Indian History

1945 - Death of  Ras Bihari Bose , Indian revolutionary leader, on  21 January in 1945  in Tokyo in Japan.  Born  at  Subaldaha  village (in the present day  Purba Bardhaman  district of West Bengal) on  25 May 1886,   Rash Behari Bose played an important role in India's Independence movement. Rash Behari, who had joined Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, underscored the need for an armed struggle for liberating India from British rule. He was involved in the Delhi Conspiracy case, also known as the  Delhi-Lahore Conspiracy . The case refers to an alleged plot to kill the then Viceroy of India, Lord Hardinge, in 1912. After the failed assassination attempt, Bose fled to Imperial Japan in 1915. Rash Behari formed the  Indian National Army (INA)  the reins of which was later on handed over to  Subhas Chandra Bose by him.  His wife Toshiko, whom he married in Japan, died from pneumonia in 1925. Rash Be...

1570 - On 20 January, 1570, Akbar set out on foot on pilgrimage from Agra to Ajmer as thanksgiving for the birth of his first son Salim (later Jahangir)  1949 - Death of Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru (8 December 1875 – 20 January 1949), an Indian freedom fighter,  constitutional expert, and statesman.  Born on 8 December 1875 in Aligarh, Tej Bahadur Sapru was a Kashmiri Pandit who died on 20 January 1949 in Allahabad.  Sapru participated as a delegate at all three Round Table Conferences held by the British Government in London on Indian constitutional reform between 1931 and 1934.  Sapru had pleaded from the side of Indian National Army Officers in their Red Fort trials. Also known as the INA trials, the Red Fort trials took place between November 1945 and May 1946.  1988- Death of Abdul Ghaffar Khan on 20th January, 1988. Also called "Frontier Gandhi," he was a freedom fighter recognised for his commitment to non-violence. He was awarded India's highest civili...

Buddha Statue at Mindrolling Monastery / Incredibleindia Situated in Clement Town near Dehradun in Uttarakhand, Mindrolling Monastery is the centre of spiritual activity for the Tibetan Buddhist community. Set up in 1965, the monastery enshrines 60m high Great Stupa and is adorned with beautiful murals and paintings. In Tibetan, Mindrolling means 'Place of Perfect Emancipation'. Mindrolling Monastery, which follows the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, was founded by Khochhen Rinpoche who escaped to India during the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959. The monastery has a 35m-high gold statue of the Buddha. The Mindrolling Monastery also houses Ngagyur Nyingma College, which promotes literary studies of Tibetan Buddhism.

1597-  Maharana Pratap, known for his valiant and spirited defence against the Mughal Empire under Akbar, died at Chavand, located in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan, on 19th January in 1597.  Chavand was one of the capitals of Mewar.   Maharana Pratap was the ruler of Mewar kingdom in present day Rajasthan, from 1572 until his death in 1597. He is notable for leading the Rajput resistance against the Mughals in the legendary battle of Haldighati in 1576. 1905-  Death anniversary of Debendranath Tagore (born May 15, 1817—died January 19, 1905), a philosopher and religious reformer, who was involved in the creation of the Brahmo Samaj which was founded on 20 August, 1828 in Kolkata by Rammohan Roy.   His son was Rabindranath Tagore (first Asian to receive Nobel Prize).  1936 -    First news bulletin was broadcast from All India Radio (Akashvani)  on 19th January, 1936 . 1990  -  19 January 1990 marks the day of the exodus...

Founded by Kirtipala in 1181, Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Jalore was an Indian dynasty which ruled the area around Javalipura (present-day Jalore in Rajasthan). Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Jalore were the offshoots of t he  Chahamanas of Naddula who in turn were offshoot s of  Chahamanas of Shakambhari to which belonged the famed Chauhan ruler Prithvi Raj Chauhan. In 1228 or 1229 Iltutmish, the  Slave Sultan of Delhi Sultanate,  besieged Jalor.  The Chauhan ruler  Udayasimha   was defeated but was was allowed to continue as a  ruler of Jalor on agreeing to pay a tribute.  The most powerful king of the dynasty was Kanhadadeva (reigned 1304-1311). He was the cotemporary of second Khilji Sultan Alauddin Khilji. Kanhadadeva's boastful claims led the Khilji Sultan's to annex his kingdom to the Delhi SUltanate. Kanhadadeva was defeated and killed in an attack led by Alauddin's general Malik Kamaluddin.

