Alternate reality: If this week didn’t happen in history

By Ridham Gambhir

Have you ever given a thought to what would have happened had this week not been there in the history of mankind?

Somebody born this week who made a difference in the world, would never have materialized. Someone who died after leaving a mark, would probably still be alive, while some occasions, political or social of utter importance would never have unfolded.

Let's have a look at what happened and what-not happened this week (2-9 August) in history!

This week marks the birthday of the first African American President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. Imagine, had this man not been born, who would have planned the encounter of Osama Bin Laden? Let's all raise our toast to Mr. President!

The first man to step on the moon and to enshrine his name in history, Neil Armstrong was born on 5th August 1930.

Our Bollywood beauties, Kajol and Genelia D' Souza share their birthdays with the Moon

man. Blockbusters like Kucch Kucch Hota Hai and Dilwaale Dulhania Le jayenge would have never made their mark in the Indian cinema had Kajol, the unibrow beauty not been a part of it.

We all have seen that blonde woman holding her blowing white dress or stood next to her in the Madame Tussauds museum. Yes, we are indeed talking of the sensuous and gorgeous Marilyn Monroe. Sadly, this week witnessed the death of this enchanting beauty. So may be, if this week didn't happen, many people would not complain about the absence of 'real beauty' in today's world.

Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si.. is reminiscent of the legendary actor, singer Kishore Kumar. This man is known for melodious contributions to the Indian cinema so much so that the Madhya Pradesh Government initiated a new award called the "Kishore Kumar Award" for anybody who has posed an exemplary performer in the Indian cinema.

Louis Vuitton, the founder of the plush leather brand Louis Vuitton celebrates his birthday this week. Imagine a world without LV! *sigh* *sigh* While Hugo Boss, the founder of the eponymous clothing company Hugo Boss bid his last farewell to the world this week.

Something as important as an underwear is given special value by Freshpair when it announced 5th August as International Underwear Day. Over the last 10 years the company has celebrated the holiday with New York City model events, massive underwear giveaways, a pop-up shop in Columbus Circle, and a Times Square runway show.

The man who made communication easier and better, Graham Bell breathed his last on 2nd August,1922. So thank Bell for your phone bell!

The man behind the removal of Sourav Ganguly from the Indian Cricket Team, Greg Chappell also had his birthday this week. The latter shares his birthday with the "Indian Father of Green Revolution", M.S.Swaminathan.

This week remembers fondly upon Rabindranath Tagore, the author of Jana Gana mana and Bangladesh's Amar

Shonar Bangla, who died on 7th August 1941.He became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

Hiroshima Day commemorates 6th August, 1941 the day when an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, followed a few days later by another dropped on the city of Nagasaki. The two cities were destroyed and casualties, mostly civilians, were estimated at around 200,000, with many more people dying later from injuries and illness. Hiroshima Day is now a focus for anti-war and anti-nuclear discussions and demonstrations.