Chandigarh's breaking news 60 years ago

Before Sector 17 came up, Sector 22 was the city centre of the City Beautiful. Staying in a house next to Nehru Park, it used to be our playground when not in use for political rallies and protests. As a 10-year-old, I was a witness to intense nationalism, food scarcity, rationing and patriotic fervour around the period of 1965 India-Pak conflict. With my two elder brothers who were studying in Panjab University and my father often discussing political happenings, I was drawn to current affairs.

Radio news bulletins (at fixed hours) were much sought after, and there had to be pin drop silence during these news bulletins. The Tribune was the only other source of daily news updates. We also had to note and write news headlines on the school bulletin board before the morning assembly.

The Tribune had an office opposite the Sector 22-C market. It had a big black bulletin board where alphabets could be inserted. Every evening at a fixed time, a large crowd of curious onlookers would gather to watch “spot news” consisting of three or four major news headlines that used to be pegged on the board using large alphabet pegs. It used to be the “breaking news” of the day! There would be then exchange of ideas and views on the developments among the onlookers. As a child it was fascinating to watch, heated but civil discussions at times, which were in total contrast to the TV debates of today.

Rakesh Kochhar, Chandigarh