Today’s Motto: ‘Travails of life cannot be watched from sidelines;……

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

On this day, 24 Nov ….

1675 – Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, was beheaded by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, an event known as Shaheedi Diwas. His martyrdom is commemorated with prayers and gatherings.

1859 – Publication of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species.

1926 – Eminent yogi,  maharishi, philosopher  Sri Aurobindo Ghose attained complete perfection. He also edited/published  Bande Matram newspaper and led freedom fighters.

1941 – Indian infantry attacks German tanks at Sidi Omar during WW-II.

1963 – 1st live murder on TV-Jack Ruby shoots Lee Harvey Oswald. (Oswald had assassinated President Kenedy).

1989 – Tendulkar scores a Test Cricket fifty age 16 years 214 days, a record.

1992 – It was decided that Lok Sabha session would start with the National song “Vande Mataram”” and end with National Anthem “Jana Gana Mana”.

1992 – The Lok Sabha approved a bill granting Indian citizenship to a child born to an Indian mother outside the country.

2011 – Indian government relaxes rules relating to the operation of  US-owned retailers such as Wal-Mart and Tesco within India.

2018 – M.C. Mary Kom won a gold medal in the 48 kg category at the Women’s World Boxing Championship, becoming the first woman to do so in Six World Championship events.                                                                                                                                                                                  2019 – Data leaked from Chinese high-security Muslim Uighur security camps, housing 1 million people, show systematic brainwashing in western Xinjiang region.

Born…. 1881 – Sir Chhotu Ram, politician,  philanthropist,  (Born Ram Richpal; was a prominent statesman/politician in British India’s Punjab Province, an ideologue of the Jat peasantry and a champion of their  interests. He was Knighted in 1937 and was a co-founder of the National Unionist Party). Haryana politician Chaudhury Birender Singh  is his maternal  grandson.

1935 – Salim Khan, Bollywood scriptwriter, who paied with Javed Akhtar in films like Haathi  Mere Saathi, Zamana, Zanjeer, Mazboor, Shakti, Trishool, Deevar, Sholey   etc. Father of popular actor Salman, Sohail, Arbaaz and others . Won 4 Filmfare  and a Padam Shri, which he refused to take for undervaluing his  work and status.

1943 – Montek Singh Ahluwalia, economist former Dy. Chairman of Planning Commission (now Niti Aayog). Was the youngest  (28) to be appointed  Division Chief of World Bank.  Awarded Padam Vibhushan in 2011 by UPA govt.

1944 – Amol Palekar,  Bollywood actor known for  romantic  and  comic roles in Rajnigandha, Chitchor, Choti Si Baat, Golmaal, Baaton Baaton Mein, Paheli, Gulmohar,  Gharaonda, Naram Garam etc.  Was awarded Filmfare 3 times,  Silver Lotus, State awards and other honors  (pic credit-Facebook).

1961 – Arundhati Roy, Indian activist and writer. She won the Booker’s prize  for her novel The God of Small Things in 1997.  It became the biggest  grossing fiction book by an Indian author. She has been wifdely condemned for supporting sepeation of Kashmir in an article in 2008 and for campaigning against  Narmada Dam project alongwith activist Medha Patekar, and faces  cases under UAPA acts (pic credit-www.independent.co.uk).

1981 – Celina Jaitley, Won Miss India in Famina  and  was at No. 4  in Miss Universe in 2001. Acted in  Bollywood films Janasheen, Apna Sapna Money Money,  Golmaal Returns etc..

1984 – Yami Gautam, popular actor who acted in bold roles like Vicky Doctor, Sanam Re, Ginny weds Sunny, Chor Nikal Ke Bhaaga, OMG-2,  Article 370, Uri- the Surgical Strike,  etc.  She was awarded Best Debutant for Vicky Doctor in 2013, Support Role for OMG-2 in 2024. IIFA, Filmfare OTT awards. She has acted in Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil and Malyalam films. Her father Mukesh Gautam was also honored with National award for direction of  film Baghi Di Dhee, a Punjabi film based on story by Gurmukh Singh Musafir (ex-CM).

RIP…. 1665 – Guru Teg Bahadur, 9th Guru  of Sikhs,  who was martyred by  mughal  king Aurangzeb in 1675 in Delhi, for refusing to convert to Islam. Gurudwara Sis Ganj, Bangla Saheb and Rakaab  Ganj are  most respected memorials of 9th  Guru.

2003 – Tuntun,  (Uma Devi Khatri) legendary Bollywood  singer and  comedy actor. Known for humorous roles in Dard, Babul, Mr. & Mrs. 55, Udan Lhatola, Chaudhvin Ka Chaand, Geet, Pyaasa, Hulchul, CID etc.  Was awarded Best singer award and several other awards (pic credit-Bollywood Shaadis)

You may have known….  The rural population of India is approximately 63.13% as of 2024, a decline from 68.8% in the 2011 Census. The rural population of India is approximately 63.13% as of 2024, a decline from 68.8% in the 2011 Census.
The rate of urbanisation in India,  is approximately 1.34% (2021 data).

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