Today’s Motto: ‘Real history is written in actions, not in words’

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

On this day, 12 Feb….

1502 – Vasco da Gama sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal on his second voyage to India.

1851 – Gold was discovered at Lewis Ponds Creek, Australia. Area known as Ophir Gold Reserve also triggered scuffles for claims  and empirical British Govt. taking  over the area  for excavation in 1952..

1877 – A news dispatch was sent using Alexander Graham Bell’s new invention, the telephone, for the first time in the U.S.

1898 – The first car accident resulting in a fatality happened in England, when a co-driver died. The first pedestrian fatally struck by a car died on 17 Aug 1896.

1914 – Ist feature film, “The Squaw Man”, is released in the US (pic credit-www.allmovie.com).

1928 – Bardoli Satyagrah (Gujarat) was led by Vallabhbhai Patel against the Bombay government’s decision to hike the revenue on cotton by 22 percent while its prices declined Internationally. Ultimately, the government quashed the hike.

1941 – First pencillin injection into a human test subject was conducted by Ernst Chain and Howard Walter Florey, who developed this antibiotic.

1946 – 14 killed in Calcutta riots; Muslim leader Jinnah threatens civil war.

1950 – Albert Einstein warns against hydrogen bomb.

1960 – Chinese army kills 12 Indian soldiers.

1990 – The Berlin Wall is taken down. Germany is reunited over the next year. Warsaw Pact is dissolved.

2016 – Student leader Kanhaiya Kumar is arrested on “anti-nationalism” charges by Indian police at an anniversary event of the death of Afzal Guru, at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University.

2023 – India opens the first part of what will be its longest expressway linking Mumbai with New Delhi over 1,386 kilometres.

Born…. 1824 – Maharishi Dayanand Sarsvati , metaphysician, social reformer, religious leader founder of Arya Samaj,  a Hindu reform movement of the Vedic tradition. He preached Hinduism with cast, creed or other differentiations. He also taught spiritualism without much  religious  formalities and mantra (Karmkand), so that Hinduism reaches to one and all.

1920 – Pran Krishan Sikand, film actor often cast as a villain in Hindi cinema in Munim ji, Azaad, Aurat,  Halaku, Chori Mera Kaam, Kundan, Chori Chori, Tumsa Nahin Dekha,  Madhumati, etc. He is known for many innovative character roles in films,  Malang Chacha in  Upkaar, Poorav Aur Pachhim, Maryada, Victoria No. 203 etc. He acted in about 362 films and won 4 Filmfare and refused to accept thrice. He was was awarded Padam Bhushan in 2001 and DadaSaheb Phalke award in 2013, apart from several other cinma accolades.

1947 – Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Indian Sikh  leader of Damdami Taksal.  Believed to have been propped up by Congress Party to ignite Khaliastan issue,  for Sikh-Hindu  divide in Punjab, he  entered Akal Takht with his armed followers and was ultiamtely  decimated thru’ Operation Blue Star. Though it resulted in killings of PM Indira Gandhi, Army Chief and thousands of  citizens during 1984-90. (pic credit-listennotes.com).

RIP….

1998 – Om Prakash, very popular Hindi film comedian called Bollywood ke Daddu, for his role in Namak Halal. A versatile character actor who did about 307 films  viz., Howrah Bridge, Gopi, Halchal, Sharabi, Pyar Kiye Ja, Padosan, Saadhu Aur Shaitan, Bees Saal Baad, Chameli Ki Shadi, etc. He won 2 Filmfares for his role Aadmi Aur Insaan, Das Lakh  and several other acolades (pic credit-hindiscoopwhoop.com)

Titbits….  1947 – French fashion designer Christian Dior presents his first influential collection, named the “New Look”.

You may have known….

The first jute mill was set up at Rishra near Kolkata in 1855. Since the geographical  conditions were very much favourable for jute industry in the Hugli basin, this industry flourished well and there were 64 mills in 1913-14, providing employment to over two lakh persons.                                                                                    

 

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