Vol. 1951No. 028Republic in formation
The India you were born into
Sunday28 January1951
28 January 1951, seen through roads and railways, turns a calendar square into a wider picture of India: planning, institution-building and preparations for India's first general election were defining the young democracy.
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.
Chandrika Premji Keniya, social worker, was born.
Chandrika Premji Keniya, social worker, was born.
India in Numbers
A snapshot of India when you were born.
In january 1951, a litre of petrol cost Loading… and a local phone call cost Loading….
Benchmark value; verify against the original census/official source 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 1951
Moment of the year · Multi-sport
New Delhi hosts the first Asian Games
The inaugural Asian Games were held in New Delhi.
195105 · 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.
AWAARA
Year 1951
Film of the year · 1951
Awaara
Also in theatresBaazi · Deedar · Nagin · Albela · Tarana · Hum Log
Song of the year · 1951
"Awaara Hoon"
Also on the radio"Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi" · "Tadbeer Se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer" · "Teri Duniya Mein Dil Lagta Nahin"
$ cat science-and-technology-1951
Radio, fixed telephony and institution-building
What science and technology looked like in India in 1951.
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 1951
Jawaharlal Nehru
Launched India's First Five-Year Plan focusing on agricultural growth and initiated the first national general election campaign.
B. R. Ambedkar
Resigned as Union Law Minister following parliament's stalling of the progressive Hindu Code Bill.
Homi J. Bhabha
Expanded research programs at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
Rajendra Prasad
Inaugurated the first Asian Games held in New Delhi, highlighting India's international presence.
B. C. Roy
Spearheaded major urban and industrial planning in West Bengal, including the development of Durgapur and Kalyani.
Lata Mangeshkar
Emerged as a primary playback singer in Indian cinema with breakout soundtrack hits.
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.
European Coal and Steel Community treaty is signed
18 APR
Six European states sign the treaty that creates the ECSC, an early step toward European integration.
1951, circled in red
The year India turned 4.