Today’s Motto: ‘True measure of intelligence is the ability to change’

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

On this day, 23 Mar….
(International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: This day is observed by the United Nations to promote equality and to combat racial discrimination worldwide. It commemorates the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa on 21st March 1960, when police opened fire and killed 69 p eople at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid pass laws).

1836 – The coin press was invented by Franklin Beale, who produced first batch of coins for the U.S. Mint.            1861 – London’s first tramcars began operating.  A pair of horses could pull them with twenty seated passengers and another twelve standing. Unfortunately, the flange of the rails which came above the road surface caused a hazard or damaged other vehicles catching their wheels in the track. Politcally influential local residents also objected to the noise. The project was terminated by the authorities within six months (pic credit-thehistoryoflondon.co.uk)

1913 – Indian Muslim Conference (IUML) passes resolution demanding immediate self-government.  Set up in 1906, it  formally  met  the Viceroy Lord  Minto  in 1913 in  Calcutta.

1942 – Japanese forces occupy Rangoon, Andaman Islands in Indian Ocean.

1956 – Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic in the world. This date is now celebrated as Republic Day in Pakistan.          1983 – Dr. Barney C. Clark , the first recipient of a permanent artificial heart, died at the University of Utah’s Medical Centre after 112 days with the device.

1986 – The first women’s company of Central Reserve Police Force camp was raised in Durgapur. Women’s  wing  has  also  been  deployed  on Lal  Chowk , Srinagar  and  other sensitive ares  in the countrty.

Born…. 1906 – Joan Crawford.  American theatre asnd cinema actor known for roles in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane, The Damned  Don’t Cry, The Torched Song etc.

1910 – Dr. Ram Manohar Hiralal Lohia also known as “Dauntless Dr. Lohia”, freedom fighter and socialist leader. He had founded Praja Socialist Party in 1952. Born in Akbarpur (U.P.) he studied in Londaon and Germany. He joined Quit India Movement and later lead Liberation of Goa from Portugese rule in 1946 and later in 1961,  alongwith his  old friend Dr. Julio Menezes in  He was also elected to Lok Sabha in 1963 and 1967.            1953 – Kiran Mazumdar Shaw.  India’s top pharma (enzymes)  company Biocon Limited  founder chairperson. She founded Biocon in 1978 with a small capital of Rs. 10,000 and took Biotech reserach and production to new heights. She has been awarded Australis’s top award  Order of Australia, Forbe’s  india and EY  Entrepreneurship Award  in 2019. Biocon is credited with being the lead Vaccines producer  including Covex etc. during Covid-19 epidemic.  She is ranked  93rd wealthiest in India, with a net worth of $3.42 billion  (pic credit-mckinsey.com).

1919 – Subhadra Joshi, a noted freedom activist, politician, and parliamentarian from Indian National Congress. She took part in the 1942 Quit India movement and later remained the president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC). She defeated Atal Behari Vajpayee (Jan Sangh) in 1962 Lok Sabha election from Balrampur, but was defeated in 1967 by Vajpayee. She also launched a monthly magazine Secular Democracy in 1962. Her daughter was married to Veteran film  hero, director, producer Manoj Kumar (Goswami).

1976 – Smriti Zubin Irani, politician, former fashion  model, television actress, and producer.  She received widespread acclaim for her role of Tulsi Virani in the soap opera Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi by Ekta Kapoor, which became the most watched show during  its time and won her numerous accolades.  She joi8ned BJP in 2003 and went on to win  Rajya Sabha seat from 2011 to 2019. She defeated ex-Congress President Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in 2019 but was defeated in 2024. She had been Union Minister of HRD, WCD,  Minorities  and Information & Broadcasting.

1987 – Kangana Ranaut, Mandi (H.P.)  born popular  Bollywood actress, producer and director. She debuted  in film with  Gangster and went  through  Queen, Krish3, Tanu Weds Manu,  Fashion,  Panga, Once Upon a Time in Mumbai,  Manikarnika on  Rani Lakxmibai’s story  and Tejas etc. She  also won the Lok Sabha election in 2024. She has won several cine awards like National Award  (4), Filmfare (5), some Tamil awards and more accolades. Her net worth is estimated at about Rs. 98 crores (as in Dec. 2024).

RIP….  1931 – Bhagat Singh, Shivram Rajguru and Sukhdev, great freedom fighters and revolutionaries, were hanged for assasination of Saunders, Assistant Superintendent of Police in the Central Jail at Lahore. Bhagat Singh and his  associates   showed no signs of any fear as they kissed the noose, chanting “Inquilab Zindabad”.
2000 – Udham Singh (Kular), hockey legend. Born  in Sansarpur, near Jalandhar. He played in 4 Olympics Games starting in1952  and  helped India  win 3 Golds and 1 Silver medal  apart from winning  Asian Games. He  was  awarded  Arjuna award  in 1965.

Titbits…. 1994 –India’s  top  all-rounder and legendary capt.  Kapil Dev (Nikhanj  retires Test cricket,  after having taken  record (434)  wickets as a fast -bowler, 200 ODI wickets and having  won the  hystorical 1983 Worl Cup ODI Trophy.                                                                              You may have known….

Road deaths in India: In 2023 alone, more than 172,000 people lost their lives on Indian roads, averaging 474 deaths each day or nearly one every three minutes. Among the dead that year were 10,000 children. Accidents near schools and colleges accounted for another 10,000 fatalities, while 35,000 pedestrians lost their lives. Two-wheeler riders also bore the brunt of fatalities. Over-speeding typically emerged as the single biggest cause. 54,000 people died due to not wearing helmets and 16,000 from not wearing seatbelts. A bewildering array of users crowds India’s roads. There are motorised vehicles like cars, buses and motorcycles vying for space with non-motorised transport such as bicycles, cycle rickshaws and handcarts, animal-drawn carts, pedestrians and stray animals. Hawkers encroach upon roads and footpaths to sell their wares, forcing pedestrians onto busy roads and further complicating traffic flow.

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