Today’s Motto: ‘Be so good, so that they couldn’t ignore you’

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

On this day,  Apr. 10………

1633 – Bananas appeared for the first time in Britain (London), imported by a merchant in Bahamas. These caused a sensation. (It was not until 1884, though, that bananas were regularly imported, from the Canary Islands into Britain).

1815 – The massive volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora was the most powerful in 1,600 years. It formed a crater 5-miles across on Indonesia’s Sumbawa island, lowered the island by 4,000 feet, and killed 10,000 people. The record amounts of ash Tambora spewed into the atmosphere encircled the globe, screened the sun’s light and caused a global drop in temperature. Thus 1816 was a “Year Without a Summer,” with severe climate abnormalities across the globe. Frosts killed crops and late heavy snowstorms occurred. Elsewhere, there were severe storms, excessive rainfall and floods. Widespread famine and disease killed 80,000 more people.

1845 – Gingham manufacturing machinery was patented by inventor Erastus B. Bigelow. (This lightweight fabric is woven from yarn-dyed cotton in striped, checked or plaid patterns, most often using white and bold colour. It is used for clothing and such household items as curtains or aprons).

1849 – The first U.S. patent for a safety pin was issued to Walter Hunt of New York City. When short of cash, within the space of three hours, he conceived the idea, made a model, immediately sold the patent rights for $400. (However, safety pins existed prior to this patent. In Great Britain, a safety pin was patented by Charles Rowley on 12 Oct of the same year).

1875 – Swami Dayanand Saraswati established the Arya Samaj at Bombay and in 1877 in Lahore.

1923 – Hitler demands “hatred and more hatred” in Berlin.

1944 – The first synthetic quinine was produced by Dr. Robert Burns Woodward (on his birthday) and Dr. William von Eggers Doering. Quinine, an anti-malarial drug, is an organic chemical.

1955 – Polio vaccine tested a success by Dr. Jonas Salk.

1982 – Indian National Satellite (INSAT-1A) launched. First operational multi-purpose communication and meteorology satellite procured from USA.                                                    1993 – Student hijackers of IA plane overpowered in Lucknow.

1995 – The world’s first national DNA database was launched in England and Wales. New legislation gave police the authority to retain DNA samples from those previously arrested,. This enabled a revolutionary new tool to uniquely match suspects to crime scene evidence. Mouth swabs or hair samples being routinely collected were used for analysis.

1997 – Kerala becomes the first state to have public telephones in all its villages, accessible over STD/ISD from any part of the world.

2019 – First-ever photo of a black hole announced, taken by The Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration in 2017 in galaxy M87, 6.5 billion times the mass of earth, 55 million light-years away.

2019- New species of human announced named Homo luzonensis, 3ft tall, remains dated 50-60,000 years old found in cave on island of Luzon, Philippines.

2022 – Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan removed from power after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament.

2023 – The Dalai Lama apologizes for a video showing him asking a boy to suck his tongue, after widespread criticism.

Born….

1894 – Ghanshyam Das Birla, Founder of Birla group of industries worth over Rs. 195 billion.  Set up Birla Cement, Hindustan Times media house, Hindustan Motors and Birla Institute of Tech. etc.

1986 – Ayesha Takia, popular romantic Bollywood actor. Acted in Taarzon, the Wonder Car, Dil Mange More. Wanted, Sunday, Super etc. Also got the Filmfare  and IIFA awards  for best Debutent for first film in 2004. (pic credit-Ting)  

RIP….

1995 – Morarji Ranchhodji Desai, first non-Congress Prime Minister of India (1977-79) and Chief Minister of Bombay, passed away at the age of 99. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna.

1954 – Auguste Lumière. Frenchman who, with his brother Louis, invented and pioneered the manufacturing of photographic equipment.

Titbits….

1970 – Co-promotor of  Beatles, Paul McCartney officially announces the split of The Beatles. (pic credit-Harry Durant for Getty Images)

You may have known….
It was common for both men and women to shine their heads in ancient Egypt.

 

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