Vol. 1979No. 297The dramatic seventies
The India you were born into
Wednesday24 October1979
For this date, put books and publishing in the foreground; the backdrop is an India where political instability and economic pressures marked the end of a turbulent decade — archive lens 297
Change dateThe Front Page
India in a changing political era
Democracy, public life and national institutions remain in focus
India’s political landscape was evolving through major debates over democracy, development and national unity.
Operation (Milk) Flood-II launched.
Operation (Milk) Flood-II launched.
India in Numbers
A snapshot of India when you were born.
In october 1979, 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 1979
Moment of the year · Cricket
India competes at the 1979 Cricket World Cup
India played in the second men's Cricket World Cup.
197905 · 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.
SUHAAG
Year 1979
Film of the year · 1979
Suhaag
Also in theatresGol Maal · Kaala Patthar · Mr. Natwarlal · Jaani Dushman · Sargam · Jurmana
Song of the year · 1979
"O Mere Dil Ke Chain"
Also on the radio"Aap Ki Aankhon Mein Kuch" · "Khaike Paan Banaraswala" · "Satyam Shivam Sundaram"
$ cat science-and-technology-1979
Satellites, television and national communications
What science and technology looked like in India in 1979.
Bhaskara-I and SLV-3
India launched Bhaskara-I and conducted the first experimental SLV-3 launch.
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 1979
Charan Singh
Sworn in as Prime Minister in July following the internal political collapse of the Janata coalition.
Morarji Desai
Resigned as Prime Minister after losing his parliamentary majority due to coalition infighting.
Indira Gandhi
Withdrew support from Charan Singh's government, triggering fresh general elections.
Mother Teresa
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work with Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata.
Sunil Gavaskar
Scored a brilliant 221 against England at The Oval, nearly guiding India to a historic victory.
Satish Dhawan
Led ISRO through the experimental launch phase of satellite systems.
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.
Shah leaves Iran
16 JAN
Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi leaves Iran as the Iranian Revolution reaches a decisive phase.
1979, circled in red
The year India turned 32.