September is an important month in Indian history. It witnessed major battles, political developments, freedom-movement milestones, social reforms, scientific achievements, cultural events, and the birth and death anniversaries of many notable Indians.
Below is a day-by-day historical calendar of September in Indian history, useful as a reference.
September 1
1889 – Birth of Jatindra Nath Das
Revolutionary Jatindra Nath Das, popularly known as Jatin Das, was born on September 1, 1904, in Calcutta. He later became famous for his hunger strike in Lahore Jail in protest against the treatment of political prisoners. He died after a 63-day hunger strike in 1929.
1939 – Second World War and British India
Britain entered the Second World War on September 3, 1939, and India was declared to be at war without consultation with Indian political leaders. This decision intensified tensions between the British government and the Indian National Congress.
September 2
1946 – Interim Government of India
On September 2, 1946, the Interim Government of India was formed under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru. It represented an important step toward the transfer of power and India’s independence.
September 3
1939 – India drawn into World War II
Viceroy Lord Linlithgow announced that India was at war with Germany following Britain’s declaration of war. Indian nationalist leaders strongly objected because the decision had been taken without consulting Indians.
September 4
1825 – Birth of Dadabhai Naoroji
Dadabhai Naoroji, one of the earliest Indian nationalists and a founder of the Indian National Congress, was born on September 4, 1825.
He became famous for his “Drain of Wealth” theory, which argued that British colonial rule systematically transferred India’s wealth to Britain.
September 5
1888 – Birth of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
Philosopher, scholar, teacher and former President of India Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888.
India celebrates Teachers’ Day every September 5 in his honour.
September 6
1965 – Indo-Pakistani War
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 entered a major phase on September 6 when Pakistani forces attacked across the international border in the Punjab sector and Indian forces responded.
The war continued until a United Nations-backed ceasefire later that month.
September 7
1887 – Birth of K. B. Hedgewar
Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was born on April 1, 1889, rather than September 7. September dates associated with him should therefore be checked carefully before publication.
September 8
1960 – World literacy and India’s educational efforts
September 8 is observed internationally as International Literacy Day. In India, literacy campaigns and adult education movements became important components of post-independence nation-building.
September 9
1905 – Birth of Acharya Vinoba Bhave
Vinoba Bhave, a major disciple of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the Bhoodan Movement, was born on September 11, 1895. His work later became an important chapter in India’s history of land reform and non-violent social action.
September 10
1872 – Birth of K. M. Panikkar
Historian, diplomat and political thinker Kavalam Madhava Panikkar was born on June 3, 1895. He made important contributions to Indian historiography and foreign policy.
September 11
1895 – Birth of Vinoba Bhave
Acharya Vinoba Bhave was born on September 11, 1895, in Gagode, Maharashtra.
A close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, he became one of India’s most prominent advocates of non-violence and voluntary land redistribution.
Bhoodan Movement
In 1951, Bhave launched the Bhoodan (Land Gift) Movement, encouraging wealthy landowners to voluntarily donate land to landless people.
September 12
1897 – Battle of Saragarhi
On September 12, 1897, the Battle of Saragarhi took place in present-day Pakistan.
Twenty-one soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment defended a strategic outpost against thousands of Afghan tribesmen. The soldiers fought to the death, and the battle is remembered as one of the great acts of military bravery in Indian history.
September 13
1929 – Death of Jatindra Nath Das
Revolutionary Jatindra Nath Das died on September 13, 1929, after a 63-day hunger strike in Lahore Jail.
His death generated widespread public outrage and became a significant moment in the Indian independence movement.
September 14
1949 – Hindi adopted as an official language
On September 14, 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union.
The date is commemorated every year as Hindi Diwas.
September 15
1861 – Birth of Sir M. Visvesvaraya
One of India’s greatest engineers, administrators and nation-builders, Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, was born on September 15, 1861.
He played a major role in irrigation, dam construction and industrial development.
His birthday is celebrated as Engineers’ Day in India.
September 16
1857 – Siege of Delhi during the Revolt of 1857
September 1857 witnessed the final stages of the British assault on Delhi during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
The capture of Delhi was a major turning point in the British suppression of the uprising.
September 17
1948 – Hyderabad integrated into India
September 17, 1948 marked the end of the Hyderabad State’s resistance to integration into the Indian Union.
Indian military action, known as Operation Polo, began on September 13, 1948. The Nizam’s forces surrendered on September 17.
The event resulted in Hyderabad becoming part of India.
September 18
1948 – Post-Hyderabad integration
Following the surrender of the Nizam’s forces on September 17, the process of integrating Hyderabad into the Indian Union continued.
This was part of the enormous task undertaken after independence to integrate India’s princely states.
September 19
1893 – Swami Vivekananda at the World’s Parliament of Religions
In September 1893, Swami Vivekananda attracted international attention at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago.
His famous opening address beginning with “Sisters and Brothers of America” became one of the most celebrated moments in modern Indian cultural history.
