Indian Of the Year

NDTV and CNN-IBN are bringing out their usual Indian of the Year Awards 2008. I also am giving my Indian of the year awards. Any sponsor would do :) Till then the awards are called PANKAJ Indian of the Year 2008 awards. You may not agree with my choice but here it goes.

POLITICS

1. Dr. Manmohan Singh for carrying out the nuclear deal with US and actually emerging out as a real politician.

2. Sheila Dixit for becoming the CM of Delhi for a record third time, especially in the aftermath of the 26/11 attacks.

3. Omar Abdullah for taking a principled stand in Politics and being the CM of a very very complex state. Just hear his speech in the Parliament on the nuclear deal.

SPORTS

1. No prizes for guessing, Abhinav Bindra for bringing India's first gold medal at the Olympics, despite of the government.

1. First again,Saina Nehwal for being one of India's youngest and finest badminton players.

3. The King of Chess, Vishwanathan Anand for winning the World Chess Championship in Bonn.

BUSINESS

1. Ratan Tata, for bringing out the NANO and for being a mascot for corporate India.

2. C B Bhave for his role as SEBI regulator. In the disastrous year for Business, I am not able to think a person who stands out in this category.

ENTERTAINMENT

1. The channel COLORS for their out of the box thinking bringing great shows like Khatron ke Khiladi, Balika Vadhu and Jai Shri Krishna usurping Ekta Kapoor as the queen of Television. Bigg Boss 2 and Ek Khiladi, Ek Haseena were quite popular too.

2. Small budget films on the common man like A Wednesday, Amir, Mumbai Meri Jaan, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye.

UNSUNG HEROES

1. M Annadurai and other scientists working on Chandrayaan- India's successful lunar mission bringing us in the elite club of space powers.

2. Prakash and Mandakini Amte for continuing the legacy of Baba Amte.

GLOBAL INDIAN

1. The musical genius, AR Rehman for putting India in the global map and enchanting global audiences with his score in Slumdog Millionaire.

2.Salman Rushdie for winning the Booker of Bookers for his exquisitely beautiful Midnight's Children.

INDIAN OF THE YEAR

The Indian soldier who continues to lay down his life for the country. The heroes of Mumbai- Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar, M.Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Karamvir Kang, Tukaram Omble, the NSG, the TAJ Staff, the announcer at Chatrapati Sivaji Station and so many many people who lost their lives in that horrific attacks of 26/11. The city of Mumbai deserves a special mention.The concerned citizen, clamouring for change in the system- all these people are and will always be our heroes.