Historical Events Of India
Historical Events of India
Introduction
In this today's blog we will discuss the major events happened in India who creates history and bring up a new revolution in various fields.The following data is taken from the book named "A Vision of India" who showcases the golden era of 100 eventual years from ( 1901-2000)and here we discuss some of the major events from this period.
1)1911-Mail by Air
2)1913-The Birth of Bollywood
The Steel Saga-1913
3)1927-The Birth of All India Radio 
Radio broadcasts were started in India on July 23,1927,with transmitters at Mumbai and Kolkata by some enterprising businessmen who founded the Indian Broadcasting Company. Earlier in 1921,a special programme of music was broadcast from the rooftop of the Times of India building at Bori Bunder with the help of the Post and Telegraph Department for the Governer of Mumbai,Sir George Lloyd,who turned into the broadcast at Pune. In 1930,the company was taken over by the government and renamed The Indian State Broadcasting Service to inform,educate and entertain the massses.It got its new name All India Radio,only in 1936.
4)1930-Demand for Purna Swaraj:- 
At the momentous session of the Indian National Congress at Lahore on December 31,1929, Jawaharlal Nehru as its President gave a new dimension to the freedom movement.He proclaimed,"Independence for us means Purna Swaraj or complete freedom British domination and British imperialism..."As the new year dawned,the Flag of Independence was unfurled.It was decided that January 26,be celebrated as Independence Day all over India. Thus,the first 'Independence Day' on January 26,1930,saw great enthusiasm among the people.In the morning,the National Flag was hoisted everywhere,in the afternoon huge processions were taken out midst great rejoicing and singing of national songs.In the evening,mass meetings were held when the 'pledge of independence' was read out, people listening in solemn silence. Since independence, January 26,is celebrated as Republic Day all over India.
1930-The Raman Effect 
Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman(1888-1970)did India proud by becoming the first Indian scientist to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1930. After obtaining his Master's degree from the Presidency College, Chennai,young Raman worked as an assistant accountant general in Kolkata by day and carried on his pursuit of science by night in the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science.It was here that he did most of his research on refraction of light which has come to be known as the Raman Effect,and which earned him the Nobel Prize.His discovery provided a new stimulus to the optical instrument industry. Raman pioneered the establishment of academics,journals and institutes,among them the Raman Institute of Research founded by him at Banglore.He wanted opportunities to be created in the country for scientists,so that they need not look outside for inspiration."The essence of science is independent thinking and hardwork,not equipment,"he said.He groomed stalwarts like Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai who have put India on the scientific map of the world.
5)1931-The New Capital 
The British built New Delhi to replace Kolkata as their capital.The city designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker was inaugurated in 1931. The new capital reflects the imperial might and glory of the British Raj in India.The buildings skilfully blend the Eastern and Western styles of architecture and display both grandeur and grace.The Viceregal Lodge,once the viceroy's residence(now Rashtrapati Bhavan) and the North and South Blocks of the Central Secretariat look imposing with their huge domes , beautiful arches and tall columns.These buildings have been laid amidst wide,green gardens.Adjacent to them is the circular Parliament House,an architectural marvel. The majority of New Delhi's roads ends in circles.Trees line broad avenues,one of which,the Kingsway,renamed Rajpath ,links India Gate,a war memorial with Rashtrapati Bhavan.On either side of this royal road are extensive parks and fountains. To commemorate the event,the first pictorial stamps depicting New Delhi's landmarks were released.They were printed by the government's Security Press at Nashik. New Delhi remained the capital of Britain's Indian Empire till 1947. Since then it is the capital of the Republic of India.
1931-India's First Talkie 
The first Indian talkie,Alam Ara(Light of the World) was released at Mumbai's Majestic Cinema on March 14,1931.Produced by Ardeshir M.Irani,Alam Ara was a fantasy based on a popular drama and featured Zubedia,Master Vithal, Prithviraj Kapoor and the first singer of the Indian cinema,W.M. Khan,accompained on the tabla,harmonium and violin.The film ran for eight weeks in India and was popular in Myanmar,Sri Lanka and West Asia.Its seven catchy songs are popular even today. Ardeshir M.Irani is acclaimed the 'Father of the Indian Talkie'.He also made India's first colour film Kisan Kanya in 1937.For his multiple contributions, Ardeshir Irani was conferred the title of Khan Bahadur by the film industry.
1931-A Pioneering Institute 
The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) had its origin in 1931in the Statistical Laboratory set up by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (1893-1972).He was the first Indian to make a career in statistics,a discipline not much heard of at that time.In fact,the history of statistics in India is his personal history. Statistics is the method of collecting, analysing, classifying and interpreting facts(data).It also implies the collection of numerical data in a systematic manner for a definite purpose,such as statistics of the population of a country,number of literates in any region,etc,and arranging it in tabular form. After India gained independence in 1947, the government sought Mahalanobis' advice to launch several welfare schemes.The Hirakund Hydroelectric Project and the Damodar Valley multi-purpose project are based on his statistical studies.Some of his proposals have been included in India's Five-Year Plans.He became Professor Emeritus in 1948 and in 1949 was appointed Honorary Statistical Advisor to the Government of India. The first Indian statistican to receive world recognition, Mahalanobis made major contributions to the theory and methods of statistics as well as its application to other disciplines.Statistics is now one of the subjects taught in universities. The National Sample Survey Organisation started by him,occupies a unique position in the nation's statistical system.It is a major fact-finding body in social,economic, demographic, industrial and agricultural statistics through sample surveys on a countrywide basis.
