November18

Three Lashkar-e-Taiba militants, including its Chief Commander, are killed in a fierce encounter with Special Operations Group (SOG) in Jammu and Kashmir.

Yashwant Sinha, Finance Minister, said there would be no cuts in Income Tax rates in the next budget, and signalled that the reforms process will continue.

US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright arrives in New Delhi. Ms. Albright said she raised the 'all-important issue of terrorism' with Pakistan's top leadership.

Prabodh Chandra Bagchi researcher of "Ancient History of India", was born. He was one of the most notable Sino -Indologists of the 20th century. He was the third Upacharya (Vice-Chancellor) of Visva-Bharati University. He worked on Sanskrit Buddhist literature, on the ancient remains of Indian civilisation in Central Asia, on Buddhist literature in China, on the ancient Pali texts, on Avestan Gathas. .

V. Shantaram also referred as Shantaram Bapu, having full name as Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre, was a famous Indian filmmaker, film producer and actor, a true legend. He is most known for films such as Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946), Amar Bhoopali (1951), Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957), Navrang (1959), Duniya Na Mane (1937), Pinjra (1972), and many more. He also founded then most sophisticated studios of the country "Rajkamal Kalamandir" in Mumbai.

Madhukar Gopal Pathak, noted author and film director, was born.

Rajinder Pal, cricketer (pace bowler in one Test India v Eng, 0-22), was born in Delhi.

Maharaja Jai Singh-II of Amber laid the stone of Jaipur City. Vidyadhar Chakravarty of Bengal was the architect of the first planned city in India.

The Navy went into action under the command of Rear Admiral BS Soman, then Flag Officer Commanding, Indian Fleet. The ships conducted their mission in three geographical areas for liberating Goa .

Tiger was adopted as India's 'National Animal'.

Puttaveeramma of Ishwatha Ashrama Vidyaranyapuram, Vishveshwara Nagar, Mysore, conferred with the 'Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award 1997' for lifelong exemplary service to poor destitute women, in particular deaf and dumb girl children.

Nearly 500 people were drowned when the ferry steamer Narayan River capsized and sank in the Ganga near Patna.

School bus plunges into the Yamuna killing 28 Delhi children.

Dhirendra Ganguly, film maker, writer, director and actor, passed away.

Telex Service started between India and Pakistan.

Free primary school education is introduced.

Madhav Rao Peshwa (the 4th peshwa ruler) died at the age of 28. Narayanrao succeeded him.

V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, great freedom fighter, social reformer, politician, prolific writer and leader, died.

Raghunath Chaudhary, famous natural poet of Assam, passed away.

Rajni Pannikar,noted story writer, passed away.

Bipinchandra Joshi, cheif of Army and General, passed away at the age of 54 years.

Nicolai Bulganin and Nikita Khrushchev, top USSR Soviet leaders, first time came to New Delhi.

Dharam Vira was appointed as the Cabinet Secretary of India. He held this office till 27-06-1966.

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev arrives in Delhi on a three-day visit.

In the by-elections, Congress gets 8 Lok Sabha seats and suffers rout in UP assembly, while BJP gets absolute majority.

Mother of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, passed away. She came to India in 1914.

Sonia Gandhi pleads the President on Nalini's case.