On This Day: 20 September

20 September in Indian history

• 1965Following the Battle of Burki, the Indian Army captures Dograi in during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.India

20 September in world history

• 2019Roughly four million people, mostly students, demonstrate across the world to address climate change. Sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg from Sweden leads the demonstration in New York City.
• 2017Hurricane Maria makes landfall in Puerto Rico as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, resulting in 2,975 deaths, US$90 billion in damage, and a major humanitarian crisis.
• 2011The United States military ended its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, consequently allowing gay and lesbian people to serve openly.
• 2008An explosive-laden truck detonated in front of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 54 people and injuring 266 others.
• 1989USAir Flight 5050 crashes into Bowery Bay during a rejected takeoff from LaGuardia Airport, killing two people.
• 1988British prime minister Margaret Thatcher gave a landmark speech at the Belfry of Bruges, Belgium, against federalism in the European Economic Community.
• 1986Aeroflot Flight 36075 is hijacked at Ufa International Airport.
• 1973Singer Jim Croce, songwriter and musician Maury Muehleisen and four others die when their light aircraft crashes shortly after takeoff from Natchitoches Regional Airport in Louisiana.
• 1971Hurricane Irene moved into the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic, making it the first actively tracked tropical cyclone to do so.
• 1954The Moomin comics, created by Tove Jansson and Lars Jansson, is published internationally in the London newspaper The Evening News.
• 1944Second World War: Allied forces captured San Marino from the German Army.
• 1941The Holocaust in Lithuania: Lithuanian Nazis and local police begin a mass execution of 403 Jews in Nemenčinė.
• 1920Irish War of Independence: British police known as "Black and Tans" burn the town of Balbriggan and kill two local men in revenge for an IRA assassination.
• 1911The White Star Line's RMS Olympic collides with the British warship HMS Hawke.
• 1870The Bersaglieri entered Rome through the Porta Pia, ending the temporal power of the Pope and completing the unification of Italy.
• 1643First English Civil War: The First Battle of Newbury was fought in Berkshire; Parliamentarian forces were allowed to pass Royalist troops to retreat the next morning.
• 1066Harald III of Norway and his English ally Tostig Godwinson defeated the northern earls Edwin and Morcar at the Battle of Fulford near York.

Born on 20 September

• 1949Mahesh Bhatt, Indian director, producer, and screenwriterIndia
• 1946Markandey Katju, Indian lawyer and judgeIndia
• 1935Jim Taylor, American football player and sportscaster (died 2018)
• 1934Rajinder Puri, Indian cartoonist, journalist, and activist (died 2015)India
• 1924Hartini, wife of President Sukarno of Indonesia (died 2002)
• 1920Jay Ward, American animator, producer, and screenwriter, founded Jay Ward Productions (died 1989)

Died on 20 September

• 2015Jagmohan Dalmiya, Indian businessman (born 1940)India
• 2012Richard H. Cracroft, American author and academic (born 1936)
• 2004Brian Clough, English footballer and manager (born 1935)
• 1999Robert Lebel, Canadian businessman (born 1905)

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 20 September in history?

2019: Roughly four million people, mostly students, demonstrate across the world to address climate change. Sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg from Sweden leads the demonstration in New York City. 2017: Hurricane Maria makes landfall in Puerto Rico as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, resulting in 2,975 deaths, US$90 billion in damage, and a major humanitarian crisis. 2011: The United States military ended its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, consequently allowing gay and lesbian people to serve openly. 2008: An explosive-laden truck detonated in front of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 54 people and injuring 266 others.

What happened on 20 September in Indian history?

1965: Following the Battle of Burki, the Indian Army captures Dograi in during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Which famous people were born on 20 September?

Mahesh Bhatt, Indian director, producer, and screenwriter (1949); Markandey Katju, Indian lawyer and judge (1946); Jim Taylor, American football player and sportscaster (died 2018) (1935); Rajinder Puri, Indian cartoonist, journalist, and activist (died 2015) (1934).

Which day is observed on 20 September?

Constitution Day (Nepal); Independence Day of South Ossetia (not fully recognized); National Youth Day (Thailand); Oil Workers' Day (Azerbaijan); Universal Children's Day (Germany).