Vol. 1957No. 052Republic in formation
The India you were born into
Thursday21 February1957
For 21 February 1957, the useful question is not only what made headlines, but how photography felt in an India where parliamentary democracy was settling into its second electoral cycle while industry and agriculture remained national priorities.
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.
Pranab Pankaj Roy, cricketer (son of Pankaj, Indian batsman 1982), was born in Calcutta.
Pranab Pankaj Roy, cricketer (son of Pankaj, Indian batsman 1982), was born in Calcutta.
India in Numbers
A snapshot of India when you were born.
In february 1957, 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 1957
Moment of the year · Athletics
Milkha Singh emerges as a major Indian track athlete
Singh's international rise accelerated in the late 1950s.
195705 · 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.
MOTHER INDIA
Year 1957
Film of the year · 1957
Mother India
Also in theatresPyaasa · Naya Daur · Do Aankhen Barah Haath · Tumsa Nahin Dekha · Sharada · Kath Putli
Song of the year · 1957
"Pyaar Hua Iqraar Hua"
Also on the radio"Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandni Mein" · "Jaane Woh Kaise Log The" · "Sar Jo Tera Chakraye"
$ cat science-and-technology-1957
Radio, fixed telephony and institution-building
What science and technology looked like in India in 1957.
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 1957
Jawaharlal Nehru
Led the Congress party to a second victory in the general elections.
E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Led the Communist Party of India to victory in Kerala, forming India's first democratically elected communist state government.
Satyajit Ray
Won the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for 'Aparajito'.
Mehboob Khan
Directed 'Mother India', which achieved massive commercial success and became India's first submission for the Academy Award.
Nargis
Delivered an iconic, career-defining performance as Radha in 'Mother India'.
Dilip Kumar
Starred in the social drama 'Naya Daur', a major box-office hit.
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.
Treaty of Rome is signed
25 MAR
Six European countries sign the treaties establishing the European Economic Community and Euratom.
1957, circled in red
The year India turned 10.