Today’s Motto: ‘To an optimist even a mud puddle looks like an ocean with ships’

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

On this day, 03 Jan….
1888 – The first wax drinking straw and the spiral winding tube-making process was patented (pic credit-Wikipedia).
1943 – 1st missing persons telecast (New York City).
1947 – Gandhiji toured the riot-affected areas in Bihar from January 3 to January 29.
1957 – The world’s first electric watch was introduced by the Hamilton Watch Company. The idea of a watch which never needed winding was very exciting to 1950’s consumers, who were captivated by progress and modernity. The Hamilton Electric was an instant hit.

1988 – Margaret Thatcher becomes longest-serving British Prime Minister in 20th century.

2000 – A. B. Vajpayee, Prime Minister, accuses Pakistan for the hijack of an Indian Airlines aircraft. (The crisis ended on Dec. 31 last with the Vajpayee Government agreeing to free three terrorists in exchange for the passengers).

2019 – Chinese Chang’e-4 spacecraft becomes the first ever to touch down on the far side of the Moon.

2020 – US drone strike kills top Iranian security and intelligence commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani outside Baghdad airport in Iraq.

Born….

1917 Kartar Singh Duggal, famous Punjabi story-writer and novelist. He wrote in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu and English. He was appointed Director of All India Radio. His popular books are Sikh Gurus-Their Lives, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Pausha ke Thithurte Jare,,,, Alien Heart, Born of the Same Parents etc. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan, Sahitya Akademy,  Mirza Ghalib Award, Soviet Land Nehru award, Bhartiya Bhasha Parishad, Bhai Mohan Singh award etc.

1938 – Jaswant Singh (Rathore),  retired Army  Major who fought in 1965 Indo-Pak war and became  Jan Sangh/BJP politician, represented Party in  Lok Sabha 4 and Rajya Sabha 6 times, was minister of External Affairs when terrorists hijacked Indian Airlines plane from Nepal to Kandhaar. He was also Defence and Finance Minister and BJP’s Vice Presidential nominee in 2012. He fell in  the bathroom  in 2014 and was in Coma for about 6 years before death in 2020.

1941 – Sanjay Khan, veteran  romantic actor known for  his roles Haqeeqat, Dosti, Ek Phool Do Mali, Chandi Sona, Mela, Naagin, Trimurti, Dhundh etc. He won a National Films and a Filmfare and Rajiv Gandhi award.

1979 – Gul Panag, a Chandigarh born model and Bollywood actor. zShe won Miss Femina in 1999 and represented India in Miss Universe contest. She acted in Turning 30, Ab Tak Chhappan, Ambarsaria, Student of the Year, Bypass Road, 420 IPC, The Ghost etc. Has also won Zee Cine Critics, StarDust awards and sme nominations.

You may have known…. India is the second largest producer of rice and wheat after China, with China producing about 40 percent more rice and wheat than India. 

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