Born in 1951

The first general election was approaching, and political excitement was everywhere. Millions were learning what it meant to vote for the first time — including women and the poorest citizens, a radical idea for its era. Bollywood was booming, with Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor becoming household names.

The smell of freshly printed newspapers and the clatter of hand-operated presses filled every town. India was finding its voice, one ballot and one film at a time.