On This Day: 12 March

12 March in Indian history

• 1993Several bombs explode in Mumbai, India, killing about 300 people and injuring hundreds more.India
• 1930Mahatma Gandhi began the Salt March, a 24-day nonviolent walk to defy the British salt tax in colonial India.India

12 March in world history

• 2014A gas leak caused an explosion in East Harlem, New York City, destroying two apartment buildings and causing eight deaths.
• 2003Zoran Đinđić, Prime Minister of Serbia, is assassinated in Belgrade.
• 1999Former Warsaw Pact members the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland join NATO.
• 1971The Turkish Armed Forces executed a "coup by memorandum", forcing the resignation of Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel.
• 1947Cold War: U.S. president Harry S. Truman proclaimed the Truman Doctrine to help stem the spread of communism.
• 1942The Battle of Java ends with the surrender of the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command to the Empire of Japan in Bandung, West Java, Dutch East Indies.
• 1940Winter War: Finland signs the Moscow Peace Treaty with the Soviet Union, ceding almost all of Finnish Karelia.
• 1940The most destructive train accident in Finnish history kills 39 and injures 69 people in Turenki, Janakkala.
• 1933Great Depression: Franklin D. Roosevelt addresses the nation for the first time as President of the United States. This is also the first of his "fireside chats".
• 1918Moscow becomes the capital of Russia again after Saint Petersburg held this status for most of the period since 1713.
• 1881Andrew Watson captained the Scotland national football team against England, becoming the world's first black international footballer.
• 1862Paddle steamer Brother Jonathan docks in Fort Victoria (now Victoria, British Columbia), carrying smallpox-infected passengers from San Francisco. The ensuing epidemic killed an estimated two-thirds of First Nations in the province of British Columbia.
• 1811Peninsular War: A day after a successful rearguard action, French Marshal Michel Ney once again successfully delays the pursuing Anglo-Portuguese force at the Battle of Redinha.
• 1622Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier, founders of the Jesuits, were canonized by Pope Gregory XV.
• 1537Croatian–Ottoman wars: After the execution of feudal lord Petar Kružić, Croatian forces at Klis surrendered to the Ottoman forces in exchange for their safe passage to northern locations.
• 538The Gothic king Vitiges ended his year-long siege of Rome, which was defended by the Byzantine general Belisarius

Born on 12 March

• 1984Shreya Ghoshal, Indian singerIndia
• 1954Anish Kapoor, Indian-English sculptorIndia
• 1932Andrew Young, American pastor, civil rights movement activist, politician, and 14th United States Ambassador to the United Nations
• 1913Yashwantrao Chavan, Indian politician, 5th Deputy Prime Minister of India (died 1984)India
• 1868Mary Karadja, Swedish writer, spiritualist and princess (died 1943)
• 1806Jane Pierce, American wife of Franklin Pierce, 15th First Lady of the United States (died 1863)

Died on 12 March

• 2013Ganesh Pyne, Indian painter and illustrator (born 1937)India
• 2003Lynne Thigpen, American actress and singer (born 1948)
• 2002Hartini, former wife of Sukarno (born 1924)
• 2002Jean-Paul Riopelle, Canadian painter and sculptor (born 1923)

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 12 March in history?

2014: A gas leak caused an explosion in East Harlem, New York City, destroying two apartment buildings and causing eight deaths. 2003: Zoran Đinđić, Prime Minister of Serbia, is assassinated in Belgrade. 1999: Former Warsaw Pact members the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland join NATO. 1993: Several bombs explode in Mumbai, India, killing about 300 people and injuring hundreds more.

What happened on 12 March in Indian history?

1993: Several bombs explode in Mumbai, India, killing about 300 people and injuring hundreds more. 1930: Mahatma Gandhi began the Salt March, a 24-day nonviolent walk to defy the British salt tax in colonial India.

Which famous people were born on 12 March?

Shreya Ghoshal, Indian singer (1984); Anish Kapoor, Indian-English sculptor (1954); Andrew Young, American pastor, civil rights movement activist, politician, and 14th United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1932); Yashwantrao Chavan, Indian politician, 5th Deputy Prime Minister of India (died 1984) (1913).

Which day is observed on 12 March?

Arbor Day (China); Arbor Day (Taiwan); Aztec New Year; National Day (Mauritius); World Day Against Cyber Censorship.