On This Day: 6 January

6 January in Indian history

• 1993Indian Border Security Force units kill 55 Kashmiri civilians in Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, in revenge after militants ambushed a BSF patrol.India
• 1989Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh are sentenced to death for conspiracy in the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi; the two men are executed the same day.India
• 1929Mother Teresa arrives by sea in Calcutta, India, to begin her work among India's poorest and sick people.India

6 January in world history

• 2021Supporters of then-outgoing U.S. president Donald Trump attack the United States Capitol to disrupt certification of the 2020 presidential election, resulting in five deaths and evacuation of the U.S. Congress.
• 2017Five people are killed and six others injured in a mass shooting at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in Broward County, Florida.
• 1994Two-time American Olympic figure-skating medalist Nancy Kerrigan was hit on the leg with a police baton by an assailant hired by the ex-husband of her rival Tonya Harding.
• 1972A brawl broke out between players, fans, and police officers during an ice hockey game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the St. Louis Blues in Philadelphia.
• 1967Vietnam War: United States Marine Corps and ARVN troops launch "Operation Deckhouse Five" in the Mekong River delta.
• 1941During his State of the Union address, U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt presented his Four Freedoms (composite poster depicted) as fundamental freedoms that all people ought to enjoy.
• 1912German geophysicist Alfred Wegener first presents his theory of continental drift.
• 1900Second Boer War: Having already besieged the fortress at Ladysmith, Boer forces attack it, but are driven back by British defenders.
• 1839The worst storm to impact Ireland in 300 years damaged or destroyed more than 20 per cent of houses in Dublin with 100-knot (190 km/h) winds.
• 1725J. S. Bach led the first performance of Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen, a chorale cantata for Epiphany.
• 1721The Committee of Inquiry on the South Sea Bubble publishes its findings, revealing details of fraud among company directors and corrupt politicians.
• 1661English Restoration: The Fifth Monarchists unsuccessfully attempt to seize control of London, England. The revolt is suppressed after a few days.
• 1641Arauco War: The first Parliament of Quillín is celebrated, putting a temporary hold on hostilities between Mapuches and Spanish in Chile.
• 1536The oldest European school of higher learning in the Americas, the Colegio de Santa Cruz, was founded in Tlatelolco, Mexico City.
• 1066Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon monarch before the Norman Conquest, was crowned King of England.

Born on 6 January

• 1978Agnieszka Stelmaszyk, Polish writer
• 1967A. R. Rahman, Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician, and philanthropistIndia
• 1945Jayanthi (actress), Indian film actress (died 2021)India
• 1938Rajnikumar Pandya, Indian writer, journalist (died 2025)India
• 1935Ian Meckiff, Australian cricketer
• 1861Victor Horta, Belgian architect, designed Hôtel van Eetvelde (died 1947)

Died on 6 January

• 2017Om Puri, Indian actor (born 1950)India
• 2016Silvana Pampanini, Italian model, actress, and director, Miss Italy 1946 (born 1925)
• 1885Bharatendu Harishchandra, Indian author, poet, and playwright (born 1850)India
• 1840Frances Burney, English author and playwright (born 1752)

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 6 January in history?

2021: Supporters of then-outgoing U.S. president Donald Trump attack the United States Capitol to disrupt certification of the 2020 presidential election, resulting in five deaths and evacuation of the U.S. Congress. 2017: Five people are killed and six others injured in a mass shooting at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in Broward County, Florida. 1994: Two-time American Olympic figure-skating medalist Nancy Kerrigan was hit on the leg with a police baton by an assailant hired by the ex-husband of her rival Tonya Harding. 1993: Indian Border Security Force units kill 55 Kashmiri civilians in Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, in revenge after militants ambushed a BSF patrol.

What happened on 6 January in Indian history?

1993: Indian Border Security Force units kill 55 Kashmiri civilians in Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, in revenge after militants ambushed a BSF patrol. 1989: Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh are sentenced to death for conspiracy in the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi; the two men are executed the same day. 1929: Mother Teresa arrives by sea in Calcutta, India, to begin her work among India's poorest and sick people.

Which famous people were born on 6 January?

Agnieszka Stelmaszyk, Polish writer (1978); A. R. Rahman, Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician, and philanthropist (1967); Jayanthi (actress), Indian film actress (died 2021) (1945); Rajnikumar Pandya, Indian writer, journalist (died 2025) (1938).

Which day is observed on 6 January?

Christmas: Christmas (Armenian Apostolic Church); Christmas: Christmas Eve (Russia); Christmas: Christmas Eve (Ukraine); Epiphany or Three Kings' Day (Western Christianity) or Theophany (Eastern Christianity), and its related observances: Little Christmas (Irel; Epiphany or Three Kings' Day (Western Christianity) or Theophany (Eastern Christianity), and its related observances: Þrettándinn (Iceland).