Today’s Motto: ‘An attitude of positive expectation reflects a superior personality’

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

On this day, 25 Oct….

1854 – Charge of Light Brigade, 409 die.

1870 – Postcards first used in USA.

1924 – Subhash Chandra Bose was arrested for alleged revolutionary activity.

1947 – Following a Pakistani invasion thru’ Razakars, the Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, appealed to the Indian government for assistance in saving Jammu & Kashmir from invaders.

1951 – Start of the first general elections.

1960 – First electronic wrist watch placed on sale.

1964 – First indigenous tank was manufactured in Awdi factory near Chennai and was named ‘Vijayant’. It now produces Vijayant, Kartik, BLT, M-16, Catyapult, T-72, Ajeya, Arjun MBT and Bhisham T-90 tanks.  It now operates on Solar power and saves Rs. 45 million  worth of pollution annually. (pic credit-oneindia.com).

1984 – Hepatitis virus is discovered  by two different teams led by French scientist  Françoise Barré-Sinoussi  and American Dr. Robert Gallo. Francoise  was awarded Nobel Prize in 2008.  It is believed HIV virus develops mostly from Sexual transmission and   takes about 9-11 years to be fully blown and deadly. (pic credit-clinicalinfo.hiv.gov).                                                                                                                       1995 – Indian PM PV Narasimha Rao addresses 50the Anniversay meeting  of  UN General Assembly.

1997 – 180mw Lower Periyar Hydroelectric Project in Kerala commissioned after 13 long years.

Born…. 1881 – Pablo Piccasso (José Francisco de Paula).  Picasso was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and theatre designer who spent most of his adult life in France. He is believed to have  done over 16,000 paintings.

1945 – Aparna Sen, screenwriter, producer, director. She appeared in 36 Chowringhee Lane, Pather Panchali, Parama, Goynar Baksho, Mr. & Mrs. Iyer, The Rapist, The Japanese Wife etc. She won 13 Bengal Film Journalists, 5 Filmfare and 9 National Film awards.  Romantic actress Konkana Sen Sharma is her daughter.  (pic credit-India Content).  

1962 – Soni Razdan, Bollywood actor, acted in Dil Dosti, Yours Truly, Baazi, Patiala House, No Fathers in Kashmir, Sardar’s Grandson, Pippa etc. She married  veteran director/producer Mahesh Bhatt in 1986 and  Ali Bhatt is her daughter.

1985- Katy Perry.  Popular American pop star,  club ready  dancer. Married to Russel Brand (2010-12) and later  4 times  and  most recently to  former  Canadian  PM  Justin Trudeau. Has an  estimated  networth of $400 million.

1987 – Umesh Yadav,  Nagpur born Indian fast bowler and strong ball hitter. Scored 6 sixes in a Ranji Trophy match playing at No. 10 on May 09 this year, hitting 7 sixes, 7 Fours to score 128 runs* for Vidarbha vs Andhra team..

RIP….  1980 – Sahir  Ludhyanavi (Abdul Hayee), must famous Hindi/Urdu poet. He is believed to have written 731 songs, mostly all were  hit featuring  in 122 films during his 31 year long career.  His lines ‘Ye mahlon ye takhton ye taajon ki duniya / Ye insaan ke dushman samaajon ki duniya / Ye daulat ke bhooke rivaajon ki duniya / Ye duniya agar mil bhi jaye to kya hai’ are immortal. He won 3 Filmfare awards and several others. He was also honored with Padam Shri by Govt. of India. (song video credit-Shemaroo)

2005 – Nirmal Verma.   Shimla  (H.P.)  born  ,popular Hindi novelist,  poet, originator  of Nayi Kahani movement. Communist Party activist, he went to Prague and stayed  for 10 years  translating Yugoslavian lterature. Was awarded Jnanpeeth award in 1999, Padma Bhushan  and other  literary  honours.

2012 – Jaspal Bhatti, popular comediain TV and  cine actor. Known for satirical serials Flop Show, Full Tension, Power Cut  and Ulta Pulta in Punjabi and Hindi. Also acted in films like Mahaul Theek Hai, Shahji Di Advice, Kuchh Meetha  Ho Jai, Kartoos etc. He was awarded Padam Bhushan and Lifetime Achievement award at Fitst Golden Kela Awards.                                  You may have known…. India’s overall unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in September 2025, up from  5.1% in August 2025. This increase was primarily driven by a rise in rural unemployment during rainy season.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R)  Raj Kadyan}