1842- Birth of Mahadev Govind Ranade , a scholar and prominent leader of the freedom struggle from Maharashtra. He was born on 18 January in 1842 . Mahadev Govind Ranade founded Poona Sarvajanik Sabha and was a prominent leader of Prarthana Samaj . He comes lauded as the prophet of cultural renaissance in western India. Ranade was the editor of Induprakash . 

Mount Road, Madras / Image Credit Early Chennai  The region currently around Chennai has served as an important administrative, military, and economic centre from dating back to the 1st century when it was ruled by several South Indian kingdoms, notably the Pallava, the Chola, the Pandya and Vijaynagar empires. The town of Mylapore, now part of the metropolis was once a major port of the Pallava kingdom. The Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore was built by the Pallava kings in the 7th century. The 6th century Parthasarathy Temple at  Triplicane (Tiruvellikeni)  in Chennai was built by the Pallavas.  The apostle St. Thomas is believed to have preached here between the years 52 and 70 AD. With the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, they built a port known as San Thome or Sao Thome in 1522. The region then passed under the hands of the Dutch, who established themselves near Pulicat just north of the city in 1612. In 1639, the British East India Company wa...

Stone Age rock shelters with paintings at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh are the earliest known traces of human life in India. The first known permanent settlements appeared 9,000 years ago and developed into the Indus Valley Civilization, which peaked between 2600 BC and 1900 BC. It was followed by the Vedic Civilization.  From around 500 BC onwards, many independent kingdoms came into being. In the north, the Maurya dynasty, which included the emperor Ashoka, contributed greatly to India's cultural landscape. From 180 BC, a series of invasions from Central Asia followed, with the successive establishment in the northern Indian subcontinent of the Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian and Indo-Parthian kingdoms, and finally the Kushan Empire. From the 3rd century onwards the Gupta dynasty oversaw the period referred to as India's "Golden Age". In the south, several dynasties including the Chalukyas, Cheras, Cholas, Pallavas, Pandyas and Hoysalas prevailed during different periods...

Arjuna Penance / Image Credit  The temple city of Mahabalipuram  in the state of Tamil Nadu   is the site of some of the greatest architectural and sculptural achievements made by the Pallava rulers in ancient India. Located some sixty km from Chennai, the temples of Mahabalipuram represent one of mankind's most amazing and enduring architectural achievements. The structures one sees at Mahabalipuram today, are the surviving remains of a wonderful religious, social and administrative metropolis that once severed the religious capital of the Pallavas,  who held sway over much of south India between the 4th and 9th centuries A.D. . Also known as Mamallapuram,  Mahabalipurum in the state of Tamil Nadu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Once-thriving port city of the Pallavas  on the Bay of Bengal,     Mamallapuram was  named after its founder, the great Pallava king,   Narasimhavarman I, or  Mamalla , "the Great ...

  1471  - Birth of Krishnadevaraya (17 January 1471 – 17 October 1529), an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1509 to 1529.  Krishnadeva Raya  belonged to the Taluva dynasty, one of the four main dynasties, combination of which is known as the Vijayanagar empire.  One of the greatest kings of India, Krishnadeva Raya raised the Hindu power of Vijayanagar to the zenith of its prosperity and glory.  An epigraphical reference to the date of death of Krishnadevaraya was discovered at Honnenahalli in Tumakuru district in Karnataka. According to the inscription, Krishnadevaraya died on October 17, 1529. 

