Today’s Motto: ‘An inch of movement will bring you closer to your goals…..

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

On this day, 28 Jan….

1807 – London’s Pall Mall became the first street of any city to be illuminated by gaslight.

1846 – Battle of Aliwal, British beat Sikhs in Punjab.  Brit commander Harry Smith defeated Sikh army  led by Ranjodh Sigh Majithia. This was a big turning point in the first Anglo-Sikh war (pic credit-Wikipedia).

1887 – Work begins on the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

1896 – The first over-speeding fine was handed out to a British motorist Walter Arnold for being caught doing 8 mph in a 2 mph built up zone, and was fined one shilling. That speed limit had been in force since 1865. The speed limit was raised to 20 mph in 1903, and to 30 mph within built up areas in 1934, which it has remained ever since.

1911 – The famous Hope diamond, once worn by Marie Antoinette, was bought this night for over $300,000 by Ned McLean, son of John McLean. Mrs. McLean wore it as a head ornament, guarded by a former Secret Service man who in turn was guarded by two private detectives. Walnut-sized and exquisitely blue in color, the 44.5-carat stone was mined  from India. Its owners included Louis XIV, Louis XVI, and a London banker named Hope. A sinister history of ill luck, madness, and violent death clings to the unique gem.

1933 – The name Pakistan was coined by Choudhary Rehmat Ali Khan and  accepted by the Indian Muslims who then thereby adopted it further for the Pakistan Movement seeking independence.

1960 – The first wire photograph transmitted by radio waves bounced off the moon was sent between Hawaii and Washington, D.C., by the U.S. Navy, using 84-ft diameter parabolic antennas.

2010 – Five murderers of President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh hanged: Lieutenant Colonel Syed Faruq Rahman, Lieutenant Colonel Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Major AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed, Major Bazlul Huda and Lieutenant Colonel Mohiuddin Ahmed.

Born…. 1865 – Lala Lajpat Rai. Known as   ‘Punjab Kesari’ and ‘Shere-Punjab’, the great Indian,  valiant freedom fighter, social reformer, humanitarian and lawyer. He was fatally injured  due to heavy  lathi-charge by British soldiers, while protesting against Simon Commission in Lahore.  (pic credit-www.whoa.in).

1900 – General (Later Field Marshall) K.M. Cariappa, first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army in 1949.

1925 – Dr. Raja Ramanna, Indian nuclear scientist and fourth President of Indian Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) . He played an important role as head of organisation,   exploding India’s first  Neclear test in  Pokharan was conducted successfully on May 18,  1974 (called operation  Buddha Smiles).  He was later made Minister of a State for Defence  and Member of Rajya Sabha,  and was awarded Padam Vibhushan in 1975.

1986 – Shruti Haasan,  Indian film actress, daughter of  popular South hero  Kamal Hassan. She has acted in Teleugu, Tamil and Hindi films, and 2 Flimfare South, 7 South India Film awards and many accolades.Her films Ramiya Vasthavayya,  Valupu, Pujai, Vadalam etc. have been successful.

RIP…. 1984 – Sohrab Meherwanji Modi, famous drama and film producer, director and  actor. He was known for very powerful  dialogue delivery in films like Yehudi,  Sikandar, Prithvi Ballabh, Pukar, Mirza Ghalib, Jhansi Ki Rani, Nausherwan-e Adil, Ghar Ki Laaj, Mera Ghar Mere Bachche, Woh Koi Aur  Hoga, Jwala  etc. He was honored with Dadasaheb  Phalke Award  in1980.

Titbits….   1887 – In a snowstorm at Fort Keogh, Montana, the world’s largest snowflakes are reported, being 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick  (pic credit-Reddit.com).

You may have known….

Major irrigation canals were built after millions of people died each in a series of major famines in the 19th century in British India. In 1900, British India (including Bangladesh and Pakistan) had about 13 million hectare  area  under irrigation.

 

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