9 June, 1900 – Birsa Munda, an anti-British rebel and icon of India’s independence struggle, died in jail at the age of 24. He led a powerful Adivasi struggle for land in the late 19th century in what is now Jharkhand. His slogan was: “Abua raj seter jana, maharani raj tundu jana” — “End the queen’s rule, establish our own.”
14 June, 1928 – Birthday – Ernesto Rafael Guevara de la Serna, or ‘Che’, was born on this day in the year 1928. Comrade Che led multiple revolts against imperialist forces in many colonised nations of the world.
16 June, 1963 – Valentina Tereshkova, 26, became the first woman in space as her Soviet spacecraft, Vostok 6, took off from the Tyuratam launch site. She manually controlled the spacecraft completing 48 orbits in 71 hours before landing safely.
25 June, 1975 – Indira Gandhi-led Congress government declared a state of emergency in India on 25th June 1975. Emergency was lifted only after nearly two years on 21st March 1977 after massive and persistent protests all across India.
28 June, 1969 – The Stonewall Riots began, when queer patrons of the Stonewall Inn in NYC fought back against a violent police raid. Joined by others from nearby bars and the streets, they sparked a powerful uprising. Stonewall is now seen as the turning point in the gay liberation movement and the fight for LGBT rights in the U.S.
30 June, 1855 – The day marked the declaration of Hul—meaning “revolution”—as 10,000 Santhals rose in rebellion at Bhognadih village, Sahibganj, led by brothers Sidho and Kanho Murmu. Their siblings Chand, Bhairo, Phulo, and Jhano also joined the uprising.
