, painting, etc. He also showed his talent in other genres. He used to do many work related to film production himself. These include direction, cinematography, screenplay, background music, art direction, editing, etc. Apart from being a filmmaker, he was also a story writer, painter and film critic. Ray directed 37 films in his life, including feature films, documentaries, and short films. His first film ‘Pather Panchali’ received a total of eleven international awards including the “Best Human Document” award at the Cannes Film Festival. Satyajit Ray, who gave new recognition to Indian films in the world, is honored with Padma Shri (1958), Padma Bhushan (1965), Padma Vibhushan (1976) and Ramon Magsaysay Award (1967) in addition to Bharat Ratna (1992). Awarded the Honorary ‘Oscar Award’ to Satyajit Ray for his phenomenal contribution to world cinema. Apart from this, he and his work won a total of 32 National Film Awards. He died on 23 April 1992.
Read More: 21 April in Indian and World History
Notable events on 23 April in Indian and World History
23 April 1616 – William Shakespeare – an English playwright, poet, and actor – died.
23 April 1660 – The Oliva Agreement was agreed upon between Sweden and Poland.
23 April 1661 – Coronation of British Emperor Charles II in London.
23 April 1751 – Gilbert Eliot Minto, Governor-General of the East India Company, was born.
23 April 1774 – British commander Colonel Chapman captured Rohilkhand by defeating the Rohilla army.
23 April 1858 – Max Planck – a German theoretical physicist whose discovery of energy quanta won him the Nobel Prize – was born.
23 April 1867 – Johannes Fibiger, a Danish physician, pathologist, and Nobel Prize Laureate, was born.
23 April 1875 – Shoen Uemura – a prominent Japanese artist known for her exceptional skill – was born.
23 April 1891 – the Jews were expelled from Moscow, the capital of Russia.
23 April 1891 – Sergey Prokofiev – a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor – was born.
23 April 897 – Pixinguinha – a Brazilian composer, arranger, flutist, and saxophonist – was born.
23 April 1908 – The North Atlantic Organization Treaty was signed between Germany, Denmark, Britain, Sweden, Holland, and France.
23 April 1935 – The European country of Poland adopted the constitution.
23 April 1946 – Rosy Afsari – an actress in the Bangladeshi film industry – was born.
23 April 1971 –Dolores Cacuango an Ecuadorian indigenous leader, activist, and educator who dedicated her life to fighting for the rights and well-being of indigenous communities – died.
23 April 1981 – The Soviet Union conducted an underground nuclear test.
23 April 1984 – Scientists discovered the AIDS virus.
23 April 1985 – Cold drinks company Coca-Cola, after being in the market for 99 years, brought a new coke to the market with a new formula.
23 April 1993 – Cesar Chavez, an American labor leader and civil rights activist, died.
23 April 1996 – Chechnya’s separatist leader Dudayev was killed in an airstrike.
23 April 2005 – The first video was uploaded to YouTube.
23 April 2013 – West Indies’ explosive batsman Chris Gayle scored the fastest century in cricket history in just 30 balls.
23 April 2014 – At least 60 people were killed and more than 80 were injured in a horrific train accident in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
23 April Historical Significance
April 23rd holds historical significance for several events around the world. One notable event is the celebration of Saint George’s Day in various countries, particularly in England where Saint George is the patron saint. This day is marked with parades, festivities, and cultural activities. Additionally, on April 23rd, 1564, William Shakespeare, one of the most renowned playwrights in history, is believed to have been born, although his exact birthdate remains uncertain. Shakespeare’s works have had a profound impact on literature, theater, and the English language, making his birthday a significant date for literature enthusiasts worldwide. Furthermore, April 23rd, 1910, saw the death of the famous American oil magnate, John D. Rockefeller. Rockefeller was one of the wealthiest individuals in modern history and played a pivotal role in shaping the American oil industry through his company, Standard Oil. His legacy continues to be felt in the realms of business, philanthropy, and the economy. Thus, April 23rd is a day marked by cultural, literary, and economic significance.
Important Days of 23 April in History
World Book Day – April 23 is designated as World Book Day by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing, and copyright. It’s a celebration of books and authors worldwide.
St. George’s Day – April 23 is the feast day of St. George, the patron saint of England. It’s celebrated with various traditions and events, particularly in England.
Turkey’s National Sovereignty and Children’s Day – In Turkey, April 23 is celebrated as National Sovereignty and Children’s Day. It commemorates the founding of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in 1920 and is dedicated to children, emphasizing the importance of their well-being and rights.
Liberation Day (Italy) – April 25, the day after April 23, is celebrated as Liberation Day (Festa della Liberazione) in Italy. It marks the end of the Italian Civil War and the liberation of Italy from Nazi occupation in 1945.