Top stories of 2008

India witnessed many rise and falls in the year 2008. While some important events brought cheers to the millions of Indians, some others sent them into grief and despair. We have listed 8 events of 2008 that we consider most important.

1. Landmark Indo-US nuclear deal  

It was a deal that almost brought about the collapse of Manmohan Singh and the UPA government after the Left decided to withdraw support. A bilateral agreement on nuclear cooperation between the US and India was signed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and USPresident George W. Bush in 2008. The Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement will address the country’s energy needs by enabling it to access civil nuclear cooperation from the US and other countries.

2. Stock Market Crash in India

The year 2008 brought bad luck for the investors, as the global meltdown took its toll on Indian stock market. The BSE Sensex, which had touched 22k mark, fell down over the past few months to trade below 9k and then recovered in December to touch 10k mark again.

3. Sachin Tendulkar becomes highest run getter in Test Cricket

 Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar created history in the Mohali test against Australia, when he surpassed Brian Lara’s 11,953 runs to become the highest run-getter in test cricket. Sachin Tendulkar achieved this milestone in his 152nd test match.

4. Chandrayaan I - India’s first-ever Lunar Mission

On October 22, 2008, India made history by sending its first-ever lunar mission to moon. As the Chandrayaan I took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, India became the sixth country in the world to send a space mission to moon. Later, the Chandrayaan MIP landed on the surface of the moon with Indian tri-colour painted on its four sides. The Chandrayaan MIP also sent pictures of the moon’s surface.

 5.Abhinav Bindra wins Olympic gold  

2008 was truly a memorable year for Indian sport. Shooter Abhinav Bindra scripted history by winning India its first individual Olympic gold medal. Bindra totalled 700.5 points to win the men’s 10m air rifle title on August 11. The gold wasn’t, however, Abhinav’s only achievement in Beijing. The Indian, who was out of action with a career-threatening spinal injury since 2006, actually proved that the country had the capability to produce champions in Olympic sports other than hockey. 

6. Rs. 1 lakh Tata Nano - People’s Car launched

 One of the India’s largest car makers, Tata Motors had brought revolution in the car industry, by launching the Tata Nano - People’s Car. The Rs. 1 lakh Tata Nano is all set to fulfill the dreams of millions who could not afford to buy a car because of high prices. The Tata Nano was scheduled to hit the market in October 2008. However, it could not because of constant opposition from Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee in Singur. The Tatas later moved the Nano project out of Singur, West Bengal and embraced Narendra Modi’s Gujarat. The Tata Nano may be available in the market in early 2009.

7. Barack Obama scripts history  

Barack Obama won, but the real victor was America. The planet’s best-loved and often-reviled nation upheld the noble ideals of its founding by electing a mixed-race African-American as its 44th president, redeeming itself in the eyes of the world and its own people. On November 4, 2008, Obama, son of a Kenyan, rode on the American hunger for change and an ongoing demographic makeover to win a stirring election against the all-American war hero John McCain. 

 

8. Mumbai Terror Attacks - 26/11

 Although the year 2008 witnessed many terror attacks in the country, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks shook the nation and led to a massive outrage. 10 terrorists backed by Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Toiba, attacked CST, Nariman House, Hotel Trident Oberoi and Hotel Taj in Mumbai. They held the city to ransom for 60 hours.