January 11

Princess Michele of Valois was born on January 11, 1395, the daughter of King Charles VI of France and Queen Isabeau of Bavaria. In 1409 she married Philip the Good, becoming Duchess consort of Burgundy. Her marriage strengthened the alliance between France and the powerful Burgundian state. Michelle played a diplomatic role in the Burgundian court amid the Hundred Years' War. She supported religious and charitable works, reflecting her royal status. She died in 1422, remembered for her dynastic significance.

Dmitri Bruns was an Estonian architect and theoretician. Born in Tallinn in 1929, he graduated from Tallinn University of Technology in 1953 with a degree in architecture. Bruns designed notable public buildings and residential complexes, merging modernist ideals with local context. He taught at his alma mater and published influential essays on urban planning and heritage preservation. His theoretical contributions helped define post-war Estonian architectural identity. Bruns received national honors for his designs and academic work. He died in 2020, remembered as a pioneering voice in Estonian architecture.

Kailash Satyarthi is an Indian engineer who dedicated his life to ending child labor and promoting children's rights. He founded the Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement), which has rescued tens of thousands of children from exploitative labor conditions. In 2014, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Malala Yousafzai for their struggle against the suppression of children's rights. Satyarthi has served as Chair of the Global March Against Child Labour and advised international organizations on policies to protect vulnerable youth. His work continues to inspire global efforts to ensure education and freedom for all children.

Born January 11, 1962, in New York City, Susan Lindauer worked as a U.S. Senate staffer before transitioning to journalism in the Middle East. She reported from Iraq in the late 1990s and later claimed to have acted as an informal U.S. interlocutor in the lead-up to the Iraq War. Lindauer was indicted under the Patriot Act in 2004 on charges of acting as an unregistered agent, but the case was dismissed in 2009. She has since been an outspoken critic of U.S. foreign policy and an advocate for government transparency. Lindauer continues to write and speak on issues of national security and civil liberties.

Darren Lynn Bousman is an American director and screenwriter who gained fame directing multiple installments of the 'Saw' horror series. He made his feature film debut with 'Saw II', which became a box office success and established his reputation in the genre. Bousman went on to direct 'Saw III' and 'Saw IV', contributing significantly to one of horror’s most enduring franchises. Beyond horror, he directed action thrillers and wrote screenplays for both film and theater productions. An advocate for independent cinema, Bousman continues to produce and develop projects across film, stage, and digital platforms.