Today’s Motto: ‘It is difficult to find a strong person with an easy past’

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

On this day, 09 Dec….

1658 – Dutch troops occupy harbour city Quilon (Coilan), India.

1898 – Belur Math established.  Swami Vivekananda established the Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, on the west bank of the Hooghly River near Calcutta.

1946 – The Constituent Assembly of India held its first meeting in New Delhi, beginning the process of framing India’s new constitution.

1947 – India’s agreement with Pakistan on outstanding issues like assets, liabilities, division of sterling balance and military stores, etc. signed.

2010 – Pakistani’s media publish fake WikiLeaks cables attacking India.

2018 – Tens of thousands march on Delhi roads  to demand  a Hindu temple be built on  religious site in Ayodhya where Ram Lala was born. The fort  (Ramkot)  was demolished by Babar’s  general Mir Baqi and Babi Masjid built on it in 1528.  It was brought down by Hindu nationaist  Kar Sewaks in 1992 and a case on ownership of land  pending in Supreme Court  (finally decided on  Nov. 09,  2019 by SC).

2024 – PM Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Bima Sakhi Yojana in Panipat, Haryana, focusing on empowering rural women.

Born….  1484 – Surdas, blind Hindi  saint and Bhajan  writer- singer. He was a devotee on Shri Krishna,  belonging to Vallabh Sampraday (clan) and wrote several  Bhajans, proses in  Krishna’s devotion in Braj, Hindi  and Awadhi  languages, which were later compiled into a  book Sur Sagar by his followers. Books on his life  were later  written in 20th century;  Surdas by Krishna Dev  Mehra,  Bhakta Surdas by Chaturbhuj Doshi, Sant Surdas and  Chintamani Surdas by Ram Pahwa . Motivated by his Bhajans some films have been made viz.,  Bilwamangal (1919 & 1932)  by Rustom Dhotiwalas and Chintamani (1933) by K. Sadashiv Rao and many more.

1825 – Tula Ram Rao, one of the revolutionary heroes of the 1857 and Sepoy ‘Mutiny’. A Yaduvanshi Ahir King of Rewari (Haryana). It is said he captured Delhi for a short period during Freedom movement  between 1857-63. His siblings Birender Singh, Rao Inder Singh and others have been active politicians of Haryana after Independence.

1946 – Sonia Gandhi, wife of former PM Rajiv Gandhi,  Born in Italy (real name Antoio Maino) but settled in India after marriage, a prominent  politician and Chairperson of Indian National Congress since 1998 to 2020. Became strong contender for  PMs post in 2004 but was opposed by her party’s senior members and Opposition, had to leave the PM’s chair to Dr. Manmohan Singh.  Sonia has been member of Lok Sabha since 2004 to 2024, now in Rajya Sabha .

1945 – Shatrughan  Prasad Sinha is an Indian actor and politician. He acted in  many Hindi films like Khilona,  Zamana Deewana,  Choron Ki Baraat, Rakta Charitra,  Dostana, Kala Pather, Tanhai, Mere Apne,  Bombay to Goa, Rampur Ka Lakshman, Do Yaar etc. He won about 8 awards including StarDust, BFJA and a Filmfare Lifetime achievement award. He joined Politics contesting a Lok Sabha bye-election against  veteran Rajesh Khanna from Delhi  and lost. But later won from Patna Saheb and was a Minister for Family Welfare in AB Vajpayee Govt. Later he quit BJP to join Congress Party  but lost.  Presently he is in the Lok Sabha from Asansol constituency representing  Trinamool Congress.                                                                                                                                            1975 – Dino Morea, popular model,  cinema  actor who worked in Hindi, Tamil, Kannad, Malyalam and Telugu films like Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi, Raaz, Gunaah, Ishaq Hai Tumse,  Aksar, Agent, Gumnaam, Baaz, Holiday, Housefull  etc.

1981 – Dia Mirza Rekhi,  a popular Hyderabad born  model and romantic Bollywood actor. She won the Femina Miss Asia  and  Miss  Asia Pecific awards in 2000.  Is known for films Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein, Tumko Na Bhool Payenge, Alag,  Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Sanju, Dhak Dhak, Salaam Bombay Bheed etc. She has beeb UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador and received Wilelife Advocate of the Yeaer Award.

RIP…. 2008 – Begum Para, (Zubeda Ul Haq), popular film actor of 1940s to 1970s  and known for roles in Chand (1944), Sohni Mahiwal, Suhaag Raat, Neel Kamal, Kismat Ka Khel, Naya Ghar, returned later in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s  Saawariya in  2007.  She won a National Film award,  Filmfare, and OTT  award. Also given  Padam Bhushan in  2013,  posthumously (pic credit-Jansatta).

You may have known…. 1. Guinness Book of World  Records holds the record for being the book most often stolen from Public Libraries. Started in 1955 in England, it is a popular reference book of   variety of  records, achievements and  accomplishments  across the Globe.  

2. India now has the world’s largest road network (over 6.6 million km as of late 2025). Government focus on infrastructure like the Bharatmala Pariyojana, making it the second-largest network globally by area and most extensive overall. NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) established during NDA-1 has done wonderful work in NDA-2 under  Nitin Gadkari,  senior Minister  for Road Transport & Highways.                                                {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R)  Raj Kadyan}