India's transition from a land of legendary scholars to a global leader in health and defense technology.

Significant Historical Milestones

• The Sacrifice of Raja Birbal (1586): One of the "Nine Gems" (Navratnas) of Emperor Akbar, Birbal (born Mahesh Das) was killed while leading a military expedition against the Yusufzai tribes in the northwest frontier (present-day Pakistan). He was the only Hindu to adopt Akbar's Din-i Ilahi faith.

• First Flight of 'Prithvi' (1988): India successfully test-fired its first indigenously developed surface-to-surface ballistic missile, Prithvi-I, from the Sriharikota range. This was a defining moment for the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).

• India Declared Polio-Free (2012): On this day, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially removed India from the list of polio-endemic countries. This was considered one of the greatest public health achievements in modern history.

• Lord Clive Leaves India (1760): Robert Clive, a key figure in establishing British East India Company rule, left India for the first time after the Battle of Plassey had firmly rooted British influence in the subcontinent.

Notable Birthdays on February 25

• Ravishankar Vyas (1884): A prominent freedom fighter and social worker from Gujarat, often called the "Father of Gujarat." He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel.

• Meher Baba (1894): Born Merwan Sheriar Irani, he was a famous spiritual master who maintained silence for 44 years and had a massive global following.

• Danny Denzongpa (1948): The legendary actor and filmmaker known for his versatile roles in over 200 films and his distinct contribution to Indian cinema.

• Farokh Engineer (1938): The stylish former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman who was a mainstay of the national team in the 1960s and 70s.

• Shahid Kapoor (1981): One of Bollywood's leading contemporary actors, known for his performances in films like Haider and Kabir Singh.

Notable Passings

• Mannathu Padmanabhan (1970): A great social reformer and freedom fighter from Kerala, he founded the Nair Service Society (NSS) to uplift his community through education and social equity.

• Hans Raj Khanna (2008): A legendary Supreme Court Judge known for his dissenting opinion in the ADM Jabalpur case during the Emergency, which is regarded as one of the most courageous defenses of personal liberty in Indian law.