6) 1932-India's First Airline 
The Tata Airlines was India's first commercial airline.On October 15,1932,a single-engined Puss Moth took off from Karachi,piloted by J.R.D.Tata carrying a load of fifty-five pounds(24kg)of mail.The plane reached Mumbai via Ahmadabad where the mail was received by the postmaster of the city. At Mumbai,Neville Vincent took over with another load of mail,halting overnight in Bellary and Chennai.On the return journey,the plane brought mail destined for UK.The complete journey took four days.The Tata Aviation Service made some profits from the very first year.The airline was rechristened Air-India International Limited in 1948.
7)1935-Reserve Bank Of India (RBI) Foundation Day(1st April 1935) 
RBI was conceptualized as per the guidelines,working style & outlook presented by Dr BR Ambedkar in his book .It was titled 'The Problem of the Rupee-Its origin & its solution"and presented to the Hilton Young Commission.The bank was set up based on the recommendations of the 1926 Royal Commission on Indian Currency and Finance,also known as Hilton-Young Commission. It was Dr Ambedkar's tireless efforts due to which the Reserve Bank of India came into existence.On this day we pay our hearty tributes to the master of Economics & the champion of Human Rights,who's vision shaped today's modern India.
RBI was conceptualized as per the guidelines,working style & outlook presented by Dr BR Ambedkar in his book .It was titled 'The Problem of the Rupee-Its origin & its solution"and presented to the Hilton Young Commission.The bank was set up based on the recommendations of the 1926 Royal Commission on Indian Currency and Finance,also known as Hilton-Young Commission. It was Dr Ambedkar's tireless efforts due to which the Reserve Bank of India came into existence.On this day we pay our hearty tributes to the master of Economics & the champion of Human Rights,who's vision shaped today's modern India.
8)1950-India Becomes A Republic 
The above picture is common page included in our school textbooks especially in Social sciences.It is not a page it is a revolutionary act for the public of India with free of caste,religion or any discrimination. A new era began when India became an independent democratic republic on January 26,1950.Dr. Rajendra Prasad who presided over the Indian Constituent Assembly from 1946to 1949,was unanimously elected the nation's first president. From the very beginning ,the Indian people had asserted that the constitution under which they would live must be drawn up by themselves.So after studying the constitutions of various countries and after three years of deliberations ,draftings,debates and discussions,the Constituent Assembly with Dr.B.R. Ambedkar as Chairman of the Drafting Committee,completed its task on November 26,1949. The Constitution of India came into force on January 26,1950the day which since 1930,had been observed every year as the Independence Day.It contains 395articles and nine schedules . According to the Constitution,India became a sovereign,democratic Republic.The preamble of the Constitution spells out the aims and objectives,the rights and responsibilities of the citizens of India.
9)1951-The First Asiad 
India took the lead in organising the first Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951.It was a spectacular sports event in which 500 sports persons from 11 Asian countries participated. With the object of spreading brotherhood among the Asian nations,the Games are organised with the motto 'Ever Onward.'Its emblem has a blazing sun with eleven interlinked blue circles on a white background. In the first Asiad, only six disciplines- athletics, basketball, cycling,football, swimming and weightlifting-were organised.India's tally was 34 medals,eight medals short of Japan,who topped the list. From modest start,the success and popularity of the Asian Games gradually increased as more and more countries started participating in them.Since 1954,the Asian Games have been held once every four years,each time in a different Asian country.The event is organised by the Asian Games Federation with its headquarters at Singapore.
India took the lead in organising the first Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951.It was a spectacular sports event in which 500 sports persons from 11 Asian countries participated. With the object of spreading brotherhood among the Asian nations,the Games are organised with the motto 'Ever Onward.'Its emblem has a blazing sun with eleven interlinked blue circles on a white background. In the first Asiad, only six disciplines- athletics, basketball, cycling,football, swimming and weightlifting-were organised.India's tally was 34 medals,eight medals short of Japan,who topped the list. From modest start,the success and popularity of the Asian Games gradually increased as more and more countries started participating in them.Since 1954,the Asian Games have been held once every four years,each time in a different Asian country.The event is organised by the Asian Games Federation with its headquarters at Singapore.
10)1952-International Film Festival 
The first International Film Festival of India (IFFI)was held in Mumbai from January 24to February 1,1952.It was the first international film festival held in Asia.It attracted 40 of the finest feature films and a hundred short films from twenty-three countries and the United Nations.Delegates from twelve countries attended the festival.A special feature of the inaugural function was the screening of the first film shown in Mumbai made by the Lumiere Brothers in 1896.After ten days,the festival moved on to Chennai, Delhi and Calcutta.
1952-The Planned City-Chandigarh 
Chandigarh at the foot of the Siwalik Hills,enjoys the popular epithet the City Beautiful. Designed by the famous French architect Le Corbusier, construction of Chandigarh began in the 1950s.It is one of the planned cities of modern India.It is divided into 47 numbered sectors, separated by broad avenues. Chandigarh and the area surrounding it were constituted as a Union Territory in 1966,when the former state of Punjab was split into Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.It serves as a joint capital of both Punjab and Haryana States.Both the States have their government offices in one imposing Secretariat,the highest building of Chandigarh.Chandigarh is famous for its Rock Garden created by Nek Chand,a road inspector,out of scrap and junk.The Rose Garden in Chandigarh,the biggest in Asia,has more than a thousand varities of roses.
