Today & Yesterday-30th April
Today’s episode of this series includes the news of the protection of indigenous reserves in Brazil and historical events from the pages of history.
As we celebrate Ayushman Bharat Diwas today, I bring to you the stories of today & yesterday. To begin with, let me share some very encouraging news from Brazil. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has decreed six new indigenous reserves, banning mining and restricting commercial farming there. The lands – including a vast area of Amazon rainforest – cover about 620,000 hectares (1.5m acres). Indigenous leaders welcomed the move. Lula, who took office in January, has pledged to reverse the policies of his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, who promoted mining in indigenous lands. With this wonderful news, I start my first story of 30th April.
The typewriter comes to town
Imagine this, I am writing on a piece of paper and then scanning these stories and posting it. With the reputation of my handwriting, I might have to travel to you and read them out for your understanding. Perhaps Pellegrino Turri an Italian inventor had foreseen this, because it was today of yesterday, to be precise 30th April 1808, when he came up with the first practical typewriter.
Turri was a skilled engineer and mechanic who had been working on the concept of a typewriter for several years. He had already developed a prototype by 1806, but it was not until this day in the year 1808 that he was able to perfect his design and create a working model.
The machine, which was designed primarily for blind people, consisted of a metal frame with a keyboard attached to it. The keys were connected to a series of metal bars, which in turn were attached to a rotating cylinder that held a piece of paper. When a key was pressed, the corresponding metal bar would strike the paper, leaving behind a printed letter.
The first practical typewriter was a significant development in the history of writing, as it allowed for faster and more efficient production of written documents. It was especially beneficial for people with disabilities, who previously had to rely on others to write for them.
Today, the typewriter has largely been replaced by computers and other digital devices, but it remains an important part of our technological history.
Now let’s talk about literature in my next story of today from yesterday on this day the 30th of April.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” These lines were first read by us on this day, today from yesterday, i.e. on 30th April 1859, when Charles Dickens‘ historical novel, ‘A Tale of Two Cities,’ was published. The novel is set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution and tells the story of the intertwined lives of Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat, and Sydney Carton, a drunken lawyer.
‘A Tale of Two Cities’ was an instant success upon its publication and remains one of Dickens’ most popular and enduring works. The novel has been adapted into numerous films, stage productions, and television shows over the years, and its characters and themes continue to resonate with audiences today.
Now my third story of today from yesterday on 30th April.
As he found electrons
On 30 April 1897, Sir J.J Thomson announced one of the most significant discoveries in the field of physics, the discovery of electrons. Thomson, a British physicist, announced this breakthrough in a lecture to the Royal Institution in London.
Thomson had been conducting experiments on cathode rays and their behavior in a vacuum tube. During these experiments, he noticed that these rays were not affected by magnetic fields, as would be expected if they were composed of particles with positive charges. Instead, he observed that these rays were deflected by electric fields, indicating that they were composed of negatively charged particles.
Thomson concluded that these negatively charged particles were much smaller than any known atom and dubbed them “corpuscles,” a term which would later be replaced by “electrons.” This discovery had a profound impact on the field of physics and led to a revolution in our understanding of atomic structure.
Thomson’s discovery of electrons paved the way for further research into the nature of atoms, including the discovery of protons and neutrons and the development of the atomic model. Today, the discovery of electrons is recognized as one of the most significant breakthroughs in the history of physics, and Thomson is remembered as one of the pioneers of modern atomic theory.
Now my next story will surely give some relief from the heat wave.
Ice Cream in a cone
Well, well, well, folks! Today marks a historic day in the world of frozen desserts. On this day in 1904, the ice cream cone made its debut at the St. Louis World’s Fair. Can you imagine a world without ice cream cones? I certainly can’t!
Apparently, the cone was invented by a man named Ernest A. Hamwi, who came up with the idea independently of another claimant, Italo Marchiony in New York. Talk about a case of great minds thinking alike!
I can only imagine the reaction of fair-goers when they first saw this novel way of enjoying ice cream. I bet they were like, “Wait, you mean I can hold my ice cream AND eat the container? Mind blown!”
So here’s to you, Mr. Hamwi, for creating a dessert vessel that has brought joy to millions of people around the world. And to all the ice cream lovers out there, let’s raise our cones and cheers to the sweetest invention of all time!
With that let me tell you another event of today from yesterday.
Hitler Hits Himself
On April 30th, 1945, Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany, committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin. This event took place just days after his 56th birthday and as the Red Army was closing in on the city.
Hitler had been holed up in the Fuhrerbunker, an underground shelter beneath the Reich Chancellery, for several months as Allied forces closed in on Germany from both the East and the West. As the situation became increasingly desperate, Hitler ordered the execution of his closest advisors and military commanders, who he believed had betrayed him.
On April 29th, Hitler married his long-time companion Eva Braun in a brief ceremony in the bunker. The following day, he bid farewell to his remaining loyalists and retired to his private quarters with his new wife. According to witnesses, Hitler shot himself in the head while Eva Braun took cyanide. Their bodies were then taken outside, doused with gasoline, and burned.
The news of Hitler’s death was announced the following day by Germany’s new leader, Grand Admiral Karl Donitz. The war in Europe would continue for another week until Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allies on May 7th.
Hitler’s suicide marked the end of a dark chapter in human history, and the beginning of a new era of peace and reconciliation. It also served as a powerful reminder of the dangers of totalitarianism, fascism, and racism, and the importance of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
Let’s talk about banks now, my next story
From IBI to SBI
On 30 April 1955, the Imperial Bank of India (IBI), one of the oldest and largest commercial banks of the Indian subcontinent, was transformed into the State Bank of India (SBI). The move was a significant step towards establishing a centralized banking system in India.
The IBI was established in 1921 and had a wide network of branches across India and other countries. However, it primarily served the needs of the British colonial government and the wealthy Indian elites. After India gained independence in 1947, there was a need to create a banking system that would cater to the needs of the common people and promote economic growth.
The transformation of the IBI into the SBI was a major step towards achieving this goal. The SBI became the principal banker for the Indian government and played a crucial role in financing India’s development. It also became a key player in the Indian banking industry, providing a wide range of banking services to individuals and businesses.
Today, the SBI is the largest Indian Bank with 1/4 Market share and serves over 45 crore customers through its vast network of over 22000 branches and 59,000 ATMs across the country. It also has a presence in more than 30 countries and is recognized as one of the leading banks in the world. The transformation of the IBI into the SBI was a crucial milestone in the history of Indian banking and paved the way for the development of a robust and dynamic banking system in the country.
That’s all for today till we meet again tomorrow.
What's Your Reaction?
