Today’s Motto: ‘Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work’

This is Your Day-TODAY:  Take a Determined Step Forward and Make History! 

On this day, 23 Aug….

1609 – The telescope was demonstrated by Galileo.

1617 – The first one-way streets were established in London.

1783 – Following the success of the Montgolfier brother’s hot air balloon ascent on 5 Jun 1783, a 13-ft diameter balloon was built by two brothers named Robert, under the auspices of the French Academy of Sciences.

1833 – Britain abolishes slavery in colonies; 700,000 slaves freed.

1839 – British capture Hong Kong from China.

1899 – The first ship-to-shore wireless message to be received in the U.S was: “Sherman is sighted.” U.S. Lightship No. 70, San Francisco, announced the arrival of the U.S. Army troopship Sherman to the crowd assembled at the Cliff House awaiting the return of its hometown regiment from the battlefields of the Spanish-American War

1966 – The Lunar Orbiter 1 took the first photograph of the Earth from the Moon. With modern digital processing, a striking level of detail was obtained in a much higher resolution picture.

1947 – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was sworn in as the Deputy Prime Minister of India.

1996 – Osama bin Laden issues message entitled ‘A declaration of war against the Americans occupying the land of the two holy places.’

2000 – India, Japan unveil new global partnership and agree to start a formal security dialogue.

2014 – India’s central bank,  RBI states that domestic credit cards must complete extra validation when used to buy local goods or services; some businesses have avoided the rule by using foreign payment systems, resulting in cash flows out of the country.

2019 – Russia launches the 1st floating nuclear power station the Akademik Lomonosov from port of Murmansk.

2023 – India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission is the first to land at the Moon’s southern pole successfully, and the fourth country to ever land on the Moon. The day being celebrated as India’s  National Space Day. 

2023 – Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of President Vladir Putin and head of the Wagner mercenary group, reported killed along with 9 others in a plane crash northwest of Moscow, according to Russian Federal Air Transport Agency.

Born….

1944 – Saira Banu, popular Bollywood actor, debuted with Junalee followed by Kashmir Ki Kali,  Bluff Master, Aakhri Dao, Aman, Jhuk Gaya Aasman, Hera Pheri, Mera Vachan Geeta Ki Kasam, Deewana and Padosan etc. She married thespian Dalip Kumar Was nominated to 4 Filmfare awards. (pic credit-News18).

1983- Gauahar Khan. Popular Bollywood actor. model and winner of Miss International Beauty Contest and came 4th in Femina Miss India in 2002.  She worked in Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, Ishaqzaade, Fuddu, Kyaa Kool Hain Hum, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Game  etc.

1988 – Vaani Kapoor, popular young Bollywood actor. Known for films  Shudh Desi Romamnce, Chandigarh Kare Ashiqui,  War, Befikre etc. Won a Filmfare award for Best Debutant in 2013, Big Star Enterttainment award, International Indian Film Academy and Star Guild award etc.

RIP….

2000 – Pronindranath Rangarajan Kumaramangalam, 2 times Congress MP and once in BJP,  Union Power Minister, dies of a massive heart attack at the AIIMS, New Delhi.

You may have known….

A celebration of menstruation – Ambubachi Mela, Guwahati: At the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, the object of reverence is the vagina of the Mother Goddess. According to legend, when Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva, jumped into the fire, unable to bear her father’s insult to her husband, Shiva went into a terrible rage and did the terribleTandav Nritya, carrying her corpse. Parts of her body fell to the earth, forming Shakti Peeths.The Kamakhya Temple was formed where the Yoni (vagina) fell. Every year around June, the Goddess goes through her menstrual cycle. The temple remains shut for three days, and is believed to turn red. This is the time when the Ambubachi Mela is celebrated. This tantrik fertility mela attracts thousands of tantriks, aghoris and sadhus from across the world, displaying their formidable psychic powers. The colour red – red flowers, vermillion, red cloth – stands out during the rituals. The maddening display of magic and mysticism makes for an extraordinary spectacle.

{Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R) Raj Kadyan}