Today’s Motto: ‘The Best Time to execute your plan was 20 years ago………..

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

On this day, 21 Oct….

1854 – Florence Nightingale with a staff of 38 nurses is sent to the Crimean War.

1895 – Liquid air for refrigeration and other purposes largely produced by machinery, invented by Carl Linde.

1943 – In a dramatic moment in India’s freedom struggle, Congressman-turned anti-British warrior, Subhas Chandra Bose -‘Netaji’ to his followers -announced the establishment of the Provisional Government of Free India in Singapore.   And established Azad Hind Fauz with Japan and Singapore support. . Bose, who was convinced that an armed struggle against the mighty British was the only way to throw them out. With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Bose saw an opening to put pressure on the British. But since the Congress foreign policy was clearly in sync with Nehru’s and Gandhi’s belief that opposition to British rule in no way meant supporting Nazi Germany and Imperialist Japan, Bose found himself alone. Forced to resign, he remarked that he was “opposed to Hitlerism  in India, within the Congress or any other country”. In fact, Bose had few illusions about Nazi Germany, but he believed in the pragmatic political theory that an ‘enemy’s enemy is my friend’. Similarly, he had nothing against the British people; his opposition was limited to British imperialismand for Freedom from their rule..

1947 – The office of Controller of Military Accounts (Pensions), Lahore was bifurcated and the pension work relating to Indian nationals was transferred to Allahabad.

1954 – Government of India and France sign an agreement for the de-facto transfer of the French settlement of Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe to the Indian Union. The merger took place on November 1.

1996 – Japan gets non-permanent seat in Security Council after a contest with India.

2000 – Seema Antil becomes the first Indian ever to win a global title by bagging a gold medal in disc throw in the World Junior Athletic championship in Santiago.

2013 – The Parliament of Canada confers Honorary Canadian citizenship on women’s rights and education activist Malala Yousafzai.

Born….

1931 – Shammi Kapoor, most flamboyant Bollywood actor. Also called Elvis Presley of India was the son of veteran Prithviraj Kapoor and younger brother of legendary Raj Kapoor.  Shammi did over 100 films like  Jangli, Kashmir ki Kali, Teesri Manzil, An Evening in Paris, Brahamchari, Raj Kumar, Professor, Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Dil De Ke Dekho, Prince,  Vidhaata,  Andaaz and Rockstar etc.  He won several awards like Filmfare, Screen Awards, Lifetime Achievment Award and Dada Saheb Phalke award.

1833 – Alfred Bernhard Nobel, Swedish chemist and inventor who invented dynamite and other more powerful explosives. He amassed a huge fortune, much of which he left in a fund to endow the annual prizes that bear his name.

1937 – Farooq Abdullah, J&K politician. Son of Sheikh Abdullah, founder  of National Conference. Was Chief Minister thrice  and Member of Lok Sabha three timres and Union Minister for New & Renewal Energy. His son is the current CM of J&K.

1944 – Kulbhushan Kharbanda, veteran villain and character actor. Started with theater and then acted  Punjabi, Hindi films beginning with  Jaadu Ka Shankh by Sai Paranjpe and Insaaf Apne Lahu Se, Damini, Maachis, Lagaan, Lage Raho Munna Bhai,  Agnipath, Bulandi, Crew and Shaan, where he played epic Shakal role. He won a Filmfare, IIFA and Punjabi Fim awards.

1967 – Ashwini Nachappa, Indian athlete, beat PT Usha twice in National competitions. Also acted in some films. Was honored with  Arjuna award in 1988 (pic credit-TiimesContent).

RIP….

2012- Yash Chopra,  younger brother of legendary BR Chopra, one of the leading Bollywood directors and producers. Started direction under veteran  IS Johar.  Known for films like Dhool Ka Phool, Dharmputra, Chandni, Darr, Deevar, Dil Wale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil Toe Paagal Hai,  Silsila, Veer Zara  etc. He won 6 National  and 8 Filmfare awards. (video credit-NH Hindi Songs)

You may have known….

Shaving Habits. The practice of shaving dates back to the Stone Age, roughly 100,000 years ago. In earlier times men used seashells as tweezers to pull out the facial hair. They later moved on to using obsidian shards, which sounds less painful and more effective. Copper razors appeared in ancient Egypt between 2686 BCE and 2181 BCE, with some featuring decorative flourishes such as goose heads and hippo-shaped handles. Long before the age of electric and five-blade razors, men still felt compelled to shave (pic credit-PearlShaving).

 

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