11)1953-Atop Mt.Everest 
Mount Everest,the world's highest peak in the Himalayas,has challenged mountaineers of many countries.From 1931to1951,none of the eight expeditions to scale the peak succeeded.The ninth expedition headed by Sir John Hunt made history.Sherpa Tenzing Norgay of Nepal and Edmund Hillary of New Zealand were the first to reach the top of the world's highest peak on May29,1953. To climb Mt.Everest,the permission of the Government of Nepal is necessary.An expedition costs about twenty lakh rupees.Tonnes of equipment and stores are carried by over a thousand sherpas (porters). Tenzing had earlier worked as a porter on many mountaineering expeditions and was called 'Tiger' by the British mountaineers.He was the organiser or Sirdar for the 1953 expedition which made him an international hero.He was honoured by many countries-The Padma Bhushan (India),the Star of Nepal,the George Medal(UK) and the Hubbard Medal(The National Geographic Society of USA). Tenzing became the director of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute at Darjeeling.He died in 1986.His statue stands at a spot just above the institute.
12)1954 -The Three Akademies 
To preserve and promote the art and culture of India,the government established three Akademies in 1954. The National Academy of Music,Dance and Drama known as the Sangeet Natak Akademi patronises and promotes dance,drama and music.It also honours eminent artistes with awards every year. The National Academy of Fine Arts,the Lalit Kala Akademi,promotes and propagates understanding of Indian art and culture both within and outside the country through exhibitions of contemporary paintings and sculptures.Eminent artists are honoured by being elected fellows of the Akademi. The National Academy of Letters known as the Sathiya Akademi encourages Indian literature through publications.It recognises 22 Indian languages as literary languages for awards and publishes award-winning works including translations.
13)1955-Children's Day 
November 14,the birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru,has been observed as Children's Day since 1955.Jawaharlal Nehru was very fond of children and the children responded by affectionately calling him 'Chacha Nehru'.On this day,the nation undertakes a pledge that none of its children shall remain hungry,homeless or illiterate.
1955- The National Defence Academy (NDA) 
The National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakvasla,20km from Pune,is India's premier defence training institute.It is the only military institution in the world where cadets from all the three services of the Armed Forces are trained jointly.Started in 1949 at Dehradun, the NDA moved to its present sprawling site in 16th January 1955.The dome of its main building is a landmark visible for miles around. Boys between the ages of 16 and 19 years,who have passed the higher secondary examination,can apply for admission.Only about 250 applicants are admitted every six months for the three-year course after passing the entrance test.All cadets are trained at government expense.The NDA cadets are not commissioned on passing out-they become officers only after a year of specialised training.Those who opt for the Army go to the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun, the naval cadets spend a year at sea while the air force cadets are commissioned after they get their 'wings'.The officers trained at the Academy have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields and have won decorations for valour.Seva paramo dharmah (Service before self) is the motto every NDA cadet wears on his arm and lives up to.
14)1956-APSARA 
India's first atomic research reactor Apsara at Tarapur near Mumbai,became operational on August 4,1956.It was the first reactor to go operational in the whole of Asia.India's atomic research and power programme was initiated by Dr.Homi Jehangir Bhabha(1909-1966).He had set up the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Research in Mumbai in 1945,with financial support of the Tata Trust.Later,under his guidance when the Atomic Energy Establishment at Trombay began functioning,a wide base was created for the promotion of science and technology.Renamed the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) after his death in an air cash,it is the largest single scientific establishment in the country directing atomic Research.At present,it houses five nuclear reactors including Apsara to harness atomic energy for peaceful purposes.Today,India ranks sixth in the world to have attained technical capabilities and self-reliance in atomic Power reactors.
India's first atomic research reactor Apsara at Tarapur near Mumbai,became operational on August 4,1956.It was the first reactor to go operational in the whole of Asia.India's atomic research and power programme was initiated by Dr.Homi Jehangir Bhabha(1909-1966).He had set up the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Research in Mumbai in 1945,with financial support of the Tata Trust.Later,under his guidance when the Atomic Energy Establishment at Trombay began functioning,a wide base was created for the promotion of science and technology.Renamed the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) after his death in an air cash,it is the largest single scientific establishment in the country directing atomic Research.At present,it houses five nuclear reactors including Apsara to harness atomic energy for peaceful purposes.Today,India ranks sixth in the world to have attained technical capabilities and self-reliance in atomic Power reactors.
15)1957-Change to Decimal Coinage 
On April 1,1957 Indian coinage entered a new era when the country adopted the new metric system.The system originated in France and was being gradually adopted by other nations of the world.Under the new decimal system,the rupee retained its original value but instead of being divided into 64 pice as hitherto,it was divided into 100 units called paisa(paise in plural),and these became the primary unit of Indian currency.During the traditional period,both the old and new coins were in circulation,with the new coin paisa being called naya paisa to distinguish it from the old pice.The earlier equivalents of half-rupee and quarter rupee coins were retained as fifty and twenty-five paise coins respectively.The words naya and naye in relation to paisa and paise were droppped in 1964.
16)1958-Metric Measures 
The metric system in weights and measures was adopted by the Indian Parliament in December 1956 with the"Standards of Weights and Measures Act",which took beginning 1st October 1958. This system is based on a unit of length called the metre(m),a unit of weight called the gramme(gm)and a unit of capacity called the litre(l).From April 1,1962,the use of metric weights became mandatory.This was followed by the metrication of measures of lengths on 1st October 1962and compulsory the use of the Litre(l) measures on 1st April 1963. As 'kilo' indicates 1000,a kilometre equals 1000metres.Similarly,a kilogramme equals1000 grammes. A metre is thirty-nine and a half inches,that is,it is three and a half inches more than the old yard. A litre is about a quarter of a gallon.Milk,oil and petrol are sold in litres. Measurement units of length are centimetre,metre and kilometre. Measurement units of weight are milligramme,gramme and kilogramme. Measurement units of volume or capacity are millilitre and litre. There are laws to enforce standards weights and measures.Every packaged item has necessarily to give the name of the manufacturer,the correct weight or volume of contents,the month and year of packing,and above all,the maximum retail price (MRP).
