Today’s Motto: ‘We will never plough a field simply by turning it over in our mind’

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

On this day,  July 18………..

1627 – French explorers noticed oil seeping out of the ground near Cuba, New York. The phenomenon was described by the Franciscan Missionary Joseph DeLa Roch D’Allion, which was the first recorded mention of oil on the North American Continent. (The Seneca Oil Spring is located near the spillway end of Cuba Lake on the Oil Spring Indian Reservation).

1743 – 1st half-page newspaper ad is published (New York Weekly Journal).

1896 – Ranjitsinhji completes 154* on Test Cricket debut vs. Australia, Old Trafford.

1940 – 1st successful helicopter flight, Stratford, Connecticut.

1942 – Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe, Germany’s first operational jet fighter, takes first flight. The Me262 surprised the Allies with its speed advantage – around 100 or more miles per hour. Although it could still be intercepted by Allied piston-engine fighters, when the Nazi jet was at speed it could escape an enemy. However, introduced near the end of World War II, and with limited numbers available, the Me 262 had limited effect on the progress of the war.

1946 – U.K. Parliament approves British Cabinet mission report on India but Churchill says that the mission went too far in offering India independence outside of the Commonwealth.

1947 – Indian Independence Act, signed by King George VI, was proclaimed as Indian Freedom Act, 1947.

1963 – The first implantation of an intrathoracic left artificial ventricle in a human being was made by Dr. E. Stanley Crawford, at the Baylor University College of Medicine, Methodist Hospital, Houston, USA. (The original prototype is kept and exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC).

1968 – The Intel Corporation, inventor of the microchip, was incorporated. In 1968, a Hungarian immigrant by the name of Andy Grove co-founded Intel with a collaboration of colleagues with the same interest, to revolutionise the computer world. In 1971, Intel released its first microprocessor, the 4004 designed for a calculator. In 1972 came the more powerful 8008. With the introduction of the 8080 in 1974, the first personal computers were made possible.

1986 – Videotapes released showing Titanic’s sunken remains.

2012 – Kim Jong-un is officially appointed Supreme Leader of North Korea and given the rank of Marshal in the Korean People’s Army

2019 – One of world’s earliest mosques at 1,200 years old discovered by archaeologists in Israel’s Negev Desert.

Born….

1959 – Sanjay Dutt, popular Bollywood actor. Son of legend Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt. Sanjay  acted in Saajan, Rocky, Adharam,  Sadak,  Gumrah  Naam, Munna Bhai etc. Nominated 7 times for  Filmfare award. Won Stardut, Screen and International Film Academy awards.

1982 – Priyanka Chopra, Bollywood actor. Miss World in 2000. Known for roles in Krish3,  Don, The Hero, Love Again, The Sky is Pink,  Mujhse Shadi Karoge etc..   Also appeared in 4 Hollywood films. Won 2 National and 5 Filmfare awards.

RIP……

1992 – Kanandevi, famous Bengali actress and singer.

1993 – Girilal Jain, Former  Times of India editor from 1978 to 1988. Wrote on Ram Janambhoomi and a popular book “The Hindu Phenomenon’Was awarded Padam Bushan in 1989.

2012 – Rajesh Khanna, legendary Bollywood actor, known as the First Superstar, who ruled as No. 1 for 15-20 years. Acted in over 180 films including 15 jubilee making films like Kati Patang, Do Raaste, Aaradhana, Aan Milo Sajna, Haathi Mere Saathi, Avtaar, Anand, Amar Prem,  Swarg, Daag, Dushman, Roti,  Sautan, Baawarchi and Namak Haram  etc. Won 5 Filmfare awards, IIFA, StarDust, Zee Cine awards etc. Awarded Padam Bhushan in 2013.

You may have known….

Lake Palace : The Lake Palace in Lake Pichola in the city of Udaipur was built as a royal summer palace in the 18th century. Today it is a luxury 5 Star hotel, operating under the “Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces”. The Lake Palace hotel operates a boat which transports guests to the hotel from a jetty at the City Palace on the east bank of Lake Pichola. The palace became famous in 1983 when it was featured in the James Bond film Octopussy, as the home of titular character.

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