Today’s Motto: ‘The past is useful for reference, not as a place of residence’

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

On this day, 12 Dec….

1911 – Britain’s King George V announced the shifting of India’s capital from Calcutta to Delhi, a major administrative decision.

1955 – The President promulgated an ordinance providing the usage of Hindi with English for official purposes of Indian Union.

1961 – Portuguese civilians are evacuated amid fears of an Indian troop invasion at Goa, Daman and Diu.

1965 – Vijayanta, first India-made millitary tank which was handed over to the Army, was manufactured at Avadi Heavy Vehicles Factory at Madras. It played an important role in defeating Pakistani invaders in 1965 Indo-Pak war and  countered American made Patten Tanks.

1971 – The Government abolished the privy purse and privileges of former rulers through the 26th Constitutional Amendment Act. This ended special status and payments guaranteed after princely states integrated into the Indian Union.

1971 – The first aerial victory was when MiG-21 shot down a PAF F-104 over the Gulf of Kutch. (This was followed by three more victories in quick succession on 17 December, when MiG-21 shot down intercepting F-104s near Uttarlai in the Rajasthan desert in gun-missile encounters, while a third F-104, on an intruding mission, was shot down by another MiG 21).

1988 – Yasser Arafat accepts Israel’s right to exist.

1992 – The world’s largest monolithic granite statue of Lord Buddha, weighing 350 tonnes, placed on the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ in the midst of Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad.

1996 – India and Bangladesh arrive at a settlement to share Ganga water.

2019 – The deepest point on land on Earth is identified under Denman Glacier, East Antarctica, at 3.5 km (11,500 ft) below sea level.

1992 – The world’s largest monolithic granite statue of Lord Buddha, weighing 350 tonnes, placed on the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ in the midst of Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad.

Born…. 1905 – Mulkraj Anand, Indo-Anglican novelist and critic of international repute.  He wrote famous novels The Untouchable, The Village, Coolie, The Road  and Two Leaves and a Bud, The Sword and  the Sickle, The Morning Face,  The  Private  Life of Indian Prince  The Big Heart, etc. He was awarded  International Peace Prize, Padma Bhusahan  and (1968)  Sahitya Akademy Award (1971).

1940 – Sharad (Chandra Govindrao ) Pawar, Maharashtra politician who became state CM 4 times, Union Minister 4 times from 1992 to 2014 including  Agreeculture, Defence and Consumer Affairs ministries, though he had left Congress (I) in 2099 and formed NCP, he later joined UPA govt. under Manmohan Singh. He was also President Board of  Conrol for Cricket in India  (BCCI) since 2005-08, ICC from 2010-12 and Maharasthra Cricket Association 2013-17. He was awarded Padam Vibhushan in 2017.  He  developed Oral Cancer in mouth in early 200s and declared he’s not interested in active politics, is at present Rajya Sabha Member.

1950 – Rajnikanth (Shivaji Rao Gaekwad),  currently the most popular  South India actor, started his cinema career  in 1975 with Apoorv Rangagal, and acted in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films  viz., Paddikadavan, Giraftar, Mr. Bharath, Dosti Dushmani,  Kala, 2.0,  Shivaji-the Boss,  Jailer, Andha Kanoon, etc. over 170 films. He’s also called  God of Tamil. Malayalam cinema. Known for his uniquely styled mannerism and one liners in films, he has a huge fan base and a cult following.   Was awarded several Filmfare (South), Kalaimamani, Padma Vibhushan, Centenary Award for Personality of Year award and Dada Saheb Phalke award in 2019 (pic credit-redit.com).

1954 – Hemant Karkare, police officer. He was the chief of the Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad and was killed in action during the 2008 Mumbai attacks after being shot three times in the chest. His bravery was honoured with the Ashoka Chakra on 26 January 2009.

1959 – Krishnammachari Srikkanth, cricketer (big-hitting Indian opener 1981-92). He played 43 Tests scoring  2 centuries and 4 in ODIs. He plays for Chennai Super Kings and Deccasn Chargers Hyderabad. He also captained  Indian team and was part of 1983 ODI  World Cup winner team,   was awarded b y BCCI. He was also coack and cricket commentator.

1968- Syed Shanawaz Hussain, popular BJP leader from Bihar,  General Secretary and spokesperson. Was a minister in AB Vajpayee and in Bihar Govt.

1981 – Yuvraj Singh, flameboyant  Indian batsman who hit 6 Sixes in an over in 2007  World Cup 20-20 tournament and has a world record for fastest 50 in 12 balls. He is also left arm off-break  bowleHe is the son of former Indian cricketer and  popular Punjabi  actor Yograj Singh. Yuvraj  has won 7 Player of the Series awards in One Day International cricket, which is the joint third-highest by an Indian cricketer, shared with former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly.  Was also Player of The Tournament in ICC World Cup Cricket 2011. Has been awarded Padma Shri, Arjuna Award and Most Inspiring Sportsperson of the Year Award by FICCI in 2014.

RIP….2012 – Ramanand Sagar, legendary film director who did  many blockbuster films like Aankhen, Aarzoo, Geet, Lalkaar, Kohinoor,  Zindagi, Charas, Jalte Badan, Prem Bandhan,  Insaniyat, Ghunghat, Paigham etc.  and the TV epics  Ramayana  in 78 episodes ( 1987-89) and Sri Krishna (1993-97) and Luv-Kush (1987-88) and Sai Baba (2005-2009). He won 6 Filmfare awards, Padam Shri for his contribution to cine industry and Sahitya Vachaspati honour by Hindi Sahitya Sammelan  in  Allahabad in 1996.

You may have known…. For the current fiscal year (FY 2025-26, starting April 2025), India’s defence budget incrreases from ₹ 6.21 Lakh Crore to ₹6.81 lakh crore in the previous year. Chinese defence budget is about $249 billion (around ₹20.7 lakh crore).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R)  Raj Kadyan}