The metric system in weights and measures was adopted by the Indian Parliament in December 1956 with the"Standards of Weights and Measures Act",which took beginning 1st October 1958. This system is based on a unit of length called the metre(m),a unit of weight called the gramme(gm)and a unit of capacity called the litre(l).From April 1,1962,the use of metric weights became mandatory.This was followed by the metrication of measures of lengths on 1st October 1962and compulsory the use of the Litre(l) measures on 1st April 1963. As 'kilo' indicates 1000,a kilometre equals 1000metres.Similarly,a kilogramme equals1000 grammes. A metre is thirty-nine and a half inches,that is,it is three and a half inches more than the old yard. A litre is about a quarter of a gallon.Milk,oil and petrol are sold in litres. Measurement units of length are centimetre,metre and kilometre. Measurement units of weight are milligramme,gramme and kilogramme. Measurement units of volume or capacity are millilitre and litre. There are laws to enforce standards weights and measures.Every packaged item has necessarily to give the name of the manufacturer,the correct weight or volume of contents,the month and year of packing,and above all,the maximum retail price (MRP).
17)1962-Teachers Day 
The first Teacher's Day was celebrated in India on 5th September 1962as the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888-1975).It is also called as "Radhakrishnan Day" as students of schools are paying a humble tribute to S.Radhakrishnan by performing like a teacher on that day.This is the day where the students actually realize the duties of a teacher and for me it is also a opportunity to take over the responsibility of a teacher during my school days. In addition the year 1962 is a year when S.Radhakrishnan began serving as the second president of India. When Dr. Radhakrishnan took up a teaching job at Oxford University,England,somebody remarked that he could emulate America's Woodrow Wilson's rise from professorship to presidentship.The prophecy came true,when Radhakrishnan became the second president on May 13,1962. Known as India's philosopher-president,Dr.Radhakrishnan has 18 publications to his credit including The Hindu View and Indian Philosophy.He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
The first Teacher's Day was celebrated in India on 5th September 1962as the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888-1975).It is also called as "Radhakrishnan Day" as students of schools are paying a humble tribute to S.Radhakrishnan by performing like a teacher on that day.This is the day where the students actually realize the duties of a teacher and for me it is also a opportunity to take over the responsibility of a teacher during my school days. In addition the year 1962 is a year when S.Radhakrishnan began serving as the second president of India. When Dr. Radhakrishnan took up a teaching job at Oxford University,England,somebody remarked that he could emulate America's Woodrow Wilson's rise from professorship to presidentship.The prophecy came true,when Radhakrishnan became the second president on May 13,1962. Known as India's philosopher-president,Dr.Radhakrishnan has 18 publications to his credit including The Hindu View and Indian Philosophy.He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
18)1963-The English Decision
The States could meanwhile continue to use their regional languages.The Offical Languages Act 1963,provides for the continued use of English,in addition to Hindi,for all offical purposes.
1963-The Conquest of Space 
On November 21,1963,a sounding rocket,Nike Apache,was launched from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station(T.E.R.L.S) in Kerala.The first rocket launched was typical of a pioneering effort.Its diameter was just 75 millimetres and it weighed only 10 kilogrammes-a toy rocket!.The Indian space programme dates back to 1961 when the Indian National Committee for Space Research was set up under the chairmanship of Dr.Vikram Sarabhai.T.E.R.L.S was started to launch rockets into the upper atmosphere to study its physics.It has crossed many milestones since the launching of a toddler rocket in 1963.
19)1966-Miss India is Miss World
Miss World 1966,the 16th edition of the Miss pageant was held on 17th November 1966 at Lyceum Ballroom in London U.K.On November 19,1966,Rita Faria became the first Indian woman to be crowned Miss World at an international beauty contest in London.After the first fanfare and publicity,Rita Faria completed her medical studies,married an Irish doctor and has settled down in Ireland.
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| First Indian Miss World- Rita Faria. |
20)1968-A Man Made Gene
The news of an artificial gene produced for the first time by Dr.Hargobind Khorana in his laboratory at the University of Wisconsin,stunned the world.This invention made Khorana world famous and in 1968 he shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine/Physiology with two other scientists. The word 'gene' comes from the Greek word 'to give birth to'.It is biological unit which passes on hereditary traits or characteristics from one generation to the next.Genes are passed on from parents to their offspring,so children inherit certain traits of their parents.The study of heredity is called genetics.Genes are located on chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell.Each cell contains thousands of genes which are made up of DNA(Deoxyribonucleic acid).The secret of the DNA code of life was unravelled by Dr.Khorana who showed how the code determines all life processes by directing the synthesis of all cell proteins. This Nobel lecture was delivered on 12th December 1968.Khorana was the first scientist to chemically synthesize oligonucleotides.This achievement,in the 1970s,was also the world's first synthetic gene,in later years,the process has became widespread.
