Today & Yesterday -29th April
Today’s episode of this series includes the return of sacred stones by Finland to Ondonga. Along with this news we bring to you the historic events of China taking over Taiwan, the formation of The United Kingdom, the resignation of Subash Chandra Bose, and finally the US army liberating people from Nazi Camp.
I start today’s story with an event of importance that occurred yesterday in Finland. You may say the mistakes of yesterday have been rectified today by the government of Finland when they decided to return two fragments of sacred historical stones that were carried away by Finnish missionaries during the colonial period. On Thursday, Finnish Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Jukka Salovaara handed over the stones to Namibia’s Education, Arts, and Culture Minister Anna Nghipondoka. The National Museum of Namibia will house the fragments before they are eventually returned to the Ondonga traditional community. Local media has reported this development. Reading this news a question came to my mind…What about the Kohinoor? With that question I come to my first story from the pages of the history of 29th April. My first story…
Taiwan becomes China
On April 29th, 1661, the Chinese Ming dynasty, led by Zheng Chenggong (also known as Koxinga), successfully occupied the island of Taiwan after a nine-month siege. Taiwan had previously been under the control of the Dutch East India Company, which had established a presence on the island in the early 17th century.
Zheng Chenggong, a Ming loyalist who had been driven out of mainland China by the Manchu Qing dynasty, saw Taiwan as a potential base from which to launch a counterattack against the Qing. With a large fleet and a well-trained army, he laid siege to the Dutch stronghold of Fort Zeelandia in the southern city of Anping, eventually forcing the Dutch to surrender.
The Ming occupation of Taiwan was short-lived, however, as the Qing dynasty soon launched their invasion and took control of the island in 1683. Nevertheless, Zheng Chenggong is still celebrated as a hero in Taiwan today, and his legacy is remembered as an important part of the island’s history.
The formation of the United Kingdom
On April 29, 1707, the English and Scottish parliaments agreed to the Act of Union, which officially created the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The act, which came into effect on May 1st of the same year, combined the two separate kingdoms into a single entity with a unified government, economy, and legal system.
The Act of Union was the result of years of negotiations between England and Scotland, which had been separate countries with their monarchs and parliaments for centuries. The union was seen as a way to strengthen both countries against external threats, as well as to promote economic growth and stability.
Under the terms of the act, Scotland was granted representation in the British Parliament, and Scottish law and customs were protected. However, the union was met with significant opposition in Scotland, and some historians argue that it led to a decline in Scotland’s economy and cultural identity.
Despite these criticisms, the Act of Union remains one of the most important events in British history, shaping the political and social landscape of the United Kingdom for centuries to come.
Subash Bose resigns from Congress
On 29th April 1939, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, a prominent Indian nationalist leader, resigned from the Indian National Congress, the largest political party in India at the time. Bose’s resignation came after a long-standing dispute with the Congress leadership over the party’s approach towards the British colonial government in India.
Bose was critical of the Congress’ policy of non-violent resistance to British rule, which he felt was not effective enough in achieving India’s independence. He believed in a more militant approach and sought to build a mass movement that would use force if necessary to drive the British out of India.
Bose had earlier been elected as the President of the Congress in 1938, but he faced opposition from some members of the party who were uncomfortable with his radical views. After a bitter struggle, Bose was eventually re-elected as the President in 1939, but he soon realized that his differences with the Congress leadership were irreconcilable.
In his resignation letter, Bose cited his disillusionment with the Congress’ leadership and their lack of support for his vision of an independent India. He also expressed his belief that the party had become “an obstacle in the progress of the freedom movement.”
Bose went on to form the Forward Bloc, a new political party that espoused a more militant approach toward achieving India’s independence. He continued to play an important role in the Indian nationalist movement, but his decision to break away from Congress marked a significant turning point in the struggle for India’s freedom.
US Army liberates people from Nazi Camp
On April 29th, 1945, the United States Army liberated 31,601 people from the Dachau Nazi concentration camp in Germany. The liberation of Dachau was a significant event in World War II, as it marked the first time that American forces had come face to face with the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps.
Dachau was one of the first concentration camps established by the Nazi regime in 1933, and it became a model for other camps that followed. It was primarily used to imprison political dissidents, homosexuals, and other “undesirables” who were considered a threat to the Nazi regime. Over the years, the camp was expanded and used to house prisoners from all over Europe.
When American forces arrived at Dachau, they found thousands of emaciated and diseased prisoners living in deplorable conditions. Many had been subjected to brutal medical experiments, forced labor, and torture. The sight of the camp’s gas chambers, crematoria, and mass graves left a lasting impression on the soldiers who liberated it.
The liberation of Dachau was a significant moment in the fight against Nazi tyranny and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime and the importance of never forgetting the lessons of history.
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