21 April in Indian and World History is celebrated, observed, and remembered for various reasons. 21 April is the birth anniversary of Max Weber, James Braid Taylor, Maharaja Karni Singh, and Queen Elizabeth II.
21 April is also observed as the death anniversary of Mohammad Iqbal, Shakuntala Devi, and Janaki Ballabh Patnaik.
Birth Anniversary
21 April in Indian history is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the following personalities:
Max Weber (21 April 1864 – 14 June 1920), a German lawyer, historian, politician, and sociologist, as well as known as a political economist. His ideas deeply influenced social theory and social research. Weber was a major proponent of methodological antipositivism, arguing for the study of social action through an interpretive (rather than purely empiricist) understanding of the objective and means that individuals engage with their actions. He was born on 21 April 1864.
James Braid Taylor (21 April 1891 – 17 February 1943), the First Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and the second Governor of RBI after Osborne Smith. He held this position from 1 July 1937 to 17 February 1943. He and Sikandar Hayat Khan were appointed as the first Deputy Governors of the Reserve Bank of India on 1 April 1935. He was promoted to the post of Governor on 1 July 1937. Taylor was born on 21 April 1891.
Maharaja Karni Singh (21 April 1924 – 6 September 1988), is considered the father of competitive shooting. He had a variety of hobbies. Raja Karni Singh had many achievements. His personality and attitude were absolutely royal. He was the first shooter to be honored with the ‘Arjuna Award’ in 1961. Karni Singh was born on 21 April 1924 in Bikaner.
Queen Elizabeth II (Full name – Elizabeth Alexandra Mary), the head of 54 nations and territories. She is the Supreme Governor of the ‘Church of England as the British Empress and is the constitutional queen of the sixteen independent sovereign countries of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth II’s father George VI was made emperor of Britain and British colony India in the year 1936. She was born on 21 April 1926 in London, United Kingdom.
Read More: 20 April in Indian and World History
Death Anniversary
21 April in Indian history is observed as the death anniversary of the following personalities:
Mohammad Iqbal (9 November 1877 – 21 April 1938), a modern Indian famous Muslim poet. Iqbal composed most of his works in Persian. This famous song “Saare Jahan Se Achcha Hindostan Hamara” is written by Iqbal. Mohammad Iqbal was of the opinion that Islam is the embodiment of the spirit of the struggle for spiritual freedom, and the essence of all kinds of religious experiences. It is a living principle of heroism, which makes life purposeful. He died on 21 April 1938.
Shakuntala Devi (4 November 1929 – 21 April 2013), commonly known as the “Human-Computer“, was a scientific calculator from childhood. Seeing his talent, his name was also included in the ‘Guinness Book of World Records in 1982. Shakuntala Devi had the ability to tell in a moment the day of any date of the last century. He had not received any formal education. She was also an astrologer. On her 84th birthday, on 4 November 2013, Google dedicated a Google Doodle in her honor. She died on 21 April 2013.
Janaki Ballabh Patnaik (3 January 1927 – 21 April 2015), an Indian politician and a senior leader of the National Congress. He became the Governor of Assam in 2009. Patnaik was the Chief Minister of Odisha from 1980 to 1989 and again from 1995 to 1999 as a leader of the Indian National Congress. Before Naveen Patnaik, he had the record of being the Chief Minister of Odisha for the longest time. He died on 21 April 2015 in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
Read More: 19 April in Indian and World History
Notable events on 21 April in Indian and World History
21 April 1451 – Bahlol Khan Lodi, the founder of the Lodi dynasty, became the ruler of Delhi.
21 April 1526 – Ibrahim Lodi was killed in the first battle of Panipat between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi, the ruler of the Mughal Empire.
