This Day in History is on 31st 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 31st May. The students can refer to them while preparing for all competitive exams and banking exams.

Important Days

World No Tobacco Day (International)

World No Tobacco Day is observed on May 31 every year to highlight the risk associated with the use of tobacco. 

Important Events

Guillermo Carey
Guillermo Carey

1818: Samachar Darpan, the first vernacular newspaper, was published in Bengali language by Carey and Marshman from Serampore.

1891: Buddhagaya Mahabodhi Society, an organization to encourage Buddhist studies in India and abroad, was established by a Buddhist monk Anagarika Dharmapala.

1910: South African independence.

1929: For the first time Mickey Mouse’s speaking cartoon Carnival Kid was released.

1947: Gandhiji declares that peace must precede partition, and he would not be party to India’s vivisection.

1952: Establishment of Sangeet Natak Academy in India.

1961: South Africa became a republic.

1970: Indira Gandhi called for international help as the civil war in Bangladesh, or East Pakistan, had turned two million people into refugees. Many of them were suffering from cholera and smallpox. The authorities of West Pakistan refused to care for them, and India couldn’t afford to.

1977: Major Premchand and Naik Nima Dorji Sherpa, in the team on Indian Army Treckers, reached the peak of Kanchenjunga. They were amongst the first Indians to reach this peak.

1981: First developmental launch of SLV-3, Rohini (RS-D1) placed in orbit. It was used for conducting some remote sensing technology studies using a landmark sensor payload.

1987: Daman and Diu to remain as union territories after Goa becomes the 25th state of India.

1990: Lenin International Peace Prize awarded to Nelson Mandela.

1995: Statute Bill, a constitutional amendment bill, introduced in Lok Sabha to extend reservation in jobs and in promotion for SCs and STs.

Birthday / Anniversary

Pankaj Khirod Roy, cricketer
Pankaj Khirod Roy, cricketer

1683: Jean-Pierre Christin, a French physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and musician.

1725: Ahilyabai Holkar, the hereditary noble Sardar of the Maratha Empire.

1756: Jose Cusodio Faria was born in Candolim of Goa. He was a revolutionary scientist and also known as Abbe Faria.

1921: Suresh Hariprasad Joshi, an Indian novelist, short-story writer, literary critic, poet, translator, editor, and academic in the Gujarati language.

1928: Pankaj Khirod Roy, cricketer (Indian opener, 413 partnership w/Vinoo Mankad), was born in Calcutta. He was the recipient of Padmashree (1975).

1979: Vir Das is an Indian comedian, actor, and comedy musician.

Death / Death Anniversary

John Abraham, Indian director and screenwriter
John Abraham, Indian director and screenwriter

455: Roman Emperor Petronius Maximus was stoned to death by an angry mob.

1874: Bhau Daji Lad (Ramachandra Vitthal Lad

1910: Elizabeth Blackwell, a British physician, notable as the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States.

Bhau Daji Lad
Bhau Daji Lad

1921: Suresh Hariprasad Joshi, modern Gujarati poet, story writer, and critic, was born.

1973: Mohan Kumaramangalam, Central Minister, died in an air crash near Delhi.

1987: John Abraham, Indian director, and screenwriter (b. 1937)

1988: Dwarika Prasad Mishra, former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, passed away.

1994: Pandit Samtaprasad, a famous Tabla player, passed away.

2002: Subhash Gupte, Indian cricketer (b. 1929)

2003: Anil Biswas, an Indian film music director, and playback singer.

2014: Brajanath Ratha, Indian poet and author (b. 1936)

Further Reading

Month-wise This Day in History

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