Today’s Motto: ‘True measure of intelligence is the ability to change’

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

On this day, 18 Feb….

3102 BC – Epoch (origin) of the Kali Yuga. It is  the 4th Yuga of Divine  Samay (cycle) believed to be 1200 divine years long  (436,000 our years).

1665 – The Portuguese handover Bombay (now called Mumbai)  island to England.

1735 – 1st opera performed in America, “Flora”.

1896 – A U.S. patent for a “Razor Stropping Device” was issued to black American inventor, Henry Grenon.

1897 – A U.S. design patent was issued to sculptor Auguste Bartholdi of Paris, for a monumental statue intended to commemorate the independence of the United States, “Liberty Enlightening the World,” now known as the Statue of Liberty.

1911 – The first official flight with air mail takes place in Allahabad, when Henri Pequet, a 23-year-old pilot, delivers 6,500 letters to Naini, about 10 km away.

1930 – The planet Pluto was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh, when comparing two photographic plates taken six days apart the previous month.

1946 – Revolt in the (Royal) Indian Navy. From the initial flashpoint in Bombay, the revolt spread and found support throughout British India, from Karachi to Calcutta and ultimately came to involve 78 ships, 20 shore establishments and 20,000 sailors. Indian Naval personnel began calling themselves the “Indian National Navy” and offered left-handed salutes to British officers. Notably, the revolting ships hoisted three flags tied together – those of the Congress, Muslim League, and the Red Flag of the Communist Party of India (CPI), signifying the unity and downplaying of communal issues among the mutineers. In Madras and Poona, the British garrisons had to face some unrest also within the ranks of the Indian Army.

1951 – Nepal becomes a constitutional monarchy.

1979 – Snow falls in Sahara Desert.  Sahara is the largest land piece having  little vegetation or life, spread over 9,200,000 sqkm area in Africa. Low altitude areas of the Sahara desert recorded their first snowfall in living memory.

1994 – India rejects OIC offer to mediate on Kashmir.

1994 – The medicine selfotel offering benefits for stroke victims was announced at a conference in San Diego, saying that it appeared to alleviate the brain damage that follows when a blood clot in the brain causes a stroke.

2016 – Pope Francis questions US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s Christianity over his call to build a wall on the Mexican border.

Born…. 1486 – Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Bengali saint, Krishna  bhakt and  bhajan,  yoga developer. He founded Hare Krishna movement under his Chaitanya Gaudiya Vaishnavism  following.  It has millions of followers world over.

1836 – Swami Ramakrishna (Gadadhar Chatterji). He was God-intoxicated Bengali Shakta saint, Guru of Swami Vivekananda. He exemplified the bhakti dimension of ‘Shakta Universalism’.

1926 – Nalini Jaywant, popular  and stylist Bollywood actor. She is known for her films Behn, Nirdosh, Railway Platform, Munimji, Kala Pani, Jadoo, Aankh Michauli, Nastik, Raj Kanya etc. She was awarded Filmfare in 1959 and Dadasaheb Phalke honor in 2005.

1931 – Swraj Paul, Jalandhar-India  born industrial/multi-millionaire. He set up   multinational  industries  under Caparo group umbrella,  in steel, automobile and other fields.  Later settled in Britain, was honoured with membership of House of  Lords and became  Dy. Speaker in 2008-10. He set various educational and philanthropic institutions.

1933 – Nimmi, legendary Bollwood actor of Golden era  who played mainly tragedy roles. Known for films Barsaat, Arpan, Alif Laila, Deedar, Aan, Udan Khatola, Daag, Basant Bahar, Kundan, Amar etc. She was nominated to Filmfare awards but didn’t get one. She was though  hpnoured with a  Critics award.
RIP….

1854 – Michelangelo Buonarroti, the Italian artist, painter  and architect known primarily for his works of art, and  he also prepared extremely accurate anatomical drawings of the human body.

You may have known….

While Indian industry prospered during World War I, the Second World War created problems for Indian industry. India became an active participant in the WW-II under British rule  and the entry of Japan in the hostilities brought war to India’s doorstep. However, the impact of war was short-lived and the industry was quick to recover from the initial shock and exploited the opportunities offered by the war. During this period Indian industry was manufacturing mainly Military equipment, vehicles, sugar, jute and cotton textiles for uniforms etc.

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