This Day in History: July 1

National Doctors’ Day

National Doctors’ Day is celebrated annually on July 1 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, a renowned Indian physician and politician who made significant contributions to the field of medicine. He was born on July 1, 1882, in Patna, Bihar.

Introduction of Postcards in India

Postcards were introduced in India on July 1, 1879. They were initially priced at half the rate of a letter and quickly gained popularity as a means of sending brief messages and greetings. They remained popular for nearly a century until the advent of telephones and email.

Also Read: This Day in History: June 30

International Joke Day

International Joke Day is celebrated annually on July 1 to promote laughter and humour. The day encourages people to share jokes, tell funny stories, and engage in playful banter to lighten the mood and bring joy to themselves and others.

GST Comes into Force

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented in India on July 1, 2017. It is a comprehensive indirect tax that subsumes various state and central taxes like excise duty, VAT, service tax, and central cess.

Also Read: This Day in History: June 29

Purushottam Das Tandon Passes Away

Purushottam Das Tandon, a prominent Indian freedom fighter and politician, passed away on July 1, 1962. He was a strong advocate for Hindi as a national language and as a member of the INC, he was Lok Sabha Speaker from 1950-62.

Balagangadhara Tilak Passes Away

Devarakonda Balagangadhara Tilak, a renowned Telugu poet and writer, passed away on July 1, 1966. He was known for his powerful and evocative poetry, which often explored themes of love, loss, and social issues.