Today’s Motto: ‘Beware what you wish for; the Gods may grant it to you’
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, 02 Feb….
1509 – The Battle of Diu occurred, where Portuguese forces defeated a combined fleet of the Sultan of G
ujarat, the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, and the Ottoman Empire .
1665 – British forces capture New Amsterdam, the centre of the Dutch colony in North America. The trading settlement on the island of Manhattan is to be renamed New York in honour of t
he Duke of York, its new governor. (pic credit-audleytravel.com).
1795 – A prize of 12,000 francs was offered by the French government for a method of preserving food and transporting it to its armies. The winner was Nicholas Appert, a French chef who invented a way to can food.
1802 – The first leopard, (Bengal Tiger) to be exhibited in the United States was shown by Othello Pollard in Boston, Mass. It cost 25 cents to see the ‘import from Bengal’ (pic credit-houstonwelt.eu).
1814 – The Calcutta Museum (now Indian Museum) was established.
1835 – Macaulay’s Minute on Indian Education was implemented, making English the language of instruction.
1947 – Beginning of polaroid photography.
1
952 – India recorded its first-ever Test cricket match victory, defeating England in Madras by an Innings and 8 runs. Match was played between Feb. 06-10. (pic credit-cricindeed.com).
1953 – The All India Khadi and Village Industries Board was established in New Delhi.
1958 – Mrs Indira Gandhi elected president of the Congress party.
1962 – Eight of the nine planets lined up for the first time in 400 years.
1965 – Government sanction was accorded to the Officers Training School for the start of Short Service Regular Commission.
1967 – US President Johnson orders consignment of 2 mil. tons of food grains to be sent to India.
1978 – The Indian National Congress (I) recognized as a national party and allotted the election symbol ‘hand’ (Palm).
1982 – Geet Sethi becomes the youngest Indian to win the National Billiards’ crown at Madras.
1986 – Dalai Lama meets Pope John Paul II in his office, at Dharmsala (H.P.) (pic credit-
dalailama.com).
Born….1734 – Hakeekat Rai. Young Hindu brilliant student, born in Syalkot (now in Pakistan) murdered by Muslim ruler Shah Nazim when he resisted conversion to Islam. He was just 13 year old, when stood firmly for his relegion and faith
and lost his life.
1887 – Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, social reformer and freedom fighter. The princess of Kapoorthala, an eminent social worker, freedom fighter and political leader, was born a princess in the royal family of King Harman Singh of Kapoorthala. She assisted Gandhi for 18 years and was connected with World Health Organisation and 
Red Cross Society. She was the first Health Minister of India and is credited with setting-up the first AIIMS in Delhi.
1905 – Ayn Rand (Alice O’Connor). Russia born American fiction writer, poet, philosopher who stressed on Objectivism. Her works on Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, Amblem, Romantic Manifesto, The Unknown Ideal, Capitalism etc. 
She was awarded Prometheus Hall of Fame award, Restrospective Hugo Award etc.
1915 – Khushvant Singh, novelist, lawyer, journalist and politician. Known for humour, sarcasm and an abiding love of poetry. Was decorated with the Padma Bhushan in 1974. But he returned the award in 1984 in protest against Operation Blue Star. In 2007 he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan. His novel Train to Pakistan was most popular work, apart from The Company of Women, Biography of a Woman, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and others. He was editor of Illustrated Weekly of India for several years. He also served India’s High Commissioner to England and nominated to Rajya Sabha (1980-86). 
1977 – Shakira. Colombo born pop singer, ans song writer. Known as Queen of Latin America, she won 3 Grammy, 7 Latin American Gammy awards, Artist of the Millenium and other music honors.
RIP….1960 – Acharya Chatursen Shastri. (Chaturbhuj). Bulandshehar born, most popular and well-read author of historical 
and fiction writings in Hindi and Sanskrit. His famous works (about 400) are Somnath Mahalaya, Vyam Rakshamah, Bharatkosh, Ambpalika, Dharamputra, Awaragird, Kakadi ka Keemat, Pratishodh, Kasnyadan, Nirmohi, Bharat Mein Musalman, Goli, Vaishali Ki Nagarvadhu, Acharya Upgupt, Vaishya, Pratishodh etc.
You may have known….1. The highest Baily Bridge in the world is located in the Ladakh valley 
between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982 (pic credit-army archives).
2. Working on the locally available raw materials and with the skills and tools handed over to them by their forefathers, the village artisans produced products 
of high aesthetic quality with ease and efficiency. {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R) Raj Kadyan}
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