Today’s Motto: ‘Don’t count the days; make the days count’

On this day,  Apr. 16…….

1705 – Isaac Newton was knighted at Trinity College, Cambridge.

1724 – 1st Easter observed.

1842 – Salvin Kellogg patented his air-heating stove design.

1853 – The first passenger rail opens in India, from Bori Bunder, Bombay to Thane.

1878 – A U.S. patent for coating items with celluloid was issued to John Hyatt.

1895 – Black American inventor, Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus of Newton, New Jersey, patented a “machine for embossing photographs”.

1912 – American aviator Harriet Quimby became the first female pilot to fly across the English Channel. (She was the first American woman to become a licensed pilot, but her career as a pilot lasted a mere 11 months. She died on 1 Jul 1912, when she lost control of her plane at a flying exhibition).

1943 – The hallucinogenic effect of the drug LSD, (lysergic acid diethylamide), was first observed. Swiss chemist, Albert Hofmann had synthesised the drug five years earlier, but hopes of its use for treating respiratory problems were not fulfilled, and it was shelved. On this day, he accidentally absorbed some of the drug through his skin from touching its container. It affected his nervous system such that he became dizzy with hallucinations.

1947 – The first zoom lens for the television camera was demonstrated by the National Broadcasting Company in New York City. Previously, moving into a close-up shot required moving the entire camera toward the actor or object, or away for a long-distance shot. Now the same zoom effects could be produced using the Zoomar lens, which revolutionised TV sports.

1956 – A radio made to run either on batteries or solar-cell power was first sold in the U.S. By using six transistors instead of vacuum tubes, the radio needed so little electricity that with six ordinary flashlight batteries it could give 700 to 1,000 hours of use.

1959 – Raurkela Iron Project’s first furnace started functioning.

1976 – The Indian govt announces its new birth-control programme to curb population growth.

2013 – The defence ministry of China accuses the United States of increasing tensions in the Asia-Pacific region by increasing its military presence and supporting Vietnam, Japan and the Philippines in long-term  

territorial disputes with the country.

Born…. 1867 – Wilbur Wright, who with his brother Orville, invented the first powered airplane.

1918 – Lalita Pawar. Legendary character actor, most in negative mother-in-law roles. Acted in Aurat, Sujata, Anari, Shri 420, Mr. & Mrs 55, Aarjoo, Sau Din Saas Ke, Parvarish, Gharana,   Daag etc. Won Filmfare and Sangeet Natak Academy awards.

1978 – Lara Dutta, model and actor. acted in Andaaz, Partner, Bhagam Bhag, Billu Barber etc. (pic credit-Facebook).

RIP…. 1801 – Warrior Yashwant Vithoji Holkar of Peshwa kingdom, was assassinated. Was known for promoting fashion jewelery, stylist dresses and benevollent administration. Devoted to Hindu religion and culture and revival of several relious places, Mandirs and Dharashalas  etc. He was called Nepoleon of Bharat for his  bravery and triumphs in the Western and  Central India.

2011 – HH Brig. Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh Bahadur, MVC of Jaipur. (Commanded  Para  Commandos of the 10th Parachute Regiment in the 1971 war against Pakistan and was responsible for the capture of Chachro in Sindh). he was celebrated as male  heir to the kingdom was born  after many generations  and was the last recognized Maharaja of Jaipur, before PM Indira Gandhi abolished the status and previleges to merged states of India. 

1974 – Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, 2nd President of India, Hindu  Scholar, philosopher and litterateur. He also wrote  several books on Vedanta, Sanatan religion, The Principal Upnishads and Dhammapada (Buddhism).

 You may have known….

1.  Agni III is the most accurate missile in its range category. Placed into service for Armed Forces in 2011, it has a range of 3,500 km.

2. Most bats can’t take off from the ground.

    {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R) Raj Kadyan}