Today’s Motto: ‘If you want to test a man’s character, give him power’

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

On this day, 24 Nov….

1859 – Darwin’s groundbreaking book ‘On the Origin of Species’ , was published in England to great acclaim. The British naturalist, Charles Darwin presented his idea that species are the result of a gradual biological evolution in which nature encourages, through natural selection, the propagation of those specie best suited to their environments.

1874 – The first U.S. patent for barbed wire was issued to Joseph F. Glidden. Before this innovation, settlers on the treeless plains had no easy way to fence livestock away from cropland, and ranchers had no way to prevent their herds from roaming far and wide. Glidden’s barbed wire opened the plains to large-scale farming, and closed the open range, bringing the era of the cowboy and the round-up to an end.

1903 – The first U.S. patent for an automobile electric self-starter was issued.

1926 – Eminent philosopher Sri Aurobindo attained complete perfection.

1930 – 1st woman pilot on a transcontinental air flight, Miss Ruth Nichols.

1941 – Indian infantry attacks German tanks at Sidi Omar.

1963 – 1st live murder on TV-Jack Ruby shoots Lee Harvey Oswald. (Oswald had assassinated President Kennedy).

1989 – Tendulkar scores a Test Cricket fifty age 16 years 214 days, a record.

1992 – It was decided that Lok Sabha session would start with the national song  Vande Mataram and end with National Anthem Jana Gana Mana.

2011 – India’s government relaxes rules relating to the operation of foreign-owned retailers such as Wal-Mart and Tesco within India.

2019 – Data leaked from Chinese high-security Muslim Uighur security camps, housing 1 million people, show systematic brainwashing in western Xinjiang region.

Born….

1881 – Sir Chhotu Ram, philanthropist,  (Born Ram Richpal; was a prominent politician in British India’s Punjab Province, an ideologue of the Jat peasantry and a champion of its interests. He was knighted in 1937 and was a co-founder of the National Unionist Party).

1935 – Salim Khan, Bollywood scriptwriter, who paied with Javed Akhtar in films like Haathi  Mere Saathi, Zamana, Zanjeer, Mazboor, Shakti, Trishool, Deevar, Sholey   etc. Father of popular actor Salman, Sohail, Arbaaz and others . Won 4 Filmfare  and a Padam Shri, which he refused to take for undervaluing his  work and status.

1943 – Montek Singh Ahluwalia, economist former Dy. Chairman of Planning Commission (now Niti Aayog). Was the youngest  (28) to be appointed  Division Chief of World Bank.  Warded Padam Vibhushan in 2011 by UPA govt.

1944 – Amol Palekar,  Bollywood actor known for  romantic  and  comic roles in Rajnigandha, Chitchor, Choti Si Baat, Golmaal, Baaton Baaton Mein, Paheli, Gulmohar,  Gharaonda, Naram Garam etc.  Was awarded Filmfare 3 times,  Silver Lotus, State awards and other honors  (pic credit-Facebook).

1961 – Arundhati Roy, Indian activist and writer (The God of Small Things).

1981 – Celina Jaitley, Won Miss India in Famina  and  was at No. 4  in Miss Universe in 2001. Acted in  Bollywood films Janasheen, Apna Sapna Money Money,  Golmaal Returns etc..

1984 – Yami Gautam, popular actor who acted in bold roles like Vicky Doctor, Sanam Re, Ginny weds Sunny, Chor Nikal Ke Bhaaga, OMG-2,  Article 370, Uri- the Surgical Strike,  etc.  She was awarded Best Debutant for Vicky Doctor in 2013, Support Role for OMG-2 in 2024. IIFA, Filmfare OTT awards. She has acted in Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil and Malyalam films. Her father Mukesh Gautam was also honored with National award for direction of  film Baghi Di Dhee, a Punjabi film based on story by Gurmukh Singh Musafir (ex-CM).

RIP….

1665 – Guru Teg Bahadur,9thGuruofSikhs,who was martyred by  mughal  king Aurangzeb in 1675 in Delhi for refusing to convert to Islam. Gurudwara Sis Ganj, Bangla Saheb and Rakaab  Ganj are  most respected memorials of 9th  Guru.

2003 – Tuntun,  (Uma Devi Khatri) legendary Bollywood  singer and  comedy actor. Known for humorous roles in Dard, Babul, Mr. & Mrs. 55, Udan Lhatola, Chaudhvin Ka Chaand, Geet, Pyaasa, Hulchul, CID etc.  Was awarded Best singer award and several other awards (pic credit-Bollywood Shaadis)

You may have known….

In Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 thriller Psycho, the sound effects for the famous shower scene were actually created by repeatedly stabbing a casaba melon (pic credit-Mental Floss).

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