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| Dr.Hargobind Khorana cracked the genetic code. |
The news of an artificial gene produced for the first time by Dr.Hargobind Khorana in his laboratory at the University of Wisconsin,stunned the world.This invention made Khorana world famous and in 1968 he shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine/Physiology with two other scientists. The word 'gene' comes from the Greek word 'to give birth to'.It is biological unit which passes on hereditary traits or characteristics from one generation to the next.Genes are passed on from parents to their offspring,so children inherit certain traits of their parents.The study of heredity is called genetics.Genes are located on chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell.Each cell contains thousands of genes which are made up of DNA(Deoxyribonucleic acid).The secret of the DNA code of life was unravelled by Dr.Khorana who showed how the code determines all life processes by directing the synthesis of all cell proteins. This Nobel lecture was delivered on 12th December 1968.Khorana was the first scientist to chemically synthesize oligonucleotides.This achievement,in the 1970s,was also the world's first synthetic gene,in later years,the process has became widespread.
21)1969-Banks are Nationalised
In July 19,1969,the Government of India took a historic step by by acquiring ownership and control of 14 major banks in the country (listed above in the picture),each with deposits exceeding Rs 50 crore.Banks were asked to push funds towards sectors that the government wanted to target for growth.After the nationalisation of banks,there has been a marked expansion in their network and in their business,with regard to bank deposits and bank credit.Later,six more commercial banks were also nationalised.These banks together with the State Bank of India,which was nationalised in 1956,now constitute the public sector banks.
22)1972-PIN CODE for faster Mail
PIN CODE stands for The Department of Posts and Telegraphs introduced a new system,the Postal Index Number (PIN CODE)for easy and quick sorting and delivery of mail.Under this system, the country is divided into 8 Postal Index Zones with each zone sub-divided into into postal circles.This system replaces names into numbers.The PIN code is a 6 digit number where each digit has a meaning and serves a specific purpose.The first digit on the left stands for a postal zone in the country.(For instance,Zone Number 4 covers Maharashtra,Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh).The second and the third digits represent the sub-zones or postal circles.(For instance,the digits for Mumbai are 00).The next three digits together stand for the particular post office of delivery.(For example,the GPO is 001).All the 6 digits together identify a particular post office or a delivery unit.Hence,the PIN code of Mumbai GPO is 400 001.To ensure quick and easy sorting,the PIN code number should be the last item on the address.
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| 14 Banks which are nationalised in 1969 |
22)1972-PIN CODE for faster Mail
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| A illustration of PIN CODE |
1972-The Saga of Doordarshan 
Doordarshan,the national television service of India, which began its experimental telecast for three days a week from a makeshift studio in New Delhi in 1959, extended its service to Mumbai in 1972,and by 1975, Kolkata,Chennai,Srinagar, Amritsar and Lucknow had their own television studios.The first experiment with satellite technology was made in 1975, when the United States offered to spare its Application Technology Satellite (ATS-6) for one year for the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) in India.ATS-6 was the first communications satellite and was called an Umbrella Satellite as it had a nine-metre diameter antenna.It was designed to provide direct telecast to about 2,400 community receiving sets in as many villages spread over the six states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar.The main ground station for the experiment was Ahmadabad.Another earth station was constructed in New Delhi.The experience gained in SITE proved useful.Television networking became possible as the Indian National Satellite (I.N.S.A.T) system interlinked ground transmitters.It opened up a new channel for mass communications through satellite.The 300-metre tall TV tower at Mumbai is the tallest tower in India.TV has now become a very important medium for entertainment and dissemination of information.It is estimated that there are now over 70 million TV sets in households,which are catering to an audience of 300-350 million people.Ten years ago India had access only to one channel-Doordarshan 1.The number of channels has gone up to more than 50 besides the foreign satellite and cable channels which are being received in about 20 million homes.Most of these are 24-hour channels.
23)1974-Oil-Struck at BOMBAY HIGH
The oil,mixed with small quantities of gas "flared"-burnt as there was no storage space.Sagar Samrat struck oil on February 19,1974.The Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC),set up by the government in 1956 to explore the country's oil and gas reserves extended its operations to the off-shore areas for the first time in 1974.It struck oil at the Bombay High field which lies 160 kilometres west of the Mumbai coast.It drilled the first well with the help of Sagar Samrat,a special ship on which the drilling rig was jacked up to probe the sea-bed.Oil was struck in as many as 11 of the 13 wells drilled in the Bombay High.Within two years,oil flowed from these wells to a production platform where it was processed and separated from the natural gas,which was then' flared' or burnt.Eventually the gas will be piped to the mainland .Bombay High oil,which is now transported ashore by tankers ,will also ultimately be sent by pipe.
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| Sagar Samrat at Bombay High |
24)1975-An All-time Blockbuster
Sholay,G.P.Shippy's 70mm spectacular film which ran over for more than five years at Mumbai's Minerva Theatre, smashed all box-office records as the longest running entertainer in the history of Indian cinema.The film attracted moviegoers of all tastes and ages and was, therefore,seen by them again and again.Its popular dialogues were on the lips of old and young.Gabbar Singh's."Arre O Sambha,kitne aadmi the? & "Tere kya hoga Kaaliya?" immortalised actor Amjad Khan as a villain and he became the rage of the nation.It became the highest- grossing Bollywood Film of 1975,& film ranking website Box office.India has given the film a verdict of"All Time Blockbuster".Sholay went on to earn a still- standing record of 60 golden jubilees across India,& was the first film in India to celebrate a silver jubilee at over 100 theatres.
