March18

Pandit Kunjilal Dubey, freedom fighter, educationalist and politician, was born at Amgaon, District Narsinghpur.

Pratapsinh Mathuradas Vissanji, great industrialist, was born at Bombay.

Madhusudhan Ramachandra Rege, cricketer (15 runs in only Test India v WI 1948-49), was born in Panvel, Maharashtra.

Shashi Kapoor, famous film producer, director, actor and dramatist, was born in Calcutta. He has made sucessful films like Junoon, Kaliyug, Heat and Dust, etc.

Mohandas K. Gandhi "Mahatma," the great spirit, sentenced by British authorities to six years in prison for sedition at Sabarmati. Gandhi was sentenced just eight days after he was arrested. The British acted hastily after government officials in London and India were criticized for not arresting him sooner. In London, the Secretary of State for India was forced to resign because of the controversy over Gandhi. In India, the arrests of Gandhi and other Indian nationalists had only increased sympathy for their cause.

Backward Classes Commission inaugurated.

Shreyanprasad Jain, famous philanthropist and industrialist, passed away.

British Government approved Indian Security Act to have greater control on the Indian people.

Azad Hind Fauj entered India (Japanese army) from the border of Burma and invaded north eastern India.

First Indian Book Fair was organised by National Book Trust in New Delhi.

Eknath Dhondu Solkar, cricketer (India 1969-77, brilliant short-leg fielder), was born in Bombay. He is recipient of Arjun Award (1973).

President confers gallantry awards on 65 personnel of the defence forces.

Rowlatt Act, intended to perpetuate the extraordinary powers enjoyed by the Government under Lord Chelmsford during the war, provokes countrywide protests. This Rowlatt Act was forced instead of 1915 Indian Security Act which reduced freedom of Indian people.

Buddhadev Basu, modern Bengali poet, story writer, playwright and critic, passed away.

Socialist Party of India (SPI) disassociates itself from the Congress.

West Bengal opts for assembly poll.

Devi Lal, Deputy PM, withdraws his resignation.

Indo-Bangladesh friendship treaty, signed 25 years ago, expires.

A.B. Vajpayee, the Prime Minister-designate, releases the 'national agenda for governance' in New Delhi. It is silent on the Ram temple issue, scrapping of Article 370 and a uniform civil code.