Google wasn't India's first search engine! Learn how Indians searched the internet in the 90s.

Google: Today, if we need information, the first name that comes to mind is Google. But did you know that the internet in India didn't start with Google?

Google: Today, if we need information, the first name that comes to mind is Google. But did you know that the internet in India didn't start with Google? In the late 90s, when computers and dial-up connections first reached homes, Indians were just entering the world of the internet, and Google didn't even exist at that time.

Rediff and Yahoo

In the 90s, when the internet was newly introduced, the online world of Indian users began with portals like Rediff.com and Yahoo!. These weren't just search engines, but were considered the gateway to the internet. People created their first email IDs on Rediff Mail, checked cricket scores and the latest news there, and used the search bar on that website to find information.

At that time, Yahoo! Google was the world's largest online portal, and most Indian users relied on it for information. Technology enthusiasts, meanwhile, used AltaVista because it was known for providing better and faster search results.

Slow Internet and Difficult Search

Connecting to the internet in the 1990s wasn't easy. Dial-up connections could take more than a minute to connect. Due to slow speeds, users preferred websites that provided more information on a single page, reducing the need to browse frequently.

However, early search engines were not very accurate. Websites were filled with numerous banners and advertisements, making it difficult to find the necessary information.

The Arrival of Google and the Internet Revolution

Google took over the world around 2000. It was completely different from other online portals, with a simple interface, no ads, and a focus solely on search. Google's greatest strength was its PageRank algorithm, which showed users the most relevant and accurate results. This technology was so accurate that people found it nothing short of magical.

Gradually, Indians' internet habits began to change. Instead of visiting portals like Yahoo! or Rediff, they would simply open Google. Searching the internet became known as Googling.