Events

Today in Indian History
Events for January 26

26-January-1876	Railway route started between Mumbai and Calcutta.
26-January-1882	Telephone line started working between Mumbai and Calcutta.
26-January-1893	Srijiva Nyayatirtha Bhattacharya, famous writer and educationist, was born Bhatpara, West Bengal.
26-January-1915	Rani Gaidinliu, freedom fighter, social reformer and political leader, was born at Nungkao village, Manipur State.
26-January-1919	Mohammad Cazzambhoy Ibrahim Khan, cricketer (batted in 4 Tests India vs West Indies 1948-49), was born in Bombay.
26-January-1926	V. G. Kanitkar, famous Marathi literatteur, was born.
26-January-1927	Laxman Madhav Katre, former Indian Air Chief Marshall, was born.
26-January-1929	Indian National Congress proclaims goal for India's independence.
26-January-1930	Mahatma Gandhi started the Dandi march to protest against the Salt Act of the British and the same day Indians swore to get 'Total' Swaraj and organised the day as Swaraj Day.
26-January-1931	Gandhiji was unconditionally released from prison.
26-January-1950	India became a Republic within the British Commonwealth and the Indian Air Force dropped its ""Royal"" prefix. At this time, it possessed six fighter squadrons of Spitfires, Vampires and Tempests, operating from Kanpur, Poona, Ambala and Palam, one B-24 bomber squadron, one C-47 Dakota transport squadron, one AOP flight, a communications squadron at Palam and a growing training organisat
26-January-1950	India is proclaimed a Sovereign Democratic Republic ceasing to be a British dominion and adopted Indian Constitution which came into force.
26-January-1950	Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1884-1963) became the first President of India. He remained President from Jan. 26,1950 to May 13, 1962.
26-January-1950	Government of India accepted the National Emblem. It consisted of Head of Lion which is taken from Ashok piller situated near Sarnath.
26-January-1950	The new Indian awards known as Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra, were finally selected in June 1948 and annouced on the first Republic Day. Param Vir Chakra to the Victoria Cross, the Maha Vir Chakra to the Indian Order of Merit and the Vir Chakra is equivalent to the Military Cross. The Ashoka Chakra series, meant for gallantry other than in the face of the enemy, was probably meant to replace the George Cross, Albert Medal and George Medal.
26-January-1957	India annexes Kashmir, Constitution for incorporation with India goes into effect.
26-January-1957	Ashok Omprakash Malhotra, cricketer (Indian batsman in 7 Tests 1982-84), was born in Amritsar.
26-January-1957	Shivlal Nandlal Yadav, cricketer (Indian off-spinner 102 Test wickets 1979-87), was born in Hyderabad.
26-January-1960	More medals for armed forces were instituted including the Vishisht Seva Medal (in the classes), Sainya Seva Medal, Videsh Seva Medal and Sena, Nao Sena and Vayu Sena Medals.
26-January-1961	Special stamps dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi in the Champion of Liberty series issued by the United States postal department.
26-January-1965	Hindi Language is accepted as National language of India.
26-January-1972	Amar Jawan, a national memorial, established at India Gate, New Dehli.
26-January-1981	Vayudoot air service started with a flight of a F27, from Guwahati airport. This is the third Indian airline inaugurated.
26-January-1981	Sandeep Patil scores memorable 174 vs Australia at Adelaide Oval.
26-January-1982	Meera Behn (Medlin Slade) freedom fighter, and Gandhin by thought awarded 'Padma Vibhushan'.
26-January-1988	A Post Office was established at Dakshin Gangotri under the Goa Postal Division. (11-7-89).
26-January-1992	BJP President Dr. Murali Manohar Joshi hoists the national flag at the heavily-guarded Lal Chowk in Srinagar.
26-January-1992	Bharat Bhushan, the legendary romantic film hero of the 1950's, passed away at the age of 71 years.
26-January-1993	Sub Lt. Rubi Singh of the Navy becomes the first woman in India to lead an armed force contingent in the Republic Day parade at New Delhi; British PM John Major attends as the first ever British head of Government as Chief Guest.
26-January-1995	Dr. Nelson Mandela attends India's 46th Republic Day celebration as national guest.
26-January-1995	Three powerful bombs rip through a celebration at a sports stadium in Kashmir as the State Governor addresses the crowd;7 people killed and 47 injured.
26-January-1996	47th Republic Day celebrated;Chief Guest was Fernando Henrique Cardoso, President of Brazil.
26-January-1997	Delhi becomes the first state in India to enforce a ban on smoking in all public places.
26-January-1997	Government prohibits manual scavenging and construction of dry latrines in six states (AP, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tripura, West Bengal) and all UTs.
26-January-1997	Mizoram becomes a dry state, the fourth, after Gujarat, AP and Haryana.
26-January-1999	21 dalits are gunned down by the Ranbit Sena in Jahanabad district in Bihar.
26-January-2000	Mr. K. Vadivel Raj gets the 1999 Kabir Puraskar for rescuing 11 persons of another community during caste violence in September 1998 in a village in Tamil Nadu.
26-January-2001	Bharat Ratna, India's highest award, was given to Lata Mangeshkar.
26-January-2001	Bharat Ratna, India's highest award, was given to Ustad Bismillah Khan.