Today’s Motto: ‘If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear infinite’

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

On this day, 26 Feb….

1797 – Bank of England issues first £1-note.

1895 – Michael Joseph Owens of Ohio patented a glass-blowing machine. He later became a co-founder of the glass industry. The world’s first fully automatic machine he invented was a revolution in glass bottle making.

1857 – The first sparks of the Great Rebellion against British rule occurred at Baharampur in West Bengal, where the 19th Native Infantry led by Sepoy Mangal  Pandey,  refused to use grease-coated cartridges,  alleged to have cow-fat pasted on these.

1910 – Barrister MK Gandhi supports the African People’s Organisations resolution to declare the day of arrival of the Prince of Wales in South Africa as a day of mourning in protest against the South Africa Acts on disenfranchisement of Indians, Coloureds and Africans in the upcoming Union of South Africa.

1936 – German Chancellor Adolf Hitler introduces “Volkswagen”, Beetle car (pic credit-telegraphindia.com).

1972 – President V.V. Giri dedicated the Vikram Earth Satellite Station in Arvi, near Wardha, to the nation.

1975 – Bhanubhai Shah established the first Kite Museum of India called ‘Shankar Kendara’ in Ahmedabad. He was nicknamed Kite Man of India.

2001 – Taliban destroy two giant, 1500-year-old Buddha statues in Bamyan, Afghanistan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a holy site for Buddhists on the Silk Road.

2008 – India successfully conducted its first underwater test of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile, significantly boosting its maritime nuclear deterrence.

2013 – A flexible battery capable of being charged wirelessly and folded and stretched is developed.

2019 – In a major counter-terrorism operation following the Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force conducted precision air strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camps in Balakot, Pakistan. It is believed over 30 terrorist or accomplises were killed and their camps destoyed by 2  Indian Air Force planes. One airplane was  damaged in the attack and its pilot Group Captain Abhinanandan Varthman  was taken in custody by Pak.  On  a strong warning by Indian govt. led by PM Narendra Modi, our pilot was released back safely. (pic credit-MoD-archives).

2026 – The MILAN 2026 naval exercises are concluded on the eastern seaboard, highlighting India’s naval capability and  Blue Water supremacy.

Born…. 1829 – Levi Strauss. German businessman who launched a successful clothing brand in 1853 in California.  His company making  premuim Blue Jeans  has a current net worth of  $ 7.28 billion.

1852 – John Harvey Kellogg, American physician and health-food pioneer whose development of dry breakfast cereals was largely responsible for the creation of the flaked-cereal industry.

1932 – Johanny Cash. The best selling  American singer, music composer  having sold 90 million records. His songs Folsom Prison Blues, I Walk the Line, Rings of Fire, Get Rhytham, Man In Black, Hey Porter, Rusty  Personal  Jesus  etc. were  crazes  of his time.

1937 – Manmohan Desai, legendary Bollywood director behind blockbusters like Amar Akbar Anthony and Coolie, who played a vital role in Amitabh Bachchan’s rise to superstardom. Known as a great showman of Bollywood, he produced  several blockbuster films like Naseeb, Kismat, Mard, Amar Akbar Anthony, Kismat, Suhaag, Coolie etc. His father Kiubhai Desai owned Paramount Studios (later Filmalaya).  Started as director in 1957 with Janam Janam Ke Phere and went to make Chhalia, Bluffmaster, Badtameez, Dharamveer, Sachcha Jhootha, Chacha Bhatija etc. He won many accolades for his contribution to film industry, including Filmfare and regional awards.

RIP….  1966 – Vinayak Damodar “Veer”Savarkar, a revolutionary freedom fighter, social reformer, politician and writer. He was known for the first person to flee by swimming from Port Blair Jail and was associated with right-wing Hindu Mahasabha, started the Abinav Bharat as a secret society of revolutionary terrorists. He was prominent independence activist and proponent of Hindutva and Sanatan culture. He chose to end his life through atmarpan (giving up food and water), believing his utility to society had concluded.

1994 – Bill Hicks. American-British  satirist and  stand -up comedian, who later became critic of American society and system. His works Comedy’s Dirties Dozen, Rant in E-mirror, Revelations, Sane Man etc. won him many awards (pic credit-tvinsider.com).

2024 – Pankaj Udhas. Legendary Bhajan and  ghazal singer. He also sang for many Bollywood films like Naam, Mohra, Ghayal, etc. His songs Chithi Aayi Hai, Aahista are very popular. He was awarded Padma Shri in 2006 and Padma Bhushan in 2025.

You may have known….  Islam is the world’s second-largest religion withover 2  over 2 billion adherents, making up about 25% of the global population. In India, it is also the second-largest religion, representing approximately 14.2% of the population (roughly 172-200 million people) according to 2011 census and 2021-2023 estimates.                                                                                                                                                         {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R)  Raj Kadyan}