31 August - India on this day21 events
Beant Singh (73), Punjab chief minister, assassinated in R.D.X. explosion in a car. He played a very prominent in supressing the militancy in Punjab. This explosion also killed 14 others.
J & K police nab two Pakistani militants for the massacre of 35 Sikhs at Chattisinghpora in March.
Prime Minister Vajpayee announces a gift of 10,000 litres of edible oil and five tonnes of milk powder to Nambia during it's severe drought.
Mirza Nur-ud-din Beig Mohammad Khan Salim aka Salim Mirza Jahangir, fourth Mughal Emperor and son of Akbar, was born at Fetehpur Sikri.
Anil Kumar Chakravati, journalist, was born at Kusthia.
Amrita Pritam, Punjabi poet, novelist and Gyanpeeth award winner, was born.
Raut Benudhar, great poet and Hindi writer, was born at Kenojhar in Orissa.
Javagal Srinath, cricketer (Indian right-arm pace bowler since 1991), was born in Mysore.
Nehru report published in India; demands dominion status in British Empire.
Nehru visits the riot-affected Punjab with Liaqat Ali and Sardar Patel.
The President of India gave his consent to the States Reorganistion Bill.
The Government decides to raise the retirement age of the three service chiefs of the armed forces, officers and personnel across the board to 62 years.
Surya Sekhar Ganguly won the National 'B' chess championship in Mumbai.
Dr. Maria Montessori, great teacher, social worker and educationist, was born in Italy.
Ramdulari Sinha, former Governor of Kerala and former Central Cabinet Minister, died.
M. Hidayatullah, consensus choice of political parties, appointed as Vice-President of India (1979 - 1984).
Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif, PVSM, retired as the Air Officer Commanding, India Command. After retirement he held the gubernatorial posts of Governor of Maharastra and Indian Ambassador to France.
Pranab Mukherjee rejoins the Union cabinet as Commerce Minister.
Lok Sabha creates history with its largest-ever sitting of about 22 hours for a special golden jubilee session debating issues of national importance.