Today’s Motto: ‘Great minds have purposes, others only have wishes’

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

On this day, 09 Dec….

(The day marks the eradication of smallpox in India).

1658 – Dutch troops occupy harbour city Quilon (Coilan), India.

1884 – The first U.S. patent for ball-bearing roller skates was issued to Levant M. Richardson of the Richardson Skate Company, Chicago, Illinois. This design allowed until then unseen speed.

1902 – The first U.S. stamp “Messenger on Bicycle” issued in the USto indicate advent of technology.

1946 – The first meeting of Constitutional Committee Assembly was held in Parliament after a gap of two years, 11 months and 17 days. The Congress started its work of framing the Indian Constitution. Muslim League boycott failed to prevent Constituent Assembly opening. From 16th August 1946, the country witnessed communal riots on an unprecedented scale. At this crucial juncture, on 20th February 1947, Clement Richard Attlee the British prime minister, fixed June 1948 as a deadline for transfer of power and Lord Mountbatten was appointed as the new Viceroy . Attlee was the Labour Party PM who  ruled  from 1945 to 1951 and  turned Britain as Welfare State and granted Freedom to India after a long struggle. (pic credit-IMDb).

1947 – India’s agreement with Pakistan on outstanding issues like assets, liabilities, division of sterling balance and military stores, etc. signed.

1968 – The first demonstration of the use of a computer mouse was given at the American Federation of Information Processing Societies’ Fall Joint Computer Conference at Stanford University, California.

2010 – Pakistani’s media publish fake WikiLeaks cables attacking India.

2018 – Tens of thousands march on Delhi roads,  to demand that Lord  Ram temple be built on contentious religious site in Ayodhya.

2022 – Sheet of paper on which scientist Charles Darwin defended his theory of evolution in 1865 sells for a record $882,000 at Sotheby’s.

Born….

1484 – Surdas,  (some believe he was born in 13th century) very popular Hindu devotional  saint, poet  and Bhajan singer.  Was a most respected Krishna devotee of his times, who got blind but wrote Sursagar, Sursaravali and other collectiions of verse (dohas) in Braj and Hindi.

1825 – Tula Ram Rao, one of the revolutionary heroes of the 1857 and Sepoy ‘Mutiny’. A Yaduvanshi Ahir King of Rewari (Haryana). It is said he captured Delhi for a short period during Freedom movement  between 1857-63. His siblings Birender Singh, Rao Inder Singh and others have been active politicians of Haryana after Independence.

1946 – Sonia Gandhi, wife of former PM Rajiv Gandhi,  Born in Italy (real name Antoio Maino) but settled in India after marriage, a prominent  politician and Chairperson of Indian National Congress since 1998 to 2020. Became strong contender of PMs post in 2004 but opposed by her party’s senior members and Opposition, had to leave the PM’s chair to Dr. Manmohan Singh.  Has been member of Lok Sabha since 2004 to 2024, now in Rajya Sabha .

1975 – Dino Morea, popular model,  cinema   actor who worked in Hindi, Tamil, Kannad, Malyalam and Telugu films like Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi, Raaz, Gunaah, Ishaq Hai Tumse,  Aksar, Agent, Gumnaam, Baaz, Holiday, Housefull  etc.

1981 – Dia Mirza Rekhi,  a popular model and romantic Bollywood actor. She won the Femina Miss Asia  and  Miss  Asia Pecific awards in 2000.  Is known for films Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein, Tumko Na Bhool Payenge, Alag,  Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Sanju, Dhak Dhak, Salaam Bombay Bheed etc. She has beeb UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador and received Wilelife Advocate of the Yeaer Award.

RIP….

2008 – Begum Para, (Zubeda Ul Haq), popular film actor of 1940s to 1970s  and known for roles in Chand (1944), Sohni Mahiwal, Suhaag Raat, Neel Kamal, Kismat Ka Khel, Naya Ghar, returned later in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s  Saawariya in  2007.  She won a National Film award,  Filmfare, and OTT  award. Also given  Padam Bhushan in  2013,  posthumously (pic credit-Jansatta).

You may have known….

Guinness Book of World  Records holds the record for being the book most often stolen from Public Libraries. Started in 1955 in England , it is a popular reference book of   variety of  records, achievements and  accomplishments  across the Globe.                           {Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R) Raj Kadyan}