THE NP CHRONICLE : 9TH SEPTEMBER

The NP Chronicle 

9th September

Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (9 September [O.S. 28 August] 1828 – 20 November [O.S. 7 November] 1910), usually referred to in English as Leo Tolstoy, was a Russian writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential authors of all time.

Tolstoy received praise from countless authors and critics, both during his lifetime and after. Virginia Woolf called Tolstoy "the greatest of all novelists", and Gary Saul Morson referred to War and Peace as the greatest of all novels. He received nominations for the Nobel Prize in Literature every year from 1902 to 1906 and for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901, 1902, and 1909. Tolstoy never being awarded a Nobel Prize remains a major Nobel Prize controversy.

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."

-- Leo Tolstoy

"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

-- Leo Tolstoy

"If you look for perfection, you'll never be content."

-- Leo Tolstoy

Hugh John Mungo Grant (born 9 September 1960) is an English actor. He established himself early in his career as a charming and vulnerable romantic leading man, and has since transitioned into a character actor. He has received several accolades including a British Academy Film Award and a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards. He received an Honorary César in 2006. In 2022, Time Out magazine listed Grant as one of Britain's 50 greatest actors of all time. As of 2025, his films have grossed over US$4 billion worldwide.

Akshay Hari Om Bhatia (born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia; 9 September 1967), known professionally as Akshay Kumar (pronounced [əkˈʂəj kʊˈmaːɾ]), is an Indian actor and film producer working in Hindi cinema. Referred to in the media as "Khiladi Kumar", he is the recipient of several accolades, including two National Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards. In 2009, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour. One of the most prolific actors in Indian cinema, Kumar has appeared in over 150 films in a career spanning over three decades. Forbes included Kumar in their lists of both highest-paid celebrities and highest-paid actors in the world from 2015 to 2020. Between 2019 and 2020, he was the only Indian on both lists.

Today is:

▪︎ International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day 

▪︎ International Day to Protect Education from Attack

▪︎ International Sudoku Day

▪︎ Independence Day of Tajikistan 

▪︎ Emergency Services Day in UK

▪︎ National Teddy Bear Day

▪︎ Birth anniversary of Leo Tolstoy, Hugh Grant, Akshay Kumar

▪︎ Death anniversary of King William I of England King James IV of Scotland, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Jussi Björling, Ahmad Shah Massoud, Edward Teller

TAJIKISTAN

Tajikistan, officially the Republic of Tajikistan, is a landlocked country located in Central Asia. Dushanbe is the capital and largest city of the country, with a population of over 1.2 million. Tajikistan borders Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east; it is narrowly separated from Pakistan by Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor. Its total population exceeds 11 million.

Tajikistan ranks high globally for personal safety and public security, while placing moderately or lower in economic, military, and passport strength rankings.

Safety and Security

▪︎ Global Safety Report: Ranked near the top globally (second worldwide in recent Gallup reports, with roughly 95% of citizens reporting they feel safe walking alone at night).

Population and Demographics

▪︎ Population Rank: Ranked 88th in the world with a population of approximately 11 million people.

Military Strength

▪︎ Global Firepower: Ranked 100th out of 145 countries in the annual Global Firepower military strength review. 

Passports and Mobility

▪︎ Passport Rank: Ranked 76th in the world on the Passport Index, providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 67 countries.

Innovation and Economy

▪︎ Global Innovation Index: Ranked 108th out of 139 economies evaluated by WIPO.

Governance

▪︎ Democracy Index: Historically ranked lower by the Economist Intelligence Unit (e.g., 160th).

▪︎ Explore the broader context on democratic governance in the Wikipedia entry for Tajikistan.