Last Updated: September 20, 2026
Today in History – September 20 marks a highly significant day in world and Indian history. From pivotal political turning points and scientific achievements to literary milestones and global observances, this date holds great historical and educational value.
This article covers:
- Major historical events on September 20
- Famous personalities born on September 20
- National and international observances
- Important current affairs and competitive exam facts
Table of Contents
🌟 Top Highlights of September 20
- Recapture of Delhi (1857): British forces recaptured Delhi during the Indian Sepoy Mutiny, ending formal Mughal rule.
- Mahatma Gandhi’s Fast (1932): Mahatma Gandhi began his historic “fast unto death” at Yerwada Jail against the Communal Award.
- Akkineni Nageswara Rao’s Birth (1923): Birth of legendary Indian actor and Dada Saheb Phalke Awardee Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR).
- Annie Besant’s Demise (1933): Passing of Dr. Annie Besant, Home Rule Movement leader and first female President of the INC.
🗓️ Important Historical Events on September 20
1857 – Recapture of Delhi (Indian Sepoy Mutiny)
During the First War of Indian Independence, East India Company forces completely recaptured the city of Delhi on September 20. The last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was captured, effectively bringing an end to the centuries-old Mughal Empire. This event cemented direct British authority over the Indian subcontinent.
1870 – Capture of Rome & Italian Unification
The Italian Royal Army, commanded by General Raffaele Cadorna, breached the walls of Rome, bringing an end to the Papal States’ temporal rule. This momentous event marked the final step in the Unification of Italy (Risorgimento) and established Rome as the capital city of the unified Kingdom of Italy.
1932 – Mahatma Gandhi’s Fast at Yerwada Jail
Mahatma Gandhi initiated an indefinite hunger strike at Yerwada Central Jail in Pune to protest British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald’s Communal Award, which proposed separate electorates for Depressed Classes. Gandhi sought to prevent political fragmentation within the Hindu society, eventually leading to the historic Poona Pact signed with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
1946 – First Cannes Film Festival Opens
The inaugural Cannes Film Festival formally opened in the resort town of Cannes, France. Having been delayed due to World War II, the festival grew to become the world’s most prestigious international film convention, serving as a landmark milestone in cinema history.
1970 – Soviet Luna 16 Lands on the Moon
The Soviet Union’s robotic probe Luna 16 successfully landed on the lunar surface at Mare Fecunditatis. It became the first automated, unmanned spacecraft to extract soil samples from the Moon and safely return them to Earth, marking a monumental technological triumph during the Space Race.
Other Major Events
- 1378: Beginning of the Great Western Schism following the death of Pope Gregory XI, splitting Western Catholicism.
- 1519: Ferdinand Magellan set sail from Spain with five ships on the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe.
- 1984: A suicide car bombing targeted the U.S. embassy annex in Beirut, Lebanon, resulting in 24 casualties.
- 2001: U.S. President George W. Bush addressed a joint session of Congress and declared the official “War on Terror” following the 9/11 attacks.
🎂 Famous Birthdays on September 20
| Year | Personality | Domain / Notable Achievement |
| 1914 | A.S. Rao (Ayyagari Sambasiva Rao) | Eminent scientist and founder of Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad. |
| 1923 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR) | Legendary Indian film actor, producer, Dada Saheb Phalke Awardee, and Padma Vibhushan recipient. |
| 1948 | Mahesh Bhatt | Renowned Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer in Hindi cinema. |
🕯️ Notable Death Anniversaries on September 20
- 1933 – Dr. Annie Besant: British-born Theosophist, Indian independence campaigner, founder of the Home Rule League, and first female President of the Indian National Congress (1917).
- 1967 – Buchi Babu (Sivaraju Venkata Subba Rao): Legendary Telugu novelist, playwright, and essayist, famous for his landmark psychological novel Chivaraku Migiledi.
📢 National & International Days Observed on September 20
- Railway Protection Force (RPF) Raising Day – India: On September 20, 1985, the Railway Protection Force Act was amended by the Indian Parliament, officially designating RPF as an Armed Force of the Union. To safeguard railway property, passenger areas, and protect train commuters across India.
- International Day of University Sport: Officially proclaimed by UNESCO in partnership with the International University Sports Federation (FISU). To highlight the role of sports in higher education institutions and promote active, healthy lifestyles among students worldwide.
💡Did You Know?
- Indigenous Electronics Pioneer: Dr. A.S. Rao played an instrumental role in building India’s self-reliance in nuclear instrumentation by founding ECIL in Hyderabad under the Department of Atomic Energy.
- First Global Voyage: The expedition launched by Ferdinand Magellan on September 20, 1519, provided the first empirical proof that the Earth could be circumnavigated by sea.
- First Female INC President: Dr. Annie Besant was elected President of the Indian National Congress at its Calcutta session in 1917, making her the first woman to hold the position.
❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why did Mahatma Gandhi begin a fast unto death on September 20, 1932?
Ans: Gandhi launched his fast at Yerwada Jail to oppose the Communal Award’s provision of separate electorates for the Depressed Classes, advocating for social unity within the electorate.
Q2: Who was the first female President of the Indian National Congress?
Ans: Dr. Annie Besant, who presided over the Calcutta session in 1917.
Q3: Who was the founder of Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL)?
Ans: Eminent scientist Ayyagari Sambasiva Rao (A.S. Rao) founded ECIL in 1967.
Q4: Which national security force celebrates its Raising Day in India on September 20?
Ans: The Railway Protection Force (RPF).
Q5: What was the historic achievement of the Soviet Luna 16 space probe?
Ans: It was the first unmanned robotic mission to successfully extract soil samples from the Moon and return them to Earth on September 24, 1970.
Q6: Who authored the famous Telugu psychological novel Chivaraku Migiledi?
Ans: Buchi Babu (pen name of Sivaraju Venkata Subba Rao).
Q7: Which UNESCO-recognized observance occurs annually on September 20?
Ans: International Day of University Sport.
Q8: In which year was the first Cannes Film Festival held?
Ans: On September 20, 1946, in Cannes, France.