Today’s Motto: ‘Courage isn’t having the strength to go on…..
..... it is the Going-on When You Don't Have the Strength'
As Every Day makes a new beginning in life, it brings new opportunities, opens new avenues, to perform and make a mark, to write a Page in the History Books!
This is Your Day-TODAY: Take a Determined Step Forward and Make History!
On this day, 19 Aug ….
1600 – Akbar captured Ahmednagar. (On the fall of Ahmadnagar the emperor Akbar conferred its governance on the Khwaja Beg Mirza Safawi).
1666 – Shivaji Maratha staged an audacious escape from the clutches of the formidable Aurangzeb. Through a stroke of ingenuity and an audacious plan, Shivaji found refuge within an unlikely vessel: a humble fruit basket. This heart-pounding escape not only showcased his resourcefulness but also added a touch of legend to his already awe-inspiring narrative.
1757 – East India Company minted its very first rupee coin at the venerable Calcutta mint. This seemingly modest coin carried immense historical significance, signifying the growing economic and political power of the company on the Indi
an subcontinent (pic credit-telegraphindia.com).
1856 – Gail Borden of New York, was issued a U.S. patent his process for condensed milk. Condensed milk could be preserved for long periods of storage, and in this form milk became more readily available in large cities than had been possible before. His company’s advertising slogan “The milk from contented cows” was one of the great American advertising campaigns.
1919 – Afghanistan declares independence from U.K. (Although Afghanistan was never part of the British Empire, the British fought three wars with Afghanistan).
1934 -A significant referendum, (90%+ approval) marked Adolf Hitler’s ascendancy as “Führer u
nd Reichskanzler” or “leader and chancellor” of Germany. This consolidation of power foreshadowed the turbulent period that would follow, leaving an ugly mark on global history.
1944 – Last Japanese troops driven out of India. (The Battle of Imphal took place from March until July 1944. Japanese armies were driven back into Burma with heavy losses. Together with the simultaneous Battle of Kohima, the battle was the turning point of the Burma Campaign, part of the South-East Asian Theatre of the Second World War. The defeat at Kohima and Imphal was the largest d
efeat to that date in Japanese history).
1949 – Bhubaneshwar was declared Odisha’s capital.
1960 – Sputnik 5 was launched, carrying two dogs named Belka (Squirrel) and Strelka (Little Arrow), along with 40 mice, 2 rats and a variety of plants, beginning a safe round trip into Space, after 
which they became the first living organisms to return from space. 1991 – Gennadi Yanayev & KGB coup in Russia depose Mikhail Gorbachev.
Born…. 1916 – Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, former President of India (July 1992- July 1997). He took the decesion of appointing Atal Behari Vajpayee as Prime Minister as leader of BJP, the largest Party in Lok Sabha in 1996. The BJP Govt. had to resign in 13 days, due to failure to get majority support in two weeks, though it was a very short time given (explained as reason to discourage horse trading). Later h
e appoi9nted Devegowda and IK Gujaral as short lived PMs (Unitede Front).
1946 – William Jefferson Clinton, known as Bill Clinton was the 42nd President of United States between 19
93-2001 known for peacetime economic reforms. He was the 2nd president of the US to be impeached in 1998 for being sexually involved with an office intern Monicka Lewinsky. (but aquited by the Senate next year)
1950 – Sudha Murthy. Indian writer, educationist, philanthropist spouse of InfoSys promotor NR Narayan Murthy. Chairperson of InfoSys Foundation. She has been awarded Padma Shri and Raja Lakshmi award. Nominated Member of Rajya Sabha in 2024.
1967 – Satya Nadella, an Indian-American business executive, who assumed the roles of executive chairman and CEO of Microsoft in 2014. Hyderabad born Nadella, did his Electrical Engineering from Manipal Institue of Engg. in 1988 and moved to University of Winconsin to study Computter Science (M.Sc,) and MBA later. Joined Microsoft in 1992, rose to be CEO and Chairman in 2021. His visionary approach and strategic acumen have propelled Microsoft’s evolution into a global technology leader. He has been awa5rded Padma Bhushan and Pravasi Bhartiya Samman. His net worth is about $ 1.1 Billion (2025).
RIP…. 1977 – Groucho Marx (Julius Henery) was an American comedian, writer, director. He set up Marx Brothers, film company with his brothers and produced popular films Duck Soup, Night at the Opera A, Verbal Humour and Quiz Show etc. (pic credit-inckredible.com) .
You may have known…. In 1947, infant mortality rates for babies under one year hovered around 180 to 200 per 1000 live births.
2. The divorce rate in India is relatively low compared to many other countries, with estimates hovering around 1%. However, this low rate may be misleading due to social stigma surrounding divorce, particularly in rural areas. While the overall rate is low, divorce rates are increasing, particularly in urban areas and among the younger generation, due to factors like changing societal norms, increased financial independence of women, and a growing acceptance of divorce as an option for unhappy couples. 
{Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R) Raj Kayan)