Last Updated: July 10, 2026
Today in History – July 10 stands as a remarkable day in world history, marked by heroic anti-colonial resistance, revolutionary scientific breakthroughs, and golden milestones in sports and literature. From the birth of the eccentric genius Nikola Tesla to the rise of India’s first female judicial pioneers and cricket legends, this day has shaped our modern world in more ways than one.
This article covers:
- Major historical events on July 10
- Famous personalities born on July 10
- National and international observances
- Important current affairs and competitive exam facts
Table of Contents
🌟 Top Highlights of July 10
- Birth of Nikola Tesla (1856): The master of electricity and inventor of the Alternating Current (AC) system, Nikola Tesla, was born on this day.
- Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy’s Revolt : In 1846, legendary freedom fighter Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy led a daring raid on the British treasury in Koilkuntla.
- Sunil Gavaskar’s Birthday: Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, who created history in Test cricket, was born on this day in 1949.
- “Best of the Booker” Award: In 2008, Salman Rushdie’s landmark historical fiction novel “Midnight’s Children” won the unique ‘Best of the Booker’ prize.
🗓️ Important Historical Events on July 10
1794 – The Battle of Padmanabham
A historic battle was fought at Padmanabham (near present-day Visakhapatnam) between the forces of the Raja of Vizianagaram and the British East India Company, marking an early resistance against colonial rule in Andhra Pradesh.
1846 – Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy’s Raid on the Koilkuntla Treasury
India’s early freedom fighter Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy, along with an army of 500 Boyas, attacked the British treasury at Koilkuntla, executing the colonial staff and seizing the treasury funds to finance his rebellion.
1991 – Shivraj Patil Sworn in as Lok Sabha Speaker
Veteran Indian politician Shivraj Patil officially took charge as the Speaker of the 10th Lok Sabha, presiding over crucial parliamentary reforms.
2008 – “Midnight’s Children” Wins the Best of the Booker
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Booker Prize, Salman Rushdie’s acclaimed novel “Midnight’s Children” was voted by the public as the finest book ever to win the prize.
2017 – Driver Sheikh Salim Gafur Saves Amarnath Pilgrims
Displaying exemplary courage, bus driver Sheikh Salim Gafur steered a bus full of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims to safety under heavy terrorist firing, saving numerous lives.
🎂 Famous Birthdays on July 10
| Year | Personality | Domain / Notable Achievement |
| 1856 | Nikola Tesla | Visionary inventor and electrical engineer; the SI unit of magnetic flux density is named after him. |
| 1916 | Kona Prabhakara Rao | Former Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and ex-Governor of Maharashtra and Sikkim. |
| 1920 | Peesapati Narasimhamurthy | Highly respected Telugu theatre actor renowned for his mythological roles, especially Lord Krishna. |
| 1928 | Justice Amareshwari | A trailblazer in Indian judiciary, she was the first woman judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court (Undivided). |
| 1939 | Ketu Viswanatha Reddy | Eminent Telugu litterateur, scholar, and short-story writer who chronicled rural Rayalaseema life. |
| 1942 | Kota Srinivasa Rao | Legendary versatile Indian actor who appeared in over 700 films across Telugu and other languages. |
| 1949 | Sunil Gavaskar | Former Indian captain and legendary cricketer popularly known as the “Little Master”. |
📌 Other Notable Personalities: Akkiraju Vasudeva Rao (1926), an activist against the autocratic rule of the Nizam, American actress and singer Jessica Simpson (1980), and South Indian actresses Baby Shamili (1987) and Manjari Fadnis (1988) also celebrate their birthdays on July 10.
🕯️ Notable Death Anniversaries on July 10
- 1794 – Vijaya Rama Raju II Gajapati Raju: The heroic ruler of Vizianagaram who died fighting the British East India Company in the Battle of Padmanabha. His tomb is situated in Padmanabha.
- 1806 – George Stubbs: Renowned English painter famous for his remarkable paintings and anatomical studies of horses.
📢 National & International Days Observed on July 10
- Nikola Tesla Day: Observed globally by science enthusiasts to honor Tesla’s contributions to electrical engineering and wireless power transmission.
- National Fish Farmers’ Day: Celebrated annually by the Government of India to demonstrate solidarity with fish farmers and to honor the contribution of scientists Dr. K. H. Alikunhi and Dr. Hira Lal Chaudhury in successful induced breeding.
- National Kitten Day: An international awareness day dedicated to celebrating the joy of kittens while advocating for their rescue and shelter adoption.
💡Did You Know?
- The MRI Standard: Every time someone gets an MRI scan at a hospital, the strength of the scanner magnet is specified in units called “Tesla.” This unit directly honors Nikola Tesla’s work in magnetic fields!
- Before the 1857 Mutiny: Eleven years before India’s First War of Independence erupted in 1857, Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy shook the foundations of the British East India Company in Andhra’s Rayalaseema region in 1846.
- Gavaskar’s Historic Record: Sunil Gavaskar became the first batsman in the world to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket, setting a remarkable milestone in cricket history.
❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Who was Nikola Tesla?
Ans: Nikola Tesla was a pioneering scientist and inventor who made revolutionary contributions to electricity and magnetism.
Q2: When did the Battle of Padmanabha take place, and who was the ruler that died in it?
Ans: The Battle of Padmanabha took place on July 10, 1794. The ruler of Vizianagaram, Vijaya Ramaraja II Gajapati Raju, died fighting valiantly in this war.
Q3: Who is famously known as the “Little Master” in Indian cricket, and what is his date of birth?
Ans: Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar is known as the “Little Master.” His date of birth is July 10, 1949.
Q4: Which national day is observed in India every year on July 10?
Ans: India observes “National Fish Farmers’ Day” every year on July 10 to recognize the contributions of the aquaculture sector.
Q5: Which novel written by Salman Rushdie won the prestigious “Best of the Booker” award?
Ans: Salman Rushdie’s novel “Midnight’s Children” won the “Best of the Booker” award in 2008.
Q6: Which treasury was attacked by Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy?
Ans: He attacked the Koilkuntla treasury.
Q7: Which scientist’s name is used as the SI unit for Magnetic Flux Density?
Ans: The SI unit of magnetic flux density is named “Tesla,” in honor of the legendary inventor Nikola Tesla.