Historical Events tagged with "madras"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Politics & Government

Rajiv Gandhi Assassinated by Suicide Bomber

May 21st, 1991 33 years ago

Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a female suicide bomber while campaigning near Madras. The attacker, a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), detonated an explosive device, killing Gandhi and several others. The assassination was politically motivated, targeting Gandhi for his stance on Tamil rights and his previous support of the Indian Peacekeeping Force in Sri Lanka.

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Politics & Government

Founding of Madras by British East India Company

August 22nd, 1639 385 years ago

The British East India Company established Madras after acquiring land from local Nayak rulers. The chosen site was a small strip of land between the ocean and an inland river, which offered strategic advantages. This new settlement would become a significant trading hub and a center for British operations in southern India, reflecting the growing influence of the Company in the region. The deal was negotiated by Francis Day and was crucial for subsequent British expansion.

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