This Day in History: February 1

Birthday of Brahmanandam (1956)

Brahmanandam, the renowned Telugu film comedian, was born on February 1, 1956, in Chaganti Vari Palem village of Guntur district. With unique expressions and humorous dialogues, he has become a beloved figure in Tollywood, having acted in over 1000 films over a career spanning three and a half decades.

Kalpana Chawla’s Tragic Death (2003)

Kalpana Chawla, the first woman astronaut of Indian origin, lost her life on February 1, 2003, when the space shuttle Columbia she was traveling in exploded. The incident remains one of the most tragic events in space history.

Verdict on Bhopal Gas Tragedy (February 1)

The verdict on the Bhopal gas tragedy, India’s worst industrial disaster caused by a methyl isocyanate (MIC) leak, declared Warren Anderson (CEO) a fugitive on February 1, 8 years after the incident.

Indian Coast Guard Day

The Indian Coast Guard Force was formally established on February 1, 1977, to prevent smuggling activities along the coasts. It was later officially established on August 18, 1978, through the Coast Guard Act of 1978.

Birthday of Ajay Jadeja (1971)

Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja, born on February 1, 1971, in Jamnagar, Gujarat, represented the Indian team from 1992 to 2000, playing 15 Test matches and 196 ODI matches. He is currently a team mentor with the Afghanistan cricket team.

Innsbruck Winter Olympics (1964)

On February 1, 1964, twin sisters Christine Goetschel and Marielle Goitschel excelled in the women’s alpine skiing competition in slalom at the Innsbruck Winter Olympics, winning gold and silver medals respectively.

Birthday of Sudhakar (1956)

Renowned comedian Sudhakar, born on February 1, 1956, has acted in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada languages, winning many fans with his remarkable performances.

Jackie Shroff’s Birthday (1957)

Popular Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff, born on February 1, 1957, continued as a star actor for four decades, acting in more than 220 films and eleven languages.

Australian Open Success (2009)

On February 1, 2009, Indian tennis stars Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza won the mixed doubles title for the first time in the Australian Open.

Don Bradman’s Record (1932)

In 1932, Australian cricket legend Don Bradman scored 299 not out in a Test match against South Australia.