Today’s Motto: ‘To a better person, world always looks better’

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

On this day,  Jan. 26……..

India’s Republic Day- January 26th was chosen to coincide with the day when the Indian National Congress proclaimed the Purna Swaraj Declaration in 1930, marking India’s demand for complete independence. It symbolises India’s commitment to liberty and self-governance (2016 Republic Day; PIB photo).

1697 – Isaac Newton invented calculus of variations. He received and solved Jean Bernoulli’s brachistochrone problem. The Swiss mathematician Bernoulli had challenged his colleagues to solve it within six months. Newton not only solved the problem before going to bed that same night, but in doing so, invented a new branch  of mathematics called the calculus of variations. Newton sent the solution to be published, at his request, anonymously. But the brilliant originality of the work betrayed his identity, for when Bernoulli saw the solution he commented, “We recognize the lion by his claw.”

1784 – Benjamin Franklin expresses unhappiness over eagle as America’s symbol. The bald eagle looked more like a turkey, which prompted Franklin to compare the two birds as a symbol for the United States (pic credit-Britannica).

1905 – The world’s largest gem-quality diamond was discovered in the Premier mine in Transvaal (a British crown colony that later became part of South Africa).

1911 – Glenn Curtiss piloted the first hydroplane flight at North Island, San Diego, California, with a successful take-off from water and landing on water, rose six feet and flew about two or three hundred yards.

1926 – 1st public demonstration of television by John Logie Baird in his laboratory in London.

1929 – Indian National Congress proclaims goal for India’s independence.

1950 – India became a Republic within the British Commonwealth, ceasing to be a British dominion. Constitution of India goes into effect.

1950 – Government of India accepted the National Emblem. It consists of Head of Lion which is taken from Ashok pillar situated near Sarnath. (The Lion Capital was erected in the third century BC by Emperor Ashoka to mark the spot where Buddha first proclaimed his gospel of peace and emancipation to the four quarters of the universe).

1965 – Hindi Language is accepted as National language of India.

1997 – Delhi becomes the first state in India to enforce a ban on smoking in all public places.

1997 – Government prohibits manual scavenging and construction of dry latrines in six states (AP, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tripura, West Bengal) and all UTs.

1997 – Mizoram becomes a dry state, the fourth, after Gujarat, AP and Haryana.

2001 – An earthquake hits Gujarat, causing more than 20,000 deaths.

Born….

1927 – Air Chief Marshall Laxman Madhav Katre,  Was Air Chief between 04 Sept. 1984 – July 01. 1985) His heroics during 1971 India-Pak war were highly daring and exemplary.

1957 – Shivlal Nandlal Yadav. Indian off-spinner 102 Test wickets 1979-87 (pic credit-

ESPNcricinfo)).

RIP….

1992 – Bharat Bhushan, the legendary romantic and tragedy  film hero of the 1950’s. He was known for Chitralekha, Baiju Bawra, Barsat ki Raat, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Mirza Ghalib and several jubilee films. Won 2nd Filmfare award in 1954. (pic credit-Bollywood Gallery)

2012 – Kartar Singh Duggal, popular Punjabi writer (pic credit Wikipedia).

Titbits….

2010 – James Cameron’s film, Avatar, surpasses his 1997 film Titanic, and becomes the highest grossing film of all time.

You may have known….

In 18th Century London, you could pay for entry into the zoo with a cat or dog to feed the lions.

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