Today’s Motto: ‘Those who keep looking down, can never see a rainbow’

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

On this day, 27 Aug ….

413 – A lunar eclipse caused panic among the sailors of the Athens fleet and thus affected the outcome of a battle in the Peloponnesian War.

1604 – Guru Granth Sahib was established in the Golden Temple of Amritsar (pic credit-ar.inspiredpencil.com).

1783 – 1st hydrogen balloon flight (unmanned); reaches 900 m altitude.

1784 – James Tytler made the first balloon ascent in Britain. The balloon was barrel-shaped, with hot air produced by a stove. It rose to 350 feet in the air and travelled half a mile before landing.

1859 – “Colonel” Edwin L. Drake drilled the first successful oil well in the United States. The drilling had reached 69 feet 6 inches, when a dark film floating on the water below the derrick floor was noticed (pic credit-www.timetoast.com).

1939 -Sir Frank Whittle and Hans J.P. von Ohain invented a craft that became the first jet-powered airplane to fly. It remained airborne for seven minutes

1990 – The Cabinet Committee on political affairs decides to put a proposal before the Parliament providing five to ten per cent of Central Government jobs reserved for Economically Weaker sections.

1992 – The President issues two ordinances making it mandatory for new medical and dental colleges to obtain prior approval of the Medical and Dental Councils of India before their establishment.

Born…. 1908 – Donald Bradman, one of the greatest  Australian cricketers of his times. Scored  6,996 runs with  29 centuries and Test average of 99.94., over a period of 20 years from 1947 onwards. His records  were  broken by  Indian batsmen  Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar of India later.

1931 – Sri Chinmoy, Indian spiritual  guru who taught spiritualism  for inner peace  in America and Europe. He set up  spiritual and Yoga teaching Ashrams  across many countries.

1972 – “The Great Khali’,  Simour (Himachal)  born wrestler  (Dilip Singh Rana). World famous  professional wrestler who  challenged  Undertaker, John Chena, Triple-H and  Batista in WWE.  He has set a wrestling traing institute and  competition outfit in Jalandhar (Punjab). He has acted in several Hollywood and Indiams  viz.,  The Longest Yard, Get Smart, McGruber, Kushti, Ramaa:the Savior etc. apart from participation in Bigg Boss, Kapil Sharma comedy shows etc.

1980 – Neha Dhupia,   Cochin born, model,  actor who won Femina Miss India contest in 2002 and  represented India in Miss  Universe contest . She has acted in Telugu and Hindi films like Quayamat, Kya Kool Hain Ham, Chup Chup Ke, Singh in Kingg,  De Dana dam, Tumhari Sulu and a  Thursday etc. She has won a Filmfare award nomination  on debut.

RIP…. 1976 – Mukesh (Mathur), legendary Indian  playback singer. He got popularity from a song from Pehli Nazar, then Nirdosh, Mela, Andaaz, Anari, Rajnigandha, Pehchan, Darinda, Chhalia, Johar Mehmud in Goa, Himalaya Ki God Mein, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, Anand, Suhag raat, Upasana, Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim, Shor, Mera Naam Joker etc. Mukesh also acted in 45 films in the beginning.  He won a National Film award for Rajnigandhi song and 4 Filmfare awards,  BFJA awards  apart from several nominations and accolades. His son Nitin Mukesh is also a singer and grandson Neil Nitin Mukesh an actor. (Anari film video credit-ishtar/Venus music and  Nitin pic – www.mid-day,com))

1979 – Admiral of the Fleet Louis, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, last Viceroy of India, Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia, and three companions, two of them children, killed by the IRA when his boat was blown up.

2006 – Hrishikesh Mukherjee,  legendary Bengali and Bollywood  film writer, director,  producer who started as assistant to cinmema icon BimalRoy  in Do Bigha Zamin,  Devdas, directed/produced   films like  Anari, Satyakam, Anupama,   Guddi, Anand,  Gol Mal Namak Haram, Abhimaan, Chupke Chupke,  Manjhli Didi,  Baawarchi, Khoobsurat etc. 42 films  over four decades. He has won 8 Filmfare, Padma Vibhushan,  Dadsaheb  Phalke  awards  and  several other  accolades. He  was Chairman,  National Board of Film Development  (NBFC) and  Central Board of  Film Certification  (CBFC).

You may have known….As per 2011 census, the four highest age group population in India was: 10-14 years- 10.96%; 5-9 years – 10.48%; 15-19 years – 9.95%; 0-4 years – 9.32%. These figures indicate relatively young population structure, with the majority of the population in the younger age brackets.                                                                                                                                                                                                          {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R)  Raj Kadyan}