Vol. 1958No. 034Republic in formation
The India you were born into
Monday3 February1958
For 3 February 1958, the useful question is not only what made headlines, but how medicine and hospitals felt in an India where science, industry and public institutions were expanding as India pursued an ambitious development programme.
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.
Jawaharlal Nehru addresses the nation
Jawaharlal Nehru addresses the nation
India in Numbers
A snapshot of India when you were born.
In february 1958, 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 1958
Moment of the year · Athletics
Milkha Singh wins Asian Games 400m gold
Singh won the men's 400m at the Tokyo Asian Games.
195805 · 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.
MADHUMATI
Year 1958
Film of the year · 1958
Madhumati
Also in theatresChalti Ka Naam Gaadi · Kala Pani · Howrah Bridge · Yahudi · Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam · Phagun
Song of the year · 1958
"Suhana Safar Aur Yeh Mausam Haseen"
Also on the radio"Aaja Re Pardesi" · "Haal Kaisa Hai Janab Ka" · "Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhagi Si"
$ cat science-and-technology-1958
Radio, fixed telephony and institution-building
What science and technology looked like in India in 1958.
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 1958
Mihir Sen
Became the first Asian to swim across the English Channel.
Vikram Sarabhai
Expanded research at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), building foundation for India's space program.
Jawaharlal Nehru
Overseen the second Five-Year Plan's heavy industrialization push, including major steel plants in Bhilai and Rourkela.
Dilip Kumar
Starred in 'Madhumati', winning widespread critical and commercial acclaim.
Homi J. Bhabha
Directed the scaling up of India's experimental nuclear research reactors.
Satyajit Ray
Released 'Jalsaghar' (The Music Room), widely regarded as a masterpiece of world cinema.
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 Economic Community begins
1 JAN
The EEC comes into being as the Treaty of Rome takes effect.
1958, circled in red
The year India turned 11.