Today’s Motto: ‘Even the darkest night is followed by dawn’

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

On this day, 20 Jan….

1635 – Goa Accord  signed between Portugal and England, ending their ongoing conflict in Asia and opening Portuguese ports, including China, to English trade.

1914 – The first group of Transvaal Indian women satyagrahis are released from Pietermaritzburg Prison in South Africa after three months imprisonment.

1948 – Bomb exploded near Birla House during a prayer meeting of Gandhi. This was the first of two attempts by the conspirators, with Madanlal Pahwa having been arrested at the scene (pic credit-allthatsinteresting.com).

1948 – The UNSC adopted a resolution to establish a commission to investigate and mediate the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.

1949 – Junagarh formally merged with Saurashtra.

1957 – India’s first nuclear reactor, Apsara, was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

1972 – Reorganization of Northeast India – Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura became full-fledged states. Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram were established as Union Territories, and the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) was renamed Arunachal Pradesh (map credit-peepultree.world).

1998 – American researchers announced they have cloned calves that may produce medicinal milk. This is a step towards the mass production of human drugs in animals. Their goal was to turn cows into drug factories, mass producing milk that contains human proteins important for treating human diseases.

2010 – Mobile number portability services were introduced in India.

Born….. 1732 – Richard Henry Lee.  American statesman who was one of the leaders of independence from the British  Empire and signed 1776 Declaration. He was also the Founder of Virginia state.                                                                                                                                                                                 1871 – Sir Ratanji Jamshedji Tata, famous Indian industrialist. He was the younger son of Jamsetji Tata, who helped expand  Tata  Sons business to England,  Europe and South Africa. He is believed to have donated Rs. 50,000 in 1909 to help him fight on right to work and  conditions in South Africa. He also funded  study on poor workers and help their children persue education. He was  honoured with Knighthood  (decoration as Sir) in1916.

1948 – Ratan Thiyam -Indian theatre personaly, playwriter. Was Director of National School of Drama  1987-88).  He was honored with Kalidas Samman and Sangeet Natak Akademy award in 1978. He wrote a novel Chakravyuha.

1970 – Dolly Bindra, Indian model, actress and participant in TV Show Bigg Boss4 and more. Bigg Boss4  of 2010 had Shweta Tiwar  as the winner and the Great Khali, Manoj Tiwari as co-participants. She is now settled in Dubai and has Real Estate business.

1945: Ajit Doval IPS, India’s National Security Advisor.  An  Indian bureaucrat, spymaster and retired police officer who has been serving as the longest tenured National Security Advisor  to the govt.  of India since 2014. He served as Director of IB, had postings in China, Pakistan and  led several  sensitive  security operations. He has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by 4 Universities, Kirti Chakra and President’s Police Medal.

RIP….1949-Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru. Indian Freedom fighter, prominent lawyer who faught cases for soldiers/officers of  Azad Hind Fauz. Member of the Liberal Party of India. he joined Servants of India Society  founded by legendary Gopal Krishna Gokhle in 1905. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India.

1951- Thakkar Bapa. Indian freedom-fighter and social worker, who  joined Servants of India Society ,  He was also a member of Contituent Assembly of India.

1988 – Khan Abdul Gafar Khan, follower of Mahatma Gandhi, better known as Sarhadi Gandhi or Frontier Gandhi and  Bharat Ratna awardee. He opposed  Partition of India in 1947  despite being a follower of Mahatma Gandhi.

1993 – Lance Naik Karam Singh, one of the first recipients of the Param Vir Chakra. He faught on Burma Front in WW-II and  on Tithwal border in 1947 War against Pakistan on Kashmir border.

2005 – Parveen (Sultana Wali Mohammad Khanji) Babi, actress. She was the first Bollywood star to appear on the cover of Time magazine. Known for her  glamorous acting style,  modelling and fashion,  she  was often cited in the media as a sex symbol.  She acted inn many successful films like Mazboor, Deevar, Kala Sona, Amar Akbar Anthony, Suhaag Kala Pather, Shaan, Kranti, Kali, Namak Halal and Irada etc. She did most bold  film roles oppsite veteran Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Danny Denzongappa, Shatrughn Sinha  and Kabir Bedi. She was honoured by Times of India, The Outlook, Sunday  Guardian etc.

You may have known…. The Indian curry (from the Tamil word kari) is the most famous in the world. Whenever Indian food is mentioned, the word curry is always present. There are a plethora of curries and they are available in every corner of the world. Curry reduces cancer and heart diseases.

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