Today’s Motto: Life isn’t all white, there are always gray areas’

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

On this day, 09 Feb….

1757 – Treaty of Alinagar: The British East India Company, led by Robert Clive, signed this treaty with the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah. It restored Calcutta to the British and allowed them to fortify the city and mint their own coins.

1837 – Russian Alexander Pushkin, poet, playwright and novelist of the romantic era, was fatally injured in a duel with French officer Georges-Charles de Heeckeren d’Anthès. Reportedly, the French officer had attempted to seduce the poet’s wife, Natalya Pushkina (pic credit-poemanalysis.com).

1846 – British defeat Sikhs in battle of Sobraon. (The First Anglo-Sikh war began in late 1845, after a combination of increasing disorder in the Sikh empire following the death of Ranjit Singh in 1839 and provocations by the British East India Company led to the Sikh Khalsa Army invading British territory).                                              1915 – US President Wilson protests to Britain on the use of US flags on British merchant ships to deceive the Germans during World War-I.

1931 – During the transition of the capital from Old Delhi  to New Delhi, a set of six stamps was released. This included the first Indian stamp to feature a picture of a person.

1946 – Demonstrations were held against the trial of the INA men.  The ratings and a few units of the Royal Indian Navy rise in open Mutiny in Mumbai harbours (pic credit-myindiamyglory.com).

1951 – The enumeration process for the very first census of independent India began.

1991 – Emma Roberts. American actress, singer.  She won several Kid’s Choice and People’s Choice awards for her films.

1996 – IBM chess-playing computer Deep Blue becomes the first computer to win a game of chess against a reigning (human) chess champion, Garry Kasparov. He was a Russian  chess player and  ruled  the  game for  several  years (pic credit-Reddit.com).

2019 – Insect populations are collapsing worldwide threatening a“catastrophic collapse of nature’s ecosystems” according to a global review saying 40% declining, 30% endangered.

2009 – The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government regarding illegal construction around the Taj Mahal.

2013 – Convicted in the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, Afzal Guru was executed in Tihar Jail.

Born….  1915.  M Chalapati Rao. Famous writer, journalist, lawyer,  educationaist, administrator. He  strarted  as Assistant Editor in The People’s Voice in 1936  from Madras, Triveni Weekly from Prayag,  and later with Hindustan Times He  worked as the Editor-in-chief of the English daily National Herald from 1946 to 1978. Rao wrote  on Indian media, politics and  leaders. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1968 but he refusede to accept it.                                                                                                          1922 – CP Krishnan Nair. Freedom fighter,  ex-Army Captain and founder businessman  of Leela group of Hotels.Winner of Amercian Association of Hospitality,  he was awarded Padam  Bhushan in 2010. ( Photo  credit by Sipra Das/The India Today Group via Getty Images) 

  1929 – A. R. Antulay (Abdul Rehman), was the 8th and first Muslim Chief Minister of Maharashtra.  He had to resign on conviction by  High Court on  charges of  extorting funds for his own  promoted Indira Gandhi Pratibha Pratisthan Trust. Later absolved by Supreme Court, which  took him to central politics in 1989. He became Union Minister for Minority Affairs in 2004. He was also  alleged to have made controversial statements during Malegaon Blasts case in 2006  and Bombay Terror attacks in 2008.  As a lawyer, he wrote articles on Indian Democracy,  Parliamentary Previleges and  Appointment of Chief Justice.                                                                                     1964 – Eknath Shinde, prominent  Shiv Sena leader who became the 20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 2022, after split from Uddhav Thackeray  led Shiv Sena. Currently he is the Dy. Chief Minister.

1970 – Kumar Vishwas. Famous poet, writer and  educator. He is also the co-founder of India Against Corruption  movement and its political wing  AAP in 2013. He fell out with its convenor A. Kejriwal in 2014 and left.  Kumar now addresses religious congragations on Hindu  philosophy.

RIP…. 1760 – Dattaji Rao Scindia, a prominent Maratha general, died during the Battle of Barari Ghat against the Afghans.

1984 – T.  Balasaraswathi, legendary Bharatnatyam dancer and recipient of the Padma Vibhushan. She promoted  Indian dances thru’  several concerts in Indian cities and world ove.  She was awarded Sangeet Natak Akademy award and Padam Bhushan  in 1977.  She also figured in the  Satyjit Ray’s short documentary Bala  in 2006.r (pic credit-narthaki.com).

2006 – Nadira, film actress. Nadira, popular  Baghdad born Jewish- Indian actress  of 1950s  to 2000s. She acted in Mauzi, Aan, Shri 420, Awara, Kala Bazaar, Sapno Ka Saudagar, Talash, Raja Jani, Julie, Chaal Baaz, Ashiq Hoon  Baharon Ka, Pakeezah, Josh   etc. mostly  in Vampish roles. She won a Filmfare and  a National Film award.  As one of the highest paid  actor,  Nadira was  the first heroine to have a  Rolls-Royce Maybach S650 in 1960 (pic credit-Spotboys.com).

2008 – Murlidhar Devidas Amte, renowned social worker and  Gandhian activist  who worked  for leprosy patients. Popularly known as Baba Amte, worked  for the rehabilitation and empowerment of people suffering from leprosy. He was honoured with Padma Vibhushan, Gandhi Peace award, UN Award for Human Rights, Jamnalal Bajaj Award and Ramon Magsaysay award. 

You may have known….  1.  The Banyan tree is officially recognized as the National Tree of India, representing the country’s strength, unity, and long-lasting, deep-rooted culture. Adopted in 1950, this tree is revered for its immense size, longevity, and ability to regenerate, often symbolizing immortality.

2.  The revolution in the manufacturing sphere led to the ‘death toll’ of traditional village handicrafts and cottage industries. Thousands of artisans were rendered jobless as their manufacturers could not compete with the fine and low cost goods manufactured in modem industries. A near chaos prevailed in villages. Goldsmiths, blacksmiths and weavers began to starve. Thus, modem industry eroded the strong traditional industrial base.

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