Battlefield / AI Generated 1399- Mongol leader Amir Timur, also known as Tamerlane, sacks Kangra on 16th January, 1399 during his invasions on India in which he massacred thousands of the inhabitants of many cities and places of India including Talamba, Delhi, Firuzabad, Meerut, Jammu and Kangra.  1680- Shambhiji, the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Kingdom and son of Shivaji, was coronated at Raigad fort in 1680. He formally ascended the throne on 20 July, 1680, and his coronation ceremony was performed with great splendour on 16 January, 1681. 1757- The Battle of Narela took place between the Marathas and Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Abdali on 16 January 1757, at Narela, on the outskirts of Delhi. Ahmad Shah Abdali had defeated the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761.    1761 - The British East India Company captures Pondicherry (Puducherry) from the French on January 16, 1761.  1901- Death of  Mahadev Govind Ranade  (1842-1901) ,  a sc...

Image Credit Located in the Hassan district of Karnataka, Shravanabelagola is a famous pilgrimage site of Jainism. 48 km from the Hassan city, Sravanabelagola is renowned for its imposing statue of Gomateswara , also referred to as Lord Bahubali.  Carved out of monolithic stone, the awesome 17 metre high statue was commissioned by Western Ganga minister Chavundaraya in 981 A.D and can be seen from a distance of 20km. Starkly simple, the beautifully chiselled features of the statue  atop Vindhyagiri hill  embody serenity. His perfect lips are turned out at the corners with a hint of a smile, viewing the world with detachment. Sri Gommateshwara was the son of the first Jain Tirthankara (Ford-Maker)  Rishavdev . The chief festival of Shravanabelagola is called Mahamastakabhisheka , or the 'Head Anointing Ceremony'. The next Mahamastakabhisheka ceremony, which involves bathing of the statue of Lord Gomateswara with bucketfuls of milk and honey, will be held in 20...

Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu A must see destination in any cultural tour of India, Halebid, previously known as Dwarasamudra (the gateway to the sea), was the capital of the powerful south Indian dynasty of the Hoysalas who were famous temple builders. Halebid was the Hoysala capital before Belur (in Karnataka). Also known as Halebeedu, Halebid ( in Hassan District of Karnataka)  is home to the awe-inspiring Hoysaleswara temple. Places of attraction in Halebid Hoysaleswara Temple Halebid’s claim to fame, Hoysaleswara Temple, is a masterpiece of Hoysala architecture. Hoysaleswara temple is a cultural extravaganza. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple was also built during the reign of King Vishnuvardhana. Its construction started around 1121 CE and was complete in 1160 CE. Its construction was initiated by Ketmalla, a general of Hoysala ruler Vishnuvardhan who ruled for a long period from 1108 AD to  1152AD. The Hoysaleswara Temple, along wi...

1661- Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, sends Sulaiman Shikoh, the eldest son of his elder brother Dara Shikoh, for imprisonment in Gwalior Fort on 15th January. During the course of the fratricidal war of succession among the sons of fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, (Murad, another brother of Aurangzeb) and Sulaiman Shikoh were executed on the orders of Aurangzeb in the Gwalior Fort. 1888- Indian independence activist and Congress leader Saifuddin Kitchlew was born on 15 January 1888.

That contact between the territory that constitutes the present-day state of Karnataka and the Harappan Civilization existed in earlier times can be ascertained from the fact that gold discovered in Harappa was found to be imported from mines of Karnataka. Before coming under the sway of the Mauryan Empire, Karnataka formed part of the Nanda dynasty whose last ruler Dhana Nanda was dethroned by Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan empire. Dhana Nanda is referred to as Xandrames or Aggrammes in ancient Greek accounts. Chandragupta Maurya had breathed his last in Shravanbelgola in Hassan District around 298 BCE where he spent last days of his life as a Jain ascetic. The edicts of Chandragupta Maurya’s grandson and greatest Mauryan emperor Asoka have been found in various places in Karnataka including Maski (Raichur district), Brahmagiri ( Chitradurga district ) , Siddapura (Uttara Kannada district), Jatinga Rameshwara, Udegolam and Nittur in Bellary district, Gavimutt a...

