TRAIL OF TERROR

It was almost a recap of the well-coordinated 7/7 bombings in London the previous year as seven explosions, within a span of 11 minutes, tore through packed commuter trains during rush hour, killing over 187 people and injuring hundreds in Mumbai, the financial capital of the country. Ripping through the heart of the city, powerful bombs exploded between 6.24 p.m. and 6.35 p.m. at Matunga, Mahim, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bhyander and Borivli. The plan hatched by Lashkar-e-Toiba’s Azam Cheema was simple, and was executed over a period of three months. Seven two-member teams—each comprising one Indian and one Pakistani—placed pressure-cookers packed with RDX and ammonium nitrate on the luggage racks of first class compartments. The damage was great, but Mumbai was remarkably resilient. That the blasts were a result of a cross-border conspiracy was not lost on anyone, with Manmohan Singh stating, “We are certain that these terror modules are instigated, inspired and supported by elements across the border, without which they cannot act with such devastating effect.”

FIRST CUT

The US became “a friend, a well-wisher”, to quote Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Marking a turning point in bilateral relations, India and the US signed the Henry J. Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act.

The Thar Express in Rajasthan made its way to Pakistan from Jodhpur, after 41 years.

DID YOU KNOW

India had a whopping 130 million mobile phone users in 2005, with the Capital joining the elite club of world cities thanks to the presence of over 10 million mobile phone users.

“I DIDN’T EXPECT TO WIN. I DON’T HAVE A SPEECH.”

So declared Kiran Desai, the low-key NRI author and daughter of Anita Desai, as she bagged the prestigious Man Booker Prize, the highest literary honour for contemporary fiction, for her novel The Inheritance of Loss. Laxmi Mittal, Britain’s wealthiest man and the world’s fourth richest individual, was also making world-beating news. He made corporate history by successfully taking over French steel giant Arcelor, the second largest steel company in the world after his own Mittal Steel, giving him an edge in the global market. It was a protracted battle with allegations of racism being bandied, but in the end, Mittal’s muscle won.

FAMILY DRAMA

The BJP lost one of its brightest young leaders when General Secretary Pramod Mahajan, who was shot by his brother Pravin, succumbed to bullet injuries after a 12-day struggle on May 3. On June 3, his son Rahul and secretary Vivek Maitra were rushed to hospital after imbibing a cocktail of drugs and drinks.

India Everywhere

India Inc finally announced its arrival to the world with an extravaganza at the year’s World Economic Forum meet at Davos, Switzerland. Brand India was publicised under an initiative spearheaded by the CII.

ELSEWHERE...

Israeli troops invaded Lebanon in response to Hezbollah’s abduction of two of its soldiers. Hezbollah declared open war against Israel two days later.

NASA's Stardust mission became the first to successfully return dust from a comet.

In Kuwait, women voted for the first time in the elections to the National Assembly.

Italy won the 2006 FIFA World Cup by beating France 5-3. Seen above is France’s Zinedine Zidane (right) headbutting Italy’s Marco Materazzi.

16 was the number of gold medals the country won in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

9.2 was the growth rate of the Indian economy in percentage terms between July and September.

2007: INDIA AT 60

DASHED HOPES

REWIND

On the back of two series wins at home, serenaded by movie stars and pop singers, the Indian cricket team went to the World Cup as sureshot semi-finalists and dangerous contenders. But defeat to Bangladesh in the opening game and capitulation to Sri Lanka meant the Caribbean campaign had all the energy of a deflating balloon. Rahul Dravid held on to his captaincy but garrulous Greg Chappell quit as coach and India struggled to come to terms with its earliest World Cup exit since 1979.

FIRST CUT

A court of law defined mental cruelty in a marriage in the case of Samar Ghosh vs Jaya Ghosh.

A Hollywood film was dubbed in Bhojpuri, making the heartland heartthrob Ravi Kissen’s voice that of Spiderman.

A condom bar opened in Chandigarh, urging customers to ‘get it on’ and harping on safety first, to address the aids problem.

THE BIG LEAP

Shilpa Shetty went international, without even doing a two-bit role in a Hollywood movie. Richard Gere’s kiss gave her a controversy, the lifeblood of a modern celebrity.

DID YOU KNOW

For the first time, India and China came together to agree on implementing measures to limit breeding and restrict the population of tigers raised in captivity.

“MARE HUE KO KYA MAARNA (WHY KILL THE DEAD)?”

Mayawati

That was Mayawati taking a dig at Mulayam Singh after her return to the throne of the country’s largest state. Call it social engineering or caste politics, but when the self-proclaimed champion of the Dalits won back Uttar Pradesh, she also found allies among the upper castes, who form 30 per cent of the state’s electorate. Even a vigorous campaign led by the rockstar-like Congress heir apparent Rahul Gandhi and a Mulayam-Amar-Amitabh joint effort couldn’t save the day, as Mighty Maya triumphed in a landslide victory, winning 206 of the 402 Assembly seats. In the 2002 elections, the BSP had won just 98 seats.

RAHUL GANDHI during the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls
“Once my family decides on something, it doesn’t go back. Whether it’s about India’s freedom or dividing Pakistan.”

Happily Ever After

An eager nation found itself waiting at the pearly gates of Bollywood’s most powerful family, as eligible bachelor Abhishek Bachchan tied the knot with India’s international face Aishwarya Rai. It might have been a private ceremony, but with pictures splashed all over the newspapers, it became the most public.

ELSEWHERE...

Cannes celebrated 60 years of its existence.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced his retirement in a year.

Nicolas Sarkozy was elected President of France, defeating Ségolène Royal.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer (below) died under mysterious circumstances during the cricket World Cup.

A state of Emergency was declared in Bangladesh by Iajuddin Ahmed.

3 major terrorist blasts hit the country this year so far—that on the Samjhauta Express in February, and in Gorakhpur and Hyderabad in May.

Index