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1947-2008-India-Roundup
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, with-out 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.
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.
FANUKT 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 publicized 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. See 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.
Courtesy By India Today
