Today’s Motto: ‘Unlike water, life does not flow over the shortest possible route’
As Every Day makes a new beginning in life, it brings new opportunities, opens new avenues to perform, make a mark, and to write a Page in the History Books!
This is Your Day-TODAY: Take a Determined Step Forward and Make History !
On this day, 31 Oct….
1876 – Cyclone hits Bengal, centred near Bakarganj (now in Banlgadesh); about 200,000 die.
1888 – Pneumatic bicycle tyres were patented by Scottish inventor, John Boyd Dunlop (pic credit-askaboutireland.ie).
1962 – VK Krishna Menon, Defence Minister, resigns following public outcry on failure to save the country’s borders during attack by China.
19
56 – An airplane landed at the South Pole for the first time.
2000 – Chhattisgarh, the 26th State of Indian Union, comes into existence.
2011 – The world population reaches 7 billion inhabitants according to the United Nations.
2018 – The Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue at 182 meters, is unveiled by PM Narendra Modi at the birthplace of first Dy. PM and Home Minister Sardar VB Patel in Narmada Valley in Kevadia, Gujarat, as a tribute to Sardar Patel. It was designed and built by architect Ram V Sutar.
Born…. 1875 – Vallabhbhai Zaverbhai Patel, called ‘ Sardar Patel and Lauh Purush, (the Iron Man of India)
. He was also the first Deputy Prime Minister of India. (His father had served in the army of the Rani of Jhansi against the Britishers). Sardar Patel undertook the tedious task of uniting and getting merger documents signed by over 565 Princely States, who were given option by the British to join India, Pakistan or stay independent, after the British rule ends on August 15, 1947. (only the state of Jammu & Kashmir, was left to be handled by PM Nehru). Sardar Patel was honored with Bharat Ratna in 1991. (41 years after his death in 1951.) (AI generated pic credit-news18).
1895 – C.K. Nayudu, first Indian cricket Test captain. He played an important role in Indian cricket for 47 years, as a player, ad
ministrator and BCCI official. CK Nayudu Trophy tournament is played in domestic cricket among 38 teams comprising players under-23 Years. 1927 – Dr. Narindar Singh Kapani, Indian-American physicist, who is widely acknowledged as 
the father of Fibre Optics. He worked in the University of California, Santa Clara and was fellow of British Royal Academy of Engineering, Optical Society of America and American Association for Advancemet of Scvience (pic credit-theSikhFoundation).
1943 – G Madhavan Nair, space scientist. Former Chairman of ISRO and Secretary/Head of Govt. of India’ s Space Research Commission. He has been awarded Padam Vibhushan and CNN-IBN Indi
an of the Year.
RIP…. 1975 – Sachin Dev Burman, famous music director. He was a member of Tripura’s Royal family. Also known for memorable songs, 14 in Hindi and 13 Bengali, among them. Was awarded Padma Shri, 2 National Film and 2 Filmfare awards. His son RD Burman (Pa
ncham Da) was also a popular music director and singer.
1984 – Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is assassinated by her bodyguards Satwant Singh and Beant Singh at her home in New Delhi at 9.20 am. The assassination happened in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star, by the Indian Army in June 1984 assault on the Golden Temple in Amritsar, which was under the control of Bhinderwale (pic -credit- n
ews.bbc.co.uk).
You may have known…. 1. India shares its total 15,106.7 km land borders with seven countries: Paki
stan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. In the South, India has Sri Lanka, Malidives as close neighbors in the Indian Ocean. 2. Ashkenazic Jews, those of European ancestry, typically select a name for kids to commemorate a deceased relative. Sephardic Jews, those of Spanish and Middle Eastern ancestry, often name their 
children after living relatives.
{Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R) Raj Kadyan}
