Today’s Motto: ‘There is no greater Immorality than To Occupy a Position, We Do Not Deserve’

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

On this day,  Apr. 29…….

1553 – Flemish woman introduces practice of starching linen into England.

1639 – Delhi’s Red fort construction commenced by laying the Foundation Stone by Shah Jahan. This fort was completed on May 13, 1646. It was later  captured by  Jaat  commanders  and  Sikh Misls   during  18th and 19th centuries after Mughal empire  faded in power.

1813 – First patent for rubber was issued.

1820 – Thomas Hancock introduced use of rubber in clothing where some elasticity was useful, such as braces (suspenders) or slip-on boots.

1913 – The first U.S. patent for a hookless fastening for universal use was issued to Gideon Dundback of New Jersey.

1939 – Netaji resigned from the Congress and established his own party, the Forward Block (pic credit-Wikimedia Commons).

1953 – The first U.S. three-dimensional television telecast was made.

1954 – India accepted Tibet as a part of China. (Five years later China started  claiming Arunachal and other areas of North East India).

1975 – The U.S. begins to evacuate US citizens from Saigon prior to an expected North Vietnamese takeover. U.S. involvement in the war comes to an end.

1998 – India and Myanmar agree upon steps to ensure trans-border security, cooperation in the fight against trafficking of narcotics and implementation of mutually beneficial cross-border projects (pic credit-uk.news.yahoo.com).

1998 – It was revealed in Oslo that in experiments conducted for decades until 1994, Norwegian and American researchers used mentally ill or retarded Norwegians in tests o f the biological and genetic effects of X-ray radiation on the body.

2015 – A new birdlike dinosaur, Yi qi,  discovered in China; the fossils suggest that it lived about 160 million years ago and had membranous, bat-like wings that not been seen in other dinosaur species.

2019 – Islamic State releases video showing leader Bakr al-Baghdadi for first time in five years.

2021 – World’s longest pedestrian bridge at 516 metres (1,700 feet) opens inside northern Portugal’s Arouca Geopark (pic credit-ponte516arouca.com).

Born…. 1848 – Raja Ravi Varma, painter and artist. He is one of the greatest painters in the history of Indian art. He was notable for making affordable lithographs of his paintings available to the public, which greatly enhanced his reach and influence as a painter. He painted  very  realistic painings of Hindu Gods and dieties, many of these were stolen by western   people and  sold for millions in Art Auctions and galleries.

1919 – Ustad Allah Rakha, popular Tabla player and classical musician.  Widely respected as one of history’s most iconic players of the tabla, he  frequently  accompanied  legendary  sitar player Pandit Ravi Shankar and was largely responsible for introducing tabla to the Western audience. He wa awarded Padma Shri in 1977 and Sangeet Natak Akademy award in 1982.

1936 – Zubin Mehta, famous India music conductor., practised Western classical orchestra. His father Mehil Mehta  was the founder of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra, and son received his early musical education from his father. He was awarded Padam Bhushan and Padam Vibhushan. He was nominated to a Grammy award 18 times. Also received Golden Medal of Honour from the City of Munich. (pic credit-bso.org) 

1958 – Ramachandra Guha, writer who mainly writes on economics, environmental, political, social, contemporaryand cricket history. In October 2013, he published Gandhi Before India, which describes life from his childhood to the two decades in South Africa.

RIP…. 1980 – Sir Alfred Hitchcock, one of the  greatest  English film directors, producers.  He appeared mostly in Comeo and Suspence – roles during his  filmy career of about 6 decades. Called Master of Suspence, he  directed about 50 films, was nominated 46 times for  Academy Awards but won 6 times.  His famous films are The Pleasure Garden, The Lodger- A Story of  London Fog, The Lady Vanishes, Suspecion, Shadow of a Doubt,  Lifeboat,  Vertogo, Psycho etc.

1999 – Mohan Gokhale,  popular  Marathi  theatre, TV  and film actor/director. Known for roles in Yogandhar,  Saraansh, Sparsh, Mirch Masala, Mr. Yogi,  Hero Hiralal, Bhavni Bhavai. His wife Shubhangi Gokhle was also a famous actress.

1999 – Kidar Sharma, film director,  producer, lyricist and playright. Famous for songs in Bawre Nain, Jogan, Devdas,  Vidyapati, Hamari Yaad Ayegi, Neel Kamal (old) , Chitralekha,  Suhaag  Raat, Neki Aur Badi etc.  He introduced famous film stars like   Masdhubala, Geeta Bali, Raj Kapoor,  Mala Sinha, Bharat Buushan, Tanuja etc. Won a National and several other Cine awards. Raj Kapoor was initial his Assistant Director  (pic credit-Pinterest).

2020 – Irrfan Khan, Bollywood actor. Done films like  Angrezi Medium,  Hindi Medium, Jurassic World, Maqbool, Slumdog Millionaire, The Lunch Box etc. Awarded Padam Shri, 5 Filmfare, IIFA  and a National Award. He died of cancer in 2020.

You may have known…. 

1.  The string bikini as we know it,  was invented in 1946 by French automotive engineer-turned fashion designer Louis Réard.

2.  India was the first country in the world to produce steel. India is the 2nd largest steel producer   globally,  overtaking  Japan  in 2019  producing  106.5  MT of  steel  annually.

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