Vol. 1982No. 202The long eighties
The India you were born into
Wednesday21 July1982
For this date, put a technology arriving slowly in the foreground; the backdrop is an India where colour television, sport and new technologies were changing the texture of everyday Indian life.
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.
Mira Behn (90), disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, passed away.
Mira Behn (90), disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, passed away.
India in Numbers
A snapshot of India when you were born.
In july 1982, 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 1982
Moment of the year · Multi-sport
New Delhi hosts the Asian Games
The 1982 Asian Games marked a major Indian multi-sport hosting moment.
198205 · 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.
DISCO DANCER
Year 1982
Film of the year · 1982
Disco Dancer
Also in theatresNamak Halaal · Nikaah · Prem Rog · Satte Pe Satta · Vidhaata · Shakti
Song of the year · 1982
"I Am a Disco Dancer"
Also on the radio"Namak Halaal" · "Pag Ghunghroo Baandh" · "Rote Rote Zamana"
$ cat science-and-technology-1982
Satellites, television and national communications
What science and technology looked like in India in 1982.
Colour television takes off
The 1982 Asian Games accelerated the arrival of colour television as a major consumer technology.
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 1982
Amitabh Bachchan
Suffered a near-fatal injury on the set of 'Coolie', leading to nationwide prayers and media attention.
Indira Gandhi
Hosted the 9th Asian Games in New Delhi, introducing color television broadcasting to India.
R. D. Burman
Composed the music for major 1982 Hindi releases including 'Sanam Teri Kasam', reinforcing his influence on modern Hindi film music.
Kapil Dev
Was part of India's successful 1982 Asian Games campaign and continued establishing himself as one of the country's leading all-rounders.
Dhirubhai Ambani
Outmaneuvered bear cartels on the Bombay Stock Exchange, cementing his financial market clout.
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Appointed Director of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), helping accelerate India's indigenous missile-development programme.
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.
Falklands War begins
2 APR
Argentina invades the Falkland Islands, beginning a war with the United Kingdom.
1982, circled in red
The year India turned 35.