Every year, November 2 marks an extraordinary cross-section of world history — a day where revolutions began, nations were born, and global icons came into being. From landmark political declarations to cultural turning points, this date stands out for shaping the world in many ways.
On November 2, 1772, The Morning Post newspaper was published for the first time in Britain — a key moment in journalism that influenced modern-day reporting. Just over a century later, in 1880, James Garfield was elected as the 20th President of the United States, reshaping American political history.
In India, November 2, 1876, marked the founding of the Indian Reformer Association, later known as the Bharat Sanskar Sabha, by visionary reformer Keshab Chandra Sen. His progressive movement aimed at social upliftment, education, and the modernization of Indian society during British rule.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, 1889 saw both North Dakota and South Dakota officially join the United States as its 39th and 40th states, respectively. This expansion solidified America’s continental unity during a period of rapid growth and change.
One of the day’s most pivotal global events came in 1917, when British Foreign Secretary James Arthur Balfour issued the Balfour Declaration — announcing Britain’s support for a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. This declaration profoundly influenced Middle Eastern geopolitics for decades to follow.
In the field of communication, November 2, 1920, made history with the world’s first regular radio broadcast from Pittsburgh, USA. This milestone revolutionized information sharing and entertainment forever. Around the same era, Haile Selassie was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930, setting the stage for a reign that blended modernization with ancient heritage.
Post–World War II, the global map continued to evolve. On November 2, 1949, Indonesia finally gained independence after more than 350 years under Dutch colonial rule. The following decade saw another space-age breakthrough — the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik-2 in 1957, carrying Laika, the first living creature to orbit Earth.
In the Middle East, 1963 marked a royal shift as King Faisal replaced King Saud as the ruler of Saudi Arabia, ushering in a new era of modernization and oil diplomacy.
But November 2 isn’t only about wars and politics — it’s also a day of remarkable births. Among them stands Shah Rukh Khan (born 1965), the Indian megastar known globally as the King of Bollywood. With a career spanning over three decades, SRK has transformed Indian cinema and continues to captivate audiences worldwide. The day also marks the birth anniversaries of literary icons like George Boole (1815), the father of Boolean logic, and Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay (1935), one of Bengal’s most celebrated storytellers.
Other notable figures born on this day include James K. Polk (1795), the 11th U.S. President; Dhirendranath Datta (1886), a pioneering Bengali politician who first demanded Bengali as a state language; and Amar Bose (1929), the visionary founder of Bose Corporation, whose innovations changed the sound engineering world.
On the other hand, November 2 has also been a date of remembrance. Great minds like George Bernard Shaw (d. 1950), the Nobel-winning Irish playwright, and Kalim Sharafi (d. 2010), one of Bengal’s most beloved Rabindra Sangeet exponents, left behind legacies that continue to inspire millions.
From political revolutions to cultural icons, November 2 remains a timeless reminder of how human creativity, courage, and conviction can reshape history.
