January20

Indian Express launches its 18th edition from Belgaum.

Sir Ratanji Jamshedji Tata, famous Indian industrialist, was born.

Raghunath Chaudhary, famous Assamia nature poet, was born.

Krishnarao Ganeshpant Fulanbrikar (Master Krishnarao), famous singer, actor and music director, was born.

Nalin Chandra Wickramasinghe, great Indian astronomer, was born.

Vasant Patankar, famous Marathi writer, was born.

Tej Bahadur Sapru passed away.

Supreme Court orders closure of 84 industries in and around Taj Mahal in UP due to pollution.

Renowned playwright Girish Karnad is selected for the 1998 Jnanpith Award.

Treaty between Marathas and Portuguese.

Junagarh formally merged with Saurashtra.

1. Bomb exploded near Birla House during a prayer meeting of Gandhi. 2. Three member UN Commission for investigation/mediation on Kashmir. 3. K.M. Cariappa succeeded Lieutenant General D. Rissell as the Army Commander, Delhi and East Punjab and was responsible for conducting the operation in Kashmir.

South Africa banned Indian Cargo ships to dock at their Ports.

Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura become states of Indian union. Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram become Union Territories. Assam's North East Frontier Agency (Nepha) was renamed as Arunachal Pradesh territory.

The Indian Army conducted United Nation Peacekeeping Keeping Operations in New Delhi from 20 to 26 Jan 1996, wherein delegates from UN HQ and 17 foreign countries of the Asia-Pacific region participated. The Under Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, was the chief guest.

First Indian Atomic Reactor "Apsara" at Trombay, Mumbai, was dedicated to the nation.

Captain Karamjeet Singh, first Pramveer Chakra Awardee, passed away.

Australia beat India 2-0 to win the World Series Cup.

The third Test between India and South Africa ends in a draw in Johannesburg.

Saroj Kumari', a feature film produced by Mahavir Photoplays and Theatres Ltd., Secunderabad, was prohibited on January 20 on the grounds that it was ''sordid'' and ''revolting''.

Chinese film 'Farewell, My Concubine' and Adoor Gopalakrishnan's 'Vidheyan' adjudged best Foreign and Indian films in the 25th International Film Festival at Calcutta.

Ram Mohun Roy started Hindu College in Calcutta with the help of Justice H. East David Hare. This college was later renamed as the Presidency College.

Khan Abdul Gafar Khan, follower of Mahatma Gandhi, better known as Sarhadi Gandhi or Frointier Gandhi, passed away.

Bindeshwari Dube, former Chief Minister Bihar, passed away.

Shiv Charan Mathur sworn in as CM of Rajasthan.

Dr. Raja Ramanna sworn in Minister of State for Defence.

Karnataka ministry expanded to include 27 more members; S.M. Krishna made Dy. CM.

J&K accepts the report of the State Autonomy committee tabled in the Assembly last year.