Major Sylvester Rajesh Ratnam On his 20th Death Anniversary Death: 02 Aug 2002 in Keran Sector, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Indian Army Officer (1998: 21 Jat), an alumnus of St Joseph’s Boys High School, and Christ College Bangalore, he passed out from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai in 1998 and was commissioned in the 21 Jat Regiment, popularly known as the TEAM TWENTY FIRST.
After the Parliament Attack (13 Dec 2001), when Prime Minister Vajpayee mobilised the Indian Army and Operation Parakram was launched, 21 Jat was order to move to Keran Sector on the Line of Control.
On 02 August, when sporadic shelling from Pakistan started, he rushed out to alert some soldiers engaged in repairing the communication lines, and marshalled them inside a bunker, but at that time a shell landed nearby, and he was instantly KIA by the shrapnel.
He is survived by his mother Hemala Ratnam and sister Dr Joseline Ratnam.
Legacy: Bust at G P Rajarathnam Park, HAL 3rd Stage, Bhoomi Reddy Colony, New Thipasandra, Bangalore. Bust unveiled in March 2018.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Birth: 23 Jan 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa, India Death: 18 Aug 1945 in Taipei, Taiwan Indian freedom fighter, nationalist leader and Congress President (1938), he fled to Germany in 1941, and then to Japan, where he proclaimed independence and led the Indian National Army against the British during World War II.
Son of advocate Janakinath Bose, he graduated in 1918 with a BA from Scottish Church College in Kolkata, travelled to England for a Cambridge BA, declined to join the Indian Civil Service and returned home in 1921.
In India, he came under the influence of Chittaranjan Das (1870-1925), who became the first Mayor of Kolkata and co-founded the Swaraj party, both in 1923. Active as President of the Youth Congress, he was arrested and sent to prison in Mandalay in 1925. Back, he became the Mayor of Kolkata in 1930.
1933 took him on a Europe tour, where he met world leaders, and married Emilie Schenkl. Their daughter Anita Bose Pfaff (born 1942) is an economist in Germany.
In 1938 he was elected President of Congress, and re-elected in 1939 but resigned, and founded the All India Forward Bloc.
When WWII began, he opposed the Viceroy and began a mass movement against India joining the war effort. That saw him in prison for a few days.
On 17 Jan 1941, Bose escaped with the help of his nephew, Sisir Kumar Bose. Reaching Germany, he met Adolf Hitler, founded the Free India Center in Berlin, and created an army, “Indian Legion” with Indian POWs. But after Hitler attacked Russia, travelled to Japan.
There, he took charge of the Indian National Army created by Capt Mohan Singh. Then, with his most famous quote “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!” launched an offensive to conquer India. On 30th Dec 1943, he unfurled the Tricolour at Port Blair in Andaman Island. The INA hoisted the flag in the town of Moirang, in Manipur on 14 Apr 1944.
But by that time Japan was being pushed back in the pacific, and the INA was forced to retreat. Eventually, Bose moved to Formosa (now Taiwan) and is believed to have died in an aircraft accident.
Legacy: Indian Navy base, INS Netaji Subhas in Kolkata. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata. His birthday, 23 January has been declared as Parakram Divas.
Lachit Borphukan Birth: 24 Nov 1622 in Charaideo, Assam, India Death: 25 Apr 1672 in Jorhat, Assam, India Indian military leader, he was Commander-in-Chief and Borphukan (Governor) in the Ahom kingdom, and is remembered for the Battle of Saraighat (1671), when he defeated the Mughals. The Gold Medal at the National Defence Academy is named for him
Puneeth Rajkumar Gone Too Soon Birth: 17 Mar 1975 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Death: 29 Oct 2021 in Bangalore, Karnataka, India Indian actor, he is the highest paid actor in the Kannada film industry, after his first five films successfully completed 100 days, and he won a National Award (2012) for ‘Prithvi’. He is the youngest son of legendary actor, Dr Rajkumar
Lt Gen Zorawar Chand Bakshi, PVSM, MVC, VrC, VSM Birth: 21 Oct 1921 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan Death: 24 May 2018 in New Delhi, India Indian Army officer (1943-79, Gorkha Rifles), fondly called Zoru by his friends, he is one of the highest decorated generals of the Indian Army – all earned for gallantry.
Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran PVC(P) (at) 75 Indian Army officer (8 Mahar), with the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for ‘the most conspicuous gallantry’ for neutralising an ambush at night, and recovering weapons.
