Today’s Motto: ‘Strength must bow to wisdom sometimes’

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

On this day, 16 Aug….

1858 – Queen Victoria sent the first official telegraph message across the Atlantic Ocean from London to the US.

1932 – Britain instituted new electoral plan for India: to allow limited untouchables and giving them separate representation.

1960 – Captain Joseph W. Kittinger made the longest delayed parachute jump on record when he bailed out of a balloon at 102,800 feet and dropped 84,700 feet (31,330 m) or 16.04 miles before opening his parachute over New Mexico.

2008 – Usain Bolt sets a new 100 metres dash world record of 9.69 seconds at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.

2014 – India put the INS Kolkata into service; the battleship, built locally, is the second to be commissioned during the year and signals the nation’s intent to update its military in response to concern regarding China’s growth.

2018 – World’s first floating dairy farm opens in Merwehaven Harbour, Rotterdam, Netherlands, with 40  cows milked by robots.

Born…. 1899 – Robert Bunsen, German chemist. (We all remember his Bunsen burner from our Chemistry lab days).

1922 – Raunaq Singh, great, entrepreneur,  industrialist and philanthropist.  Her founded Apollo Tyres, Bharat Gas, Bharat Steel Tubes, Raunaq International (exports), Raunaq Automotives. His family  migrated to Delhi from Pakistan in 1947 and he could earn One Paisa a day when he decided to move to Calcutta and set up Apollo Tyres which changed his life exponentially. In 30 years of  enterpreneurship, he became Tyre Tycoon, Steel Pipe major and industrial/domestic gas baron. His  family later acquired tyre company in the US and  prospered  at faster pace.

1970 – Manisha Koirala, Nepal born Bollywood actress started her career with a Nepali film Pheri Bhetula and then Saudagar in Mumbai with  veterans Dilip Kumar and Raaj Kumar. She acted in Bombay, Agni Saakshi, Kache Dhage, Indian, Gupt, Akele Ham Akele Tum,  Khamoshi, Lajja, Dil Se and lately  Heeramandi etc. She won 5 Filmfare, Screen, BFJA and several other awards. She survived a  stint with  deadly disease cancer and spends her life doing social work.

1970 – Saif Ali Khan, Bollywood actor, son of legendary cricketer MAK Pataudi Jr and  veteran actress Sharmila Tagore. He has done Dil Cahta Hai, Omkara, Kal Ho na Ho, Ham Tum, Parineeta, Salam Bombay, Ham Saath Saath Hain, Cocktail, Love Aaj Kal etc. He has won a National Film award, 7 Filmfares and Padma Shri in 2010. He married  actress Amrita Singh (1991-2004)  and  laterKareena Kapoor in 2012.

RIP….1886 – Swami Ramakrishna Paramahams dies at the age of 50. His real name was Gadadhar Chatterji. An Indian mystic, leader and saint, he preached unity of religions. Swami Vivekanand was his disciple.

1977 – Elvis Presley, popular American musician, dies of cardiac arrhythmia.

You may have known….The highest State-wise population density per sq km (2011) is: UTs: Delhi – 11,297 and Chandigarh – 9,252; States: Bihar – 1102. West Bengal 1029. The lowest are: Arunachal Pradesh – 17 and Andaman & Nicobar Islands – 46. The Indian average is 382 person per sqkm.         {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R)  Raj Kadyan}