16 March in Indian and World History is celebrated, observed, and remembered for various reasons. 16 March is the birth anniversary of Bipin Rawat, Tanushree Shankar, and Ambika Prasad Divya.
16 March is also observed as the death anniversary of M. Patanjali Sastri, and Poosapati Sanjeevi Kumaraswamy Raja.
Birth Anniversary on 16 March
16 March in Indian history is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the following personalities:
Bipin Rawat (16 March 1958 – 8 December 2021) was India’s first ‘Chief of Defense Staff’. He assumed this post on 31 December 2019. Prior to this he also served as the 27th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army. He was then appointed as the successor of Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag. Bipin Rawat took over as the Chief of Army Staff on 31 December 2016. Bipin Rawat was born on 16 March 1958 in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand.
Tanushree Shankar is an Indian classical dancer. She was a principal dancer at the Anand Shankar Center for Performing Arts in the 1970s and 1980s. He also acted in various films like ‘The Namesake’. She travels extensively around the world with her troupe. His last notable productions include ‘Uttaran’ (Resurgence of the Soul) and ‘Chirantan’ (Eternal) set to music by Rabindranath Tagore. She was born on 16 March 1956 in Calcutta.
Ambika Prasad Divya (16 March 1906 – 5 September 1986) was a well-known educationist and Hindi writer of India. He was a man of many talents. He was knowledgeable in many other languages including English, Sanskrit, Russian, Persian, and Urdu. He was born on 16 March 1906 in Panna, Madhya Pradesh.
Read More: 15 March in Indian and World History
Death Anniversary on 16 March
16 March in Indian history is observed as the death anniversary of the following personalities:
M. Patanjali Sastri (4 January 1889 – 16 March 1963) the former second Chief Justice of India. He was the second judge of the Supreme Court, serving from 7 November 1951 to 3 January 1954. He Died on 16 March 1963.
Poosapati Sanjeevi Kumaraswamy Raja (8 July 1898 – 16 March 1957) was an Indian National Congress politician. He was the first Chief Minister of Madras State. He Died on 16 March 1957.
Read More: 14 March in Indian and World History
Notable events on 16 March in Indian and World History
16 March 1839 – Sully Prudhomme a French poet, essayist, and Nobel Prize Laureate, was born.
16 March 1914 – Charles Albert Gobat a Swiss lawyer, diplomat, politician, and Nobel Prize Laureate, died.
16 March 1918 – Frederick Reines an American physicist, and Nobel Prize Laureate, was born.
6 March 1935 – John James Rickard Macleod a Scottish physician, physiologist, and Nobel Prize Laureate, died.
16 March 1940 – Selma Lagerlof a Swedish author, and Nobel Prize Laureate, died.
16 March 1998 – Chinese President Jiang Zemin was re-elected President for the next term.
16 March 1999 – Death of Leon Lee Falk, father of comic characters like Phantom.
16 March 2003 – Green Smith became the cricket captain of South Africa.
16 March 2004 – Explosion in a nine-story building in Russia, 21 dead.
16 March 2005 – United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan nominated Supachayi Panichpakdi as the new president of UNCTAD.
16 March 2006 – Three months after the election, the new parliament of Iraq was sworn in.
16 March 2007 – Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa made a world record by hitting six sixes in one over.
16 March 2008 – Inflation reached the highest level of 5.11 percent in the last nine months.
16 March 2009 – Special Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sarat Sabharwal was appointed as the new High Commissioner of India in Pakistan. The US administration prohibited the installation of American engines in the three stealth frigates of the Shivalik class.
16 March Historical Significance
March 16 holds historical significance for various events across different periods. On this day in 1802, the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, was established in New York. Fast forward to 1968, and March 16 marked a significant turn in the Vietnam War with the My Lai Massacre, where American soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians. In 1988, Saddam Hussein launched a chemical attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja in northern Iraq, resulting in thousands of deaths, marking one of the deadliest chemical weapons attacks against civilians in history. March 16 is also remembered in 1995 as the day when Mississippi formally ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, officially abolishing slavery in the state, albeit 130 years after the amendment’s adoption. These events collectively underscore the diverse historical significance of March 16.
Important Days of 16 March in History
National Panda Day: This day is dedicated to raising awareness about the conservation of pandas, as well as celebrating these beloved and iconic animals.
Freedom of Information Day: It commemorates the birthday of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States and a key advocate for openness in government. This day highlights the importance of transparency and access to information in a democratic society.
Lips Appreciation Day: A fun and lighthearted day dedicated to appreciating lips and their role in communication, expression, and beauty.
World Sleep Day: This global awareness day focuses on the importance of sleep and aims to raise awareness about sleep disorders and the importance of healthy sleep habits.
Black Press Day: Recognizing the contributions and achievements of black-owned newspapers and media outlets in the United States, this day highlights the importance of diverse voices in the media landscape.
