Today’s Motto: ‘Excellence is not a one-time act; it should be a habit’

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

On this day, 16 Dec….

1851 – The first U.S. patent for brass spinning was issued to H.W. Hayden in Connecticut. His invention was for machinery that could make kettles and similar articles from discs of metal.

1935 – The use of eye prints – the pattern of capillaries in the retina – was described in an article  in Time magazine as a new scientific method for identification because an individual’s eye pattern is as unique as fingerprints (pic credit-iStock).

1951 – Salarjung Museum opened in Hyderabad.

1951 – Synthetic diamonds were produced at General Electric Research Laboratories by Prof. H. Tracy Hall.

1971 – India’s army occupies Dacca, West Pakistani troops surrender.

1971 – Bangladesh (East Pakistan) declares independence from Pakistan. It was a joint operation with Mukti Vahini of Banladesh, Indian Army, Air Force and Navy when Pakistan Army  Lt. Gen. AAK Niazi signs  surrender document in front of Indian Lt. Gen. JS Surora  alongwith Arjan Singh IAF. Field Marshall SHFJ Manekshaw was the Indian Army Chief and   ACM PC Lal of Indian Air Force chief  during that Indo-Pak War.

1992 – The Parliament adopts resolution condemning the demolition of the mosque at Ayodhya and centre appoints a one-man judicial commission to enquire into the Ayodhya incidents.

2013 – After years of receding, scientists report that the Arctic sea ice has rebounded in extent and volume.

2020 – Nine-year-old girl who died of an asthma attack in 2013 becomes first person in the world to officially have air pollution listed as cause of death.

Born….1770 – Ludwig Van Beethoven, greatest musician, poet and innovator. He was the most revered musician of Europe,  his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire and span the transition from the Classical period to the Romantic era in classical music.              His  large Bronze statue was unveiled in 1845 on the Münsterplatz in Bonn, his birthplace. (pic credit-Biography)

RIP…. 1960 – Ganesh Chintaman Karve, creator of Marathi dictionary and author. He was called Maharishi Karve for his social, philanthropic and education initiatives.

1971 – 2nd. Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal, Param Vir Chakra awardee (posthumous). He sacrificed his life while destroying 10 Patten tanks (US make) in Indo-Pak war of 1971 in Bara Pind – Narowal- Shakargah) near Ferozepur border.

Titbits….  1809 – Napoleon Bonaparte divorces Empress Josephine of Italy, because she could not produce an heir to  move Napolepon’s dynasty further. (pic credit-Getty Images).

You may have known….

French was the official language of England for about  600 years. It’s because French  Norman  class ruled England from 1066 to 14th century end (pic -credit-frenchleeds.co.uk).                                                                                                                        {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R)  Raj Kadyan}