1551  - Birth of Abul Fazal (14 January 1551 – 22 August 1602), the Mughal historian during the the reign of Akbar. His notable works include the  Akbarnama  and  Ain-i-Akbari.  1641-   the Dutch East India Company conquered the city of Malacca in Southeast Asia from the Portuguese on 14th January i n  1641 .    1761 - The Third Battle of Panipat took place on 14 January 1761 between the Marathas and Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Abdali,  also surnamed Durrani . The Maratha supremacy was dented by their defeat in the Third Battle of Panipat.   Third Battle of Panipat  saw the largest number of soldiers killed in a single battle on one day. 1845-   Birth of  Lord Lansdowne, Governor General and Viceroy of India from 1888 to 1893, on 14th January in 1845. During his tenure, Indo-Afghan border {Durand Line} was set up. The Indian Council Act, 1892 was enacted and a system of indirect elections started in India.

Q.1. Which among the following Mughal Emperor was also known as Roshan Akhtar ? [A] Ahmed Shah [B] Muhammad Shah [C] Jahandar Shah [D] Shah Alam Q. 2.  Which Bahmani ruler granted the title of 'Chief of the Merchants' or Malikut-Tujjar to Mahmud Gawan? [A]  Humayun Shah [B]   Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah [C] Muhammad Shah I [D] Ahmah Shah Wali Q.3.During the reign of which of the following kings, Deccan brahmans became dominant in administration? [A] Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah [B] Taj-ud-din Firoz Shah [C] Muhammad Shah I [D] Ahmah Shah Wali Q.4.Todarmal was the famous revenue minister of which Mughal Emperor? [A] Shah Jahan [B] Bahadur shah jafar [C] Aurangzeb [D] Akbar Q.5.The spiritual way of life was adopted by individual Sufis in the ninth and tenth centuries came to be known as? [A] Tariqah [B] Haqiqah [C] Tasawwuf [D] None of the above Q.6.For the first time, a Famine-code was formulated in the Delhi Sultanate during the reign of __? [A] Slaves [B] Tughlaqs [C] ...

1849 -  The bloody battle of Chillianwala was fought at Chillianwala (now in Pakistan) between the British and Sikh armies on  January 13, 1849  during the  Second Anglo-Sikh war . The British and Sikh armies were respectively commanded by Sir Hugh Gough and the Raja Sher Singh Attariwala. Following the battle, both sides  claimed victory. The British won the battle though it was a "pyrrhic victory" for them.  According to the historians, 757 soldiers of British army were killed, 1,651 were wounded and 104 went missing. Sikhs lost near 3,600  soldiers.  Lord Dalhousie  was the Governor-General of India during the Battle of Chillianwala.   1907 - Birth of Manindra Nath Banerjee on 13th January 1907 . Manindra Nath Banerjee was a revolutionary who had shot his maternal uncle J.N. Banerji , the Deputy Superintend of Police investigating the Kakori Conspiracy case. O n August 9th, 1925, a train carrying government money was passing...

Q. 1. Which among the following rulers of Delhi Sultanate loved to style himself as Sikandar-I-Sani? [A] Balban [B] Kaiqubad [C] Alauddin Khilji [D] Firoz Tughlaq Q. 2. Chachnama records the history of which conquest? [A]  Arabs [B]  Hunas [C] Greeks [D] Kushanas Q. 3. Who among the following was not included in the “Asta Pradhan” of Shivaji? [A] Sumant [B] Majmudar [C] Vakiyanavis [D] Vakeel Q. 4. For the first time in Gujarat, who implemented Jizya tax? [A] Ahmed Shah I [B] Mahmud Begda [C] Mujaffarshah I [D] Mujaffarshah II Q. 5. The famous “Treaty of Purandhar” was signed between Shivaji and which among the following in 1665? [A] Jaswant Singh [B] Jai Singh [C] Shaista Khan [D] Aurangzeb Q. 6. During whose reign did Timur invaded India? [A] Bahlol Lodi [B] Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah [C] Firoz Shah Tughlaq [D] Allauddin Khilji Q. 7.Which among the following two cities were joined by “Sadak-i-Azam” or the precursor of the Grand Trunk Road built by Shershah Suri? [A] Agra & C...

