On This Day – 5 August

What happened on 5 August? From Assam’s valor and leadership to India’s constitutional shifts and global moments in art, politics, and science.

On This Day – 5 August

🌾 Assam & Northeast India

1669 – Battle of Alaboi between Ahoms and Mughals

On this date, the Ahom forces under Lachit Borphukan confronted Mughal commander Ram Singh I at Alaboi Plains near Guwahati. Despite significant losses—estimated around 10,000 soldiers—the battle is remembered for inspiring Assamese resilience, culminating in the later triumph at Saraighat.

1950 – Death of Gopinath Bordoloi

Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi, Assam’s first Chief Minister, passed away on 5 August. His leadership during Partition earned him the title “Architect of Modern Assam,” and the state commemorates the date annually as Lok Kalyan Diwas.


🌍 World Events

1861 – U.S. first federal income tax imposed

To fund the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln enacted the Revenue Act, instituting America’s first federal income tax.

1957 – American Bandstand debuts on national TV

Dick Clark’s music show premiered across the U.S., shaping youth culture and launching rock ’n’ roll music in households across America.

2011 – NASA launches Juno mission to Jupiter

NASA launched the Juno probe on 5 August to study Jupiter’s gravity, magnetic field, and polar atmosphere. It reached Jupiter’s orbit in July 2016.


🇮🇳 India Events

1775 – Execution of Maharaja Nandakumar in Calcutta

On this day, Maharaja Nandakumar was executed for forgery—a case later judged by historians as a colonial judicial murder and a political statement by British rule.

1991 – Leila Seth sworn in as Chief Justice of a High Court

Justice Leila Seth became India’s first female Chief Justice of a state High Court (Himachal Pradesh) on this date.

2000 – Death of Lala Amarnath Bharadwaj

Cricket legend Lala Amarnath—India’s first Test centurion and former captain—passed away on this day. His leadership in early Indian cricket immortalized him as a national sports hero.

2019 – Abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir

The Indian government revoked the special status of Jammu & Kashmir under Article 370, transforming the state into two Union Territories—a watershed moment in India’s political history.


🎂 Birthdays

🇮🇳 Indian Personalities

Dwarka Prasad Mishra (1901) – Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, writer and freedom fighter, born on 5 August.
Shivmangal Singh ‘Suman’ (1915) – Distinguished Hindi poet and academician, born on this date.

🌍 International Personalities

Neil Armstrong (1930–2012) – First man to walk on the Moon, born on 5 August.
Guy de Maupassant (1850–1893) – Legendary French author hailed for his short stories, born on this day.


🕯️ Deaths

🇮🇳 Indian Personalities

Gopinath Bordoloi (1950) – Founding leader of Assam and key figure in safeguarding the state’s future during Partition.
Lala Amarnath Bharadwaj (2000) – India’s first Test centurion, a cricketing legend whose death is remembered on 5 August.

🌍 International Personalities

Friedrich Engels (1895) – Philosopher and co-author of The Communist Manifesto, died on this date.
Alec Guinness (2000) – Iconic British actor famed for Star Wars and The Bridge on the River Kwai, passed away on this date.


💡 Did You Know?

  • The high cost of the Battle of Alaboi is commemorated as a testament to Ahom bravery and strategic sacrifice, paving the way for Saraighat’s victory.
  • Gopinath Bordoloi’s death anniversary, celebrated as Lok Kalyan Diwas, honors his instrumental role in keeping Assam part of India.
  • Pran, Lala Amarnath and Leila Seth—all marked their birth/death on this day, contributing uniquely to sports, judiciary, and pop culture in India.

🧠 Final Thoughts

5 August intertwines Assam’s martial legacy and India’s political and judicial landmarks with global milestones in exploration and culture. A day that reflects sacrifice, sovereignty, artistic genius, and scientific ambition.

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📅 More from this series: On This Day

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