17 June in Indian and World History
17 June in Indian and World History is celebrated, observed, and remembered for various reasons. 17 June is the birth anniversary of Kailash Nath Katju, Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, and Leander Paes.
17 June is also observed as the death anniversary of Mumtaz Mahal, Jijabai Shahaji Bhosale, Rani Lakshmibai, Lord Canning, and Gopabandhu Das.
Birth Anniversary on 17 June
17 June in Indian history is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the following personalities:
Kailash Nath Katju (17 June 1887 – 17 February 1968), the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh state. He was the Governor of Orissa and West Bengal, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, the Union Home Minister and the Union Defence Minister. He served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from January 1957 to March 1962. He also wrote many books and has a special contribution in the freedom struggle of India. Katju was born on 17 June 1887 in Jaora, Jaora State, Malwa Agency, British India (present-day Madhya Pradesh, India).
Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (17 June 1903 – 17 January 1951), an Indian freedom fighter, a noted litterateur, freedom fighter, and film producer. He was multifaceted and a man of extraordinary talent. The auspicious arrival of Jyoti Prasad Aggarwal came at a time when Assamese culture and civilization were getting disintegrated from their original form. Jyoti Prasad Aggarwal, rich in versatility, was a playwright, storyteller, lyricist, letter editor, composer, and singer everything. Just at the age of 14, he had enriched Assamese literature by composing the play ‘Shonit Kunwari’. He was born on 17 June 1903 in Tamulbari Tea Estate, Bengal Province, British India.
Leander Paes, an Indian tennis player who opened India’s Olympic medal path by winning a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Leander Paes’s performance is a milestone in terms of the Olympics. In 1996, Leander Paes was awarded the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award’ for his outstanding performance in tennis, and in 2001 the ‘Padma Shri’ along with Mahesh Bhupathi. He was born on17 June 1973 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Read More: 16 June in Indian and World History
Death Anniversary on 17 June
17 June in Indian history is observed as the death anniversary of the following personalities:
Mumtaz Mahal (27 April 1593 – 17 June 1631), the Queen of the Mughal Empire from 19 January 1628 to 17 June 1631 as the wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. She was designated Mumtaz as his chief empress with the title of ‘Malika-i-Jahan’ (“Queen of the World”) and ‘Malika-uz-Zamani’ (“Queen of the Age”). The Taj Mahal in Agra is often cited as one of the World’s Wonders, and it was commissioned by Shah Jahan to be built as a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal. She died on 17 June 1631 in Burhanpur.
Jijabai Shahaji Bhosale (12 January 1598 – 17 June 1674) was the wife of Shahaji Bhonsle and the mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji. She was known as ‘Rajmata Jijabai’ and simply ‘Jijai’. Though neglected by her husband Shahaji Bhonsle, she continued to be the guardian of her son Shivaji and contributed the most in building his character, ambitions, and ideals. Jijabai had the greatest influence in determining the direction of Shivaji’s life. She died on 17 June 1674 at the age of 76 in Pachad, Maratha Empire (present-day Maharashtra, India).
Rani Lakshmibai (19 November 1835 – 17 June 1858) was the queen of the Maratha-ruled Jhansi state and a heroine of the First Indian War of Independence of 1857. A great effort was made in 1857 to free India from slavery. This effort is called India’s first freedom struggle or soldier’s freedom struggle in history. Maharani Laxmibai was among the warriors who sacrificed their lives in the battle against the British. In 1857, she initiated the freedom struggle of India. With her bravery, she had soured the teeth of the British. She died on 17 June 1858 at the age of 29 in Kotah-ki-Serai, Gwalior, Gwalior State, British India (present-day Madhya Pradesh, India).
Lord Canning (14 December 1812 – 17 June 1862), a British statesman and Governor-General of India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and the first Viceroy of India from 1856 to 1862 after the transfer of power from the East India Company to the Crown of Queen Victoria in 1858 after the rebellion was crushed. During this time, the ‘Governor of India Act 1858’ was passed, according to which the ‘Governor-General of India’ was declared as the Viceroy. After the transfer of power from the British East India Company to the British Crown, the reorganization of the Government of India took place under the chairmanship of Lord Canning. He was awarded the title of Earl in 1859. By the ‘Indian Councils Act’ of 1861, it reconstituted its executive council and introduced departmental distribution of responsibilities. Canning died on 17 June 1862 at the age of 49 in Grosvenor Square, London.
Gopabandhu Das (9 October 1877 – 17 June 1928), a famous freedom fighter, journalist, poet, and litterateur, and the founder of Utkal’s daily paper ‘Samaj’. He was an eminent social worker of Orissa. Gopabandhu Das is also known as ‘Utkal Mani’. Whenever there is talk of nationalism and freedom struggle in the state of Orissa, people take the name of Gopabandhu Das. The people of Orissa remember him as ‘Daridra Sakha’ i.e. ‘Friend of the poor’. He had made diligent efforts to organize the different regions of Utkal to form a complete Orissa state. He died on 17 June 1928 at the age of 50.
