Today’s Motto: ‘He who robs us of our dreams robs us of our life’

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

On this day, 31 Mar….
1851 – Leon Foucault demonstrated his pendulum experiment at the Pantheon of Paris at the request  of Napoleon Bonaparte.

1870 – 1st black to vote in  the U.S.  was Thomas P Mundy of Perth Amboy New Jersey         (pic credit-africapridemagazine.com )

1889 – The Eiffel Tower, Paris was inaugurated, becoming the world’s tallest tower of its era. With a height of 300-m it remained the world’s tallest structure until surpassed by the Empire State Building, 40 years later. The designer Gustave Eiffel, 56, celebrated by unfurling a French flag at the top of the tower.

1896 – Whitcomb Judson, Chicago, patents a hookless fastening, also known as the zipper in 1890. Judson is recognized as the inventor of the zipper.

1903 – New Zealander Richard Pearse reputedly flew a powered heavier-than-air machine, some nine months before the Wright brothers’ more famous and well documented flight. Pearse built a high-wingmonoplane powered by his design of a petrol engine. Accounts vary, but his flight was probably 350 yards in the air, though uncontrolled, ending with the machine striking a large hedge.
1933 – German Republic gives power to Adolf Hitler, who became all powerful dictator  and ruler (Fuhrer), until his death in 1945. (pic credit-Roger Viollet for Getty Images)

1959 – On fleeing from Tibet, Dalai Lama was granted political asylum in India.

1964 – Tram-way service ended in Mumbai (Bombay). This last electric tram left Bori Bunder (CST) for Dadar at 10 p.m., crowds lined the route all the way at that late hour to bid farewell to the common man’s transport medium.

1999 – The PIO card, conferring privileges on persons of Indian origin settled abroad, is formally launched.

Born….. 1504 -Guru Angad Dev (Lehna Singh), the 2nd Guru of Sikhs, who formulated Gurumukhi for Guru Nanak ji’s shlokas and teachings. He added 63 shlokas of his own as well. He nominated Amar Das as 3rd Guru, instead of his own son.

1938 – Sheila Dikshit- popular politician and daughter in law of veteran Congress leader  Uma Shankar Dikshit. She became 2nd Chief Minister of Delhi after Sushma Swaraj, in Dec. 04  1998 to Dec. 27, 2013. She is credited to have laid down the network of Delhi Metro and highways in the national capital.

RIP…. 1930 – Shyamji Krishan Varma. Indian freedom fighter, who studied in London  and founded Indian Home Rule Society and Indian Socialogist Society there.  He motivated Veer Savarkar and others to join freedom movement while in England.

1972 – Meena Kumari, famous film actress, poet, ghazal singer, costume designer. She was known as Tragedy Queen of Indian cinema for her   several roles of suffering woman,  in films like Leather Face, Parineeta, Baizu Bawara, Dil Ek Mandir,  Kajal,  Adhuri Kahani, Behan, Ek Hi Bhool, Saheb Bibi Aur Ghulam, Phool Aur Pathar, Duniya Ek Sarai, Pinjre Ke Panchhi,  Pakeezah etc. She won the first Filmfare award in 1954 and won three more. She also won  National awards,   BFJA awards and accolades for her  contribution to Indian cinema.

You may have known….Magnetic Hill is a gravity hill located near Leh in Ladakh, India. The hill is reported to have magnetic properties strong enough to pull cars uphill and force passing aircraft to increase their altitude in order to escape magnetic interference (pic credit-businessupdide.in).

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