This Day in History on 8th May
The historical events hold a lot of value for aspirants who are sitting for UPSC competitive exams including the IAS Exam.
On this page, we will list all historical events that occurred on 8th May. The students can refer to them while preparing for all competitive exams and banking exams.
Important Days
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day (International)
Important Events
1815: Malaun of Nepal was captured by General David Ochterlony.
1886: John Pemberton first sold a carbonated beverage named “Coca-Cola” as a patent medicine.
1899: Execution of Indian revolutionary Vasudev Chafekar.
1901: British commission claims famine has taken 1.25 mil. lives since 1899; blames overpopulation.
1910: Tolstoy replies to Gandhiji that question of Passive Resistance is of greatest importance, not only for India but for humanity.
1912: Establishment of Paramount Pictures.
1915: Indian freedom fighters Master Amir Chand and Bhai Balamukund were executed by the British government.
1930: Gandhi followers mob Bombay to protest his arrest.
1933: Gandhi starts hunger strike to protest the British repression of untouchables.
1933: Mohandas Gandhi began a 21-day fast of self-purification and launched a one-year campaign to help the Harijan movement.
1945: World War II – Europe Victory Day – The surrender of Germany to the Allied forces.
1954: Indian Government decided to integrate Chandranagar in West Bengal which was under the rule of the French.
1959: Dalai Lama will not be allowed to campaign for Tibetan independence in India. India wants to maintain friendly relations with Communist China.
1962: Establishment of Ravindra Bharati University at Kolkata, West Bengal.
1962: Ravindra Bharti University established in West Bengal.
1963: Centenary of Indian Red Cross was celebrated. Today is birthday of its founder.
1978: The first ascent of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, by Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler.
1980: The World Health Organization confirmed the eradication of smallpox.
1990: A 255 kmph cyclone lashes Andhra Pradesh coast causing heavy losses to life and property.
1997: India decides to import currency notes for the first time.
1998: Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh Prime Minister, gets the Gandhi award for 1998.
2004: Muralitharan of Sri Lanka set the record for most Test cricket wickets with 521 wickets.
Birthday / Anniversary
1828: Henry Dunant, co-founder of the Red Cross.
1884: Harry Truman, the 33rd President of the United States.
1906: Prannath Thapar, former General of India, was born.
1916: Chinmayananda Saraswati, Indian spiritual leader and educator (d. 1993)
1916: Ramananda Sengupta, Indian cinematographer
1925: Gururaja Shyamacharya Amur, an Indian literary critic, and author.
1929: Girija Devi, an Indian classical singer of the Seniya and Banaras gharanas.
1938: Javed Burki, Indian-Pakistani cricketer
1970: Michael Bevan, a former Australian cricketer.
Death / Death Anniversary
1725: John Lovewell, US Indian fighter, passed away in a battle.
1777: Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal.
1794: Antoine Lavoisier, a French nobleman, and chemist
1915: Indian freedom fighters Master Amir Chand and Bhai Balamukund were executed by the British government.
1929: Girija Devi,an Indian classical singer of the Seniya and Banaras gharanas.
1952: William Fox, founder of the Fox Theater.
1972: Pandurang Vaman Kane, a notable Indologist, and Sanskrit scholar.
1992: Gul Mahomed, cricketer (8 Tests for India & one for Pakistan), passed away.
1994: Harikant Jethwani, famous Sindhi litterateur, passed away.
1995: Prem Bhatia, journalist, passed away at 83.
2013: Zia Fariduddin Dagar, an Indian classical vocalist.
2014: Roger Lee Easton, the principal co-inventor and designer of the Global Positioning System.