The Citizen Advocate Summary: Declaring
April 11 as Safe ePay Day
Proposing April 11 as Safe ePay
Day to mark UPI’s pilot launch on April 11, 2016, by NPCI with 21 banks,
initiated by Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan in Mumbai. This initiative celebrates UPI’s
seamless integration of banking and merchant payments.
August 25 – Appeal No 95
April 11 – Declare ‘Safe ePay
Day’,
Yes, April 11 is vacant in the UN
Observance Day calendar
UPI 10th
Birthday -April 11 2026 – 229 Days to go
August 25 – Instant
Ramen Day (Japan) & Liberation of Paris: Comfort Food, Freedom Streets,
Secure Transactions
On August
25, as France celebrates the Liberation of Paris in 1944, when Allied forces
and the French Resistance freed the city from Nazi control, Japan honors Ramen
Day, marking the 1958 debut of instant ramen by Nissin Foods. This date weaves
together a historic triumph with the cultural joy of savoring a steaming bowl
of ramen, connecting global resilience and culinary innovation.
How many
Noodle varieties do you plan to have this year?
From Instant
Ramen to the Liberation of Paris: Toward a Global Day of Digital Trust — Safe
ePay Day (April 11)
Introduction
History often highlights
monumental upheavals—wars won, cities restored, ideologies overturned. Yet
equally transformative are modest innovations: a man inventing a quick meal
that revolutionized diets worldwide.
On August 25, we observe
two vastly different commemorations: Instant Ramen Day, celebrating
nourishing ingenuity, and the Liberation of Paris (1944), symbolizing
hopeful resurgence.
In our increasingly digital age,
we have an opportunity to root a new observance—Safe ePay Day (April 11)—in
the shared human values these events represent: accessibility, resilience,
unity, and trust.
I. Instant Ramen Day – A Bowl of
Comfort with Global Reach
A Moment in Time
On August 25, 1958,
Momofuku Ando introduced Nissin Chikin Ramen—the world's first instant
noodles—an answer to Japan’s post-war food crisis. His invention, employing a
flash-frying preservation method, enabled noodles to remain shelf-stable longer
than even frozen alternatives while cooking in under two minutes. The product
was initially considered a luxury, priced around six times the cost of
traditional noodles like soba or udon, but quickly became iconic for its
convenience and calming warmth (AnyDayGuide).
Global Celebration
Since then, Instant Ramen Day
has been marked annually on August 25. Fans around the world celebrate by
preparing their favorite ramen bowls, experimenting with toppings, sharing on
social media using #InstantRamenDay, and enjoying promotions at ramen
shops.
The CupNoodles Museum in
Osaka (Ikeda) and its Yokohama counterpart stand as tributes to this cultural
milestone. Interactive exhibits, maker workshops, and the “Instant Noodle
Tunnel” showcase ramen’s evolution from a modest Japanese innovation to a
global culinary phenomenon (CupNoodles
Museum).
India’s Ramen Connection
In India, instant
noodles—popularized by Maggi and other brands—have embedded themselves into
everyday life. They are beloved by students in hostels, families seeking a
quick meal, and night-shift workers looking for sustenance. While India does
not formally observe Instant Ramen Day, the ethos of affordability,
familiarity, and immediacy resonates deeply.
Flavors have been
localized—masala, chili, and chicken flavors dominate shelves—making instant
noodles part of Indian culinary culture. Much like Japan’s original vision, in
India too, noodles signify comfort and accessibility.
II. Liberation of Paris –
Reclaiming Freedom, Forging Memory
A City Reclaimed
On August 25, 1944, Paris
was formally liberated from Nazi occupation, following a week-long uprising
supported by the French Resistance (FFI) and advancing Allied forces. Despite
Hitler’s orders to obliterate the city, German commander Dietrich von Choltitz
surrendered without carrying out destruction (History.com).
At Hôtel de Ville, General
Charles de Gaulle declared: “Paris liberated! Liberated by herself, by her
own people…” reinforcing the narrative of national reclamation. The
following day, he led a triumphant march down the Champs-Élysées, cheered on by
thousands of Parisians who filled the streets with joy (Encyclopedia
Britannica).
How It’s Observed Today
Every year, Paris
commemorates the Liberation with:
- Parades featuring vintage vehicles and
soldiers in WWII uniforms.
