Today’s Motto: ‘What you believe must over-ride what you fear’

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

On this day, 08 Feb….

1862 – The East Indian Railway set up the first full-fledged railway workshop facility in India at Jamalpur. This site was was close to not only the main trunk route of the Sahibganj loop, but also to Bihar for a source of skilled mechanical craftsmen.                                                                                                                               1883 – Lewis Edson Waterman began experimenting with ideas that would lead to the invention of the fountain pen

1936 – Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru follows Gandhi as President  of India Congress Party.

1943 – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose embarked on a historic journey from Kiel, Germany, aboard a submarine bound for Japan to lead the Indian National Army (INA).

1948 – The Indian government officially banned the Muslim groups ‘Khaksars’ and ‘League National Guard’.

1967 – Indira Gandhi was hit in face by a stone while addressing a small group of  people in Bhuwaneswar.  She soon left the venue  with a bleeding nose.                                                                                    1971 – Indira Gandhi wins mid-term elections and becomes Prime Minister.

1986 – Satyajit Ray was conferred with France’s highest civilian award, Legion d’Honneur.

1986 – India’s first prepaid taxi service was launched at Delhi Airport, revolutionising transport for travellers.

1994 – Kapil Dev sets world record for Test Cricket wickets with 432 breaking Richard Hadlee’s  (New Zealand) record for a fast bowler. His record was later broken by  Jamaican  Courtney Andrew Walsh in 2000.                                                                                                                                                                                                2013 – 100, 000 people march to demand justice for the atrocities of the Bangladesh Liberation War in Dhaka.                                                                                                                                                                                  2018 – Bangladesh court sentences former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to 5 years in prison for corruption. She is the wife of opposition leader Ziaur Rehman  and became  country’s PM in 1991-96 and 2001-06.   She died on Dec. 30, 2025 due to a prolonged illness.                                                                           Born….  1897 – Dr. Zakir Husain, third President of India  (May 13, 1967 to  May 3, 1969), a Muslim  Educationist and co-founder of Jamia Milia Islamia..

1907 – Madhavravji Golwalkar, sarsanghchalak of ‘Rashtriya Swayansewak Sangh’ (RSS). He was an educationist, Freedom-fighter and Hindu revivalist,  and  is popular as Guruji.

1941 – Jagjit Singh, renowned Ghazal singer. Born in Ganganagar he started his music career in 1967 at All India Radio and mastered Khyal, Dhrupad and Thumri genre of classical music. He composed and sang ghazals for films Prem Geet. Arth, Saath Saath, Mirza Ghalib and Kehkashan. His albums Beyond Time, Miraz, Silsilay, etc. with Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi  and Bhajans with Ravi Shankar on Sitar brouigt him more accolades . He married a singer Chitra  but had tragedy when his son died in  an accident and later daughter committede suicide. Jagjit Singh was awared Mirza Ghalib,  Sahitya Askademy award and Padam Bhushan apart from several accolades.

1963 – Mohammad Azharuddin, an elegant Indian right hand  batsman. Played 47 Tests and ODIs and scored 6215 with 22 centuries. He also captained Indian team and later won Lok Sabha election from Moradabad  in 2009 on Congress ticket but lost in 2014 from Tonk Rajasthan.   He was awarded Arjuna Award in 1986 and Padam Shri in 1988  and figured in Wisdon Cricketer of the Year in 1991. He married  actress Sangeeta Bijlani in 1996 (2nd marriage and was rumoured to have many afairs. He also faced match-fixing allegatiopns alongwith Hansie Cronje of South Africa in 2000. banned by BCCI  but was later absolved by Andhra HC.  (pic credit-india.com).

RIP…. 1946 – Felix Hoffmann, German chemist who discovered Aspirin and drug diamorphine called Heroin.  (pic credit-sciencehistory.org.).

1999 – Gen K. Sundarji 14th  Chief of Army Staff between 1986-88. He was known for Operation Brasstacks on TRajasthan Border  and Blue star in Punjab for controlling terrorism.

RIP…. 1999 – Gen K. Sundarji former Chief of Army Staff (1986-88).  He was known for Operation Brasstacks on Rajasthan Border  and Blue star in Punjab for controlling terrorism. He died of motor neuron disease in 1999.

You may have known…. The Indian Peacock (Pavo cristatus) is the National Bird of India, chosen for its deep-rooted role in Indian culture, tradition, and widespread presence. It symbolizes beauty,  grace, pride, and joy, featuring a vibrant, fan-shaped crest and iridescent tail feathers.            Its feather  is perched on Shri Krishna’s  headgear and decorates  it.                                                         

2.  Industrial Revolution in Europe resulted in modem factories. With this the scale of manufacturing goods increased tremendously leading to mechanisation. As a result migration of workers occurred from villages to cities. The barter system of goods with goods came to an end, exchange of goods with money started.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R)  Raj Kadyan}