26 March in Indian and World History observed, and remembered for various reasons. 26 March is the birth anniversary of Mahadevi Varma, Bhikajirao Jijaba Khatal-Patil, Baba Hari Dass, Sant Thakar Singh, Avdhoot Shivanand, and Prakash Rai.
26 March is also observed as the death anniversary of Bommagani Dharma Bhiksham and Sukumari.
Birth Anniversary on 26 March
26 March in Indian history is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the following personalities:
Mahadevi Varma (26 March 1907 – 11 September 1987), was an Indian Hindi-language poet and novelist. She is considered as one of the four major pillars of the Chhayawadi era in Hindi literature. In 1956, she was honoured with Padma Bhushan by the government of India. She was also honoured with the Jnanpith Award in 1982. Later in 1988, she was also awarded Padma Vibhushan, India’s third-highest award. She was born on 26 March 1907 in Farrukhabad, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India.
Bhikajirao Jijaba Khatal-Patil (26 March 1919 – 16 September 2019), an Indian politician. He was a senior Maharashtra leader and a veteran Congressman. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra for over 20 years, also holding various Cabinet ministries in the Maharashtra Government. He was born on 26 March 1919 in Sangamner, Ahmednagar District, British India.
Baba Hari Dass (26 March 1923 – 25 September 2018), a yoga master, a silent monk, and a commentator of the Indian scriptural tradition of Dharma and Moksha. He was born on 26 March 1923 in Almora, British India.
Sant Thakar Singh (26 March 1929 – 6 March 2005), was a spiritual teacher in the Sant Mat lineage of Sikh religious leaders. He was born on 26 March 1929.
Avdhoot Shivanand, an Indian spiritual leader and founder of ShivYog. He conducted a public discourse that was broadcast on multiple television channels. In September 2016, DY Patil University conferred the Honorary Degree of “Doctor Emeritus” to him for his contribution to modern spiritual science. He was born on 26 March 1955 in Rajasthan, India.
Prakash Rai, is an Indian actor, film director, producer, television presenter, activist, and politician. He worked in numerous South Indian film Industries. He is the recipient of several accolades, including five National Film Awards. He was born on 26 March 1965 in Bangalore, Mysore State, India.
Read More: 25 March in Indian and World History
Death Anniversary on 26 March
26 March in Indian history is observed as the death anniversary of the following personalities:
Bommagani Dharma Bhiksham (15 February 1922 – 26 March 2011), a veteran leader of the Communist Party of India. He was a member of the 10th Lok Sabha and 11th Lok Sabha of India. He was born on 26 March 2011 in Suryapet, Hyderabad State, British India.
Sukumari (6 October 1940 – 26 March 2013) was an Indian film actress best known for her works in Malayalam and Tamil films. In 2003, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for her contributions toward the arts. She won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Tamil film Namma Gramam (2010).
Read More: 23 March in Indian and World History
Notable events on 26 March in Indian and World History
26 March 1552 – Guru Angad appointed Amar Das as the third Guru of Sikhism.
26 March 1698 – Prokop Diviš, a Czech Catholic priest, theologian, and natural scientist, was born.
26 March 1824 – Julie Victoire Daubié, a French journalist and the first woman to have graduated from a French university, was born.
26 March 1908 – Saridjah Niung, an Indonesian musician, music teacher, and children’s songwriter, was born.
26 March 1911 – Bernard Katz, a German-born British biochemist, physiologist, and Nobel Prize laureate, was born.
26 March 1916 – Christian B. Anfinsen, an American biochemist and Nobel Prize Laureate, was born.
26 March 1943 – Sanmao, a Taiwanese writer and adventurer who gained popularity, was born.
26 March 1915 – Hwang Sun-won, a renowned South Korean writer, was born.
26 March 1931 – New Delhi replaced Calcutta as the capital of British Indies in 1931 by King George V, the then Emperor of India because it had been the financial and political centre of many empires that had earlier ruled India.
26 March Historical Significance
On March 26, several significant events have unfolded throughout history. In 1979, a peace treaty was signed between Egypt and Israel, known as the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty. This agreement, brokered by the United States, marked the end of decades of hostility and established diplomatic relations between the two nations. Additionally, in 1971, Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan, declared its independence from Pakistan after years of political and cultural tensions. This declaration led to the Bangladesh Liberation War, which eventually resulted in the formation of the independent nation of Bangladesh. Furthermore, on March 26, 1973, the United States officially ended its involvement in the Vietnam War with the withdrawal of its last combat troops from Vietnam. This marked the conclusion of a conflict that had deeply divided the American public and had significant consequences both domestically and internationally. Overall, March 26 stands as a date of pivotal moments in international diplomacy, independence movements, and the conclusion of a major conflict.
Important Days of 26 March in History
Purple Day: Purple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. It is celebrated on March 26th every year.
Bangladesh Independence Day: March 26th is celebrated as Independence Day in Bangladesh. It marks the declaration of independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Make Up Your Own Holiday Day: While not as widely recognized as the other two, Make Up Your Own Holiday Day encourages people to invent their own holiday and celebrate it however they see fit. It’s a day for creativity and fun!
