Today’s Motto: ‘In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd’

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

On this day, Jan. 10………..

1696 – Thomas Savery was issued British Letters Patent for his invention for “Navigation improved; or the art of rowing ships of all rates in calms with a more easy, swift, and steady motion than oars can.” He went on to invent the first use of steam power and on 25 Jul 1698, he received Letters Patent for what he called “The Miner’s Friend; or an engine to raise water by fire” which was the first application of steam power for pumping water.

1839 – Tea from India  reaches UK first time., from Assam Tea Gardens (pic credit-The Sentinel Assam)

1855 – English inventor, Henry Bessemer took out a British patent for his “decarbonisation process, utilising a blast of air” that revolutionised steel manufacturing .

1863 – 1st underground railway opens in London.

1899 – A U.S. patent was issued for an “Electric Device,” invented by David Misell. The limited power of the batteries of the era could only power the inefficient carbon-filament miniature light bulb for brief periods of time between periods of recovery time. As batteries improved, it remained known as a “flashlight” in the U.S., but known as a torch in Britain.

1911 – The first photograph to be taken in the U.S. from an airplane. The photographer was Major H.A. “Jimmie” Erickson.

1920 – League of Nations established. (The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organisation founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first international organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace).

1920 – India became member of League of Nations. (Its primary goals, as stated in its Covenant, included preventing wars through collective security and disarmament and settling international disputes through negotiation and arbitration. The United Nations replaced it after the end of the Second World War).

1946 – The first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly took place in the Westminster Central Hall in London. 51 nations were represented.

1946 – The U.S. Army Project Diana team detected radar signals reflected off the moon’s surface. The echo was received 2.4 sec. later, proving that radio waves could penetrate Earth’s atmosphere.

1949 – RCA introduced the “single,” the 7-inch diameter 45 rpm record in the U.S. A single could play eight minutes of sound per side. Columbia had introduced the 12″ long-playing vinyl 33 rpm as a new format the previous year. These formats greatly improved upon the 78 rpm records, which were limited to only 5 minutes per side on a 12″ disk.

1951 – 1st jet passenger trip made.

1966 – Tashkent Conference between Pakistan and Indian leaders ended after signing of peace accord by Lal Bahadur Shastri and General Ayub Khan.

1975 – India accords recognition to the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

2010 – China surpasses Germany, becoming the world’s largest exporter.

2019 – Oceans warming faster than previous thought due to fossil fuel burning, according to data published in journal “Science”.

2023 – Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare” goes on sale worldwide revealing controversial details of his upbringing and falling out with the British royal family.

Born….

1929 – Fali Sam Nariman, famous jurist (pic credit-IndiaContent).

1930 – Basu Chatterjee, screenwriter., legendary director who directed  satirical films like Khatta Meetha, Chitchor, Rajni Gandha, Chhoti si Baat  etc. Won 9 Filmfare and IIFA Lifetime awards.

1940 – KJ Yesudas, popular south India and Bollywood singer (pic credit-Wikipedia).

1960 – Gurinder Chadha OBE, noted Kenyan-Indian and British film director. won several awards like BAFTA, ALFS   for films like Bhajia on the Beach

1974 – Hrithik Roshan, popular Bollywood actor  who acted in several Jubilee films like Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Koi Mil Gaya, Krish series, Dhoom 2, Bang Bang, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam, Zindgi Na Milegi Dobara etc. He won 6 Filmfare awards, 4 for best actor (video credit- Rakesh Roshan films;  pic credit-India Forums).

RIP….

1693 – Job Charnock, founder of Calcutta, died in the same city (pic credit-Navrang India).

Titbits….

1810 – French church annuls marriage of Napoleon I and Josephine.

You may have known….

Tigers can leap 6 meters in length and jump up to 5 meters vertically.

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