18 September - India on this day25 events

Mahatma Gandhi was to fast for 21 days in despair of the recent riots between Muslims and Hindus. It was an expression of his 'unbearable hopelessnes'. "Nothing I say or write," he said, "can bring the two communities together." Even as he spoke there were reports of further riots at Kohat, in which 20 Hindus and 11 Muslims were killed. Reservations, Gandhi speaking in Allahabad said, reserved the right to drink water with or without salt. "It is both a penance and a prayer. As it is penance I need not have taken the public into my confidence but I publish it as, let me hope, an effective prayer to Hindus and Muslims, not to commit suicide".

Ganganendranath Tagore, great painter, patriot and artist, was born in Calcutta.

Welthy Housinger Fisher, an American adult educationist in India, was born.

Kilachand Ramdas, famous merchant, was born.

Pranlal Harkisandas Vora, leader in Maharashtra, was born.

Arjuncharan Srimukh Sethi was born in Odang village in Balasore (now known as Bhadrak) in Orissa.

A Hindu delegation is given permission to interview Gandhi, currently held in prison and undertaking a hunger strike. On arrival, they also find he has taken a vow of silence.

Dr. Bhagwan Das, great philosopher, freedom fighter, Hindi writer, politician and litterateur, passed away.

Puri was captured by Britishers from the Marathas without any struggle.

Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce was established.

Communist government threatens dire consequences on discovering Indian bases on the Chinese side of the China-Sikkim frontier in China.

English was adopted the official language of Nagaland .

President K.R. Narayanan inaugurates Mammen Mappillai Hall at Kottayam, Kerala.

Government of India announces increase of minimum bonus to workers from 4\% to 8.33\%.

President K. R. Narayanan presents the Dada Saheb Phalke award for the year 1999 to film maker Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

Andhra government's order of setting up 12 private medical colleges quashed by a full bench of the High Court.

M. Hidayatullah, former Vice President and Chief Justice, died. He was 87.

India becomes the top film producer of the world with 433 feature films made in 1971.

Devkumar, famous Hindi film actor, died.

Asit Sen, famous comedy actor and character artist, died.

Prasar Bharati issues a notification making it compulsory for cable operators to telecast regional channels of Doordarshan on prime band, in addition to DD-1 and DD-2, in their respective states.

Second Anglo-Maratha war under Sir Arthur Wellesley resulted in a crushing defeat of the Marathas at Assaye. The British Christians captured Delhi and acquired control of large parts of India.

Sher Singh, educationist and politician, was born at Baghpur (Haryana).

Kaka Hathrasi, famous comedy poet, died.

Suresh Mehta ministry wins the confidence vote in Gujarat .