21 April 1572 – a military agreement was signed between France and England against Spain.
21 April 1654 – Trade agreement signed between England and Sweden.
21 April 1720 – Baji Rao I succeeded Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath.
21 April 1739 – A peace treaty was signed between Spain and Austria.
21 April 1782 – The city of Bangkok was founded.
21 April 1782 – Friedrich Fröbel — a German educator and pedagogue — was born.
21 April 1816 – Charlotte Brontë — an English novelist and poet, best known for her novel “Jane Eyre”— was born.
21 April 1841 – Jennie Trout — the first woman in Canada to become a licensed medical doctor — was born.
21 April 1879 – R.A. Kartini — an Indonesian national heroine and pioneer in the advancement of women’s rights — was born.
21 April 1882 – Percy Williams Bridgman was an American physicist. In 1946, Percy Williams Bridgman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, was Born.
21 April 1889 – Paul Karrer was a Swiss organic chemist. In 1937, Paul Karrer was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry ,was Born.
21 April 1913 – Sir Norman Parkinson — a renowned British fashion photographer who is considered one of the most influential and successful photographers — was born.
21 April 1938 – Famous Urdu poet Mohammad Iqbal died in Lahore, Pakistan.
21 April 1941 – Greece surrendered to Nazi Germany.
21 April 1945 – The victory of today’s Soviet Union during World War II is considered to be significant in its efforts to capture the city of Berlin and defeat Hitler.
21 April 1960 – Brasília the capital city of Brazil, located in the Federal District in the central part of the country was founded.
21 April 1987 – More than a hundred people died in a bomb blast in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.
21 April 1994 – Raúl Soldi, an Argentine artist, painter, and set designer, died.
21 April 1996 – Sanjay Thapar of the Indian Air Force was landed on the North Pole via parachute.
21 April 1996 – Abdul Hafeez Kardar, a Pakistani cricketer, died.
21 April 2001 – India lodged a strong protest against the brutal killing of Indian soldiers in Bangladesh.
21 April 2004 – 68 people died in a missile attack in Basra.
21 April 2004 – Sunčana Škrinjarić a prominent Croatian writer, poet, and journalist, known for her significant contributions to children’s literature.
21 April 2006 – The King of Nepal announced the handing over of power to the elected government.
21 April 2007 – Brian Lara retired from one-day cricket on this day.
21 April 2009 – Iqbal Bano, a ghazal singer from Pakistan, died.
21 April Historical Significance
On April 21st, several significant events have left their mark on history. In 753 BC, according to traditional legend, Rome was founded on this day by Romulus and Remus. Fast forward to 1789, and it was on April 21st that John Adams was sworn in as the first Vice President of the United States under President George Washington. This date also marks the death of one of the most revered figures in literature, William Shakespeare, who passed away on April 23rd, 1616, according to the Gregorian calendar (which corresponds to April 21st in the Julian calendar, used in England at the time). Moreover, on April 21st, 1836, the Battle of San Jacinto took place, resulting in the decisive victory of the Texian army over Mexican forces, effectively securing Texan independence. In more recent history, on April 21st, 1989, Nintendo released the handheld gaming device Game Boy in Japan, revolutionizing the gaming industry. These events, spanning centuries and continents, demonstrate the diverse historical significance of April 21st.
Important Days of 21 April in History
National Civil Services Day Civil Services Day is celebrated every year in India on April 21. On this day, we honor and appreciate the work of public administration officers in various departments of both the federal government and state governments.
National Bulldogs are Beautiful Day: On this day, we celebrate the unique charm and lovable nature of bulldogs. If you’re a bulldog enthusiast, take a moment to appreciate these adorable and sometimes comically wrinkled dogs.
National Kindergarten Day: Kindergarten plays a crucial role in early childhood education. On April 21, we recognize the importance of kindergarten programs in nurturing young minds and preparing them for future learning.
National D.A.R.E. Day (Drug Abuse Resistance Education): D.A.R.E. is an educational program aimed at preventing drug abuse among children and adolescents. On this day, awareness is raised about the importance of drug education and prevention.
International Hemp Day: Hemp, derived from the cannabis plant, has various industrial and medicinal uses. On April 21, people discuss the benefits of hemp and advocate for its responsible cultivation and utilization.