25)1979-A Prime Minister who never faced parliament
Choudhary Charan Singh who became the sworn of prime minister in 28th July 1979 without any outside support and could never prove his majority in parliament,yet held the office for five months and fifteen days.After the fall of the Morarji Desai government, President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy called the Leader of the Opposition Y.B.Chavan to form the government,thus setting a healthy precedent.When Chavan failed at the effort,Charan Singh staked his claim mainly on the basis of support assured by Mrs.Indira Gandhi's Congress party and just before Singh was to prove his majority in lok Sabha,Indira Gandhi withdrew support to his government and he resigned on 20th August 1979 after just 23 days,the only Prime Minister who has failed to face parliament.The President, therefore,on 'Prime Minister' Charan Singh's advice dissolved Parliament and ordered fresh general elections.Hence,Charan Singh continued as 'Prime Minister' till a new government was formed.Charan Singh was deputy prime minister as well as home minister in Morarji Desai's government.But he wrecked the Janta Party government to fulfill his personal ambition.He was willing to make any compromise for power for his whole life was consumed by the ambition to become the prime minister of India.He died in 29th May 1987 at the age of 85 years.
Sholay,G.P.Shippy's 70mm spectacular film which ran over for more than five years at Mumbai's Minerva Theatre, smashed all box-office records as the longest running entertainer in the history of Indian cinema.The film attracted moviegoers of all tastes and ages and was, therefore,seen by them again and again.Its popular dialogues were on the lips of old and young.Gabbar Singh's."Arre O Sambha,kitne aadmi the? & "Tere kya hoga Kaaliya?" immortalised actor Amjad Khan as a villain and he became the rage of the nation.It became the highest- grossing Bollywood Film of 1975,& film ranking website Box office.India has given the film a verdict of"All Time Blockbuster".Sholay went on to earn a still- standing record of 60 golden jubilees across India,& was the first film in India to celebrate a silver jubilee at over 100 theatres.
25)1979-A Prime Minister who never faced parliament
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| Charan Singh Choudhary a prime minister who never faced parliament. |
26)1981-APPLE in the Sky
India launched its first experimental communication satellite called APPLE(Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment),on June 19,1981,from the Kourou space center in French Guiana.Designed and fabricated by scientists and engineers of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at Bangalore,APPLE weighed 673kg.It started giving signals at tracking stations in Sriharikota, Ahmedabad and Banglore,thirty minutes after lift-off.It responded to all commands which was a breakthrough in satellite control technology for India.When the 90cm antenna on board pointed towards Nagpur and the test TV signal was received,India joined the select group of countries (USA,USSR,Canada, Germany and France) that have designed and built communication satellites.When all the tests were completed,Indira Gandhi,the then prime minister of India inaugurated the satellite programme at a teleconference held between New Delhi and Ahmedabad,relayed by TV stations all over the country.APPLE was abandoned on September 19,1983,after 27 months in space.
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| First communication satellite |
1981-The White Revolution 
India's dairy development programme, Operation Flood,is the envy of the world launched on 13th January 1970.It is the world's largest dairy cooperative,started in an era of milk shortages, with milk powder and butter oil gifted by the World Food Organisation.The National Dairy Development Board (N.B.B.D) was set up by the chairmanship of Dr. Verghese Kurien to tap and channelise the country's milk potential.Operation Flood,a diary co-operative system evolved by Dr.Kurein on a national scale has steered the country from milk scarcity to surplus for other milk products.Under the N.B.B.D umbrella,six million dairy owners in 50,000 cooperatives produce,process and market milk in 500 cities and towns throughout India.Nicknamed the Nation's Dhudhwalla,Dr Kurien has been flooded with honours including the World Food Prize for 1989,the Padma Vibhushan and the Magsaysay Award.
27)1982-The Midday Meal for Kids
In July 1,1982 was a turning point in the political history of modern Tamil Nadu,when MG Ramachandran,the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,ate a meal with primary school children in Pappakurichi village in Trichy district,marking the beginning of the chief minister's nutritious noon meal scheme.In 1982,the Government of Tamil Nadu started a scheme called the Nutritious Noon Meal programme for children studying in government- run primary schools.The programme aimed to improve enrolment and better' attendance of children in schools by providing them free afternoon meals, and also to encourage poor parents to send their children to schools.The midday meal scheme was one of the most ambitious and popular programmes of M.G Ramchandran,an actor-turned politician who became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu in 1977.The example of Tamil Nadu has been followed by many other states.While a few states serve cooked meals,most states give foodgrains to students with 80% or more attendance.The midday meal scheme is an important component in the central government's drive towards achieving universal elementary education.
28)1983-India wins the World Cup
On June 25,1983,the Indian cricket team captained by star all-rounder Kapil Dev won the Prudential World Cup.By lifting the coveted cup at the Lord's cricket ground in England,the Indians became world champions in one-day cricket.The World Cup was inaugurated in 1975.It was contested by the then six test match-playing countries,plus East Africa and Sri Lanka.The first World Cup was won by the West Indies by beating Australia in the finals.Being a four-yearly tournament,the 1979 World Cup was again won by the West Indies who beat England in the finals.In 1983,India stunned the West Indies in a thrilling,suspense- filled World Cup final by 43 runs.
29)1984-The First Metro Opens
Urban transportation was revolutionised in India exactly 33 years ago on October 24,1984,when the first metro service in the country ran between the Esplanade and Bhowanipore(now Netaji Bhavan)stations in kolkata.
30)1985-An Electronic Marvel
The year 1985 ushered in the computer era.In March that year,the Department of Electronics announced an integrated computer policy which brought in a software revolution in the country.Computers in the 1980s were like cars, expensive and few, which needed to be kept in air- conditioned rooms and the workers were obliged to keep their shoes outside to avoid dust pollution.Computers were initially used by Research Institutions and in Defence and Space Establishments.With the introduction of indigenous small business computers,their use has extended to medium-sized companies.Typewriters are being replaced by computers in offices, hospitals,banks,railways and airlines.Schools are increasingly including computer education in their curriculum.In fact, the country is heading towards computerisation in almost all spheres of activity.Interestingly,personal computers have become small enough to carry around.Slim notebook computers less than an inch thick offer computing power equivalent to desktop computers.The computer has totally revolutionised modern life.Given the vast expertise of computer software available in the country,the industry has made a niche in the world market.