Note: there are two versions of the name – ‘Parameswaran’ and ‘Parameshwaran’
Ramon Magsaysay Birth: 31 Aug 1907 in Iba, Zambales, Philippines Death: 17 Mar 1957 in Balamban, Cebu, Philippines Philippine soldier, he led a Guerrilla Force during the Japanese occupation in World War II, and later was Member of Parliament, Secretary of National Defense, and President (1953-57), but died in an aircraft accident. Known for the Magsaysay Award.
Amrita Pritam Birth: 31 Aug 1919 in Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan Death: 31 Oct 2005 in Delhi, India Indian poet, novelist and one of the most influential and admired Punjabi writers, her first poems, she was well received on both sides of the Indo-Pak border during her career spanning nearly seven decades, and recognised with multiple awards.
Gary Sobers Hits Six Sixes Event: 31 Aug 1968 in Swansea, Wales, UK Gary Sobers batting for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan hit Malcolm Nash for six sixes in one over, a feat repeated by India’s Ravi Shastri in 1985, and Yuvraj Singh did likewise to Stuart Broad, in a World Cup T-20 match in 2007.
Mohammed bin Salman Birth: 31 Aug 1985 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and Deputy Prime Minister, he is regarded as the de facto ruler on behalf of his aged father, King Salman. He has promised much needed reforms, and implemented some, but a number of controversies have also arisen.
Captain Jayanta Kumar Sengupta Birth: 17 Oct 1942 in Lahore, Pakistan Death: 31 Aug 2013 in Pune, Maharashtra, India Indian Army officer (1962: 16LC), a gold medallist from RIMC, NDA and IMA, he was declared blind from injuries in the 1965 War and discharged, but rose up like phoenix with social work, helping the disabled in Siliguri, where he had an IOC dealership.
Pranab Mukherjee Birth: 11 Dec 1935 in Birbhum, West Bengal, India Death: 31 Aug 2020 in Delhi, India Indian lawyer, politician (INC), popularly known as Pranab da (elder brother), he is a veteran parliamentarian – Rajya Sabha (1969-2002) and Lok Sabha (2004-12), who served as the 13th President of India (2012-2017) and was honoured with the Bharat Ratna (2019).
Baba Harbhajan Singh Birth: 30 Aug 1946 in Sadrana, Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan Death: 04 Oct 1968 Nathu La, Sikkim, India Indian Army soldier (23 Punjab), he was martyred while posted in East Sikkim, and is today worshipped as the Eternal Guardian of Nathu La by the soldiers. A Mandir has become a major tourist attraction, and Water stored in the Mandir is believed to possess medicinal properties.
Ravi Shankar Prasad Birth: 30 Aug 1954 in Patna, Bihar, India Indian Advocate (Supreme Court) and politician (ABVP/ BJP), he is a Lok Sabah MP representing Patna Sahib in Bihar, and an Union Minister in Modi 2.0 Cabinet – Law and Justice, and Communications, Electronics & Information Technology.
Krishna Kumar Birla Birth: 12 Oct 1918 in Pilani, Rajasthan, India Death: 30 Aug 2008 in Kolkata, West Bengal Indian businessman and philanthropist, his Rs 11,000 crore KK Birla group has been divided between his daughters after his death. He was Chancellor of BITS Pilani (1983-2008) and a member of Rajya Sabha for 18 years (1984-2002).
Lt Cdr Firdaus Darabshah Mogal SC(P) Birth: 15 Oct 1974 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Death: 30 Aug 2010 at Sea, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Indian Navy Officer (1998) with the submarine arm, he was XO of INS Shankush, when he risked his life to save the lives of six personnel who were attempting repairs to make the vessel operational despite choppy seas. He was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra (2011).
Major Dhyan Chand Birth: 29 Aug 1905 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Death: 03 Dec 1979 in New Delhi, India Indian hockey player (1926-49) and captain of the national team, popularly known as “The Wizard” and “The Magician”, he represented the country in three Olympic Games (1928-36) – Amsterdam, Los Angeles and Berlin, winning a gold medal in each.
Senator John McCain Birth: 29 Aug 1936 in Coco Solo, Cativa, Panama Death: 25 August 2018 in Cornville, Arizona, United States American Navy pilot, and a Vietnam War hero with a dozen medals, was elected to the House in 1983, and remained a veteran member of the Senate for 31 years, when he ran for the presidency twice. The USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) bears his name.
Major Sudhir Kumar Walia AC SM & Bar Birth: 24 May 1969 in Banuri, Palampur, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India Death: 29 Aug 1999 in Kupwara, Jammu & Kashmir, India Indian Army officer (Jat/ 9 Para), a veteran of the Kargil War, he was leading a squad of five commandos on a “Search and Destroy” mission in the Hafruda Forest, when they eliminated 20 armed terrorists. He was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra.
Today We Remember 