On This Day in History, June 3 stands out for several events that shaped politics, culture and exploration across the world. In 2016, legendary boxer and civil rights advocate Muhammad Ali passed away, leaving behind a legacy that extended far beyond the sporting arena. In 1989, the Tiananmen Square protests reached a critical turning point as Chinese authorities moved to suppress the student-led demonstrations. A major milestone in space exploration was achieved in 1965 when astronaut Ed White became the first American to perform a spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission. June 3, 1947, also marked the unveiling of Lord Mountbatten’s plan for the partition of India, a development that eventually led to the creation of India and Pakistan. Earlier, in 1915, Rabindranath Tagore received a knighthood from the British Government, an honour he later renounced in protest against colonial rule.