1985-The Unconventional University
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) located at Maidan Garhi,New Delhi,India was established in 1985 with a budget of ₹20 million.The first of its kind,its aim is to provide higher education to those living in remote and rural areas through the open and distance learning modes such as radio, television,video and audio cassettes and self-learning kits.It differs from conventional universities,as the focus is not so much on teaching or lectures,as on learning at learner's convenience and requirements.It is run by the Central Government of India under Indira Gandhi National Open University Act 1985(IGNOU ACT 1985,passed by the Parliament of India) with the total active enrolment of over 4 million students claims to be the largest University in the world. IGNOU operates through its 34 Regional Centres and600 Study Centres which cater to over 6,00,000 students.The students read study material on their own and clarify their doubts at the counselling sessions.It also offers graduate and postgraduate courses to defence personnel and their families through its distance education programme.IGNOU has also extended its programmes and courses to the nationals of other developing countries.IGNOU programmes are telecast daily on the national network of Doordarshan (DD), with regular live teleconferencing sessions as well.In addition,IGNOU is now the nodal agency for Gyan Darshan,DD's Educational Channel.At present,there are 8 other open universities in the country.
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| Mid day meal in 1982 |
28)1983-India wins the World Cup
29)1984-The First Metro Opens
30)1985-An Electronic Marvel
1985-The Unconventional University
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| A open University in 1985 |
31)1987-Pulse Polio Immunisation 
The drive against Polio,a viral infection which causes paralysis among children,was launched on October 2,1994 when India accounted for around 60% of the global polio cases but come in to force by advertisement by the Health Department of India on 1987.It was part of the Universal Immunisation Programme started by UNICEF to protect children against the 6 common infectious diseases,viz.diphtheria,tetanus,polio, tuberculosis,measles and whooping cough.Under the Pulse Polio Immunisation campaign,the Oral Polio Vaccine is administered to newborns and children under 5 years of age in three separate doses,at intervals of 1 month between each dose.This helps in greatly reducing the incidence of polio.To eradicate the disease,the wild virus has to be totally eliminated from the environment.And the best way to stop the polio virus is through repeated immunisation of all children.The immunisation campaign is, therefore,intensified to eradicate polio by the end of the year 2000.Polio can be considered totally eradicated if there are no cases reported from any part of the country for three consecutive years.
32)1988-Prithvi and Akash test-fired
India successfully test-fired its first tactical surface to surface missile Prithvi on February 25,1988,from Sriharikota.Built indigenously , Prithvi has a range capability of 250km with different types of payload warheads.Along with Prithvi,4 more missiles,viz.Trishul,Nag,Agni& Akash have also been successfully test-fired.Trishul is a short range surface-to-air missile while Nag is an anti-tank missile.Agni is an intermediate range ballistic two-stage missile.The fifth, Akash surface-to-air missile is the first multiple target missile.With the successful launch of these missiles,India has become the sixth country in the world to have integrated guided missiles capability.The man who has made this achievement possible and heads the country's missile development programme is Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, popularly known as the the Missile Man of India.He becomes the second scientist after Nobel laureate Sir C.V. Raman to be honoured with the Bharat Ratna for providing leadership in the development of science and technology in India.
32)1988-Prithvi and Akash test-fired
33)1989-The Voice of India
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| Dadasaheb Phalke award in 1989 to Mrs Lata Mangeshkar. |
The epic lady of the tag of women empowerment Mrs Lata Mangeshkar born on 28th September 1929 at Indore honoured as the Singing Queen and a contributor to Indian film industry with various Melodies songs ever which even also popular.When only a little girl,her father Dinanath Mangeshkar, himself a gifted performer,said practically that his daughter was born with the"Gift of the Gandhar(heavenly musician).Truly,Lata's is the magic voice.Lata's first public performance was in 1938 in a programme where she sang for a play produced by her father's drama company.Later she acted as Narad in a play titled Subhadra."But acting never gave me mental satisfaction,I only wanted to do playback singing...,"she confessed later.From playback singing in Marathi,she moved over to Hindi films in 1947.Since then, she has not looked back .With over 25,000 songs in Hindi& other languages,she gained an easy entry into the Guinness Book of World Records.Her soulful rendering of Ae mere watan ke logon moved Pandit Nehru to tears.Even after five decades,her golden voice keeps enthralling millions of Indians which leds her with various golden opportunity to get the reward of Dadasaheb Phalke award in 1989 and the various golden tag lines like "Voice of India","Queen of Melody","Voice of the Millennium"& "Nightingale of India".
34) 1994-Crowing Beauties
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| Indian beauties as Miss World in 1994. |
1994 saw two Indian beauties, Sushmita Sen& Aishwarya Rai emerge winners at international beauty pageants.On May 21,1994,18 year-old Miss India Sushmita Sen was crowned Miss Universe from amongst 77 participants from around the world in Manila.She was followed by Aishwarya Rai who was crowned Miss World from amongst 87 contestants at the Miss World Beauty Pageant in Sun City in November.Her success was sweeter as it came after 28 years,when Rita Faria was crowned Miss World.Beauty pageants are not just about beautiful girls.They are tests of contestants' intelligence, confidence and communication skills.Behind Sushmita Sen's and Aishwarya Rai's success was a team of dedicated beauticians, dieticians, stylists,fitness experts and elocution masters.Beauty pageants have become big business.
