Today’s Motto: ‘Happiness is a state of mind; something to be experienced’

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

On this day, 09 Apr….

(CRPF Valour Day to celebrate the battle at Sardar Post in Rann of Kuchh, Gujarat. Only 2 companies of CRPF repulsed the attack of a full-fledged Pakistani military brigade on 9th April 1965).

1667 – 1st public art exhibition was held at Palais-Royale, Paris.

1783 – Tippu Sultan drives out English from Bednore in India.

1965 – Fighting breaks out in the Rann of Kutch between Indian and Pakistani troops. Pakistan attacked Indian borders, Sardar Post, Chhar Bet and Beria Bet, this was manned by the State Armed Police Batallions. In Kutch launched its 8th Infantry Division supported by two regiments of M47/48 Pattons. Operation ‘Desert Hawk’ was launched to draw away reserves from other vulnerable areas, and possibly to test India’s resolve. The Indian Army did not rise to the bait.

1969 – The British Concorde prototype 002 left Filton airport, Bristol, on its first flight with test pilot Brian Trubshaw at the controls. The French prototype Concorde 001 had already made its first flight the previous month, on 2 Mar 1969, from Toulouse. An even earlier first flight was made on 31 Dec 1968, by the RussianTupolev TU-144 supersonic-capable airliner (a Concorde look-alike, dubbed Concordski in the West). The firstConcorde to fly at supersonic speed, over Mach 1, was prototype 001 on 1 Oct 1969.

1974 – African American, Phil Brooks was issued a U.S. patent for a disposable syringe (pic credit-ar.inspiredpencil.com).

1974 – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh reach pact to exchange prisoners of 1971 war in New Delhi.

1989 – Mike Tyson strikes a  parking attendant three times with an open hand outside a Los Angeles nightclub after the attendant asked Tyson to move his Mercedes-Benz out of a slot reserved  for  the  Nightclub  owner.The  boxer  escaped any penal  action  due  to  lack of evidence.

2011 – Anna Hazare ended his fast unto death after  UPA  Government accepted his demand for enacting a Lok Pal bill. But the Lok Pals have been appointed in very few states.

Born…. 1893 – Rahul Sankrityayan (born Kedarnath Pandey), was an Indian author, essayist, playwright, historian and scholar of Buddhism, is also called the “Father of Indian Travelogue Travel literature” and “Mahapandit” (Great Scholar), as he knew  around 30 languages including  Bhojpuri, Hindi, Sanskrit,  Kannada, Sinhali,  Tibetan, Pali, Russian, Arabic, French etc.,   but mostly wrote in Hindi or Sanskrit.  He  explored cultures of  Russia, China,  Tibbet,  Central Asia  and  Indian pilgrim  centres like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Kathmande  and studied Vedanta, Buddhism, Tamil literatrure.  He was influenced by Marxism in Russia  but returned to Buddhist  philosophy later in life.  He wrote short stories, novels and travelogues viz., Meri Jivan Yatra, Tibbet Mein Seva Versha, Volga Se Ganga (tracing movement of Aryans from Eurasia to Indian subcontinent) etc.  He was honoured with  Sahitya Akademi Award in 1958, Padma Bhushan in 1963. 

1926 – Hugh Hefner. The founder editor of Playboy magazine in Chicago   (USA). Created a fantasy for new generation of youth and man  across the West and  world over. Playboy published revealing  and glamourous pictures and life stories of  prominent persons and even celebrities like Marilyn Monroe in 1953. . Started his career with Esquire magazine and launched his own journal and Playboy Club. He also hosted TV shows.

1948 – Jaya Bachchan, film actress and politician.  Born as Jaya Bhaduri is married to veteran  actor Amitabh Bachchan and representsts Samajwadi Party in the Parliament (Rajya Sabha) since 2004. She debuted with film Mahanagar by Satyajit Ray followed by Hindi movie  Guddi and did many successful films like Jwani Deevani, Anamika, Abhimaan, Silsila, Milli, Kora Kagaz, Uphaar,  Koshish, Chupke Chupke, Naukar, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Kal Ho Na Ho, Fiza, Happiness and Tears etc. She has been awarded Padma Shri and won 8 Filmfare awards. She’s also an activist on women’s and  public interest  issues.

1954 – Jairam Ramesh, an economist,  writer,  politician, Environment  activist and China expert.  Former Cabinet minister in Dr. Manmohan Singh govt. (2011-14), he  is the  main Spokesman for Congress Party. He represents Karnataka in the Upper House. He has written several books on Politics,  economy and environmental issues. He writes a column in several newspapers/magazines under pen name: Kautilya.   

1964 – Hans Raj Hans. Veteran Punjabi folk and  Sufi singer and politician. He also sang some films like Mausam, Monsoon Wedding, Patiala House, Nayak, Bend it Like Beckhom etc. He was BJP Member of Lok Sabha from  2019-24. He wasw honoured with Padma Shri for his folk songs (pic credit-saavan.com).

1988 – Swara Bhaskar. Prominent model, actor and Women’s Rights activist.  Swara acted in Tanu Weds Manu,  Nil Batte Sannata etc. She won two Screen awards and 4 Filmfare nominations.

1990 – Kristen Stewart. American model and actress. She won several awards and honors for films like The Twilight Saga, New Moon, Breaking Down Part 2.

Titbits….1878 – 1st Lady Lucy Hayes begins egg rolling contest on White House lawn (pic credit-www.history.com).

       RIP…. 2009 – Shakti Samanta, film director and producer. He founded Shakti Films in 1957, which is most known for films such as Howrah Bridge (1958), Insan Jaag Utha (1959), China Town (1962), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), An Evening in Paris (1967), Aradhana (1969), Kati Patang (1971), and Amar Prem (1972).

You may have known…. THE BIGGEST AIR EVACUATION IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND WAS DONE BY INDIA. (In 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait home to almost 1,76,000 Indians, all of who had suddenly lost all their money, were homeless and scared for their lives. Back home in India, it was politically one of the most fragile times. India was in financial trouble and the VP Singh government was lacking support with the opposition trying to bring the government down. But leaving all problems aside, the Indian govt. decided to rescue its citizens).                                                                                                                                                                 {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R)  Raj Kadyan}