- Memorial ceremonies at key historical sites.
- Street parties, concerts, and film
screenings.
The 80th anniversary in 2024
included military marches, tributes, and cultural celebrations across the city
(France24).
President Emmanuel Macron has
emphasized a more inclusive remembrance, highlighting the contributions of
colonial and African troops whose roles were historically overlooked (Le Monde). A
striking photograph of Georges Dukson, a Black soldier captured near de Gaulle
on August 26, remains emblematic of hidden histories and the push to broaden
national memory (Financial
Times).
III. Safe ePay Day – Envisioning
Digital Liberation Through Trust
The Digital Imperative
Our world now spins on digital
interactions—banking, shopping, remittances, and everyday payments. Yet,
financial inclusion remains inequitable: 1.4 billion adults remain unbanked
globally. At the same time, cybercrime losses are projected to reach $10.5
trillion annually by 2025 (Cybersecurity Ventures, 2021).
The stakes are immense. Safe
ePayments are no longer luxuries—they are lifelines. They protect livelihoods,
enable financial inclusion, and empower global commerce.
Why April 11?
As with Data Privacy Day (Jan 28)
and World Password Day (first Thursday in May), Safe ePay Day (April 11) could
serve as a global anchor for awareness, action, and accountability in the realm
of digital trust. A fixed date each year would encourage governments,
corporations, educators, and citizens to spotlight the importance of digital
payment security.
IV. Interwoven Legacies: Ramen,
Liberation, and Digital Trust
|
Inspiration |
Instant Ramen Day |
Liberation of Paris |
Safe ePay Day (April
11) |
|
Accessibility |
Affordable, nourishing food |
Freedom regained for citizens |
Secure, inclusive digital
access |
|
Innovation/Resilience |
Flash-fry method, postwar
response |
Resistance, unity, political
assertion |
Cybersecurity, equitable
inclusion |
|
Community/Memory |
Shared food culture worldwide |
National identity, inclusive
remembrance |
Shared trust in the digital
economy |
|
Emotional Core |
Comfort and familiarity |
Hope and resilience |
Confidence and empowerment |
V. A Narrative Arc
1.
Ramen: From hunger to comfort.
2.
Paris: From oppression to liberation.
3.
Safe ePay Day: From
insecurity to trust.
Together, these form a thread:
when communities feel safe—whether eating, living, or transacting—they
flourish.
VI. The Tagline
✨ “From ramen bowls to Paris boulevards, freedom
takes many forms—on April 11, let it be Safe ePayments.” ✨
VII. Call to Action
On this August 25, let us
reflect:
- Ramen showed us that small
innovations can sustain millions.
- Paris taught us that resilience
and hope can reclaim entire cities.
- Safe ePayments
remind us that in today’s world, trust in digital systems is essential for
dignity and empowerment.
What Can We Do?
- Governments & Banks:
Promote Safe ePay Day with public campaigns and policies for secure
financial inclusion.
- Schools & Universities:
Host financial literacy workshops on April 11.
- Businesses: Encourage safe
transactions with promotions and educational tie-ins.
- Citizens: Share stories of how
digital payments empower your life using hashtags like #SafeePayDay.
Conclusion
Instant Ramen Day offers warmth
and simplicity.
The Liberation of Paris anchors
us in the power of unity and hope.
Safe ePay Day stands poised to
commemorate the quiet but profound freedom of secure digital interactions.
Together, they speak to our
shared human pursuit—for comfort, dignity, and trust.
Let us make April 11 a global
reminder that liberation can be as small as a transaction and as powerful
as a city’s collective awakening.
Appeal for Safe ePay Day 🌟
## Call to Action
I urge governments, financial institutions, businesses, and
communities worldwide to join hands in declaring April 11 as **Safe ePay Day**.
Let’s celebrate UPI’s milestone by making **Safe ePay Day** a
global movement for secure, innovative fintech.
Together, we can build a future where financial access is
universal, and every e-payment is safe—starting with **Safe ePay Day** in 2026.
No Vada Pav, not even one bite,
Till SafeePay Day takes off in flight.
Quirky vow with a Mumbai flair—
Announce the date, and I’ll be there!
Disclaimer:
- The only Joy is Safe ePayments. Nothing More – Nothing Less.
No comments:
Post a Comment