January 20 is a date rich with varied chapters in Indian history, marked by scientific progress, political developments and cultural milestones. One of the most significant events of this day was the inauguration of India’s first nuclear reactor, “Apsara,” at Trombay, Mumbai, by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1957, which symbolised India’s early strides in peaceful nuclear research.

Long before that, in 1817, social reformer Ram Mohun Roy founded Hindu College in Calcutta (later Presidency College), laying foundations for modern higher education in India. On the political front, 1972 saw the northeastern regions of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura become full states of the Indian Union, while Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram were designated Union Territories — reshaping the nation’s administrative map.

January 20 also commemorates notable figures: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the revered nonviolent freedom fighter known as “Frontier Gandhi,” passed away in 1988, and Tej Bahadur Sapru, influential freedom fighter and constitutional expert, died in 1949.

From cultural achievements to political evolution and scientific milestones, January 20 weaves together threads of India’s diverse and enduring legacy.