Over the last 50 years, a few happenings grabbed our attention. And we have taken a strong stand on some of these. Here’s an incomplete list.
THE teenage YEARS
The 20th annual issue (Jan-Feb 1990), a 200-page tome began with a dramatic statement. Editor Viswanathan said that the most signifiant aspect of the last 20 years was neither the Green Revolution nor Pokhran 1; neither the launch of Aryabhatta, nor the giant leap in Communications; neither the spectacular achievements in the petro sector nor the revolutionary changes in the electronic industry; neither the massive spread of television network nor the new-found thrust in exports; … but something else.
Momentous though these were, the most momentous of them all was the growing stature of the Indian voter who survived the innumerable attempts made to reduce it: through the emergency in 1975-77, through the powerful mafia that developed rigging, booth capturing and intimidation into an art and through the growing money power. These decades were truly marked by the power of the ballot.
Silver jubilee and the sea change
“Morarji Desai to Manmohan Singh, the sea change in budget making,” said the cover of the silver jubilee edition in March 1993.
A review of the 25 years under the caption, “Hand rickshaws to hi-tech. Yes, the growth is impressive” was an exhaustive survey, recalling the rule of Indira Gandhi, arrival of C N Annadurai, the brief glow of George Fernandes, takeover of the kazhagam movement first by M Karunanidhi and then by M G Ramachandran, the growth of industries (“The Seventies almost fully belonged to BHEL”), the increasing sway of television, the opening of the airwaves to private players, the magic of Sam Pitroda and the consumer revolution, integration through music, and more.”
The editor concluded on a moving note:
We dedicate this Silver Jubilee Number to the millions who dreamed and toiled to reach this goal.
Ruby jubilee
IE celebrated completion of 40 years, with the Editor recording with pride the completion of four decades of this unique publication, the only one of its genre in the southern region.
We have changed our focus from presenting economic news to in-depth research, analyses and comments on developments in various facets of the economy through experts. From our next issue IE will be a monthly with more pages and much wider coverage of the economy.
The refurbished May 2008 issue made this promise to its devoted readers, “..dailies vie with one another on extensive coverage of politics, disaster, crime, page 3 celebrities, etc. Development news is not considered essential for expanding readership. One thus sees more reportage of farmers’ suicides rather than on constructive research, analysis and solutions to address issues of rural poverty. IE has been devoting a lot of attention to the imperative of improving farmers’ incomes through productivity increases. IE will continue its focus on such issues.”
The promise has been kept.
