History of today: The story of the country’s first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which got 2 Mahavir and 12 Vir Chakras in the 1971 war

The thing is during the second world war. Britain’s Royal Navy designed an aircraft carrier named HMS Hercules. Preparations were going on for it to be included in the army. In the meantime the war was over. After 12 years i.e. in 1957, this HMS Hercules was sold by the Royal Navy to India. The ship joined the Indian Navy on 4 March 1961.

It was the first aircraft carrier to be inducted into the Indian Navy. We all know this Majestic class vessel built at Vickers-Armstrong Shipyard by the name of INS Vikrant. Vikrant proved to be a big problem for the Pakistan Navy in the Indo-Pak war of 1965 and 1971.

In the 1965 war, the Pakistani army claimed to have drowned Vikrant while he was standing at the naval shipyard in Mumbai for some modifications. Officers associated with Vikrant received two Maha Vir Chakras and 12 Vir Chakras in the 1971 war. From this point its role in the 1971 war can be gauged. Vikrant was retired on 31 January 1997.

Chicago became the city of America
Chicago is the third most populous city in the US after New York and Los Angeles. It got city status on this day in 1837. In August 1833, the population of Chicago was just around 200. Within seven years, it reached beyond 4 thousand. In 1971, a huge fire destroyed much of the city of Chicago. After this the construction of the new city began. Wooden buildings were replaced by steel and stone buildings in the new Chicago. The multi-storey building, built here in 1885, is considered to be the first multi-storey building in the world.

Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years, became prime minister
On this day in 1980, Robert Mugabe won a massive election and became the first black prime minister of Zimbabwe. Mugabe returned to the country after serving ten years of exile just six weeks before the election. Even after this, his party won 57 of the 80 seats reserved for blacks in the election. These were the first elections held in Zimbabwe after the end of white minority rule. In 1987, Mugabe became the country’s second president. After this, he remained in this post till 2017. He passed away on 6 September 2019.

Other events recorded on the date of March 4 in the history of the country and the world-
2016: Former Speaker of Lok Sabha PA Sangma passed away due to heart attack. Sangma was the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1996 to 1998. He was also the Chief Minister of Meghalaya from 1988 to 1990.

2012: Vladimir Putin was elected President of Russia for the third time after serving as prime minister for four years. He again assumed office on 7 May 2012.

2011: Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Arjun Singh passed away. He was the Minister of Human Resource Development in the Central Government from 2004 to 2009. He also served as the Governor of Punjab.

1989: Time and Warner Communication have announced their merger plan.

1980: Tennis star Rohan Bopanna was born. Bopanna is one of the best doubles players. In 2017, he won the French Open mixed doubles title with Canada’s Gabriella Dubrovsky.

1975: Charlie Chaplin was knighted at the age of 85. Chaplin acted in silent films like ‘The Kid’ and ‘Great Dictator’.

1961: India’s first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant started serving for the army. INS Vikrant played an important role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

1951: The first Asian Games were held in New Delhi. 489 players from 11 countries of Asia participated in these games. This event, which lasted for 7 days, ended on March 11.

1939: Lala Hardayal, one of the founders of the Ghadar Party, passed away.

1933: Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn in as the 32nd President of the United States.

1921: Famous novelist Phanishwar Nath Renu was born in Forbesganj, Bihar. His famous works include Maila Aanchal, Procession, Kitne Chauraha, Paltu Babu Road, Achhe Aadmi, Mare Maare Gulfam, Lal Paan Ki Begum, Panchlite.

1879: Bethune College was established in Calcutta to provide higher education to girls. It was the first women’s college outside the UK.