Today’s Motto: ‘A leader doesn’t think “I”. He always thinks “WE”.

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

On this day, 17 Dec….

1398 – Timur (Tamerlane) captures and sacks Delhi, defeating Sultan Nasir-u Din Mehmud’s armies which included few  horses and  elephants.

1836 – The world’s first suburban railway opened in England. (Six years earlier, the world’s first all-steam railway service was between the cities of Liverpool to Manchester Railway which was first offered on 15 Sep 1830).

1903 – The first manned, powered, sustained and controlled airplane flights were achieved by the Wright brothers with The Flyer, a wood and fabric biplane. Orville Wright, launched from a track into the wind. The biplane flew low over the ground for 120-ft, aloft for 12 secs. For the first time, a machine carrying a man had raised itself by its own power into the air in full flight, flown forward without reduction of speed and had finally landed at a point as high as that from which it started. Three more flights were made in the next few hours. The last one, with Wilbur Wright aboard, was the longest, covering 852-ft (260-m) in 59 secs. The wind then upset The Flyer, damaged it, and it never flew again.

1919 – Albert Porta an expert seismographer and meteorologist predicted that a conjunction of six planets on this date would spell the end of the world. The alignment of planets would cause a magnetic current which would pierce the sun and thereby engulf the earth in flames. As the date approached suicides and hysteria were reported throughout the world.

1929 – Bhagat Singh and Rajguru killed Sanders, Asst. Superintendent of Police in Lahore. Though they had attascked James Scott, the SP who had canned revolutionary leader  Lala Lajpar Rai heavily, and he died later.

1961 – India seizes Goa and 2 other Portuguese colonies. (Provocative action against our nationals in the vicinity of Anjadip Island and Portugal’s belligerent attitude to the problems of its colonial possessions in this country resulted in the Government of India’s decision to liberate Goa, Daman and Diu).

1971 – Cease fire between India and Pakistan in Kashmir.

1972 – New line of control (LoC) agreed to in Kashmir between India and Pakistan. It replaced the old Ceasefire Line.

1979 – The first rocket automobile vehicle claimed to break the sound barrier on land. Driven by Stan Barrett, the 3-wheel vehicle reached 739.7 mph. It was stopped by a drag parachute. (The speed record never became official because the average of two runs is required, and the car never ran again. Further, the car’s fuel load was insufficient to enable it to complete a measured mile at record speed, and the rocket engines  could not be readied for a return run within the stipulated 1 hour period).

1993 – Muslims in Bangladesh call for the murder of feminist Taslima Nasrin. She is a writer, women activist, humourist. She had been writing against women’s oppression in Bangladesh, her books banned there. She is liviong in exile in India  since 2011 and has  gained Swedish citizenship.

2017 – French sailor François Gabart sets round-the-world record for fastest solo navigation of the globe in 42 days 16 hours. Professional sailer, navigator and  enterpreneur, has won many  races and prizes. (pic credit-L’Alsace).

2019 – China’s 1st domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, enters naval service.

Born….

1972 – John Abraham, model,  actor,  sports enthusiast. He has acted in  Bollywood flicks  JIsm, Dhoom, Desi Boyz,, Satyamev Jayate, Dishoom, War, Pathaan, Veda etc. His fist film  Jim won him awards and accolades. Has been awarded Filmfare 4 times and National Award once. He was adjudged among Forbe’s 100 Most celebrities list in 2017. (pic credit -Instagram)    

1978 – Riteish Deshmukh, Bollywood actor son of former Maharashtra chief minister  Vilasrao Deshmukh.  He is a film producer, financer and performs mostly in humorous roles. His films are Masti, Houseful, Ek Villain, Tujhe Meri Kasam, Dhamaal, Raid 1-2, Ved, Kakuda, Visfot etc. He is married to Genelia D’Souza (a Sri Lanka born actor)

RIP….

1645 – Noorjahan,  legendary  dancer, beloved of Mughal Shehzada Salim (Jehangir), who could not marry her due to opposition by  his father Badshah  Akbar, led to a revolt in the family. Many  popular films have been released on this epic story where Noorjahan played by actresses  Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Pakistani Neer Jehan, Waheeda Rehman, Rekha  and Shahzada Salim played by  Pradeep Kumar, Dilip Kumar etc.

You may have known….

A flea can jump 350 times its body length, the equivalent of a human jumping the length of a football field.

                                                                                                                                  {Com[piled by Lt. Gen. (R)  Raj Kadyan}