15 May in Indian and World History is celebrated, observed, and remembered for various reasons. 15 May is the birth anniversary of Sukhdev Thapar, Yeshi Dhonden, Madhuri Dixit, and Ram Pothineni.
15 May is also observed as the death anniversary of K. M. Cariappa, Charles B. Fulton, Naim Talu, and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
Birth Anniversary on 15 May
15 May in Indian history is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the following personalities:
Sukhdev Thapar (15 May 1907 – 23 March 1931), an Indian revolutionary. A senior member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, he participated in several actions alongside Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru and was hanged by the British authorities on 23 March 1931 at the age of 23. He was born on 15 May 1907, in Ludhiana, Punjab, British India.
Yeshi Dhonden (15 May 1927 – 26 November 2019), a Tibetan doctor of traditional Tibetan medicine, served the 14th Dalai Lama from 1961 to 1980. He was also known for treating cancer patients and He had patients from across the world. The Indian government honored him with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India. He was born on 15 May 1927, Namro, Tibet.
Madhuri Dixit an Indian actress, dancer, producer, television personality, and music artist. One of the most popular actresses in Hindi cinema, she has appeared in over 70 Bollywood films. She has featured seven times on “Forbes India‘s’’ Celebrity 100 list. The Indian Government awarded her with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honor of the country. She was born on 15 May 1967, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Ram Pothineni an Indian actor who works in Telugu films. He made his debut with Devadasu, which won him a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – South. He was born on 15 May 1988, in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
 Read More: 14 May in Indian and World History
Death Anniversary on 15 May
15 May in Indian history is observed as the death anniversary of the following personalities:
K. M. Cariappa (28 January 1899 – 15 May 1993), the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. He led Indian forces on the Western Front during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army in 1949. He is one of only two Indian Army officers to hold the Five-star rank of Field Marshal, the other being Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. He died on 15 May 1993, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Charles B. Fulton (12 May 1910 – 15 May 1996), a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He was president, Chairman of the Board and General Counsel for Home Federal Savings and Loan Association of Palm Beach, Florida from 1958 to 1963. He died on 15 May 1996, West Palm Beach, Florida.
Naim Talu (22 July 1919 – 15 May 1998), a Turkish economist, banker, politician and former Prime Minister of Turkey. He started his political career in 1971 by appointment to the ministry of trade in the second Erim cabinet. He died on 15 May 1998, Istanbul, Turkey.
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (23 October 1925 – 15 May 2010) the 11th Vice President of India. was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a leading member of the National Democratic Alliance at the time of election. He served as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times, from 1977 to 1980, 1990 to 1992 and 1993 to 1998. He represented several constituencies in Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha from 1952 to 2002. He was also awarded Padma Bhushan in the year 2003. He died on 15 May 2010, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
 Read More: 13 May in Indian and World History
Notable events on 15 May in Indian and World History
Some of the Notable events on 15 May in World History are mentioned below:
15 May 1718-The world’s first machine gun is patented.
15 May 1845 – Élie Metchnikoff, a Russian zoologist, and Nobel Prize Laureate, was born.
15 May 1859 – Pierre Curie, a French physicist, and Nobel Prize Laureate, was born.
15 May 1915 – Paul Samuelson, an American economist, and Nobel Prize Laureate, was born.
15 May 1924 – Paul-Henri-Benjamin Balluet d’Estournelles de Constant, a French diplomat, politician, and Nobel Prize Laureate, died.
15 May 1928-The first Mickey Mouse film is screened.
15 May 1940-The first McDonald’s fast-food restaurant opens.
15 May 1941 – Ashok Vajpeyi, an Indian Hindi-language poet, and essayist, was born.
15 May 1951 – Frank Wilczek, a renowned American physicist, and Nobel Prize Laureate, was born.
15 May 1957-Britain tests its first hydrogen bomb near Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.
15 May 2012 – Carlos Fuentes, a prominent Mexican novelist, essayist, and diplomat, widely regarded as one of the most important literary figures in the Spanish-speaking world – died.
15 May Historical Significance
The 15th of May is a date marked by numerous significant historical events across various centuries. In 1252, Pope Innocent IV issued the papal bull ad exstirpanda, which authorized and set parameters for the use of torture during the Medieval Inquisition. This day in 1536 saw the tragic downfall of Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, who was tried and found guilty of adultery, incest, and treason. The scientific community commemorates May 15th as the day in 1618 when Johannes Kepler discovered the third law of planetary motion, an essential contribution to our understanding of the cosmos. The War of the Spanish Succession, a major European conflict that reshaped the continent’s political landscape, began on this day in 1701. Additionally, the Seven Years’ War, which is often described as the first global war, commenced on May 15th, 1756. This date also holds significance in the realm of exploration and innovation. For instance, on May 15th, 1602, Cape Cod was discovered by the English navigator Bartholomew Gosnold. Fast forward to 1796, and we find Napoleon entering Milan in triumph with French troops, marking a pivotal moment in the First Coalition during the Napoleonic Wars. In the sphere of literature, May 15th marks the publication of Alexander Pope’s “An Essay on Criticism” in 1711, a significant work in English literary criticism. The 15th of May has also witnessed the birth of influential institutions and the enactment of groundbreaking laws. Notably, the English East India Company, which played a crucial role in the establishment of British rule in India, was founded on this day. Moreover, Massachusetts enacted the first copyright law on May 15th, 1672, reflecting the growing importance of intellectual property rights in the early modern period.
In more recent history, May 15th has seen events that have shaped modern society and culture. The first McDonald’s restaurant opened on this day, revolutionizing the fast food industry and consumer habits worldwide. Each year, the events of May 15th offer a reflection of human progress, conflict, creativity, and the enduring quest for knowledge and power. It is a day that encapsulates the dynamic and multifaceted nature of history, reminding us of the intricate tapestry of events that have led to the present day. Whether through the lens of politics, science, culture, or innovation, May 15th stands as a testament to the complexities and achievements of our shared past.
Important Days of 15 May in History
Some of the Notable events on 15 May in History are mentioned below:
- International Day of Families – The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 47/237 of 20 September 1993, proclaimed that 15 May of every year shall be observed as the International Day of Families.
- National Peace Officers Memorial Day (United States): Honors law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
- Nakba Day (Palestine): Commemorates the displacement that preceded and followed the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948.
- Teachers’ Day (South Korea and Colombia): A day dedicated to appreciating teachers and their contributions to education.
- Constitution Day (Lithuania): Marks the anniversary of the 1920 constitution, which was the first in Europe to be adopted by a constituent assembly.
