Born in 2009

3 Idiots became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films ever made — its message about the pressures of Indian education and the importance of passion over grades resonated with millions of families. The general election returned the Congress-led UPA under Manmohan Singh. India was growing again after the financial crisis blip.

The iPhone had arrived properly, and the smartphone age was beginning to transform communication, commerce, and culture faster than any previous technology.