The happenings of a particular decade, be it a war or any milestone in geopolitics, a spectacular scientific discovery or a technological breakthrough, can never be attributed to that particular span of ten years. Every major development is normally preceded by a process of evolution through many decades and gets a definitive shape over subsequent decades. Yet, the human mind has a tendency to perceive every milestone of development, good or bad, in the context of a specific period ~ a decade, a century.

By that logic, three decades of the last century had the most far reaching impact in the present global scenario ~ the 1940s, the 70s and the 90s. The 40s witnessed the rise of the Fascist powers in Europe, the Holocaust, the Second World War, first application of nuclear bombs in war, decline of Europe vis-à-vis emergence of USA in geopolitical importance, consolidation of the Communist nations, fall of colonialism in the new world order, beginning of the Cold War and formation of the United Nations. The 90s witnessed fall of Communism in east Europe and erstwhile Soviet Union, rise of Jihadi Terrorism, emergence of China and other South-east Asian nations as the new economic powerhouses of the world, communication revolution in the form of internet and mobile telephony and spectacular technological development in medical treatment. In India, the 40s witnessed the worst of the famines, rise of communal politics leading to partitioning of the sub-continent and independence.

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In the 90s, India witnessed the rise of coalition politics and liberalisation of the economy. In between came the 1970s which according to many writers was the turning point in geopolitics, in science and technology and in culture and sports. Interestingly, the books and the tele-films that came out on the events and personalities of the Seventies were mostly UScentric. “The Seventies; The Great Shift in American Culture, Politics and Society” by American historian........

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