A holy man lived in a temple. Many devotees would offer him money, garments and gold. The holy man sold these and became rich. He kept his purse with him always and never trusted anyone. A swindler wanted to rob the holy man. He went to the holy man and said, “Sir, please accept me […]
Sir Ranulph Twisleton Wykeham Fiennes was born on 7th March 1944 in Windsor, England, and he still lives there today. Ranulph was a British officer, adventurer and explorer. He was the first person to visit both the South and North Poles by surface means. He was also the first person to cross Antarctica on foot.
Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen was born on 20th September 1778 in Estonia and he died on 25th January 1852 (aged 74 years) in Kronstadt, Russia. A Russian naval officer, who discovered the continent of Antarctica, Fabian also participated in the first Russian circumnavigation of the globe. After the expedition, he published a collection of maps
A Brahmin lived with his wife and baby boy in a village. One day, the Brahmin brought a mongoose with him. He told his wife, “This pet will be our child’s companion. Treat it like our own son.” His wife took great care of the mongoose. One day, the Brahmin and his wife went to
Pyotr Beketov was born in 1600, in Russia and he died in 1661 (aged 61 years) in Tobolsk, Russia. The founder of many cities, Pyotr was sent to Siberia and was the first Russian to enter Buryatia where he founded the first Russian settlement. He was in military service and was sent to Siberia from
William Beebe was born on 29th July 1877 in New York, USA, and he died on 4th June 1962 (aged 85 years) in Trinidad. William was a naturalist who was known for his deep dives in Bathyspheres to study marine animals and his study of the world’s pheasants. He founded a research station in Trinidad
There was an elephant in a village. All the villagers loved him. The elephant would visit the temple daily. On the way, he would stop at the florist’s shop, who would give him a garland. The elephant would then visit the temple and offer the garland to the deity’s idol. The people loved to watch
Nicolas Thomas Baudin was born on 17th February 1754 in France and he died on 16th September 1803 (aged 49 years) in Mauritius. Nicolas was a French explorer, cartographer and naturalist. He undertook the expedition to map the coast of New Holland, now Australia. The aim of the expedition was to research and observe the
Once, there lived a group of unruly monkeys in the mountains. They thought no one else was so wise as they. During winter, a young monkey said, “Let’s make a fire.” He had seen some people lighting a fire with twigs and red balls. The monkey mistook the burning coal for red berries. He went
Giosafat Barbaro was born in 1413 in Venice, Italy, and he died in 1494 (aged 81 years) in Venice, Italy. Giosafat was a diplomat, travel writer and explorer. He was a member of the influential Barbaro family of Venice. He travelled extensively for the times he lived in. Giosafat’s account of his travels provides more
Robert Duane Ballard was born on 30th June 1942 in Kansas, USA and he still lives there today. He is most well-known for his discovery of the Titanic. Robert is noted for his work in Marine archaeology. He also discovered the Battleship Bismarck, the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown and the wreck of John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s
William Baffin was born in 1584 in London, United Kingdom and he died on 23rd January 1622 (aged 38 years) in Qesham, Iran. William was a navigator, best known for his attempt to discover a passage in the Northwest from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. He is also well known for the accuracy of
Admiral Sir George Back was born on 6th November 1796 in Cheshire, UK, and he died on 23rd June, 1878 (aged 81 years) in London, UK. A British Naval Admiral, naturalist and artist, George was an explorer who is remembered to have explored the Canadian Arctic. His expedition to the Canadian Arctic was a proposition
Once, there was a wise and generous king, who had an ill-mannered son. One day, a sage visited the king. The king welcomed him and offered him a hermitage near the palace. One day, the king visited the hermitage and said, “My son is ill-mannered. Please change his ways so that he may be a
Vaino Auer was born on 7th January 1895 in Helsinki, Finland, and he died on 20th March 1981 (aged 86 years) in Helsinki, Finland. Auer was a professor of geography at the University of Helsinki. Vaino expert in swamp geology, he documented the Earth’s climatic history and explored the areas of Tierra del Fuego and