Today’s Motto: ‘Just be yourself, there is no one better’

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

On this day, 12 Sep ….
(National Day of Encouragement each year. This day is dedicated to uplifting people around us and making a positive impact).

1624 – 1st submarine called HMS Thames,  tested on the Thames, London (tested  between Sept. 12-14).

1910 – World’s 1st female cop, Alice Stebbins Wells, appointed in Los Angeles.

1940 – Five schoolboys exploring the Grotte de Lascaux, France, discovered an astonishing display of prehistoric art depicting animals in a variety of styles, which dated back to 15,000 BC.

1958 – Jack Kilby demonstrated his invention of a miniaturized electronic circuit, now recognised as the first integrated circuit to be built and operated.

1959 – Luna 2 was launched, one of a series of unmanned Soviet lunar probes, and 36 hours later on 14 Sep 1959 would become the first spacecraft to strike the Moon.

1962 – President John F. Kennedy, speaking at the stadium of Rice University, said, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too. It is for these reasons that I regard the decision last year to shift our efforts in space from low to high gear as among the most important decisions that will be made during my incumbency in the office of the Presidency”.

1992 – Mark Lee and Jan David became the first married couple to form part of the crew of space Shuttle Endeavour. The crew also included Mae Jemison as the 1st African American woman to go into space (pic credit- NASA Museum).

2012 – Excavators announce that they may have found the remains of King Richard III of England under a carpark in Leicester.

Born…. 1912 – Feroze Gandhi, journalist,  parliamentarian. Husband of former PM Indira Gandhi and father of Rajiiv,  Sanjay Gandhi and grandfather of Rahul, Priyanka Gandi Vadra.

1958 – Puneet Issar. Bollywood actor who played Duryodhana‘s role in BR Chopra’s epic Mahabharta. He also acted in films like Chandra Mukhi, Watan Ke Rakhwale, Prem Kahani,  Sanam Bewafa,  I Am Singh, Ram Jaane, Coolie,  Border, Refugee, The Kashmir Files, Gurv, Son of Sardar etc.and TV serials Bharat Ek Khoj, Param Vir Chakra, Junoon, Chhoti Sardarni,  Bogg Boss etc. (pic credit-rediff.com 

1988 – Prachi Desai. Bollywood and TV actress. like serials Kasamah Se, Jhalak Dikhla Ja and films like Rock On, Once Upon a Time in Mumbayee, Bol Bachchan, I, Me Aur Mein etc.  She won a Filmfare on debut for Rock On. Also IIFA award.

RIP….  1779 – Garibdas, follower of Saint Kabir and founder of ‘Garib Panth’. Came from a rich farmer family but was influenced by Sant Kabir’s bhajans and devotion.

1992 – Anthony Perkins, actor (Psycho), dies from AIDs. Acted in films like The Actress, Psycho  series,  Friendly Persuation, The Black Hole, The Trial. Fear Styrikes Out, Tall Story, On the Beach, Pretty Poison  etc.. He was awarded  Golden Globe and nominated to Academy Award in 1956. (pic credit-www.tcm.com).

You may have known….  According to a 2022 dataset, India had 157 million people practicing open defecation, which is a reduction of approximately 450 million from earlier estimates. India has made significant progress in ending open defecation through its Swachh Bharat Mission, though it remains a challenge, particularly in rural areas.

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