Today ( January 12)  is Swami Vivekananda's birthday.  Every year on January 12, India observes   National Youth Day  to mark the birthday of   Swami Vivekananda , one of the country’s greatest spiritual leaders and philosophers.  Narendranath Dutta, better known as Swami Vivekananda, was a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886), a priest in a temple at Dakhinesvar in Kolkata. Ramakrishna believed in the truth of all religions.  A graduate of the Calcutta University, Vivekananda (1863-1902) carried his master’s message throughout India. Vivekananda was a Vedantist. In 1983 he went to the US and attended the famous “Parliament of Religions” at Chicago. His speech at that august assembly earned him fame and followers throughout the world. New York Herald wrote, “after hearing him we feel how foolish it is to send missionaries to this learned nation” Sir Valentine Chirol characterizes Vivekananda as “the first Hindu whose personality won demonstr...

Q. 1. Which of the following was the capital of Bahmani Kingdom? [A] Bijapur [B] Ahmadnagar [C] Hampi [D] Bidar Q. 2. In the administration of second Khilji Sultan Allauddin Khilji, the ministry of commerce was organised by whom? [A] Malik Qabul [B] Rais Parwani [C] Malik Yakub [D] Khusru Malik Q. 3. Name of the tax during Delhi Sultanate period, which was only imposed on rich Muslims? [A] Ushr [B] Zakat [C] Kham [D] None of the above Q.  4. Who among the following Tuluva dynasty ruler belonging to the Viajayanagar empire wrote ‘Amuktamalayada’ ? [A] Krishna Dev Raya [B] Venkata I [C] Achyuta Devraya [D] Vir Narsimha Raya Q.  5. Which monument, built during the Delhi sultanate period, was built according to the correct scientific lines for the first time? [A] Sikandar Lodi Tomb [B] Tughlaqabad [C] Tomb of Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq [D] Alai Minar Q.  6. Which of the following Sultanate Rulers made Delhi as capital in place of Lahore? [A] Qutubuddin Aibak [B] Iltutmish [C] Raz...

Rani ki Vav/ Image credit: U nsplash The Chalukyas of Anhilwara or Solankis, as they are popularly known, ruled in Gujarat and Kathiawar for nearly three centuries and a half (c 950-1300). One of the earliest kings of this line of Chalukyas was Mularaja who consolidated the Chalukya authority in Gujarat.  The next king of importance was Bhima I (c. 1022-64), during whose reign Mahmud Ghazni, who made seventeen raids on India between 1001 and 1027, overran Gujarat and plundered the great temple of Somanath. When Mahmud appeared before the capital city Anhilwara (modern Siddhpur Patan), Bhima I took refuge in Kanthkot fort in Kutch. After the withdrawal of Mahmud, Bhima I revived the Chalukya power and entered into a coalition with Lakshmi – Karna Kalachuri against Bhoja (c1010-55), the greatest ruler of the  Paramara dynasty of Malwa .  It was during the reign of  Bhima I that the Sun Temple of Modhera was built. His spouse Udaymati is known for constructing Rani ki...

Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Gujarat holds a rich and sacred past with copper plates, inscriptions and memorial stones that reflect its prosperity, heritage and enduring spirit of valour. Inscriptions and original relics detailing the history of Prabhas Patan and the Somnath Temple are found throughout the Prabhas region. Inscriptions, copper plates, and relics from temples destroyed during the invasions are housed in the Prabhas Patan Museum, a symbol of valor, strength, and devotion. The museum currently operates in the former Sun Temple in Prabhas Patan. One such inscription is located near the museum in Prabhas Patan, next to the old Ram Temple in Bhadrakali Lane. Preserved at the home of Sompura Brahmin Deepakbhai Dave , it is embedded in the wall of the ancient Bhadrakali Temple in his courtyard. This inscription, according to Mr. Tejal Parmar, Curator (Museum Head) of the Prabhas Patan Museum, was created in 1169 AD ( Vallabhi Samvat 850 and Vikram Samvat 1255) and is curr...