Read More: 15 June in Indian and World History
Notable events on 17 June in Indian and World History
Some of the Notable events on 17 June in World History are mentioned below:
17 June 1397 – The Kalmar Union was established between Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
17 June 1549 – Jews were expelled from the Ghent region of Belgium.
17 June 1756 – Nawab Siraj-ud-daula attacked Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1756 with 50 thousand soldiers.
17 June 1775 – In the Battle of Bunker Hill, the British defeated the Continental Army of America.
17 June 1799 – Napoleon Bonaparte annexed Italy to his empire on this day.
17 June 1858 – Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi was martyred on this day.
17 June 1885 – The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, arrived at the Port of New York.
17 June 1917 – Mahatma Gandhi made his residence in the Hriday Kunj of the Sabarmati Ashram.
17 June 1917 – George V changed the family surname to Windsor on this day. Before this the family was known as the German royal house ‘Sachs Coburg und Gotha’.
17 June 1938 – Japan declared war on China on this day.
17 June 1940 – Arthur Harden was a British biochemist. In 1929, Arthur Harden was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry,died.
17 June 1944 – Iceland gained independence from Denmark on this day.
17 June 1944 – Germany surrendered in World War II on this day.
17 June 1956 – Hindu Succession Act 1956 was passed on this day.
17 June 1963 – The US Supreme Court banned the required reading of the Bible in schools.
17 June 1967 – China became the fourth country in the world to have a hydrogen bomb.
17 June 1970 – The first kidney transplant operation was performed in Chicago.
17 June 1981 – In Cairo, Egypt, 14 people were killed in a conflict between Muslims and Christians.
17 June 1984 – Klavdiya Shulzhenko, a Soviet popular female singer and actress, died.
17 June 1992 – Hamed Abdel Fattah Goher, a trailblazing Egyptian oceanographer, scientist, and TV presenter whose remarkable contributions in marine biology have left an indelible mark on Egypt and the Arab world – died.
17 June 1994 – North Korea agreed to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to remain in its country.
17 June 2004 – Rocks similar to Earth’s rocks were found on Mars.
17 June 2008 – The indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’ was successfully test-fired in Bangalore.
17 June 2012 – General elections for the presidency were held for the first time in Egyptian history.
17 June 2015 – a gunman killed nine people at a church in South Carolina, USA.
17 June Historical Significance
June 17th is a date marked by numerous significant historical events across the globe. For instance, on June 17, 1462, Vlad III the Impaler, known as Dracula, attempted to assassinate Mehmed II, which led to his retreat from Wallachia. This day also saw English navigator Francis Drake land on the coast of California in 1579, naming it “New Albion”. In the context of Indian history, June 17, 1631, is remembered for the death of Mumtaz Mahal, which led her husband, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, to commission the Taj Mahal as her mausoleum, a symbol of eternal love and one of the world’s architectural wonders. Additionally, the day marks the end of the civil disobedience campaign in India in 1933. These events reflect the day’s importance as a crossroads of cultural, political, and social milestones that have shaped history. For a detailed account of events, one can refer to historical archives and dedicated resources that provide a day-by-day breakdown of historical occurrences.
Important Days of 17 June in History
Some of the Notable events on 17 June in History are mentioned below:
- World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (International): This day is observed globally to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification. The day is a unique moment to remind everyone that land degradation neutrality is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and co-operation at all levels.
- Eat Your Vegetables Day (United States): A day dedicated to encouraging a healthy diet rich in vegetables, it’s celebrated by various health and nutrition organizations within the United States.
- National Apple Strudel Day (United States): This day is observed in the United States to celebrate the popular pastry, apple strudel. It’s a day for pastry lovers and bakers to indulge in and share this sweet treat.
- Global Garbage Man Day (United States): Recognized in the United States, this day is set aside to show appreciation for waste collection workers who help keep our communities clean and sanitary.
- National Flip Flop Day (United States): Celebrated in the United States on the third Friday of June, this day is often marked by wearing flip-flops and may involve various promotions and events in retail and beach communities.
- Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) (Islamic countries): Also known as Eid al-Adha, this Islamic festival is celebrated by Muslims around the world to honor the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. The exact date may vary based on lunar sightings.
- Marine Day, also known as “Umi no Hi” in Japanese, is a national holiday in Japan that celebrates the ocean and highlights its importance to the country’s culture, economy, and natural environment. In 2023, the marine day is observed on 17 July 2023.
- Iceland Independence Day is a vibrant celebration that reverberates across the nation every year on June 17th.
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