Today’s Motto: ‘A thoughtless decision taken in a hurry can have lifelong implication’

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

On this day, 20 Oct….
National Solidarity Day!

1568 – Akbar attacks Chittorgarh,  the capital  of  Mewar.  Chittorgah Fort built by  Chittrangda Mori in the  8th century, was attacked by  Chitrangda Mori ruler. It has a long history of  Rana Kumbha, Rana Sanga,  Maharana Pratap,  Rana Udai Singh as a child  saved by  Panna Dhai , 8 month  seize by Alludin  Khilji’s army,  Rani Padmini committing Sati to save her honour  and later prince  Amar Singh serving as Akbar’s Commander and for sometime Sisodia clan also ruling the  Riyasat.

1774 – Kolkata (then Calcutta) became the capital of India.

1962 – China launched a major offensive, marking the start of the Sino-Indian War. (There had been a series of violent border incidents after the 1959 Tibetan uprising, when India had granted asylum to the Dalai Lama. Unable to reach political accommodation on disputed territory along the 3,225-kilometre-long Himalayan border, the Chinese launched simultaneous offensives in Ladakh and across the McMahon Line on 20 October 1962).

1999 – The Centre accepts the recommendations of the Backward Classes Commission on the inclusion of Jats and other backward classes (OBCs) in Rajasthan except Bharatpur and Dholpur districts.

Born…. 1957 – Kumar Sanu, (born as Kedarnath Bhattacharya), known professionally as Kumar Sanu, is an Indian playback singer. He has primarily worked in Hindi cinema during the 1990s.  He has a Guinness  World Record of Recording 28 songs in 24 hours with different  musicians. He has been awarded Padma Shri in 2010, 5 Filmfare awards and 9 nominations for Aashuiqui, Saajan, Deewana, Baazigar, 1942 -A Love Story, Pardesh, Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai, Ham Dil De Chuke Sanam, Andaaz etc.

1963 – Navjot Singh Sidhu, Patiala  born powerful and  prolific  Indian opening batsman. Played 51 Tests and 136 ODIs and  other formats. Has 9 Test centuries and 6 in ODIs. Also a  TV  show  co-host with  Kapil Sharma and politician.  Sidhu has worked with  Congress, BJP,  AAP and then Congress but is now retired. Also won Amritsar Lok Sabha seat apart from being a minister in Punjab and PCC president for a while. He also has a road-raze case of  killng a  person in traffic-brawl.

1978 –  Virender Sehwag, another one of India’s most prolific and popular opening batsman.  He’s the first Indian batsman to  score a triple century in Test cricket, on March 29, 2004 against Pakistan in Multan. He is called Sultan of Multan. He played 104 Tests,  251 ODIs, 19 T20s  and 104 IPL  matches with an average of 49.34 and a strike rate of 82.. Scored 8,886 in Tests and 8,273 runs in ODIs. He has 2 triple centuries and 40 first class centuries to his credit. Has been awarded Padam Shri, Arjuna award, appeared as Cricketer of The Year in Wisden Book of Records twice and ICC Test Player of the Year in 2010. He opened the Virender Sehwag Cricket Academy for coaching youngsters of 6-18 years, in Jhajjar (Haryana) after retirement.   (pic credit-zeenews.com).

1979 – Nargis Fakhri. US born romantic Bollywood actress, known for roles in  Rockstar, Madras Cafe, Spy, Azhar,  Mein Tera Hero etc.Has won about 9 awards  including Filmfare Glamour award and a nomination as Best Female Debutant, Zee Cine Stardust  and  American awards.

RIP…. 1956 – Lawrence Dale Bell, American aircraft designer and aircraft manufacturer, founder of Bell Aircraft Co, whose experimental X-1 rocket-propelled airplane in 1947 was the first to break the sound barrier in level flight.                                                                                                                                    You may have known…. As of 2024 approximately 1.17 million children are currently not enrolled in primary, secondary, or senior secondary education in India.                                                                      In Hindu faith and ritual, the ceremony of shaving the head, called a ‘mundan’, is believed to rid the baby of negativity from their past life and cleanse the child’s body and soul.

 Some Hindus in India take the baby’s hair to scatter in the holy river Ganges, while some Muslims weigh it and donate the equivalent weight in silver to charity.                                                                                               {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R)  Raj Kadyan}