Today’s Motto: ‘A reasonable man adapts himself to the world: an unreasonable one persists in trying to….

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

On this day, 16 Jul….

622 – Muslim Era begins – Muhammad begins flight from Mecca to Medina (Hijra).

1661 – 1st banknotes in Europe are issued by Bank of Stockholm.

1867 – Reinforced concrete was patented by F. Joseph Monier, a gardner in Paris, to reinforce garden tubs, beams and posts.

1905 – A decision to boycott British goods was taken at Bagarhat. During Swadeshi movement tonns of English textiles and other daily use goods were put to fire.

1926 – National Geographic takes 1st natural-colour undersea photos.

1929 – Indian Council of Agricultural Research, an autonomous apex national organisation which plans, conducts and promotes research, education, training and transfer of technology for advancement of agriculture and allied sciences, was established.

1935 – The first parking meters were installed in the Oklahoma City business district.

1936 – 1st x-ray photo of arterial circulation, Rochester, NY.

1954 – French rule ends in Mahe. De facto power was transferred to the people and the Indian flag hoisted.

1969 – Apollo 11 was launched. It paved the way for the first human landing on the Moon.

1993 – Russia cancels cryogenic rocket deal with India.

1996 – The four basin states of Narmada valley – Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra – reach agreement to raise the height of Sardar Sarovar dam in Gujarat to 436′ after which hydrological studies will be done for 5 years to decide whether the height should be raised to the awarded 455′.

2013 – 27 children are killed and 25 are hospitalised after eating lunch contaminated with insecticide in India. (The children aged four to 12 fell ill after consuming a lunch of rice, soybean and lentils in the school, at Mashrakh village in  district Chapra, Bihar. The school provided free meals under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, the world’s largest school feeding programme involving 120 million children).

2018 – 12 new moons discovered orbiting Jupiter bringing planet’s moon total to 79.

2023 – Persian Gulf International Airport on Iran’s southwestern coast hits a heat index high of 66.7 C at 12:30 p.m., beyond what humans can endure.

Born…. 1909 – Aruna Asaf Ali, social worker, educator, publisher and freedom fighter during Quit India Movement in 1942. Later she started journals Link and Patriot, espousing mainly communist and progressive ideology.

1930 – Sachin Bhowmick, popular screenwriter, director known for film Raja Rani, a romantic  comedy in 1973.He wrote scripts for  films  Aayee Milan  Ki Bela, Anuradha, Love In Tokyo, Aaye Din, Bahar Ke, Brahamcvhari, Aaraadhana, An Evening in Paris, Pehchan, Aan Milo Sajna,  Caravan, Gol Maal. Karz  etc. He won a National Film award and 3 Filmfare awards.

1982 – Aamna Sharif, po[pular Bollywood  actor. Known for films like Kahin to Hoga, Honge Juda Na Hum and Kadauti Zindi Ki televsion serial.

1984 – Katrina Kaif, actor. Hong Kong born very successful  Bollywood heroine who has won 3 Filmfare, 4 Screen awards  and 4 Zee Cine awards. She has acted in  films like Ek The Tiger, Zindgi Na Milegi Dobara,  Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Boom, Namastey London, Maine Pyar Kyon Kiya etc.

You may have known…. As of March 31, 2024, the Indian Railways has a total route length of 69,181 km. This includes all the routes open for traffic, with double or more than double lines counted only once.                                                                                                                       {Compiled by  Lt. Gen. (R)  Raj Kadyan}