Vol. 1959No. 265Republic in formation
The India you were born into
Tuesday22 September1959
One way into 22 September 1959: leisure. Behind that everyday lens sits a year in which radio and television were widening the reach of public information as modern communications entered everyday Indian life.
Change dateThe Front Page
India builds a young republic
Democratic institutions and development remain central
India was consolidating its democratic institutions, pursuing planned development and shaping its role in the post-colonial world.
Arati Saha successfully swam English Channel. She was first Asian lady to achieve feat.
Arati Saha successfully swam English Channel. She was first Asian lady to achieve feat.
India in Numbers
A snapshot of India when you were born.
In september 1959, a litre of petrol cost Loading… and a local phone call cost Loading….
Interpolated placeholder between benchmark years; replace with annual UN WPP estimate before publication. Not a census count. Source: current India population working dataset.
Prices from the month you were born, listed the way the kirana shop would have written them.
- The Hindu archive
- National archival records
- Press and public memory
04 · Sport
India on the field in 1959
Moment of the year · Athletics
Milkha Singh continues his international breakthrough
Singh remained India's leading international track athlete.
195905 · Cinema & music
What India was watching and humming
The film everyone queued for that month, and the song that played from every cassette player that year.
ANARI
Year 1959
Film of the year · 1959
Anari
Also in theatresSujata · Dhool Ka Phool · Chhoti Bahen · Goonj Uthi Shehnai · Dil Deke Dekho · Kanhaiya
Song of the year · 1959
"Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil"
Also on the radio"Tumhe Yaad Hoga Kabhi Hum Mile The" · "Zindagi Ka Safar" · "Jalte Hain Jiske Liye"
$ cat science-and-technology-1959
Television and the beginning of the space age
What science and technology looked like in India in 1959.
Experimental television begins
India's television era began with an experimental service in Delhi.
Technology moves closer to daily life
Computing, communication and consumer electronics were gradually moving from specialist institutions toward ordinary homes, offices and public life.
Faces of 1959
14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso)
Fled Tibet following an uprising against Chinese rule and was granted asylum in India.
Jawaharlal Nehru
Granted political asylum to the Dalai Lama, impacting diplomatic ties with China.
Satyajit Ray
Released 'Apur Sansar' (The World of Apu), concluding the acclaimed Apu Trilogy.
Raj Kapoor
Released 'Anari', one of the year's major Hindi films, while remaining one of Indian cinema's defining stars of the era.
Dilip Kumar
Starred in 'Paigham', continuing a string of successful Hindi cinema releases.
Vikram Sarabhai
Pioneered space science studies and industrial research organizations in India.
09 · BEYOND INDIA
Beyond India
Before the internet put the world in our pockets, news from abroad arrived through telegrams, radios, television sets and eventually phones.
Cuban Revolution triumphs
1 JAN
Fidel Castro's forces enter Havana after Batista flees Cuba.
1959, circled in red
The year India turned 12.