Vol. 1963No. 050New nation, new ambition
The India you were born into
Tuesday19 February1963
The texture of 19 February 1963 sits in consumer culture; the surrounding year was shaped by the fact that india's young space programme was beginning to turn scientific ambition into an organised national capability.
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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.
Nehru refuses to recognize China-Pakistan border pact in New Delhi.
Nehru refuses to recognize China-Pakistan border pact in New Delhi.
India in Numbers
A snapshot of India when you were born.
In february 1963, 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 1963
Moment of the year · Hockey
India prepares for Tokyo 1964
Indian hockey focused on returning to Olympic gold.
196305 · 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.
MERE MEHBOOB
Year 1963
Film of the year · 1963
Mere Mehboob
Also in theatresBandini · Mujhe Jeene Do · Gumrah · Dil Ek Mandir · Taj Mahal · Mere Sanam
Song of the year · 1963
"Aap Ki Aankhon Mein Kuch"
Also on the radio"Mere Mehboob Tujhe Meri Mohabbat" · "Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho" · "Naina Barse Rimjhim Rimjhim"
$ cat science-and-technology-1963
Television and the beginning of the space age
What science and technology looked like in India in 1963.
First sounding rocket from Thumba
India launched its first sounding rocket from Thumba on 21 November.
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 1963
Lata Mangeshkar
Performed the patriotic song 'Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo' live in the presence of Nehru after the 1962 war.
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Joined NASA for training before joining India's rocket launch team at Thumba.
Vikram Sarabhai
Supervised India's first sounding rocket launch from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station.
Jawaharlal Nehru
Navigated political challenges via the Kamaraj Plan to restructure party and government cabinet positions.
Satyajit Ray
Won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival for 'Mahanagar'.
Sucheta Kripalani
Became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, making her the first female Chief Minister of an Indian state.
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.
March on Washington
28 AUG
Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his 'I Have a Dream' speech during the civil-rights march in Washington.
1963, circled in red
The year India turned 16.