10 most memorable covers

Jan 15, 1980: Election 1980

Indira Gandhi headed towards an overall majority with 291 seats out of the 529 to be declared. With the final results announced, Congress returned to power with a landslide majority and Mrs. Gandhi served as Prime Minister of India for the fourth time (1980-84).

March 15, 1983: A State Ravaged

The Nellie massacre in Assam oin the morning of February 18, 1983, left a bloody trail of ethnic cleansing. Almost all the Bengali Muslims who had crossed over from Mymensingh, now in Bangladesh, became the prime targets for the Assamese.

Nov 30, 1984: Passing Of An Era

In the almost five years since her re-election, India Today carried several stories extremely critical of Indira Gandhi's policies. But not once was any pressure brought to bear on the magazine to toe the line or desist from publishing anything. Mrs. Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh extremists on Oct 31, 1984.

Sept 15, 1989: Bofors Scandal

The politically explosive question that has dogged the country and come perilously close to destabilising the Rajiv Gandhi government was, who pocketed the Rs 64 crore that Bofors paid in commissions for India's acquisition of its 155 mm gun?

Nov 15, 1977: The Kapoor Erotica

Raj Kapoor demolished all accepted Indian film norms by permitting kissing on the screen, a phenomenon that was considered a taboo till 1977 with Satyam Shivam Sundaram. Starring Shashi Kapoor and the sultry sex goddess Zeenat Aman, Kapoor's film rocked the Indian film world with its sheer innovation.

Dec 31, 1992: Ayodhya Dispute

As though possessed, hardline Hindu activists demolished with demonic energy the historic Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. Till then, India had rarely found itself so vulnerable and humiliated among the international community.

Dec 31, 1984: Bhopal Gas Tragedy

The Bhopal gas tragedy, considered one of the world's worst industrial catastrophes, occurred on Dec 3, 1984, at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. "The name of the game is not to nail me to the wall but to provide for the victims of the disaster," Warren Anderson, then CEO of Union Carbide, had said.

April 15, 1977: Change of Guard

Morarji Desai became the prime minister after a landslide victory of the Janata coalition in 1977. In an interview with India Today, Desai said, "The first task before the new Government is to convince the people by deeds rather than tall talk that it means business."

May 31, 1977: Terror Through Torture

Reports of torture of Naxalites seeped out in '69 and '70. India Today investigations for this cover issue revealed stories on torture of a kind that would make the Nazi interrogators lick their lips in approval. The report spoke about an inspector, among many others, who had a special knack for women political suspects. He would make the women strip and trace his lit cigar all over them.

Feb 29, 1988: Rajiv's Changing Face

When he came into office, Rajiv Gandhi held out the promise of magical change, of dazzle and excitement. He carried an aura of danger about him, a man who was uneasy with the party machine that catapulted him to power. But he later appeared to be sluggishly mired in the status quo.