Today’s Motto: ‘Those willing to strive, can reach any destination they choose’

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

On this day, 14 Sep ….
(Hindi Diwas is celebrated in India, marking the adoption of Hindi as the official language in 1949).

1716 – The first lighthouse in America, called Boston Light, was first lighted just before the sunset.  This has guided ships since then. This was blown up by the British in 1776, but America  rebuilt in 1783. The lighthouse is also the last remaining manned station in the U.S.

1820 – Agri-Horticultural Garden of Calcutta started  by William Carrey,  is opened for public.

1833 – William Bentick came to India as the first Governor-General from Britain.

1886 – The first U.S. patent for a typewriter ribbon was issued to George Kerr Anderson. The invention was to provide portions near the ends of a ribbon with a contrasting colour to notify the operator of the machine to manually change the direction of the ribbon feed. Although the typed result near the end of a ribbon would be in a different colour, it was not lost.

1905 – The ol dest car race still run was first held on the Isle of Man, Great Britain for the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy (pic credit-ar.inspiredpencil.com).

1948 – Ground breaking ceremony for United Nations   Headquarters in New York city.

1953 – Andhra Pradesh was established out of  Madras Presidency. Hyderabad became  its  capital instead of Karnul (earstwhile capital).

1960 – OPEC was established by the mineral oil producing countries of the Gulf.

1965 – Pakistan Air Force bombs Calcutta and Agartala civilian airports when it was losing the battle on Punjab  border,  in an effort to build pressure and  escalate war in the Eastern Front. Indian Army had reached Lahore  on the Western Front.

1991 – Assam declared ‘disturbed area’, army launches ‘Operation Rhino’ against ULFA militants.

2012 – The Japanese Coast Guard reports six Chinese Marine Surveillance ships are sighted near the disputed Senkaku Islands; China claims the ‘two surveillance ship fleets’ are in waters around the islands for purposes of ‘patrols and law enforcement’.

2020 – Astronomers report a possible sign of life on Venus, the  second planet in our Solar system,  after detecting phosphine in the planet’s atmosphere through a telescope (pic credit-www.galactic-hunter.com).

Born…. 1915 – Gopaldas Parmanand Sippy, Hindi film producer and director, known for producing many popular Bollywood blockbusters such as Sita Aur Geeta (1972), Shaan (1980), Sagar (1985), Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, and  Amar Kriti and  Sholey with his son Ramesh Sippy.

1930 – Rajkumar Kohli, very popular and successful  film producer-cum-director. He directed/produced  Punjabi  films Dulla Bhatti, Mein Jatti Punjab Di, Pind Di Kurrhi,  and in  Hindi Lootera with Dara Singh. Also Naagin, Badle Ki Aag, Jaani Dushman, Raaj Tilak, Naukar Biwi Ka, Virodhi, Inteqaam, Bees Saal Baad,  Qahar,    Aulad Ke Dushman etc. His son Armaan Kohli is also a Bollywood actor and  did  a few films. He was nominated for film awards several times.

1984 – Ayushmann (Nishant) Khurrana,  Chandigarh born  presenter, singer, talented  actor  who debuted in Hindi films with Vicky Donor and won a Filmfare award in 2012. Though started with TV show MTV Rowdies in 2004, he  played  creative roles on  social issues in films like  Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Bareili Ki Barfi, Shubhmangal Saavdhan,  Badhai Ho,  Dream Girl, Bala, Andhadhun, Shubhmangal Zyada Saavdhan etc.  His younger brother Aparshakti is also an actor. He was listed   among  Forbe’s  Celebrity  100 in 2013, 2019  and Time’s  100 Most Influential   People of the World. He won a National Film and 2 Filmfare awards. (pic credit-news9live.com).

RIP…. 1868 – Swami Virjanand  (Dandeesha), a reverred  Blind  Sanskrit grammar literateur and master. Born in Kartarpur (Punjab),  he  travelled to Mathura, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Benaras, Gaya, Calcutta  in search of Vedic knowledge and taught Vedanta.  he was  the Guru of Swami Dayanand  Saraswati, who founded Arya Samaj in 1875.

Titbits….1868 – Golf’s 1st recorded  hole-in-one (by Tom Morris at Prestwick’s 8th hole). Known as Old Tom Morris, he  was a legendary Golfer of Scotland (UK), who set-up a Golf Course and academy in his own  backyard..

You may have known…. India has a network of over 6,617,100 km of roads. As of Dec 2024, India has the largest road network in the world.  NHAI (National Highway Authority of India)  took up the task of  expanding roads network (Highways and Expressway)  in a big way after  BJP govt. came to  power in  2014. Some of the highways are  worthy of  landing an Aeroplanes  comfortably.

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