Today’s Motto: ‘Life is meaningful when age is counted by friends, not years’

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

On this day,  Sep . 21………….

46 – French expeditionary army occupies Labourdonnais & Dupleix Madras.5 – British promise India independence.

1948 – Formation of Press Trust of India (PTI)  though has a history as having been  established in 1905 as News agency,  Associated Press of India later Rueters takes its control.  In 1948  Kasturi Srinivasan of The Hindu became  its first Chairman. News Agency is a cooperative of  about 500  to newspapers and senior journalists. Has correspondents in all state capitals and major towns of India, as well in major World Capitals.  In 1953 it shifted to New Delhi, in its present building on Sansad Marg. Provides all news/photo and video  services in almost all formats including a PTI-TV channel.

During Emergency 1975-76  its control  was taken over by Indira Gandhi govt. but later became independent co-op. news outfilt.  It is now one of the leading news agencies in Asia. competing with private agencies too.

1954 – Last Indian troops withdraw from Tibet.

1984 – National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources and National Institute of Animal Genetics were set up. Initially in Bangalore, it was shifted to Karnal in July 1985.

1997 -Indian PM  I. K. Gujral and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif meet  in New York on recent flare-up on Line of Control and firing across the border. The two agreed that such sources of tension should not be allowed (pic credit-Bridgeman Images).

2001 – University of Roorkee, becomes India’s 7th Indian Institute of Technology, rechristened as IIT Roorkee.

2004 The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) People’s War and the Maoist Communist Centre of Ind

ia merge to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist).

2022 – Vladimir Putin announces partial mobilization of Russian population, drafting between 300,000 and 1.2m men to fight in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prompting demonstrations around the country.

Born….

1866 – H. G. Wells, English sci-fi author wrote satire, social political commementary. Famous books are The War of Words, The Invisible Man, Island of Doctor Moreo, The Country of the Blind, The Outline of Hitory, The Time Machine, The First Man in the Moon etc. Was nominated for Nobel Prize for Literature in 1931,  1932,  1935, 1946 but was never awarded.

1912 – Firoz Gandhi, Congress politician who married former PM Indira Gandhi and was father of late Rajiv and  Sanjay Gandhi.

1939 – Swami Agnivesh, Haryana  saint, philosopher and Arya Samaj politician.

1955 – Gulshan Grover, popular Bollywood actor mostly in villiain roles.  Known for Ram Jaane, American Daylight,  Hindustan Ki Kasam, 16 December, Kartoos, Suno Sasurji, Leela, Mere Jeevan Saathi etc.  Won Bollywood  Movie award  twice and StarDust once. (Pic credit-ShutterStock) 

1980 – Kareena Kapoor, Bollywood actor, granddaughter of Raj Kapoor. Famous films Yadein,  Dosti,  Satyagrah, Chameli,  Roadside Romeo Omkara etc.  Was nominated for Filmfare awards 4 times, won 3 times.

1981 – Rimi Sen, Bengali and Bollywood actor. Done films like Baghwan, Dhoom, Sankar City, Budhia Singh etc, Nominated to film awsrds 4 times .

RIP….

1933 – Annie Besant, great social worker and founder of Home Rule Movement.

1992 – Tarachand Barjatya,  most popular film producer and founder of Rajshri Productions. Known for films like Dosti,  Saudagar, Paheli, Jeevan Mrityu Nadiya Ke Paar, Savan Ko Aane Do, etc.  Was awarded National Film award in1964  and Filmfare in1990.

You may have known….

The Indian custom of   Touching Elders’ Feet: This gesture is a very common in the Indian tradition and is essentially an age-old custom of showing one’s respect to elders and those who are spiritually accomplished. The primary motive behind this gesture is to bow down and show respect to the elder. The person whose feet are being touched, blesses you with long life, fortune and wisdom, as an acknowledgement. It is said that when you bow down and the elder touches your head with their hand while blessing you, his spiritual energy/wisdom passes on to you. The person who bows down, lets go off his ego and becomes more humble in this act. The person who acknowledges the gesture with a blessing, becomes a well-wisher and would refrain from developing hatred of the other. This practice, sadly is wearing off with time.

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