On This Day: 22 January

22 January in Indian history

• 2024Ram Mandir is inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh after 500 years of dispute.India
• 1999Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons are burned alive by radical Hindus while sleeping in their car in Eastern India.India

22 January in world history

• 2012Croatia held a referendum in which it voted to become a member of the European Union.
• 1995Israeli–Palestinian conflict: Beit Lid suicide bombing: In central Israel, near Netanya, two Gazans blow themselves up at a military transit point, killing 19 Israeli soldiers.
• 1992Space Shuttle program: The space shuttle Discovery launches on STS-42 carrying Dr. Roberta Bondar, who becomes the first Canadian woman and the first neurologist in space.
• 1984During Super Bowl XVIII, Apple Computer introduced the Macintosh, the first successful personal computer to use a graphical user interface, with the television commercial "1984".
• 1973The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Roe v. Wade struck down laws restricting abortion during the first two trimesters of pregnancy.
• 1973A chartered Boeing 707 explodes in flames upon landing at Kano Airport, Nigeria, killing 176.
• 1970The Boeing 747, the world's first wide-body commercial airliner, entered service for Pan Am on the New York–London route.
• 1968Operation Igloo White, a US electronic surveillance system to stop communist infiltration into South Vietnam begins installation.
• 1967Between dozens and hundreds of anti-Somocista demonstrators are killed by the Nicaraguan National Guard in Managua.
• 1946In Iran, Qazi Muhammad declares the independent people's Republic of Mahabad at Chahar Cheragh Square in the Kurdish city of Mahabad; he becomes the new president and Haji Baba Sheikh becomes the prime minister.
• 1943World War II: The Battle of Buna–Gona on New Guinea ended with an Allied victory after two months of fighting in which the Japanese fought with a resolve and tenacity not previously encountered.
• 1941World War II: British and Commonwealth troops capture Tobruk from Italian forces during Operation Compass.
• 1924Ramsay MacDonald took office as the first prime minister of the United Kingdom from the Labour Party.
• 1915Over 600 people are killed in Guadalajara, Mexico, when a train plunges off the tracks into a deep canyon.
• 1906The SS Valencia was wrecked off the coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, in a location so treacherous it was known as the Graveyard of the Pacific.
• 565Eutychius of Constantinople was arrested after he refused Byzantine emperor Justinian I's order to adopt the tenets of the Aphthartodocetae, a sect of non-Chalcedonian Christians.

Born on 22 January

• 1934Vijay Anand, Indian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (died 2004)India
• 1916Harilal Upadhyay, Indian author, poet, and astrologist (died 1994)India
• 1916Bill Durnan, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (died 1972)
• 1913Carl F. H. Henry, American theologian and publisher (died 2003)
• 1897Dilipkumar Roy, a Bengali Indian musician, musicologist, novelist, poet and essayist. (died 1980)India
• 1849August Strindberg, Swedish novelist, poet, and playwright (died 1912)

Died on 22 January

• 2015Wendell H. Ford, American lieutenant and politician, 53rd Governor of Kentucky (born 1924)
• 1999Graham Staines, Australian-Indian missionary and translator (born 1941)India
• 1964Marc Blitzstein, American pianist and composer (born 1905)
• 1666Shah Jahan, Mughal emperor (born 1592)India

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 22 January in history?

2024: Ram Mandir is inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh after 500 years of dispute. 2012: Croatia held a referendum in which it voted to become a member of the European Union. 1999: Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons are burned alive by radical Hindus while sleeping in their car in Eastern India. 1995: Israeli–Palestinian conflict: Beit Lid suicide bombing: In central Israel, near Netanya, two Gazans blow themselves up at a military transit point, killing 19 Israeli soldiers.

What happened on 22 January in Indian history?

2024: Ram Mandir is inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh after 500 years of dispute. 1999: Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons are burned alive by radical Hindus while sleeping in their car in Eastern India.

Which famous people were born on 22 January?

Vijay Anand, Indian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (died 2004) (1934); Harilal Upadhyay, Indian author, poet, and astrologist (died 1994) (1916); Bill Durnan, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (died 1972) (1916); Carl F. H. Henry, American theologian and publisher (died 2003) (1913).

Which day is observed on 22 January?

Day of Unity of Ukraine (Ukraine); Grandfather's Day (Poland).