India conducts another round of atomic bomb tests
Within two days of conducting three underground atomic blasts in Pokhran as part of Operation Shakti (Power), the Indian government conducts another two explosions and declares itself a nuclear power.
“India has a proven capability for a weaponised nuclear programme” said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. The second round of tests were met with widespread admiration by the Indian public but countries like the US and Japan slapped sanctions against India over the tests.
Pakistan also responded with apprehension and a sense of worry enveloped the public in the country – with calls being made to conduct a test of its own.
“We are watching the situation and we will take appropriate action with regard to our security” said Pakistani Foreign Minister Gohar Ayub Khan on the same day.
Having already expressed a desire to “take back that part of Kashmir that is under Pakistan’s occupation,” the Indian government doubled down on veiled threats against Pakistan.
“Islamabad should realise the change in the geo-strategic situation in the region and the world. It must roll back its anti-India policy especially with regard to Kashmir. Any other course will be futile and costly for Pakistan,” said Indian Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani.
Within 15 days of the Indian tests, Pakistan would go on to conduct a series of its own nuclear tests.
Pakistan’s first Railway line opens
First Railway track opens in what would one day become Pakistan. Opened for traffic on May 13, 1861, the 170 km track was established between Karachi and the small town of Kotri.
Close to 100 die in Charsadda bombings (2011)
A twin suicide bombing attack at the Frontier Constabulary (FC) training centre in Shabqadar, Charsadda kills 98 people and injures 140 in 2011.
The attack occurred early in the morning when cadets who had just completed six months of training were preparing to leave for a vacation. The first suicide bomber rammed his motorbike at the entrance of the facility while the second suicide bomber, who was on foot, exploded his vest as the young cadets came to rescue victims of the first blast.
“We had been very happy,” said a young cadet at the time “I was loading my bag into the bus when the blast took place. I was seriously injured but wasn’t knocked out. I crawled towards a safe place and then heard another huge blast. Everybody was lying on the ground and crying. I saw people lying in blood and dying. There were dead bodies and body parts. I can’t put it into words.”
TTP spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan admitted responsibility for the attack.
“This was the first revenge for Osama’s martyrdom. Wait for bigger attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan,” he told the French news agency AFP.
Winston Churchill’s Blood, toil, tears, and sweat speech to the Parliament as Nazi Germany invades France
Winston Churchill, the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom addressed the House of Commons as the Battle of France raged on.
“We are in the preliminary stage of one of the greatest battles in history,” he said. “I would say to the House as I said to those who have joined this government: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering.”
“You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory. Victory at all costs—Victory in spite of all terror—Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.”
The speech electrified the British Parliament and imbued within British leadership and public a sense of determination to prepare to fight a war that became so vast in its scope and so devastating in its impact that it would become the most bloody war in Human history – World War II.
Jim Jones is born
Jim Jones is born on May 13, 1931 in Indiana, USA.
Founder of the Peoples Temple religious cult, Jones quickly gained followers owing to his fiery rhetoric, promise of a better life, and laid down policies to strictly regulate the lives of his followers.
As with most cults, those seeking emotional comfort, a sense of belonging or suffering from low self-esteem were attracted to the Peoples Temple. In addition, those holding idealistic worldviews or were frustrated with social norms felt enamoured by Jones. Jones and senior members of the Peoples temple were also adept at exploiting basic human weaknesses.
In the 1970’s Jones purchased property in Guyana, established ‘Jonestown’ and encouraged his followers to join him in a ‘social paradise’ away from what he saw as a hypocritical, hate-filled and evil mainstream society.
US Congressman Leo Ryan went to Jonestown along with two journalists to investigate claims of abuses but was shot dead on Jones’ orders on November 18, 1978.
Later on the same day, he gathered his followers and directed them to commit suicide by drinking grape-juice laced with cyanide.
“Don’t be afraid to die,” he told his followers and told them that death is “just stepping over into another plane”.
“We didn’t commit suicide; we committed an act of revolutionary suicide protesting the conditions of an inhumane world.” he said in a recording.
In all, 909 people, including 304 children died in the mass suicide. Jones himself later committed suicide with a gunshot to his head.
The expression “Drinking the Kool-Aid” is now commonly used to refer to individuals/ groups who fervently believe in an idea or behaviour due to peer pressure.
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