This Day In History- August 6

1925 – ‘Rashtraguru’ Surendranath Banerjee passed away. He founded the ‘Indian National Association’, a nationalist organization that provided a forum to the educated and civil leaders of the country who aspired for an Independent India. The Organization later became one with the Indian National Congress.Banerjee was elected as Congress President twice.

Rajendra Singh- Waterman of India

Rajendra Singh- The Waterman of India

1959 – ‘Waterman of India’ Rajendra Singh was born. He is seen as a pioneer in the field of water conservation in India. Singh founded the ‘Tarun Bharat Sangh’ in 1975 an NGO that has taught villagers from semi-arid areas near the Thar Desert, lessons in water management. He is a member of the National Ganga River Basin Authority.’The Guardian’ considers him as ‘One of the 50 people who could save the planet’. He was awarded the ‘Ramon Magsaysay Award’ for community leadership in 2001 and Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 2005.

M Night Shyamalan (Manoj Shyamalan), filmmaker

M. Night Shyamalan, filmmaker

1970 – Acclaimed Indian-American film director, screenwriter and producer Manoj Shyamalan popular as M. Night Shyamalan was born. Shyamalan is known for movies with a supernatural theme. ‘Praying with Anger’ was his first film, an autobiographical drama. It was screened in September 1992 at the Toronto International Film Festival. However, it was ‘Sixth Sense'(1999) that helped Shyamalan make a mark internationally. Written and directed by Shyamalan himself, the film had six Academy Award nominations. In 2002, his ‘Signs’ was also hailed, both commercially and critically. Though a few of Shyamalan’s movies did not evoke positive reactions from the critics they were commercial successes which include ‘The Village'(2004), ‘The Happening'(2008), ‘The Last Airbender'(2010) and ‘Devil'(2010). The Government of India in 2008 bestowed the Padma Shri on him.

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