20th April History – Macbeth & Microscope
April 20th History is marked by significant events that have changed the course of history. This date has marked numerous occasions worth remembering. Let’s take a glimpse into the past and explore some of the noteworthy events that have taken place on this day in history.
The 16th of April saw the official music launch of the upcoming Bengali movie ‘Mayaa’ by Rajhorshee De. The music is composed by Ranajoy Bhattacharjee and sung by Rupankar, Somlata, and Ujaan. The cast includes artists like Rafiath Rashid Mithila, Tanusree Chakraborty, Koneenica Banerjee, and others. Now why do I mention this in the story of 20th April history? Because this film is the first ever adoption of Macbeth by William Shakespeare for Bengali Cinema. What an interesting coincidence as the 20th April history shows us that it is this day that Macbeth was staged for the first time in London. I will share the event with you but before that let me share a picture from the music launch.
The First Macbeth
Hark, good fellows and gentlefolk alike! It is with great pleasure that I bring tidings of a wondrous event that had occurred on this very day, 20th April history in the year of our Lord, sixteen hundred and eleven.
Forsooth, it had been recorded by the learned Simon Forman that the first known performance of the tragedy ‘Macbeth’, penned by the celebrated playwright William Shakespeare, was presented before an enraptured audience at the Globe Theatre in London.
Oh, how thespians bring to life the tale of ambition, betrayal, and bloodshed with their artful recitations and skilled stagecraft. And so, let us pay homage to the immortal bard and all those who did lend their talents to this historic occasion.
May the legacy of this performance endure throughout the ages, inspiring generations to come with its timeless message of the perils of unchecked desire and the consequences of wicked deeds.
While Macbeth is a work of fiction let me now take you through another event on the same day in 1712.
Jahandar Shah ascended the throne of Delhi
20th April history, the year 1712, It was this day that Jahandar Shah ascended to the throne of the Mughal Empire. He was the eldest son of Bahadur Shah I, and he succeeded his father after a short period of political turmoil and infighting among his family members.
Jahandar Shah’s reign was marked by several significant events, including the rise of the influential Sayyid Brothers, who served as his advisors and wielded considerable power over the empire. During his rule, the Mughal Empire faced a number of challenges, including rebellions, uprisings, and invasions by neighboring powers.
Despite these difficulties, Jahandar Shah is remembered for his patronage of the arts and his efforts to promote religious tolerance and harmony in the empire. He was also known for his extravagant lifestyle and his love of wine and women, which eventually contributed to his downfall.
Jahandar Shah’s reign came to an end in 1713, when he was deposed and assassinated by his nephew, Farrukhsiyar, who succeeded him as the next Mughal Emperor. Nevertheless, Jahandar Shah’s brief time on the throne of Delhi is an important chapter in the history of the Mughal Empire and India as a whole.
The first electron microscope was shown by RCA
On April 20, 1940, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) unveiled the first electron microscope to the public. This groundbreaking technology utilized a beam of electrons to create highly magnified images, allowing for a level of detail previously unattainable with traditional light microscopes.
The development of the electron microscope was a major milestone in the field of microscopy, enabling researchers to visualize and study objects on a much smaller scale, including individual cells and even atoms. The first electron microscope had a magnification power of 10,000 times, far surpassing the capabilities of the most advanced light microscopes of the time.
The invention of the electron microscope was the result of decades of research and development in the fields of physics and engineering. The first practical electron microscope was built in Germany in 1931, but it wasn’t until RCA’s unveiling of their instrument in 1940 that the technology became widely known and accessible.
Today, electron microscopes are used in a wide range of fields, from materials science and nanotechnology to biology and medicine, and continue to push the boundaries of what we can see and understand about the world around us.
That’s all from the pages of 20th April history, but before I say goodbye do join me in wishing a very happy birthday to sensational Mamta Kulkarni. Also my prayers are for Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi the Vedic scholar who lived till the age of 122 on his birth anniversary.
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