Today’s Motto: ‘Happiness is like a butterfly; if you chase it, it will elude you, but……

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

On this day, 02 Sep ….

(World Coconut Day. Celebrated to highlight the importance of coconuts in poverty reduction and to mark the foundation of the Asian Pacific Coconut Community).

1666 – Big  Fire in London destroys 13,000 houses and kills 8.

1752 – Today was the last day of the Julian calendar in Great Britain, Ireland and the British colonies, including those on the East coast of America. Eleven days were skipped to adopt the Gregorian calendar, designed to realign the calendar with equinoxes.

1792 – In Paris masses pull out   Nobles/Clergymen out of jails and slaughter them.

1898 – Machine gun 1st used in battle.  A machine gun is a fully automatic weapon firing typically, at a rate of 300 to 1800 rounds per minute. It is fired from the ground on a bipod or tripod. The key characteristic of modern machine guns, their relatively high rate of fire and more importantly mechanical loading, came with the Model 1862 Gatling gun, which was adopted by the US Navy. These weapons were still powered by hand; however, this changed with Hiram Maxim’s idea of harnessing recoil energy to power reloading in his Maxim machine gun. Dr. Gatling also experimented with electric-motor-powered models; this externally powered machine reloading has seen use in modern weapons as well.

1901 – America’s  Vice President Theodore Roosevelt advises, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”. It became a historic quip (pic by  GraphicaArtist/Getty Images)

1944 – Holocaust diarist Anne Frank was sent to Auschwitz.

1945 – Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam’s  independence from France (National Day)

1946 – Jawaharlal Nehru, was sworn in as the Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Undivided india, against Partition.

1947 – Gandhiji is mobbed in Calcutta House by Muslim crowd; he gives up idea of Noakhali visit where hundreds of Hindus were killed and their houses burnt. Peace efforts intensified.                                                 1970 – Indian Parliament led by PM Indira Gandhi,  abolishes the privileges of 279 Maharajas of  erstwhile Indian states (Riyasats).  She did it  as a populist measure and there was huge  anger among  these  affected  titular heads, who hads joi8ned the Indian Union on big promises by the Congress Party.

1984 – Thousands of Sikhs rally at Golden Temple to protest govt. occupation in Amritsar.

1985 – It was announced that a U.S. and French expedition had located the wreckage of the Titanic. about 560 miles off Newfoundland, 73 years after the British luxury liner sank in the Atlantic Ocean.

1987 – Philips introduces CD-video.

1993 – The United States and Russia formally ended decades of competition in Space by agreeing to a joint venture to build a space station.                                                                                  It happened after the breakup of USSR into 15,  independent countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. It was the result of Reforms brought out under President Leonid Brezhnev. Boris Yeltsin became Prez of Russia with about 60% area left over.

1996 – Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand beats Garry Kasparov in Rapid Chess tournament in Geneva.

Born…. 1941 – Sadhana Shivdasani, known mononymously as Sadhana, was an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. Regarded as one of the finest actresses in the history of Hindi cinema, Sadhana was known for her exquisite beauty, trendsetting fashion statements and understated acting style. She was popularly known as the “Mystery Girl” for her roles in three suspense thrillers directed by Raj Khosla during the mid 1960s viz., Voh Kaun Thi, Mera Saya, Inteqam.  Karachi born  actor  appeared in  small appearance in Shri 420 she  went on to establish herself  thru’   films like Love in Shimla, Parakh, Ham Dono, Asli Nakli,  Ek Musafir Ek Hasina, Mere Mehboob, Woh Kaun Thi, aarzoo,  Woqt, Mera Saya, Ek Phool Do mali, Inteqam,  Geeta Mera Naam. Se married noted music director RK Nayyar and had a son She won 2 Filmfare  nominations, an IIFA Lifetime Achievement award  and several other  accolades.

1952 – Jimmy Connors, American tennis champion (US Open-1978, 82,  83, Wimbledon-1974, 82).

1972 – Sonam .Khas,  Telugu and Hindi  actress, grand daughter of  veteran actor  Murad. She acted  in Samrat,  Vijay,  Tridev, Mitti Aur Sona, Krodh,  Ajooba,  Vishwatma  etc.
1988 – Ishant Sharma, Indian superfast  pacer,

1988 – Ishant Sharma, Indian superfast  pace  bowler (delivered  a speed of 152 kmph). Played for Delhi, North Zone in Ranji,  and KKR, Delhi  Capitals and  Kings XI Punjab  in  IPL format. Has taken over 311 Test  wickets,  115  ODIs, 486  in Fitst Class matches  and played  crucial role in winning 2013 ICC Champions Trophy for India.

RIP…. 2009 – Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (Congress). Alleged to have a  amassed  huge  wealth  through  cuts from sanctioning   of mining  licenses etc.  His broke away from Congress  at the fag end of his term,  in 2008. His son YS Jagan  Mohan Reddy  is the  current  CM of  Andhra (YSR  Congress Party).

You may have known…. Only about 44.41% of total agricultural land in India is reliably irrigated. The remaning is dependent on monsoons. 

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