This Day in History: March 4

National Security Day of India

March 4th marks National Security Day, an annual tribute to the selfless commitment of our security forces in protecting citizens from myriad threats. Instituted in 1972 and overseen by the National Safety Council, this day commemorates the sacrifices and tireless efforts of armed forces, police personnel, and commandos. It also serves as a platform to raise awareness about occupational safety and health, with activities and campaigns aimed at instilling a culture of safety in workplaces and daily life. From emergency drills to safety workshops, the day emphasizes the importance of prioritizing security and well-being across the nation.

Death of Ramreddy Venkat Reddy

Former minister and Congress leader Ram Reddy Venkat Reddy died of illness in 2016. He was born on 22 May 1944 in Pathalingala village of Kamepalli mandal of Khammam district. Elected MLA five times, he served as minister under YS Rajasekhara Reddy and Kiran Kumar Reddy. Till 2016, Ramreddy Venkata Reddy was the Chairman of Telangana PAC. In 1996, he was first elected as Sujathanagar MLA through by-election. He won as an MLA from there in 1999 and 2004. After that, he contested from the Paleru constituency as part of the reorganization of constituencies. In 2009 and 2014, he won as MLA from Paleru Assembly Constituency.

Also read: This Day in History: March 3

Death of Ex-Speaker of Lok Sabha PA Sangma

Former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma died of illness in 2016. His full name is Purno Ajithok Sangma. Born in 1947 in Chapathi village in the Western Garo Hills region of Meghalaya he served as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya from 1988 to 1990. He later served as Speaker of Lok Sabha from 1996 to 1998. It is noteworthy that Sangma, who was elected as a Member of Parliament from the Tura ST constituency in 1977, is still an MP. Although he contested against Pranab Mukherjee in the presidential election and lost, his political struggle as a tribal leader will stand in history. In his long political career, he was known as an unopposed leader and worked for the upliftment of tribals.

India’s National Safety Week begins

National Safety Week in India, observed from March 4 to March 10 every year, aims to raise awareness among workers about safety, health, and environmental hazards. It was initiated following discussions among state labour ministers in 1962, with the first observance taking place in 1966. The week serves as a reminder of the importance of workplace safety measures.

Also read: This Day in History: March 2

Some more important events on March 4

• Telugu film director Chandra Sekhar Yeleti was born in 1973 in Tuni, Kakinada district. He entered Tollywood with the movie ‘Aithe’ and directed movies like ‘Anukokunda Oka Roju’ and ‘Prayanam’ movies. He directed the first 10 episodes of the Telugu sitcom ‘Amrutham’.

• Famous film star and South Indian actress Kamalinee Mukherjee was born in 1984 in Calcutta. She acted in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada films. She won the Nandi Award for Best Actress for her performance in ‘Anand’.

• Congress leader Kolli Venkata Raghunatha Reddy died in March 2002. He was born on September 4, 1924 in Nellore. He served as a Union Minister and as the Governor of Tripura, West Bengal and Odisha.

• Indian actress and model Shraddha Das was born in 1987 in Mumbai. She acts in Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Bengali and Kannada films. In 2008, she was introduced to the Telugu audience for the first time with the film ‘Siddu from Srikakulam’.