Historical Events on March 31.

1. 1889, 31st March: The Eiffel Tower was inaugurated. It took two years, two months, and two days to build.

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3. 1901, 31st March: The first Mercedes car was built. The car was named after the daughter of the Austrian political official for whom it was built.

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5. 1959, 31st March: The 14th Dalai Lama, crossed the border into India and is granted political asylum. 

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7. 1964, 31st March: Mumbai’s electric trams shut down.

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9. 1966, 31st March: Russia launched Luna-10, the first artificial satellite of the moon.

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11. 2001, 31st March: Sachin Tendulkar completed 10,000 runs in ODIs.

Famous Birthdays & Birth Anniversaries on March 31.

1. 1519: Henry II, the King of France.

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3. 1596: René Descartes, a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist.

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5. 1843: Annasaheb Kirloskar, a Marathi playwright.

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7. 1865: Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi, the first Indian female doctor.

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9. 1871: Gangadharrao Deshpande, an Indian Independence activist.

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11. 1882: N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, a Member of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution,

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13. 1934: Kamala Surayya, an Indian poet.

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15. 1938: Sheila Dikshit, an Indian politician, and stateswoman.

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17. 1945: Meira Kumar, an Indian politician, and former diplomat.

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19. 1963: Sujatha Mohan, an Indian playback singer.

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21. 1972: Evan Williams, an American technology entrepreneur. He is co-founder of Twitter and founder of Blogger and Medium.

Death Anniversaries of famous people on March 31.

1. 1631: John Donne, an English poet.

2. 1727: Sir Isaac Newton, an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, theologian, and author.

3. 1972: Meena Kumari, an Indian film actress, and poet.

4. 1978: Charles Best, an American-Canadian medical scientist and one of the co-discoverers of insulin.

5. 2002: Moturu Udayam, an Indian politician and women’s rights activist.

6. 31-March-1663

7. Mir Jumla, Mughal Commander, passed away in Bihar.

31-March-1843

Balwant Pandurang Kirloskar (Annasaheb), first musical playwright of Marathi, was born.

31-March-1867

Prarthana Samaj was established by Ranade, Bhandarkar and others at Mumbai in 1864.

31-March-1871

Gangadhar Balkrishna Deshpande, freedom fighter and loyal Congress leader 'Lion of Karnataka', was born.

31-March-1904

British slaughter hundreds of Tibetans.

31-March-1913

Foundation stone of 'Gateway of India' was laid by Sir George Sydneham Clerk.

31-March-1926

Dattatray Balwant Parasnis, who made research in History, passed away.

31-March-1930

Shyamji Krishna Varma, freedom fighter, nationalist and patriot, passed away in Geneva.

31-March-1935

374 infants wed at a mass ceremony.

31-March-1942

During the 2nd World War, Japan was heavily successful in Burma and Andaman which posted a danger to the Indian Security.

31-March-1959

Dalai Lama fled China & was granted political asylum in India.

31-March-1964

Tram-way service ended in Mumbai (Bombay). This last electric tram left Bori Bunder (CST) for Dadar at 10 p.m., crowds lined the route all the way at that late hour to bid farewell to the common man's transport medium.

31-March-1972

Meena Kumari, famous film actress, passed away.

31-March-1977

N. K. Mukarji was appointed as the Cabinet Secretary of India. He held this office till 31-03-1980.

31-March-1980

Nirmal Mukherjee, the last Indian Civil Service Officer, retired from service as Cabinet Secretary.

31-March-1986

Bombay Telephone Nigam renamed as Mahanagar Telephone Nigam.

31-March-1990

Bharat Ratna, India's highest award, was given to Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1841-1956) (Posthumous).

31-March-1992

Delhi beat Tamil Nadu in 1st innings to win cricket Ranji Trophy.

31-March-1992

Madhav Sinh Solanki, External Affairs minister, resigns on Bofors letter issue.

31-March-1992

The PM to look after foreign affairs.

31-March-1992

The new five-year Export-Import policy relaxes restrictions.

31-March-1993

J.N. Dixit, Foreign Secretary, visits Myanmar and signs agreements on trade, control of drug trafficking and separatist movements along the borders.

31-March-1993

Kidnapped cardiac surgeon Dr. Abdul Ahad Guroo killed in Srinagar.

31-March-1993

Major changes in exim policy announced.

31-March-1994

Argentina President Carlos Menem visits India.

31-March-1994

U.R. Rao, retiring ISRO Chairman, announces agreement with Russia for supplying 7 cryogenic engines.

31-March-1994

The Supreme Court orders closure of 11 industrial units around Taj Mahal.

31-March-1995

Bombay beat Punjab in 1st innings to win cricket Ranji Trophy.

31-March-1996

Karnataka defeat Tamil Nadu in first innings to win Ranji Trophy.

31-March-1997

Forex reserves touch a record $ 22.36 billions.

31-March-1997

Lakhubhai Pathak, prominent NRI businessman who had accused Narasimha Rao of cheating $ 100,000, died in London.

31-March-1997

The Bombay Stock Exchange crashes by 300 points.

31-March-1998

T. N. Mishra became the director of Central Bureau of Investigation (till 04/01/99).

31-March-1999

The PIO card, conferring privileges on persons of Indian origin settled abroad, is formally launched.