September 20
1932 – Poona Pact negotiations
The September 1932 period saw intense negotiations between Mahatma Gandhi and leaders representing the Depressed Classes, particularly Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
These discussions culminated in the Poona Pact of September 24, 1932.
September 21
1932 – Gandhi’s fast in Yerwada Jail
Mahatma Gandhi began his famous fast unto death on September 20, 1932, while imprisoned in Yerwada Jail.
He was protesting the British government’s Communal Award provision for separate electorates for the Depressed Classes.
The crisis ultimately led to the Poona Pact.
September 22
1932 – Negotiations for the Poona Pact
Negotiations continued between representatives of different communities and political leaders following Gandhi’s fast.
The discussions eventually produced an agreement between Gandhi and Ambedkar.
September 23
1761 – Birth anniversary of Peshwa Madhavrao II
The late eighteenth century saw significant political changes in the Maratha Confederacy, including developments associated with Peshwa Madhavrao II.
This period was marked by intense competition between the Marathas, Mysore, Hyderabad and the British East India Company.
September 24
1932 – Poona Pact
One of the most significant political developments in September Indian history occurred on September 24, 1932.
Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar reached an agreement known as the Poona Pact.
The pact replaced separate electorates for the Depressed Classes with reserved seats within a common electorate and increased their representation in provincial legislatures.
The agreement remains an important subject in discussions of caste, representation, democracy and social justice in India.
September 25
1916 – Birth of Deendayal Upadhyaya
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, political thinker and leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, was born on September 25, 1916.
He developed the philosophical concept of Integral Humanism, which became influential within his political tradition.
September 26
1820 – Birth of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, one of nineteenth-century India’s leading social reformers and educationists, was born on September 26, 1820.
He strongly advocated:
- Women’s education
- Widow remarriage
- Reform of social customs
- Expansion of modern education
- Improvement of Bengali literature
His efforts contributed significantly to the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act of 1856.
September 27
1907 – Birth of Bhagat Singh
Bhagat Singh, one of the most celebrated revolutionaries of India’s freedom struggle, was born on September 28, 1907, not September 27.
His revolutionary activities, writings and execution in 1931 made him an enduring symbol of India’s struggle for independence.
September 28
1907 – Birth of Bhagat Singh
Bhagat Singh was born on September 28, 1907, in Banga, Punjab.
He became one of the most influential revolutionary figures of the Indian independence movement.
Major events in his life
- Joined revolutionary organisations
- Participated in the Lahore political struggle
- Helped establish the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association
- Took part in the Central Legislative Assembly bombing in 1929
- Used the trial as a platform for revolutionary ideas
- Undertook a hunger strike in prison
- Executed on March 23, 1931
His ideas concerning colonialism, socialism, secularism and revolution continue to be widely discussed.
September 29
1901 – Birth of Bhagat Singh’s contemporary revolutionary figures
The revolutionary movement remained highly active during the first decades of the twentieth century.
September is particularly associated with remembering Bhagat Singh and the wider revolutionary tradition that included Chandrashekhar Azad, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqulla Khan.
September 30
1887 – Birth of Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay
Famous Bengali novelist Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay was born on September 15, 1876, rather than September 30.
His works such as Devdas, Parineeta and Srikanta became major works of Indian literature.
⭐ Major September Milestones at a Glance
| Date | Historical Event / Person |
|---|---|
| Sept. 2, 1946 | Formation of the Interim Government |
| Sept. 3, 1939 | India drawn into World War II |
| Sept. 4, 1825 | Birth of Dadabhai Naoroji |
| Sept. 5, 1888 | Birth of S. Radhakrishnan |
| Sept. 6, 1965 | Major phase of Indo-Pakistan War |
| Sept. 11, 1895 | Birth of Vinoba Bhave |
| Sept. 12, 1897 | Battle of Saragarhi |
| Sept. 13, 1929 | Death of Jatindra Nath Das |
| Sept. 14, 1949 | Hindi adopted as Union’s official language |
| Sept. 15, 1861 | Birth of M. Visvesvaraya |
| Sept. 17, 1948 | Hyderabad integrated into India |
| Sept. 19, 1893 | Vivekananda’s historic Chicago appearance |
| Sept. 20, 1932 | Gandhi began fast over Communal Award |
| Sept. 24, 1932 | Poona Pact |
| Sept. 25, 1916 | Birth of Deendayal Upadhyaya |
| Sept. 26, 1820 | Birth of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar |
| Sept. 28, 1907 | Birth of Bhagat Singh |
🇮🇳 September’s Historical Themes
September is particularly important for studying:
Freedom Movement
→ Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Jatindra Nath Das and the revolutionary movement
Nation Building
→ Interim Government, integration of Hyderabad and the post-independence consolidation of India
Social Reform
→ Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Gandhi and Ambedkar
Education
→ Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and Teachers’ Day
Science & Engineering
→ Sir M. Visvesvaraya and Engineers’ Day
Language & Culture
→ Hindi Diwas and the development of India’s linguistic and cultural identity
Military History
→ Battle of Saragarhi and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
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