1994-The Telecom Revolution
35)1997-Golden 50
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| 15th August,1997(50 Golden Years). |
36)1998-Welfare Economics
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| Honoured Nobel Prize in 1998 |
Amartya Sen (born November 3,1993, Santiniketan, India), Indian economist&Professor was awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to welfare economics & social choice theory & for his interest in the problems of society's poorest members.He is the first Asian economist so honoured.Called the economist of the downtrodden, Professor Sen's fundamental concern is the well-being of people, especially the poor.His work on the causes of poverty& famine has led him to develop a 'poverty index',a measure widely used by the United Nations and other agencies to determine the level of poverty in a particular country.He passionately advocates investment in health, education and the creation of opportunities to improve the living standards of the poor.The first Indian to become the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, Professor Sen holds 28 doctorates conferred by universities and colleges around the world.In spite of his long years of living and working in the UK&USA, Professor Sen says,"I value retaining my Indian nationality".In 1999, Professor Sen was awarded the Bharat Ratna.
39)1999-Sir Bradman's Eulogy
Sir Donald Bradman,the legendary Australian batsman described Sachin Tendulkar as "Bonzer", a common term for an excellent&pleasant person,after an hour long meeting with him.Tendulkar however,feels that the best compliment a cricketer could ever get was when Bradman said,"I was very very struck with Sachin's technique& I asked my wife to come& have a look at him because,I said,I never saw myself play but I feel that this fellow is playing much the same I used to play by looking at him.I can't explain in detail,but it's just his compactness,& his stroke production & his technique,it all seemed to get as far as I I was concerned & that was how I felt."
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| The 2 maestros of Cricket-Sir Donald Bradman & Sachin Tendulkar. |
Sir Donald Bradman,the legendary Australian batsman described Sachin Tendulkar as "Bonzer", a common term for an excellent&pleasant person,after an hour long meeting with him.Tendulkar however,feels that the best compliment a cricketer could ever get was when Bradman said,"I was very very struck with Sachin's technique& I asked my wife to come& have a look at him because,I said,I never saw myself play but I feel that this fellow is playing much the same I used to play by looking at him.I can't explain in detail,but it's just his compactness,& his stroke production & his technique,it all seemed to get as far as I I was concerned & that was how I felt."
For Sachin,it was a rarest of rare compliments which is nothing less than the conferment of the Nobel Prize if the Swedish Academy had one for cricket!At 25,Sachin has become a formidable batsman with virtually no parallel to his long catalogue of records he has already registered.Described as a 'one man army',Sachin is the only batsman to have won most Man-of-the-Match awards till date.He is the only cricketer to appear on the cover of TIME magazine.It is in recognition of his unparalleled sportsmanship that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award(1997-1998)was bestowed on Sachin,the only cricketer to be so awarded.
1999-India's Own Space Vehicle
ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C2), successfully launched on 26th May 1999.Along with 3satellites simultaneously -The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite,IRS-P4(OCEANSAT),KITSAT-3 of Republic of Korea& DLR-TUBSAT of Germany from Sriharikota making a significant milestone in the Indian space. With this launch, India entered the multi-billion dollar international space market by offering its launch services to foreign satellites.Earlier India had to take the help of Russian &French launch vehicles to carry its satellites into orbit.Building its own satellite launch vehicle was a challenge for Indian scientists &engineers.It took 6 years just to develop the first experimental model.With the successful launch of three satellites in a single flight of PSLV,India entered a new era,both in terms of technological advancement& commercial launch services.
1999-The NET Revolution 
The first publicly available internet service in India was launched by state owned VIDESH SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED (VSNL)on 15 th August 1995.This services are introduced on a commercial scale.This opened new vistas for the people & ushered in a powerful technology which has changed the way computers work&the way people work with them.The Internet is a worldwide computer network.Its users can gain information on its millions of websites sitting in their homes or offices or go to the nearest cyber cafe to chat with a global audience or see movies.The Internet has become a powerful platform for advertising, marketing & electronic business.Electronic mail(popularly known as e-mail) facilitates instant communication at minimal cost.Its popularity is evident by the large number of Internet users who dial-up purely for mailing purposes.As Internet is assuming increasing importance,the demand for Internet trained professionals has gone up worldwide.
The first publicly available internet service in India was launched by state owned VIDESH SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED (VSNL)on 15 th August 1995.This services are introduced on a commercial scale.This opened new vistas for the people & ushered in a powerful technology which has changed the way computers work&the way people work with them.The Internet is a worldwide computer network.Its users can gain information on its millions of websites sitting in their homes or offices or go to the nearest cyber cafe to chat with a global audience or see movies.The Internet has become a powerful platform for advertising, marketing & electronic business.Electronic mail(popularly known as e-mail) facilitates instant communication at minimal cost.Its popularity is evident by the large number of Internet users who dial-up purely for mailing purposes.As Internet is assuming increasing importance,the demand for Internet trained professionals has gone up worldwide.
40)2000-Kaun Banega Crorepati
2000-The Wizard of 64 Squares 
Vishwanathan Anand, India's first Grand -master became the first Asian to win the coveted FIDE World Chess Championship on December 24,2000,by defeating Spain's Alexei Shirov in Tehran,Iran. Anand's razor-sharp thinking & rapid moves have earned him the nickname the 'Lightning Kid.'With his sustained excellence,he has twice won the Chess Oscar, being voted the most popular player in the world.Anand's feat is a dream come true for chess lovers in India,the land where the game originated.
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