A Day in History: From the Kabul Uprising to the Struggle for Freedom and Justice
Afghanistan
November 2, 1841 | The Beginning of the Kabul Uprising Against British Occupation
On November 2, 1841, a widespread popular uprising began in Kabul against the British military and political presence in Afghanistan. During the revolt, the residence of Alexander Burnes, the British political representative in Kabul, was attacked, and Burnes was killed. The uprising emerged from deep public resentment towards foreign intervention, imposed dependent rule, and the conduct of occupying forces. It rapidly became a decisive episode in the First Anglo-Afghan War. The Afghan people’s resistance during this period stands as a significant example of the struggle for independence and the right to self-determination.
November 2, 2020 | Terrorist Attack on Kabul University
On this day, armed attackers stormed Kabul University, targeting students and academic staff. According to the United Nations, 19 civilians were killed and 52 others injured. The attack not only claimed the lives of young students but also dealt a devastating blow to Afghanistan’s academic environment, freedom of thought, and the aspirations of a generation seeking a better future. Targeting a university was, in essence, an assault on knowledge, awareness, and the right to build a free and progressive society.
Region and the Middle East
November 2, 1917 | The Balfour Declaration and a New Chapter in the Palestinian Question
On this day, Arthur James Balfour, Britain’s Foreign Secretary, sent a letter to Lord Rothschild declaring the British government’s support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. The declaration was issued when Palestine was still part of the Ottoman Empire, and its indigenous population had no meaningful role in Britain’s decision-making process concerning their homeland. The Balfour Declaration became one of the foundational documents in the history of the Palestinian conflict, with profound political and demographic consequences in the decades that followed.
November 2, 1956 | The Suez Crisis and the Adoption of UN Resolution 997
Following the military invasion of Egypt by Britain, France, and Israel, the Suez Crisis became one of the most significant international confrontations of the Cold War era. On November 2, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 997, calling for an end to military operations and the establishment of a ceasefire. The crisis followed Egypt’s nationalisation of the Suez Canal by President Gamal Abdel Nasser, an action aimed at ending colonial control over one of the world’s most strategically important trade routes. Egypt’s resistance to foreign aggression became an important symbol of anti-colonial struggle throughout the Arab world and among nations seeking liberation from colonial domination.
November 2, 1964 | The End of King Saud’s Reign and the Accession of Faisal
On November 2, 1964, King Saud was removed from the throne following growing internal royal disputes and political and economic difficulties. His half-brother, Faisal bin Abdulaziz, succeeded him as king. This transfer of power followed prolonged tensions over the administration of the country and the concentration of authority within the royal establishment. In subsequent years, Faisal played a significant role in regional politics and Saudi Arabia’s relations with Arab countries and the wider world.
November 2, 2022 | Agreement to End Hostilities in Ethiopia’s Tigray War
Representatives of the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front signed an agreement to end hostilities in Pretoria, South Africa. The agreement was reached through African Union mediation after nearly two years of devastating war. The conflict had resulted in widespread deaths, mass displacement, and a severe humanitarian crisis. The Pretoria Agreement represented an important step towards ending the fighting, restoring essential services, and beginning a political process to resolve the conflict.
World
November 2, 1795 | The Establishment of the French Directory
Following the adoption of the Constitution of Year III of the French Republic, the Directory government officially began operating on November 2, 1795. Under this system, executive authority was entrusted to five directors. The arrangement emerged from the upheavals of the French Revolution and the fall of the Reign of Terror. The Directory represented an attempt to stabilise the republic after the overthrow of the monarchy and the fundamental transformation of France’s political system. It remained in power until Napoleon Bonaparte’s coup in 1799.
November 2, 1889 | North Dakota and South Dakota Join the United States
On this day, North Dakota and South Dakota became the 39th and 40th states of the United States. Their admission was part of America’s territorial and political expansion during the late nineteenth century and formally established their place within the federal structure.
November 2, 1930 | The Coronation of Haile Selassie in Ethiopia
Haile Selassie was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia on November 2, 1930. His reign coincided with major political and social transformations in the country. In 1935, Fascist Italy invaded Ethiopia, and Haile Selassie became an international symbol of resistance against colonialism and military aggression. The Ethiopian people’s struggle against Italian occupation holds a significant place in the history of African anti-colonial movements.
November 2, 1948 | Harry Truman Wins the US Presidential Election
Incumbent President Harry Truman defeated Thomas E. Dewey in the United States presidential election of November 2, 1948, contrary to the expectations of many opinion polls and media outlets. The election became one of the most famous in American political history, as several newspapers had prematurely declared Dewey the winner before all the votes had been counted. Truman’s victory secured the continuation of his administration’s policies during the early years of the Cold War.
November 2, 1963 | The Overthrow and Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem in South Vietnam
Following a military coup in South Vietnam, President Ngo Dinh Diem was overthrown and killed. His government had faced widespread opposition because of political authoritarianism, repression of opponents, and religious discrimination. His removal deepened political and military instability in South Vietnam and further complicated the crisis amid Cold War rivalries and increasing American intervention.
November 2, 1983 | The Establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States
US President Ronald Reagan signed legislation establishing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday. Under the law, the third Monday of January was designated as a national day honouring the leader of the American Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most prominent figures in the struggle against racial discrimination and segregation, advocating legal and social equality through civil rights activism and peaceful protest.
Labour and Socialist Movements
November 2, 1920 | Eugene Debs: The Socialist Presidential Candidate Behind Bars
Eugene V. Debs, a prominent leader of the American labour and socialist movements, ran for president in the 1920 election as the Socialist Party of America’s candidate while imprisoned for his opposition to US participation in the First World War and his anti-war position. Despite imprisonment and severe political restrictions, he received nearly one million votes. Debs’s campaign reflected the resistance of the labour movement against militarism, political repression, and the domination of social life by capital.
November 2, 1965 | Norman Morrison’s Protest Against the Vietnam War
Norman Morrison, an American peace activist, set himself on fire outside the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., in protest against the Vietnam War and the use of devastating weapons, particularly napalm bombs. His act took place amid growing anti-war demonstrations in the United States and became one of the most striking symbols of civilian opposition to war and military intervention.
International Observance
November 2 | International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
The United Nations General Assembly designated November 2 as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. The day draws global attention to the murder, intimidation, torture, and other forms of violence committed against journalists, as well as the urgent need to bring those responsible to justice. The date commemorates two Radio France Internationale journalists, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, who were abducted and murdered in Kidal, Mali, on November 2, 2013.
Editorial Note: The events of November 2, from the popular uprising in Kabul against British colonial occupation to anti-colonial struggles in Africa, Egypt’s resistance to foreign aggression, and labour and anti-war movements, reflect different chapters in humanity’s long struggle for freedom, independence, and social justice. Understanding these historical experiences is essential to gaining a deeper insight into power relations and social struggles in the contemporary world.