May 27 : Turn your wounds into wisdom.

On this day, 27 May...

1796 - The first U.S. patent for a piano was issued to James Sylvanus McLean of New Jersey.  

1857 - Nana Sahib was captured at Kanpur.

1890 - Two U.S. patents for the first jukebox were issued to Louis Glass and his business associate, William S. Arnold  concerning a “coin actuated attachment for photographs.” Their first jukebox was a coin-operated Edison Class M Electric Phonograph This was before the time of vacuum tubes, so there was no amplification. For a nickel a play, a patron could listen using one of four listening tubes. Known as “Nickel-in-the-Slot” the machine was an instant success, earning over $1000 in less than half a year.

1919 - Pyrex glass was issued a U.S. patent to inventors, Eugene C. Sullivan and William C. Taylor.   Pyrex is the trademark for their sodium borosilicate glass.

1931 - Auguste Piccard and Charles Knipfer took man's first trip into the stratosphere when they rode their balloon to an altitude of 51,800 feet.

1952 - The use of Hindi language in addition to English language and of Devnagri form of numerals in addition to the international form of Indian numerals was authorized for warrants of appointments of Governors of State, Judges of the Supreme Court and Judges of the High Court.

1964 - Gulzarilal Nanda has entrusted the responsibility as Acting Prime Minister of India. He held this office till June 9, 1964. He is till date the only Acting Prime Minister of India.

1996 - A. B. Vajpayee, PM, seeks the vote of confidence in his 12-day old govt.

1999 - IAF loses two fighter aircraft in the Kargil area. Pakistan claims it has Flight Lieutenant Nachiketa in its custody.

IAF loses two fighter aircraft in the Kargil area. Pakistan claims it has Flight Lieutenant Nachiketa in its custody.

2014 - President Barack Obama announced he plans to keep 9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan through the end of 2015 and then reduce this number over the following two years to a small force; the troops will train Afghan forces and conduct counterterrorism operations.

Born

1957 – Nitin Gadkari, lawyer, and politician, Minister of Transport.

1962 –Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri,  cricketer, and sportscaster.

RIP

1964 - Jawaharlal Nehru, lawyer, and politician, 1st Prime Minister of India. 

1998 - Minoo Masani, co-founder of the Swatantra party.

You may have known...

Tirupati Balaji temple, built in the 10th Century, is the world’s largest religious pilgrimage destination.  It is larger than either Rome or Mecca. An average of 30,000 visitors donates the US $6 million to the temple every day.