Today’s Motto: ‘An Ounce of Action is Worth a Ton of Theory.

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

On this day,  May 21……..

1819 – The first bicycle in the U.S. was seen in New York City. Such bicycle velocipedes or “swift walkers” had been imported that same year. Shortly thereafter, on 19 Aug 1819, the city’s Common Council passed a law to “prevent the use of velocipedes in the public places and on the sidewalks of the city of New York.”

1853 – The Aquatic Vivarium,  world’s first public aquarium, by naturaliast  Philip Henry Gosse and Anna Thynne was opened in Regent’s Park Zoo, London   (credit-jamaica-history-weebly.com).

1873 – The idea of a “travelling sidewalk” for rapid transit along Broadway in New York City was printed in the New York Times. Its inventor proposed to build two sidewalks, one in each direction, continually moving at 19 mph. How pedestrians would embark or disembark was not disclosed, although reportedly, the inventor had a satisfactory solution.

1904 – FIFA (Federation Internationale  de Football Association)  is founded  by Belgium, Denmark, France,  Germany, the Nethjerlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland to organise Soccer  World Cup in Europe. With headquarters in Hottingen,  Zurich,  FIFA  now has 211 member associations from Europe,  Africa, Asia and  American continents.

1906 – Louis Henry Perlman of New York City applied for a patent for his invention of the demountable tyre-carrying rim, similar to those used on today’s cars, but wider.

1994 – The Indian Union Government imposes blanket ban on capitation fee for admission to private professional colleges.

1998 – India declares a moratorium on nuclear testing.

2013 – In the House of Commons, MsP approve of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, advancing the right for gay marriage in England and Wales (pic credit-iStock).

2019 – More than 600 people, 75% children, identified as HIV in a month in Sindh province, Pakistan, thought to be due to the use of infected needles.

Born…. 1960 – Mohanlal (Viswanathan Nair) ,  Malayalam actor, singer, director  and producer. Acted in about 350  films Drishyam, Neru, Jailer, Malaikottai Vaalibaan, Chitram ,Monster etc. Won 4 National Film awards, 9 Kerala State, 9 Filmfare South and Kerala awards, 4 South India International and 11 Kerala Film Critics Assn. awards Padma Bhushan in 2019.  He has an honorary rank of Lt. Col. from Indian Territorial Army.

1971 – Aditya Chopra, screenwriter. Son of popular film producer/director Yash Chopra. Directed Dil Wale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Tiger 3, Muhabbten, Pathan, Befikre etc.  He’s maaried to famous heroine Rani Mukerji (pic credit-Variety).

1976 – Aditi Gowitrikar, model, actress,  physician and psyscologist, Mrs. World 2001. Acted in films like Soch, 16 December, De Dana Dan, Dhund,-the Fog, NRI Wives, Bheja Fry etc. Won Kingfisher Model of the Decade, Maharashtra Ratna, Rajiv Gandhi award (pic credit-Facebook).

RIP…. 1991 – Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by a human bomb explosion at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu, 40 km from Chennai, at 10.20 P.M.

You may have known…. 

1. The world’s second largest road network is in India—approximately 6.7 million km of roads cover the country. (US has the longest – 6.7 million km).

2.  Barcelona (Spain) boasts special playgrounds for senior citizens.                                                                                                               {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R) Raj Kadyan}