Today’s Motto: ‘Don’t waste your time with explanations……

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

On this day, 19 Feb….

1831 – The York locomotive, the first practical coal-burning locomotive built in America, made its first trial run.
1863 – The first pipeline running from an oilfield to a refinery was completed at Oil Creek, Pennsylvania.

1878 – The phonograph was patented by Thomas A. Edison. His first recording was made reciting “Mary Had a Little Lamb.

1949 – Mass arrests of communists in India.

1977 – Deep-ocean researchers found an extraordinary oasis of extremophile life. New types of worms, clams and crabs were seen thriving around geothermal hot water vents. The food-chain of the ecosystem depends upon bacteria oxidising hydrogen sulphide contained in the volcanic gases that spew out of the hot springs. Thus, the energy source that sustains this deep-ocean ecosystem is not sunlight, but rather the energy from chemical reaction (chemosynthesis (pic credit-spacesspotlight.com).

2019 – Vatican confirms secret Church guidelines for children of Priests.

Born…. 1473 – Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish mathematician, astronomer and Catholic canon. He discovered that the Sun is the centre of  our Universe, rather than the Earth.

1670 – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the great Maratha leader. He faught a gainst Auragzeb with smaller army, thru’  Guirrilla warfare. He established an independent Hindu  kingdom out of Bijapur and set up the Bhonsle dynasty.  He was a very sharp and astute commander, he  escaped cunning  Afjal  Khan’s plan to kill him by deceit during a meeting (while hugging).  Shivaji also escaped from Agra jail hidden in a fruit basket and  gathered his army against mughal rulers (pic credit-swarajyamag.com). 

1906- Guru Golvalkar (Madhav Sadashivrao). a grerat thinker, social reformer and the 2nd  Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh between 1940-73, who wrote several books on Hindu sanskriti and society. He also founded Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

1987 – Sam Reid. Australian actor, news read. Known for roles in The Newsreader, Belle, ’71, The Railway Man, Anonymous etc.

1993 – Victoria Justice- American  model, actor and pop/rock  singer. Known for The First Time, Little Sister, Victorious etc. She has won ALMA aewards, Kids’ Choice and Young Artists awards etc.

RIP….  1861 – Rani Rashmoni, great nationalist of Bengal,  who compelled the British to abolish  the tax imposed on fishing in the river, ingeniously blocking the trade and commerce on the part of Ganges. She built the Dashmeshwar Kali temple in Kolkata.

1915 – Gopal Krishan Gokhale, social reformer,  political leader and freedom fighter. He was part of  famous trioka of Freedom struggle called Bal-Gopal-Lal  (Bal Gangadhar Tilak-Gopal Krishan Gokhale-Lala Lajpat Rai)- in early 19th century,  through  social awakening, education, removing  caste system and other evils.  . He was the Guru of MK Gandhi, edited a journal Sarvjanic Sabha journal  and  later published a weekly  The Hitavada in 1911 to create social  awareness in Indioan society.  He also  founded  the Servants of India Society alongwith great Nationalist MG Ranade in 1905.

1978 – Pankaj Mallick, famous Bengali music director and playback singer. He is known for many popular Bengali, Hindi songs and Rabindra Sangeet. He also did some evergreen song compositions with legendary KL Sehgal.  (video credit-YouTube).

You may have known….

A programme costing Rs. 4 crore for the manufacture of armaments and explosives was launched in 1941 to meet the immediate requirements of war. The ordinance factories started producing 700 varieties of ammunition. There were pressing demands to meet the civilian requirements too.

 

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