Matka originated as a game called Ankadar Jugar, when people would bet on the closing price of cotton in the New York stock exchange.
It became popular in the 1970s when Rhatan Khatri ran the matka racket in Mumbai. He was known for his honesty and had the daily cards drawn by well known celebrities or sometimes random members of the public. His relations with high society gave him credibility and there was a campaign to make him Prime Minister after the death of Indira Ghandi.
"Each election, Prime Ministerial candidates lay out their parties' platforms in campaign speeches. These speeches are more than just historical records; they tell us about national concerns and political obsessions, wars and drought, industry and society. They speak to - and in some cases, exploit - our aspirations and our fears. We've collected speeches by successful and unsuccessful candidates from every election from 1901 right up to the present day."