1708-  Coronation of Maratha ruler Sahu  I  on   12 January.  Shahu was the fifth Chhatrapati of Maratha Empire founded by his grandfather, Shivaji.  Sahu, son of Sambhaji (eldest son of Shivaji), who was imprisoned by Aurangzeb, was  released from the Mughal captivity during the reign of    Bahadur Shah I, who had  emerged victorious in the war of succession among the sons of Aurangzeb following latter's death in 1707. 1779  -  Part of the  First Anglo-Maratha War,   the  Battle of Wadgaon  (12–13 January) was fought between the Maratha Confederacy and the British East India Company near Vadgaon Maval village in Maharashtra.  The battle resulted in the victory of the Marathas who were  commanded by  Mahadji Sindhia  (also known as Mahadji Shinde). 1934  -  Surya Sen , a revolutionary leader from Bengal, was hanged on  12 January 1934  by the British. 

1681- When the sixth Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was campaigning against Marwar , his fourth son Akbar rebelled against him in 1681. On 11 January Akbar issued a manifesto deposing his father and crowed himself emperor.

Somnath temple is a highlight of any trip to Gujarat. A lso known as Prabhas Patan, it is one of the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga shrines or the 12 shrines enshrining Shiva in the form of a Jyotirlingam in the country.   Its glowing description finds mention in the work of  11 th  century  Arab traveler Al Biruni who had come to Indian along with  Muslim invader  Mahmud of Ghazni who had ransacked and destroyed this great temple   in 1026 AD   during the reign of  Bhima I (c. 1022-64) belonging to  the Chalukya dynasty of Anhilwara.   Razed and rebuilt at least six times since its foundation, the existing temple standing at the shore of the Arabian Sea came into being as a result of the efforts of Sardar Patel, the Iron man of India.    Somnath is worshipped as the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Trivia:   Mahmud's famous slave was  Ayaz who was described by   Muhammad Iqbal, the Urdu poet and...

                                                                      Sheikh Mujibur Rehman  1972  - Following the defeat of Pakistani forces on  16 December 1971 , Bangladesh's independence leader  Bangabandhu   Sheikh Mujibur Rehman was released from jail in Rawalpindi in Pakistan on 22nd December 1971 and came to India via London on 10th January, 1972. December 16  is celebrated to commemorate the defeat of the Pakistani troops in the  Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971  and the emergence of an independent Bangladesh.  On this day Pakistani army surrendered to  Lt. General Jagjit Singh Aurora , the chief Commander of the Joint military command of India and Bangladesh.  The day is celebrated as  Victory Day or Bijoy Dibo...

1399 -  Amir Timur , the terrible Mongol military leader of Central Asia, overran Meerut on  9th January   massacring its inhabitants. Also known as  Tamerlane , Timur (April 8, 1336–February 18, 1405) was a ferocious conqueror who is known in history for razing cities to the ground and putting entire populations to the sword. It was during the reign of  Nasiruddin Mahmud  (1394-1413), the last of the Tughluq rulers, in the years 1398-99 that Tamerlane invaded India creating havoc in the forms of massacres and plunders. 1760  -  Battle of Barari  Ghat was fought on  9th January  in 1760 between Marathas and Afghan invaders who killed the Maratha chief  Dattaji Sindhia . The battle took place at the Barari Ghat of the Jumna (Yamuna) River, 10 miles (16 km) north of Delhi. 

1884 - Death of Keshab Chandra Sen , an Indian philosopher and social reformer, on 8th January, 1884. He was a member of the Brahmo Samaj, founded in 1828 by social reformer Ram Mohun Ray. The first schism in the Brahmo Samaj raised its head in 1866 when Debendranath Tagore, one of the founding members of the Brahmo movement, and Keshub Chandra Sen parted ways on the issue of integrating elements of Christianity, advocated by the latter. On November 11, 1866 the Brahmo community in Calcutta broke up, with Keshub Chandra Sen establishing his own breakaway " Bharatvarshiya Brahmo Samaj" ( Brahmo Samaj of India ). The branch led by Debendranath Tagore came to be called as Adi Brahmo Samaj. Keshub Chandra Sen wrote articles for a journal named Indian Mirror which was started in 1861. In 1867, he helped Atmaram Pandurang establish the Prarthana Samaj in Bombay. Keshav Chandra Sen also established the Indian Reform Association. Keshub Chandra Sen : A Biography Born to a...