March 3

1575

Indian Mughal Emperor Akbar defeats Bengali army at the Battle ofTukaroi.

1878

The Russo-Turkish War ends as Bulgaria regains its independence from Ottoman Empire according to the Treaty of San Stefano; shortly after Congress of Berlin stripped its status to an autonomous state of the Ottoman Empire.

1905

Tsar Nicholas II of Russia agrees to create an elected assembly, the Duma.

1924

The 1400-year-old Islamic caliphate is abolished when Caliph Abdul Mejid II of the Ottoman Empire is deposed. The last remnant of the old regime gives way to the reformed Turkey of Kemal Ataturk.

1939

In Mumbai, Mohandas Gandhi begins to fast in protest at the autocratic rule in India.