Today’s Motto: ‘Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right’

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

On this day, 07 Jun….

1340 – Rotterdam, Netherlands was founded. (Its history goes back to 1270 when a dam was constructed in the Rotte river and people settled around it for safety. In 1340 Rotterdam was granted city rights. It is now Europe’s largest port).

1539 – In the battle of Chausa near Buxar, Afghan Sher Shah Suri defeated the Mughal emperor Humayun.

1753 – The British Museum was founded, the world’s oldest public national museum (pic credit-pinterest.com).

1893 –  Gandhi’s first act of civil disobedience.  On this day, the twentieth century’s most famous non-violent revolutionary, Mohandas Karamchand  Gandhi, committed his first act of civil disobedience when the then 24-year-old Indian lawyer was forcibly ejected from a train at South Africa’s Pietermaritzburg Railway Station. Refusing to move to a third-class carriage while holding a valid ticket for the ‘Whites-only’ first-class compartment, the great future leader was pushed off the train in the middle of the night, in the middle of winter, his luggage hastily thrown after him. The incident would change the course of his life – and that of millions of others.

Gandhi later recalled: “I was afraid for my very life. I entered the dark waiting-room. There was a white man in the room. I was afraid of him. What was my duty? I asked myself. Should I go back to India, or should I go forward with God as my helper, and face whatever was in store for me? I decided to stay and suffer. My active non-violence began from that date”  (pic credit-thecollector.com).

1958 – A seminal article that launched the widespread use of ultrasound in medical diagnosis was published in The Lancet by Ian Donald, an English physician.

1965 – Sony Corp introduced its home video tape recorder, priced at $995.

1979 – Bhaskara 1, Indian Earth resources/meteorology satellite, launched.

1993 – Satya  Sai Baba escapes attempt on life at Prasathi Nilayam , Puttapurthi (A.P.). Four assailants and two bodyguards were killed.

1997 – Mahesh Bhupathi becomes the first Indian to win a Grand Slam title when he and Japan’s Rika Hiraki claim the Mixed Doubles. He became World No. 1 doubles player.

1998 – India emerges World Bank’s single largest borrower with cumulative loans of 44 billion dollars.

2006 – The decision  taken by the  Govt. of India  to give one Billion rupees to Nepal Govt. led by PM Girija Prasad Koirala, for economic reconstruction (pic credit -MoEA).

Born….1954 – Tiku Talsania, theatre and Bollywood actor known for comedy roles. He  debuted in Bollywood  with Rajeev Mehra’s Pyaar Ke Do Pal in 1986 and continued to play his role as comedian in movies such as Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, Umar 55 Ki Dil Bachpan Ka, Bol Radha Bol, Ishq,  Jodi No. 1, Andaz Apna Apna and Mr. Bechara, Dhamaal, Partner, Veere Di Wedding,  etc. 

1974 – Mahesh Bhupathi, tennis pro. Winner of several internmational Tennis titles  in Singles as well pairing with Leander Paes. The Indian pair won 4 Grand Slams together, namely Wimbledon, French Open and Australian  Open. He also paired with veteran Swiss Pro  Martina Hinges to  win Australian Open (Mixed Doubles) in several competitions and later with compoatriot Sania Mirza. in Davis Cup and others.  He promoted a sports academy Globosport  for  coaching tennis  to youngsters. He married Miss Universe Lara Datta in  2011. Mahesh has been awarded with Padma Shri and sevetral other accolades.

1975 – Ekta Kapoor, television producer, film producer,  director, and creative head of Balaji Telefilms Limited, Daughter of  veteran  Indian actor Jitendra,  Ekta  is known as the “Czarina of television” and “the Queen of Indian Television”.  She has been awarded Padma Shri and  got  several other cine and Industry organisations like CII, FICCI, ITA, Jagaran, Business Today  etc.

198 – Amrita Rao, model and actor. Known for her acting in Vivah, Main Hoon Na, Ishq Wishq,  Atithi, Jolly LLB, Masti etc.  She won 2 Stardust,  2 IIFA and many other  awards.

1989 – Sheetal Pandya; she set up a world record at the age of 5 years by covering 1600 km (Delhi to Mumbai) in 50 days on roller  skates.  She alongwith her father Jagdish Pandya have won several Roller-Skatting  competitions., across six Indian states. Sheetal has  appealled to people across the states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra and Gujarat not to opt for female foeticide. Sheetal will concluded her 5,132 kms and 105 days on skates about May 5, 2009 in Gandhinagar in Gujarat. (Photo credit  SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images)

RIP…. 1606 – Guru Arjundev, fifth Guru of Sikhs.

1631 – Begum Mumtaj Mahal, wife of Shah Jahan, emperor of India.  She was married in 1612.   She passed away at Burhanpur a few hours after the birth of a daughter.  Taj Mahal in Agra  was built by Shah Jahan in her memory.

You may have known….   1.  More than 36% of NASA scientists in USA are  Indians. 

2.  French writer Voltaire penned most of his plays from the comfort of his bed.

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