Looking back at particular dates can help put major political, scientific, sporting and social moments into context. January 15 is one such date. Across different years, it has been marked by events that reached far beyond their own time, from powerful political symbolism in the United States to one of the deadliest earthquakes in South Asia, as well as a memorable milestone in international cricket.Revisiting these moments shows how decisions, disasters and achievements from the past continue to shape the world we live in today. Each event carries a legacy that still echoes, influencing how societies think, act and move forward.Here are some of the key reasons why 15 January remains a date worth remembering.
Historical events that happened on 15th January
1870 – the Democratic Party of America adopted the donkey as its symbol.On January 15, 1870, the first recorded use of a donkey to represent the Democratic Party appears in Harper’s Weekly. Drawn by political illustrator Thomas Nast, the cartoon is entitled “A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion”. 1934 – Bihar-Nepal earthquakeThe Bihar, or Bihar-Nepal, earthquake occurred around 2:13 p.m. on January 15, 1934. The death toll ranged between 10,700 and 12,000, with Bihar accounting for over 7,000.1988 – Former India bowler Narendra Hirwani made history by capturing 16 wickets in his first Test against the West IndiesNarendra Hirwani began his Test career as a legspinner, before Shane Warne revived the trend. His Test career began with a bang when, as a bespectacled 19-year-old, he got 16 wickets on debut against the West Indies in Madras in 1987–88.
On this day in history : Key events of 15th January
Birth anniversary
15th January in history is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the following personalities:Ashwini Kumar Dutt (15 January 1856 – 7 November 1923)Was a prominent Indian politician, social activist, and patriot. He began his professional life as a teacher. He served as a delegate to the Congress’s second Calcutta session in 1886. He was born in Eastern Bengal.Edward Teller (15 January 1908 – 9 September 2003)Was an American theoretical physicist who was born in Hungary. People say he is one of the people who helped create the hydrogen bomb. Teller, Leo Szilard, and Eugene Wigner all worked together to convince President Roosevelt to start an atomic bomb programme in the United States.V. S. Ramadevi (15 January 1934 – 17 April 2013) V.S. Ramadevi is India’s first woman Chief Election Commissioner. Ramadevi was the first woman to serve as the Rajya Sabha’s Secretary-General, as well as the first and only female Governor of Karnataka till today. Mayawati Naina Kumari (15 January 1956) Among India’s leading female politicians. In addition to being the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, she is the head of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), one of the major political parties in the nation. She is referred to by her employees as “Bahan Ji.” She became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, the nation’s largest state, after her party secured an absolute majority in the state’s 2007 assembly elections.
Death anniversary
15th January in history is observed as the death anniversary of the following personalities:Ranganath Ramachandra Diwakar (30 September 1894 – 15 January 1990)Was an Indian National Congress politician. He was appointed to the Maharashtra Constituent Assembly. Following India’s independence, R. R. Diwakar was appointed ‘Minister of Information and Broadcasting’ in Jawaharlal Nehru’s government. Rocky Johnson (August 24, 1944 – January 15, 2020) Was a Canadian professional wrestler. Among several National Wrestling Alliance titles, he was the first Black NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion and the NWA Television Champion. He was the father of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a prominent Hollywood celebrity.
