 "History Today: How journalist Daniel Pearl was abducted in Pakistan")
January 23 is an important day in history as several important events took place on this day.
Firstly, an American journalist Daniel Pearl was kidnapped in Karachi in 2002.
In 1897, Indian freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose was born in Cuttack, Odisha.
The deadliest earthquake in the history of mankind took place in Shanxi, China in 1556.
As part of Firstpost Explainers’ History Today series, we look into defining moments of this day and their impact on the world.
Daniel Pearl kidnapped in Karachi
Investigative journalist Daniel Pearl, working for the Wall Street Journal, disappeared in Pakistan’s Karachi on January 23, 2002. Pearl was reportedly scheduled to interview a religious leader as part of his research into Islamic extremism, according to History.com.
His abduction unfolded near a cafe with militants kidnapping him and accusing Pearl of espionage. The group, calling themselves the National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty, demanded the release of Pakistani detainees held by the United States.
Tragically, a week after his capture, Pearl was murdered by his captors. The world was horrified by the release of a video depicting his beheading weeks later.
In 2002, British-born Pakistani militant Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh was convicted of Pearl’s kidnapping. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a high-ranking member of al-Qaeda, later claimed responsibility for the act in 2007.
Birth of Subhas Chandra Bose
A prominent Indian revolutionary of the Indian Independence Movement against British rule Subhas Chandra Bose was born today in 1897. Bose was a brilliant student and passed the Indian Civil Services exam in England but chose to dedicate his life to India’s freedom movement.
Affectionately called ‘Netaji,’ Bose was a significant part of the Congress Party. However, his dissatisfaction with Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent approach forced him to part ways with the Indian National Congress.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsOne of the most notable contributions was the establishment of the Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj, which sought to liberate India through armed struggle. His mysterious disappearance in 1945 after a plane crash in Taiwan has sparked debates and investigations for decades.
1556 Shaanxi Earthquake
One of the deadliest earthquakes to have rocked the world is the one that occurred in China’s Shaanxi, claiming the lives of 830,000 people in 1556 during Emperor Jiajing’s reign in the Ming dynasty.
The quake had an estimated magnitude of 8.0 and caused widespread destruction, especially in areas where people lived in yaodongs or traditional cave dwellings carved into cliffs. These caves collapsed during the quake which led to catastrophic loss of life.
The disaster prompted significant changes in construction techniques in the region, emphasising safer building practices. Although this was not the strongest earthquake that the world has witnessed, it was still one of the most destructive ones in history.
This Day, That Year
Madeleine Albright was sworn in as the first female US secretary of state in 1997.
In 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell received an MD degree from Geneva Medical College in New York becoming the first American-trained woman physician.
Georgetown College (now Georgetown University) was established in Washington DC in 1789.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
