Na. Si. Phadke remembered on death anniversary; key events of October 22 in history

Today is the death anniversary of Narayan Sitaram Phadke (Na. Si. Phadke), a hugely popular and senior Marathi novelist, short story writer and essayist. He was born on August 4, 1894, and died on October 22, 1978. Through his graceful and easy style of writing, he won a place in the hearts of millions of readers.

He gave fresh lustre to Marathi fiction by writing several well-known novels such as "Daulat", "Jadugar" and "Atakpar". A technically tight and engaging narrative structure is regarded as the hallmark of his writing. He also helped the short story gain a distinct and respected place in Marathi literature.

For his outstanding contribution to literature, he was honoured with the presidency of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held in Ratnagiri in 1940. The Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan on him in recognition of his service to literature.

Many important events have taken place on October 22 in the history of the country and the world. According to the Ussher chronology, the world was created at six in the evening on this date in 4004 BC. In 1633, the Ming dynasty defeated the Dutch East India Company in the Battle of Liaoluo Bay. In 1797, Andre-Jacques Garnerin went up to a height of 1,000 metres in a balloon and became the first person to descend to the ground by parachute. In 1859, Spain declared war on Morocco. In 1875, the first telegraphic connection began operating in Argentina.

In 1927, Nikola Tesla made six new inventions, including single-phase electric. In 1938, Chester Carlson made the world's first Xerox machine. In 1963, the Bhakra dam was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1964, French writer, poet and philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre was awarded the Nobel Prize but declined it. In 1975, the Soviet Union's unmanned space mission Venera 9 landed on Venus. In 1992, the space shuttle Columbia was launched for STS-52.

In 1994, Indian industrialist Navinbhai C. Dave was announced as the recipient of Queen Elizabeth's Coat of Arms award of Britain for his work in industry and education. In 2008, India launched its first unmanned mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-1.

Among those born on this date are King John V of Portugal in 1689, who died on July 31, 1750. Saint Tirthram Hiranand Gosavi, alias Swami Ramtirtha, an Amrutanubhavi saint, was born in 1873 and died on October 17, 1906. Freedom fighter Ashfaqulla Khan was born in 1900 and died on December 19, 1927. Maharaja Bhawani Singh of Jaipur was born in 1931 and died on April 17, 2011. Film actor and screenplay and dialogue writer Kader Khan was born in 1937 and died on December 31, 2018. Internationally renowned photographer Raghubir Singh was born in 1942 and died on April 18, 1999.

Indian-origin American doctor and author Deepak Chopra was born in 1947. Born on this date were England bowler Mike Hendrick in 1948, Indian space scientist A. S. Kiran Kumar in 1952, Union Home Minister Amit Shah of India in 1964 and actress Parineeti Chopra in 1988.

Among deaths, in 1917 Charles Pardey Lukis, founder of the Indian Journal of Medical Research, died. In 1933, great patriot and barrister Vithalbhai Patel died; he was born on February 18, 1871. In 1978, writer and orator Narayan Sitaram Phadke died. In 1991, G. M. Sohoni, an advocate of the body donation movement and founder of the Deh Dan Sahayak Mandal, died. In 1998, Hindi film villain Ajit Khan died; he was born on January 27, 1922. In 2000, Ashok Motilal Firodia, chief secretary of the Ahmednagar Education Society, social worker and industrialist, died. In 2014, Indian director and cinematographer Ashok Kumar died.