This Day in History – September 20

Do you know that September 20 is celebrated as National Punch Day? This special day is usually celebrated with a big bowl of party punch with friends. In addition to this, there are various other historical events for which September 20 is known. Here are the key events that occurred on this day in history, September 20.

What Happened in India on September 20?

• 1878- The Hindu was published 
  On September 20, 1878, The Hindu, was published for the first time as a weekly newspaper.
• 1932 – Gandhi’s Hunger Strike
  In 1932, Mahatma Gandhi began a hunger strike against the treatment of untouchables. 

Important Events that Happened Across the Globe on September 20 

• 1920 – Irish War of Independence
  British Police killed two local men and burned the town of Balbriggan to take revenge for an IRA Assassination.
• 1941- Holocaust in Lithuania
  Mass execution of nearly 400 Jews began in Nemencine.
• 1942 – Holocaust in Ukraine
  Mass execution of nearly 3000 Jews took place in the course of 2 days.
• 1946 – 1st Cannes Film Festival 
  The 1st Cannes Film Festival was held on September 20, 1946 after getting delayed for 7 years due to World War II. 

• 1971 – Hurricane Irene
  After causing a landfall in Nicaragua, the hurricane regained enough strength thus, making it the first known hurricane to cross from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific.
• 1984 – Attack on US Embassy, Beirut 
  September 20, 1984 also witnessed a suicide bombing attack on the US Embassy killing twenty-two people
• 1990 – South Ossetia Independence
  On September 20, 1990, South Ossetia declared its independence from Georgia.

• 2011 – Inclusivity in US Military
  The “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy of US Military ended by allowing gay men and women to serve openly for the first time.
• 2017 – Hurricane Maria
  Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico caused the death of nearly 2,975 people and a damage worth US$90 billion in damage which led to a major humanitarian crisis

Famous Birthdays

1. 1948-Mahesh Bhatt
   Mahesh Bhatt is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is known for his exemplary works in Hindi cinema.

2. 1946 –  Markandey Katju
   He is an Indian jurist and former Supreme Court judge. He has also served as the Chairman for the Press Council of India.

Hope you are now familiar with the events of historical significance that took place on this day in history – September 20. For more such informative content, stay connected to Leverage Edu! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter!