Last Updated: September 14, 2026
Today in History – September 14 holds a paramount position in both Indian and world history. On this landmark day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi written in the Devanagari script as the official language of the Republic of India. This comprehensive guide covers all verified historical events, notable births, death anniversaries, and observances relevant for competitive examinations like UPSC, APPSC, TSPSC, SSC, and Banking.
This article covers:
- Major historical events on September 14
- Famous personalities born on September 14
- National and international observances
- Important current affairs and competitive exam facts
Table of Contents
🌟 Top Highlights of September 14
- Adoption of Hindi as Official Language (1949): The Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union.
- Birth of Gadicharla Harisarvottama Rao (1883): Prominent freedom fighter and the first political prisoner of Andhra region.
- Theodore Roosevelt Became U.S. President (1901): Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States following the assassination of William McKinley.
- Foundation of OPEC (1960): The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded at the Baghdad Conference.
🗓️ Important Historical Events on September 14
1812 – Napoleon’s Grand Armée Enters Moscow
French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte entered Moscow with his troops during the French invasion of Russia. However, the Russian forces adopted a “scorched-earth” policy, abandoning and burning the city, leaving French forces without supplies and leading to a catastrophic retreat.
1901 – Theodore Roosevelt Assumes U.S. Presidency
Following the death of President William McKinley due to gunshot wounds, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as the 26th U.S. President at age 42. He remains the youngest person ever to become U.S. President, known for antitrust regulations and the construction of the Panama Canal.
1949 – Hindi Adopted as Official Language of India
The Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi written in Devanagari script as the Official Language of the Union under Article 343. To commemorate this decision, September 14 is celebrated across India every year as “Hindi Diwas”.
1959 – Luna 2 Becomes First Man-Made Object to Reach the Moon
The Soviet Union’s space probe Luna 2 successfully impacted the lunar surface. It marked a major space race victory as the first human-made object to touch another celestial body.
1960 – Formation of OPEC in Baghdad
Founding members Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela concluded the Baghdad Conference to create the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to unify petroleum policies and stabilize international market prices.
Other Major Events
- 1752: Great Britain and the British Empire adopted the Gregorian calendar, jumping directly from September 2 to September 14.
- 1917: The Russian Provisional Government officially proclaimed the Russian Empire to be the Russian Republic.
- 2003: Swedish voters rejected joining the Eurozone in a national referendum.
- 2015: The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) made the first-ever direct observation of gravitational waves.
🎂 Famous Birthdays on September 14
| Year | Personality | Domain / Notable Achievement |
| 1849 | Ivan Pavlov | Nobel Prize-winning physiologist for his research on digestion. |
| 1883 | Gadicharla Harisarvottama Rao | Freedom fighter, journalist, and first political prisoner among Andhras. Fondly called “Andhra Tilak”. |
| 1923 | Ram Jethmalani | Renowned Indian criminal lawyer and former Union Law Minister. |
| 1949 | Kodavathiganti Rohiniprasad | Author, musician, nuclear scientist retd. (BARC), and science communicator. |
| 1958 | Garikapati Narasimha Rao | Scholar, Avadhani, spiritual orator, and Padma Shri awardee. |
🕯️ Notable Death Anniversaries on September 14
- 1967 – Burgula Ramakrishna Rao: First elected Chief Minister of the former Hyderabad State and freedom fighter. Played a pivotal role in integrating democratic governance in Hyderabad State and later served as Governor of Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.
- 1970 – H.R. Padmanabha Sastri: Early theater artist and film music director in Telugu cinema. Composed music for pioneering classical Telugu films.
- 1982 – Grace Kelly: Academy Award-winning American actress and Princess of Monaco.
- 1984 – Janet Gaynor: First winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress.
📢 National & International Days Observed on September 14
- Hindi Diwas (India): Origin: Observed annually on September 14 to commemorate the adoption of Hindi as the Official Language of the Union of India by the Constituent Assembly in 1949. To promote the use and development of the Hindi language in official administration.
💡Did You Know?
- The 11 Missing Days of 1752: When Britain switched from the old Julian Calendar to the Gregorian calendar in September 1752, Wednesday, September 2 was followed immediately by Thursday, September 14, skipping 11 calendar days.
- Andhra’s First Political Prisoner: Gadicharla Harisarvottama Rao was arrested in 1908 for writing editorials supporting Bipin Chandra Pal in the newspaper Swarajya, making him the first political prisoner in Andhra region.
- First Gravitational Wave Detection: On September 14, 2015, LIGO detectors observed gravitational waves emitted by two merging black holes, confirming Albert Einstein’s 1916 general theory of relativity.
❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why is Hindi Diwas celebrated on September 14 in India?
Ans: Hindi Diwas is celebrated on September 14 because on this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union under Article 343.
Q2: Which constitutional provisions cover official languages in India?
Ans: Part XVII of the Constitution of India (Articles 343 to 351) deals with Official Languages. Article 351 specifically outlines directives for the development of the Hindi language.
Q3: Who was the first elected Chief Minister of Hyderabad State?
Ans: Dr. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao was the first elected Chief Minister of Hyderabad State, serving from 1952 to 1956.
Q4: What was the historical achievement of Luna 2?
Ans: Launched by the Soviet Union, Luna 2 became the first man-made spacecraft to reach the Moon when it impacted the lunar surface on September 14, 1959.
Q5: When and where was OPEC founded?
Ans: OPEC was founded on September 14, 1960, at the Baghdad Conference in Iraq by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.
Q6: When were gravitational waves directly detected for the first time?
Ans: Gravitational waves were directly detected for the first time on September 14, 2015, by the LIGO scientific collaboration.
