Today’s Motto: ‘It is rare to meet a man so ignorant that we couldn’t learn something from him’

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

On this day, 21 Aug ….

1986 – More than 1700 people died when toxic gas erupted from Lake Nyos, a volcanic lake in the West African nation of Cameroon. The gas was carbon dioxide which, being more dense than air, hugged the ground and flowed down valleys. The cloud travelled as far as 15 miles from the lake. It was moving fast enough to flatten vegetation, including a few trees. In addition to the human deaths caused by suffocation, 845 people were hospitalised and 3,000 cattle died.

2000 – Uma Bharti, the Sanyasin Member of Parliament of the BJP, resigns from the Lok Sabha and the party’s national executive committee.

2017 – Johnson & Johnson is ordered to pay $417 million to a woman who develops ovarian cancer after using their talc-based products.

2018 – Water ice is first detected on the Moon by India’s Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft (2008-9) in findings published by scientists.

2024 – Afghanistan’s Taliban regime issues new vice and virtue laws banning the sound of women’s voices or singing in public and travelling anywhere without a male escort.

Born….  1911 – Ismat Chughtai. Famous Urdu novelist, short story  writer, film maker and  feminist. Marxist ideologist. Films Shikayat, Ziddi, Arzoo,   Garam Hawa, Darwaja,  Sone Ki Chidiya, Junoon etc. were based on her stories/dialogues.  She won  a National Film Award, a Filmfare, Soviet Land Nehru Award and many nominations.  She preferred a Burial after death, instead of cremation in a Grave.  She was awarded Padma Shri.

1961 – V. B. Chandrasekhar, Indian cricketer who pl84 and 184 against England in ayed 7 ODIs during 1987-88. He played overall 81 first class matches scoring 4,999 runs.  He scored the fastest century  in Irani Trophy  with 56 balls. Hev also worked as coach  for Tamil Nadu and commentator for a while. He committed suicide iue to financial problems on Augiust 19, 2019.

1961 – Stephan Hillanburg, American writer, animator, producer, marine biologist. He won 6 Emmy awards and was nominated to 11 more,  17 Annie award nominations, 2 Bitish Academy awards, 2 nominations and several other acolades. He did some childrens short films and TV series. He had a net worth of $ 120 million.

1986 – Usain Bolt, Jamaican sprinter who is regarded as one of the greatest  sprinters who has 8 Olympic Golds in 100 m, 200m and 4 x 100 m.relay. He holds  World Record in 100 m  World Althetics in 2009.

RIP…. 1978 – Vinoo Mankad, Indian all rounder and captain  (44 Tests, scored 2,109 runs). He is credited with Record opening Partnership of 413  runs  with Pankaj Roy in 1956  having 231 to his credit.  The match was played at Chennai against New Zealand.  He is also known for Mankading a batsman  (run  out for being too far  from the  crease) while backing up at non-striker’s end. He had earlier warned the player for his error.

2006 – Ustad Bismillah Khan,  legendary Shehnai player born in Dumraon Bihar but moved to Benaras and learnt  the art from his maternal uncle there. Known as Ustad, he performed Shehnai Vadan at Red Fort on August 15, 1947,   who mesmerised audience world over with his  performance. He was awarded Bharat Ratna in 2001.

You may have known…. As of July 1,2022, 10.5% of Indian population was 60 years or above.

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