31 December in Indian and World History is celebrated, observed, and remembered for various reasons. 31 December is the birth anniversary of Krishna Ballabh Sahay and Shrilal Shukla.
31 December is also observed as the death anniversary of Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade, Ravi Shankar Shukla, and Kader Khan.
Birth Anniversary on 31 December
31 December in Indian history is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the following personalities:
Krishna Ballabh Sahay (31 December 1866 – 3 June 1974), a well-known patriot and revolutionary of India, was first the Revenue Minister of Bihar, and then He also became the Chief Minister of United Bihar. K. B. Sahai was associated with the Indian National Congress. He was the Chief Minister from 2 October 1963 to 5 March 1967. He was born on 31 December 1866 in Patna, Bihar.
Shrilal Shukla (31 December 1925 – 28 October 2011), is considered a literary figure famous for purposeful satirical writing in contemporary fiction of the Lucknow district. He passed his graduation from Allahabad University in 1947. Started the job in 1949 from the state civil service. Retired from Indian Administrative Service in 1983. His methodical writing begins in 1954 and with this, a glorious chapter of Hindi prose begins to take shape. He was born on 31 December 1925 in Atrauli Village, Lucknow.
Read More: 30 December in Indian and World History
Death Anniversary on 31 December
31 December in Indian history is observed as the death anniversary of the following personalities:
Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade (24 June 1863 – 31 December 1926), was a famous Indian writer, historian, orator, and scholar. He was known as ‘Itihasacharya Rajwade’. He was also a great scholar of Sanskrit and grammar, the evidence of which is visible in his famous works ‘Rajwade Dhatkosh’ and ‘Sanskrit Bhashecha Ulgada’. Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade composed the famous book ‘History of Indian Marriage Institution in the Marathi language. The Granth is a unique achievement of the extensive study and thought of Historian Rajwade. He died on 31 December 1926.
Ravi Shankar Shukla (2 August 1877 – 31 December 1956), was a famous leader and freedom fighter of the Indian National Congress. He was appointed as the first Chief Minister of the new state of Madhya Pradesh, which came into existence on 1 November 1956. He died on 31 December 1956.
Kader Khan (22 October 1937 – 31 December 2018) was an Indian film actor, screenwriter, comedian, and film director. As an actor, he appeared in more than 300 Bollywood films after his debut in the 1973 film Daag with Rajesh Khanna, in which he played a prosecuting attorney. He was also a prolific screenwriter for Bollywood films in the period 1970s to 1999 and wrote dialogues for 200 films. Khan graduated from Ismail Yusuf College, affiliated with Bombay University. He died on 31 December 2018 in Ontario, Canada.
Read More: 29 December in Indian and World History
Notable events on 31 December in Indian and World History
31 December 1492 – 100,000 Jews were expelled from the Sicily region of Italy.
31 December 1600 – The British East India Company was established.
31 December 1781 – The first bank in America opened the ‘Bank of North America’.
31 December 1802 – Peshwa Bajirao II received British protection.
31 December 1924 – Vicki Draves – a Filipino American competitive diver – was born.
31 December 1925 – Shrilal Shukla, a Hindi writer, was born.
31 December 1929 – Congress workers under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi started the movement for complete independence in Lahore.
31 December 1944 – 48 people died in a rail accident in Ogdon, Utah, US.
31 December 1944 – In World War II Hungary declared war on Germany.
31 December 1949 – 18 countries of the world recognized Indonesia.
31 December 1962 – Holland left the island of New Guinea in the southwest Pacific Ocean.
31 December 1964 – Indonesia was expelled from the United Nations.
31 December 1964 – Donald Campbell ran his speedboat at a speed of 71 kilometers per hour and broke that year’s record for the fastest speed on water in the world.
31 December 1981 – President Dr. Limman was deposed, and Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings took power in Ghana by military revolution.
31 December 1983 – Brunei gained independence from Britain.
31 December 1984 – Rajiv Gandhi became the seventh Prime Minister of India at the age of 40.
31 December 1984 – Mo. Azharuddin started his international cricket career by playing a Test match against England. Later he also became the captain of the Indian team.
31 October 1993 –  Federico Fellini, an Italian filmmaker, died.
31 December 1997 – Mohammad Rafiq Tarar was elected the 9th President of Pakistan.
31 December 1998 – Russia’s successful launch of three satellites from the Kazakhstan Space Center.
31 December 1999 – Indian Airlines plane 814 was hijacked and taken to Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan. The hostage crisis was averted with the safe release of 190 people after seven days.
31 December 2003 – Foreign secretaries of India and other SAARC countries started talks ahead of the summit.
31 December 2004 – a fire at a nightclub in Buenos Aires (Argentina) killed 175 people.
31 December 2005 – the United States closed its embassy in Malaysia indefinitely for security reasons.
31 December 2007 – Myanmar’s military government arrested seven opposition leaders.
31 December 2008 – Ishwardas Rohini was announced to be the Speaker of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly for the second time.
31 December 2014 – At least 36 people were killed, and 49 others were injured in a stampede on New Year’s Eve in the Chinese city of Shanghai.
31 December 2022 – Pope Benedict XVI died.
31 December Historical Significance
December 31 holds significant historical importance as the final day of the Gregorian calendar year. It has been marked by numerous notable events across different periods. In 1600, the British East India Company was chartered, playing a crucial role in the expansion of British trade and empire. In 1879, Thomas Edison publicly demonstrated his electric incandescent light bulb for the first time, heralding a new era in technological innovation. The dissolution of the Soviet Union was formally completed on December 31, 1991, marking the end of the Cold War and a significant shift in global political dynamics. Additionally, in 1999, the world anticipated the Y2K bug, a potential computer glitch that threatened to cause widespread disruption as the year 2000 approached. These events, among others, underscore December 31 as a day of endings and new beginnings, shaping the course of history in various ways.
Important Days of 31 December in History
New Year’s Eve: This is the primary global celebration on December 31, characterized by parties, fireworks, countdowns, and other festivities to ring in the New Year.
First Night Celebrations: In some parts of the United States and other countries, “First Night” events are organized as family-friendly, alcohol-free celebrations featuring performances, parades, and fireworks.
Saint Sylvester’s Day: In some European countries, including Germany, Poland, and Switzerland, December 31 is known as Saint Sylvester’s Day, in honor of Pope Sylvester I, who died on this day in 335 AD. Celebrations are similar to New Year’s Eve festivities, often including fireworks and parties.
