Today’s Motto: ‘A friend’s eye is the best mirror’
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 History Books!
This is Your Day-TODAY: Take a Determined Step Forward and Make History !
On this day, 28 Jan….
1807 – London’s Pall Mall became the first street of any city to be illuminated by gaslight. 1846 – Batt
le of Aliwal: British forces under Sir Harry Smith defeated the Sikh army in a major clash during the First Anglo-Sikh War.
1896 – The first over-speeding fine was handed out to a British motorist Walter Arnold for being caught doing 8 mph in a 2 mph built up zone, and was fined one shilling. That speed limit had been in force since 1865. The speed limit was raised to 20 mph in 1903, and to 30 mph within built up areas in 1934, which it has remained ever since.
1911 – The famous Hope diamond, once worn by Marie Antoinette, was bought this night for over $300,000 by Ned McLean, son of John McLean. Mrs. McLean wore it as a head ornament, guarded by a former Secret Service man who in turn was guarded by two private detectives. Walnut-sized and exquisitely blue in color, the 44.5-carat stone was mined from India. Its ownership passed from Kings Louis XIV, Louis XVI, and a London banker named Hope. A sinister history of ill luck, madness, and violent death clings to the unique gem . (pic credit-Smithsonian Library & Archives)
1933 – The name Pakistan is coine
d by Choudhary Rehmat Ali Khan and was accepted by a majority of Indian Muslims, who then adopted it further for the Pakistan Movement seeking independence.
1950 – Supreme Court of India established: Two days after India became a Republic, the Supreme Court of India was inaugurated, replacing the Federal Court of India.
1961 – HMT Watch Factory: The first factory of HMT (Hindustan Machine Tools) watches was started in Bangalore. Initially it manufactures MHT watches under Citizen Watch Co. of Japan, and tractors, farm equipment etc.
1998 – A TADA court in Chennai sentenced all 26 accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case to death.
2010 – Five murderers of Bangladesh first President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
were hanged: Lieutenant Colonel Syed Faruq Rahman, Lieutenant Colonel Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Major AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed, Major Bazlul Huda and Lieutenant Colonel Mohiuddin Ahmed.
Born…. 1865 – Lala Lajpat Rai ‘Punjab Kesari’, great valiant freedom fighter, social reformer, humanitarian and lawyer. He was fatally injured due to heavy lathi-charge by Briti
sh soldiers, while protesting against Simon Commission in Lahore. (pic credit-www.whoa.in).
1899 – General (Later Field Marshall) K.M. Cariappa, first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army (Oct. 14, 1951 to Jan. 15, 1953).
1928 – Dr. Raja Ramanna, renowned physicist and nuclear scientist. He played an important role as head of organisation, exploding India’s first Neclear test in Pokharan was conducted successfully on May 18, 19
74 (called operation Buddha Smiles). He was later made Minister of a State for Defence and Member of Rajya Sabha. He was awarded Padam Vibhushan in 1975.
1930 – Pandit Jasraj, classical vocalist of the Mewati Gharana. His musical career spanned 75 years resulting in national and international fame, respect and numerous major awards including Bharat Ratan in 2013, Padma Vibhushan, Sangeert Natak Akademy, Maharashtra 
Gaurav, Pu La Deshpande award and many more.
1986 – Shruti Haasan, Indian film actress, daughter of popular South India’s romantic hero Kamal Hassan. She has acted in Teleugu, Tamil and Hindi films, and 2 Flimfare South, 7 South In
dia Film awards and many accolades.Her films Ramiya Vasthavayya, Valupu, Pujai, Vadalam etc. have been successful.
RIP…. 1984 – Sohrab Meherwanji Modi, famous drama and film producer, director and 
actor. He was known for very powerful dialogue delivery in films like Yehudi, Sikandar, Prithvi Ballabh, Pukar, Mirza Ghalib, Jhansi Ki Rani, Nausherwan-e Adil, Ghar Ki Laaj, Mera Ghar Mere Bachche, Woh Koi Aur Hoga, Jwala etc. He was honored with Dadasaheb Phalke Award in1980.
2007 – O.P. Nayyar (Omkar Prasad Nayyar) was a popular Indian film music composer, singer-
songwriter, music producer, and musician. He is considered as one of the most rhythmic and melodious music directors of the Indian cinema. He composed music for Aar Paar (1954), Naya Daur, Ragini, Baap Re Baap, Kaneez, CID, Mr. & Mrs. ’55, Kalpana, Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Basant, sone Ki Chidiya, Heera Moti, Titbits…. 
1887 – In a snowstorm at Fort Keogh, Montana, the world’s largest snowflakes are reported, being 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick (pic credit-Reddit.com).
You may have known…. The World’s First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara Temple at 
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The shikhara of the temple is made from a single 80-tonne piece of granite. This magnificent temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of Rajaraja Chola. 
{Composed by Lt. Gen. (R) Raj Kadyan}
