Today’s Motto: ‘Disappointments often make us a stronger person for the future’

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

On this day, 23 Dec…                                                                                                                                                                        Kisan Diwas  -Farmer’s Day , celebrating the birth of former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh.

1912 – When New Delhi was declared the capital of India, the Viceroy Lord Hardinge-II entered the city on an elephant but was injured in a bomb explosion. This was followed by  a violent agitation for many days (pic credit-edition.cnn.com).

1921 – Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore inaugurates the Vishva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, West Bengal (pic credit-searanova.publ.pt).                             

1922 – BBC Radio began daily newscasts.

1947 – The transistor was first demonstrated by Walter H. Brattain and John Bardeen to their higher-ups at Bell Laboratories.

1954 – The first successful kidney transplant was carried out. though first  transplant was attempted by  surgeon Yuriy Vorony from Kherson in Ukraine in 1933.

1993 – PM PV Narasimha Rao  announces Local Area Development Scheme by which each MP can sanction projects worth Rs.1 crore., (increased to Rs. 3 crores now).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   1995 – 400 people, mostly children and their parents, die in a fire that broke out during the Annual Day celebrations of DAV Public School in Mandi Dabwali, Haryana.  The fire was suspected to be caused due to electric short-circuit. 

1995 – The crew of the seized Russian AN-26 aircraft in Bombay confess dropping of  arms  at Purulia.

2000 – The Centre gives a green signal to West Bengal Government’s proposal to rename Calcutta as ”Kolkata” the name  taken from Kolikata which reflected   Kalikshetra, the land of Goddess Kali.

2008 – The World Bank banned Hyderabad based Satyam  Computer Services  a major software company of India, after financial scandal.

Born…. 1902 – Chaudhary Charan Singh, former Prime Minister of India (July 28, 1979-Jan. 14, 1980), and a farmers’ leader from Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur-Baghpat  area.   He was a freedom fighter, thinker and staunch Hindu devout.  He bacame the state’s 5th CM as also  India’s 5th PM. Launched a kisan political party Bhartiya Kranti Dal and  Bhartiya Lok Dal . Following differences with Janata Party PM Morarji Desai, he quit the  govt. and party to  become PM with outside support of Congress Party.  Soon  Congress Party withdrew its support and his Govt. fell, leading to Lok Sabha elections in 1980 resulting in resurruction of Indira Gandhi as the  Prime Minister for  4th time.

He also wrote many books and made presentations on Farmers’ issues. Chaudhary Charan Singh was honoured with Bharat Ratan in 2024.

1925 – Surinder Kapoor,  veteran actor, producer  and cousin of legendary Prithviraj Kapoor.  Produced  many films like Ham Paanch, Woh 7 Din,  Judaai,. Loafer, Mr. India,  Pukaar, No Entry, Bhookha Sher etc. He was the father of noted actors/producers  Boney Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor. He was awarded LV Prasad Phalke Award by  Dadasaheb Phalke academy in 2009

1968 – Arbaaz Salim Khan is an Indian actor and film producer who primarily works in Hindi cinema, in addition to Telugu, Urdu and Malayalam cinema. Son of famous Bollywood script writer Salim Khan  and brother of  popular hero Salman Khan. He produced films like Dabangg, Bigg Brother and acted in several films  debuting with Daraar in 2003. H has been awarded a National Film award and  several other awards for Dabangg  viz., Filmfare, Stardust and Zee Cine, IIFA etc.

RIP….   1926 – Swami Shraddhanand, a prominent freedom fighter and social reformer, was assassinated.  Born as Munshi Ram, was an Indian independence activist and Arya Samaj sannyasi who propagated the teachings of Dayananda Saraswati (pic credit-s.du.ac.in).

2000 – Noor Jehan  was an Indian (pre-Partition)  playback singer and actress who sang  hundreds of Punjabi, Urdu and Hindi songs, ghazals and Qawalis  etc.  She was born in Kasur town but  lived in Bombay for a long time.  Shifted to  Pakistan after Partition. She also directed a film Chann Wey in 1951   in Pakistan.  Called the Mallika -e-Tarannum or Melody Queen, she sang over 10,000 songs; for films or else. She was awarded Tamagha-e-Imtiaz and Zeenat awards in Pakistan.

Tidbits….1997 – Woody Allen, 62 weds Soon-Yi Previn 27, adopted daughter of Mia Farrow. He was a famous Hollywood writer, singer and producer known for  Anny Hall, Hanna And Her Sisters for which he won  Academy awards for direction

You may have known….   1. India operates approximately 18 to 19 submarines, while China possesses a much larger fleet of around 61 to 79 submarines.

2.  Coca-Cola would be green if colouring wasn’t added to it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R)  Raj Kadyan}