Day in History – 7th February: Indian Navy Shows Its Strength, Key Events Across the Globe

7th February has witnessed several historic events, both in India and around the world. Notably, on this day in 1992, the Indian Navy commissioned its first indigenous submarine, INS Shalki, showcasing India’s early achievements in self-reliant defense technology. This milestone demonstrated that, within a few decades of independence, India had developed the capability to design and operate its own submarine technology.

Key Events on 7th February

• 1856: The East India Company removed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh from power, annexing the region. This led to widespread dispossession of land from landlords, soldiers, and peasants, sowing the seeds for the 1857 Revolt.
• 1898: Birth of Ramabai Bhimrao Ambedkar, wife of social reformer Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, in Dabhol, Maharashtra.
• 1904: A massive fire in Baltimore, USA, destroyed over 1,500 buildings, one of the largest urban fires in American history.
• 1904: Birth of revolutionary and writer Manmathnath Gupta in Varanasi, participant in the 1925 Kakori Conspiracy.
• 1931: Death of Motilal Nehru, father of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
• 1939: London hosts the Palestine Conference, with British Prime Minister Chamberlain urging reconciliation between Jewish and Arab representatives.
• 1962: President John F. Kennedy imposed a full trade embargo on Cuba.
• 1964: British band The Beatles arrived in the U.S., drawing millions of viewers to their shows.
• 1969: Yasser Arafat becomes chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
• 1974: Grenada gains independence from the United Kingdom.
• 1983: Establishment of Eastern News Agency in Kolkata.
• 1986: Haiti’s President Jean-Claude Duvalier flees to France amid political instability with U.S. assistance.
• 1989: Tennis legend Bjorn Borg attempts suicide in Milan.
• 1992: INS Shalki commissioned, marking a milestone in India’s indigenous defense capabilities.
• 1999: King Abdullah ascends the throne of Jordan following the death of King Hussein.
• 2005: Ellen MacArthur circumnavigates the globe in record time.
• 2021: Chamoli glacier disaster in Uttarakhand causes significant loss of life and damage to hydro projects.

Observances

Today is also celebrated as Rose Day, marking the beginning of Valentine’s Week, when people express their love by giving red roses.