Year 1819
Bicycle was first seen in New York City, USA.
MAY 21
Daily Historical Chronicle
UPSC CSE • State PSC • SSC CGL Matrix
21 May: What Happened On This Day in History
Curated historical timeline of momentous political pacts, freedom struggle uprisings, constitutional developments, scientific breakthroughs, and prominent birthdays recorded on 21 May.
Observances & Special Days
World Anti-Terrorism Day
International Tea Day
Independence Day celebrates the Montenegrin independence referendum in 2006, celebrated the next day. (Montenegro)
Navy Day (Chile)
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (International)
Year 1855
Rani Rasmoni was consecrated at Bhabatarini Kali Temple of Dakhineswar.
Year 1881
American Red Cross was established in Washington, D.C.
Year 1904
The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was established in Paris.
Year 1923
Keshavrao Kothavle `Lalit', editor of monthly magazine, was born.
Year 1927
Cargo Transportation service started between Calcutta and Bagdogra.
Year 1927
Charles Lindberg completed the world’s first non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
Year 1929
India’s first air cargo service commenced between Calcutta (now Kolkata) and Bagdogra.
Year 1932
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean alone.
Year 1938
A raid of nationalists on salt works in Dharasana results in 630 casualties and the arrest of Mrs. Naidy, leader of the civil disobedience campaign.
Year 1935
Quetta earthquake takes a heavy toll of life.
Year 1966
General Election (11th) of India ends.
Year 1975
The 26-mile feeder canal from Farakka to the Bhagirathi river was dedicated to the nation.
Year 1984
Army moves in after 114 die in religious strife at Bomay.
Year 1990
PM V. P. Singh clears the Rs. 13,000 crore Sardar Sarovar Project over the river Narmada.
Year 1991
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a suicide bombing in Madras (now Chennai).
Year 1992
China successfully tested a 1,000-kiloton atomic bomb. It is the most powerful nuclear explosion in the world.
Year 1994
Sushmita Sen (Miss India), 18, was crowned the 43rd Miss Universe.
Year 1994
The Union Government imposes a blanket ban on capitation fees for admission to private professional colleges.
Year 1996
General Election (11th) of India ended.
Year 1996
M.S. Sushama Dande (Shiv Sena) was elected the first woman mayor of New Mumbai along with Savitri Patil (Shiv Sena) as Deputy Mayor.
Year 1998
India declares a moratorium on nuclear testing.
Born 1835
Biharilal Chakravorty, the Bengali poet, was born.
Born 1916
Harold Robbins, an American author of popular novels.
Born 1923
Armand Borel, a Swiss mathematician.
Born 1923
Keshavrao Kothavle `Lalit', editor of the monthly magazine, was born.
Born 1931
Sharad Joshi, a Hindi poet, and writer.
Born 1958
Naeem Khan, Indian-American fashion designer
Born 1960
Mohanlal, an Indian actor, producer, playback singer, distributor, and philanthropist.
Born 1971
Aditya Chopra is an Indian filmmaker.
Died 1509
Henry VII, the King of England and Lord of Ireland.
Died 1973
Mohan Kumarmangalam, Central Minister, passed away in an air crash near Delhi.
Died 1979
Janaki Devi Bajaj, an Indian independence activist.
Died 1686
Otto von Guericke, a German scientist, inventor, and politician.
Died 1990
Moelvi Muhammad Farouk, the great Indian spiritual leader, was murdered.
Died 1991
Rajiv Gandhi, Indian Prime Minster (1984-91), was assassinated by a human bomb explosion plotted by LTTE at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu, 40 km from Madras, at 10.20 P.M.
Died 1992
Manohar J.Pherwani, 58, Chairman of the National Housing Bank, died.
Died 2000
Mark R. Hughes, an American businessman.