Discover fascinating facts about 2nd July, including the first steam engine, Bach’s Magnificat, and Subhas Chandra Bose’s arrest. Plus, learn the surprising story of Calcutta’s Strand Road built with sand shipped all the way from England!
Dear Students,
You will find it both surprising and fascinating to know that a road in Calcutta was built with sand that travelled all the way from England. Interested to find out how? Hold your curiosity tight—I’ll reveal it in a moment. But first, let’s take a little ride through the history of 2nd July!
The First Steam Engine
Let’s go back to the year 1698. On 2nd July, an English engineer named Thomas Savery patented the first steam engine. Just imagine—an engine that worked by creating a vacuum when steam cooled down. Although it wasn’t perfect, this clever invention helped pump water out of deep mines. And guess what? It became the great-grandfather of all the steam engines that later pulled roaring trains and mighty ships across continents!
Johann Sebastian Bach‘s Magnificat
If you enjoy music, here’s something that will strike a chord. Have you ever heard the name Johann Sebastian Bach? He was a famous composer from Germany whose beautiful melodies still enchant listeners even today. On 2nd July 1723, his magnificent composition called Magnificat was performed for the very first time. You can even listen to this version from recent times – perhaps it will inspire you to become a musician one day!
Subhas Chandra Bose
Coming closer to home, let’s talk about a brave hero—Subhas Chandra Bose. On 2nd July 1940, he was arrested in Calcutta for his fiery speeches against the British Government. He was sent to Presidency Jail, but even behind bars, he never stopped dreaming of India’s freedom. I shall share the fascinating story of Netaji sometime. I am sure you will find it fascinating.
The Story of Strand Road
Now, as promised, here’s the story of the road made with British sand!
In the old days, when England didn’t have many resources, they came to India to collect spices, cotton, wood, and all sorts of precious things. But here’s the problem—when the ships sailed from England to India to pick up these goods, they were empty. Empty ships are dangerous because they can easily topple over during storms. So, to make them heavy enough to stay steady on the sea, the English filled them with… sand!
Once these ships arrived in Calcutta, the sand had to be unloaded before the ships could be filled with Indian treasures. Over time, so much sand piled up on the shore that the British decided to put it to good use. They used all that English sand to build a road along the river. This road is still there today, and it’s called Strand Road—a reminder that even something as ordinary as sand can have an extraordinary story.
So next time you walk down Strand Road, remember—you’re stepping on grains that crossed oceans hundreds of years ago!
Fun Fact:
If you collect a handful of sand from Strand Road and look at it closely, you’ll be holding a tiny piece of history that once lay on the beaches of England!
Stay curious and keep smiling!
Stay curious and keep smiling!
