Name:Raja Mitra
Email:sqlstar@mbox3.singnet.com.sg
Nomination:Saurav Ganguly
Reason why:When much else showed signs of crumbling, negativism and decay in most spheres like politics, sports and cricket, Saurav showed consistency, a positive attitude right through and an ability to let his performance soar well over the petty bickerings and infightings in the Indian cricket team. Bravo! We need many more achievers like him.

Name:Shriram Puliyur
Email:shriramp@hotmail.com
Nomination:Mahatma Gandhi
Reason why:For his selfless dedication, practice of ahimsa and the service to the poor, regardless of caste, creed or religion.

Name:Madhu Nambiar
Email:mnambiar@hotmail.com
Nomination:Mother Teresa
Reason why:India will grossly miss the lover of mankind, the angel for the downtrodden and a role model for many servers of the society. A great lady and a brave human being who truly touched and changed many lives for the better during her lifetime.

Name:Rupam Raja
Email:Rupam@asu.edu
Nomination:I K Gujral
Reason why:He has shown us the way to the promised land, if not taken us there.

Name:Suresh
Email:sramayan@hotmail.com
Nomination:K R Narayanan
Reason why:For upholding the cherished values of democracy by opposing the imposition of President's rule in UP. The first-ever President in independent India to ever do that.

Name:Anand Ramamoorthy
Email:ramaman@eng.auburn.edu
Nomination:I K Gujral
Reason why:Gujral stands out as a balanced person, a far cry from the power-hungry politicians of today. He is pragmatic when it comes to foreign policies and has tried to go on with the ongoing liberalisation. In a year which has witnessed a lot of political turmoil, he must be credited for keeping the government going. He is a model prime minister!

Name:Nagendra R Setty
Email:nshetty@hcla.com
Nomination:Abdul Kalam
Reason why:For his contribution to India's defence and space programme. For his sincere work in defence projects in spite of the politicisation of the defenve sector. He is an unsung hero! The Bharat Ratna has been given to him a bit too late

Name:Sameer Bandhu
Email:bandhu@topos.geo.msu.edu
Nomination: President K R Narayanan
Reason why:Because he has shown to India that the President in Indian democracy is not a dummy, and he can act responsibly and intelligently when the situation demands. Hats off to the way he handled the UP situation! Apart from being a dalit President, he is truly a charisma in the clouded Indian politics! Truly, the Man of The Year

Name:Tushar Pradhan
Email:Tushar.Pradhan@blr.sni.de
Nomination:President K R Narayanan
Reason why:He has shown some hope to millions of Indians by demonstrating that there is someone who still cares about the lofty ideals on which lies the foundation of this nation.

Name:Balaji S
Email:bsubra@rocketmail.com
Nomination:Diana Hayden
Reason why:When the world thinks of India as a corrupt, population-exploding country, she works as an ambassador for beauty, brains and the country has got more than snake-charmers!

Name:Anil Sharma
Email:anil_ks@hotmail.com
Nomination:Laloo Yadav
Reason why:I being in USA feel ashamed when people discuss our country's politics here. We have a politician like Laloo who has done wrong, and our top agency the CBI has said that, but no one can take action against him. Even our prime minister can't take action against him (then how can I nominate him Man of the Year). And more shameful is that he openly announced from jail that he will run the government from jail, and made his wife the CM (like kings in the old times). I have full respect of people like President Narayanan, Vajpayee and Abdul Kalam, but they don't deserve the Man of Year in "Mera Bharat Mahan"

Name:Prateek Banthia
Email:prateek@dial.pipex.com
Nomination:Saurav Ganguly
Reason why:For being the best Indian and probably the world cricketer this year. Also for singlehandedly beating the Pakis at Canada in the Sahara Cup, earlier on in the year.

Name:Karthik.K
Email:kkarthik@glue.umd.edu
Nomination:Professor Abdul Kalam
Reason why: Professor Abdul Kalam has shown us what can be achieved if one has the will and the courage to do it, in spite of the adverse circumstances one has to face. In today's world when every professional or a scientist or researchers... the list goes on, is jumping on the bandwagon to reach the USA, he has shown us that one can achieve greater heights being in India too. And I feel that it is befitting to nominate him as the Indian of the year in the year he was awarded the Bharat Ratna.His contribution to the Indias indigenous missile programme is too well known to be repeated. It was because of his detemination and hard work that Indias pride "Agni" made even the USA sit up and take notice. I wish him all the best and feel that there cannot be a better person than Professor Abdul Kalam..

Name:Varma
Email:dvrvarma@hotmail.com
Nomination:Chandra Babu Naidu
Reason why:He is a capable administrator to take India into the future.

Name:Ravi Krishnan
Email:ravik@instat.com
Nomination:Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi
Reason why:Keeping aside overly nationalistic sentiments on the state of politics, society, etc, my vote goes to the duo that has well and truly established the nation's reputation this year. I know that sports seems to be a "lighter" category to nominate someone from, but why not? I cannot think of any other personality who has propelled the excitement of Indians all over the world as much as Paes and Bhupathi. And talking of battling the odds, one has to still give it to these guys considering the poor infrastructure of sports in India today.

Name:Vandana Kumar
Email:vkumar@austin.ibm.com
Nomination:T N Seshan
Reason why:The only person who gave hope to Indians in their democracy in 1997. The current government system should be abolished and someone like him who has integrity and courage should be elected as the leader of our nation

Name:Savita
Email:savitak@rogers.wave.ca
Nomination:Arundhati Roy
Reason why:For having written a brilliant book and for getting the whole world talking about her in a way they would about Naipaul or Rushdie.

Name:Atul S Moghe
Email:Atul.Moghe@asu.edu
Nomination:President of India
Reason why:The way he sidelined the Cabinet recommnendation for President's rule in UP.

Name:Vineet Singh
Email:VINEET_SINGH@EMAIL.WHIRLPOOL.COM
Nomination:Mother Teresa
Reason why:THIS COUNTRY OF THE THE POOR AND THE HAPLESS SAW THEIR QUEEN ON A BED OF ROSES FOR THE FIRST AND LAST TIME. HER DEATH CHANGED AS MANY HEARTS AS HER LIFE CHANGED OTHERS's LIVES.

THE SAINT AND THE GODDESS WILL LIVE IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER. IT IS HARD TO FATHOM THAT PEOPLE LIKE THE MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY, AND THE BREED OF SCOUNDRELS (POLITICIANS) LIVE ON THE SAME PIECE OF LAND. SHE IS RIGHTFULLY THE "MOTHER OF THE NATION".

Name:Vamsi Krishna
Email:vanne@qntm.com
Nomination:P Chidambaram
Reason why:I think this person had a good influence on the financial situation of India. I would really like to see more such educated and decent people coming into Indian politics.

Name:Jayasarathy Mohanarajulu
Email:sarathy@niu.edu
Nomination:Leander Paes
Reason why:For his awe-inspiring feats on the tennis court along with Mahesh.

Name:Mahesh Ruikar
Email:mahesh_ruikar@rocketmail.com
Nomination:Dr A P J Abdul Kalam
Reason why:Obvious. He is truely "The" Bharat Ratna. Who had ever thought that India will perform outstandingly in its space programme?

Name:Balan G Raman
Email:balan@poboxes.com
Nomination:T N Seshan
Reason why:Singlehandedly almost cleaned up the electoral system in spite of opposition from the political system. Received admiration from common people of India. Could have won a Presidential election had our system been like the US political system. One of the recent good icons in a corrupt and politically manipulated bureaucracy.

Name:Chandra Mohan
Email:cmohan@att.com
Nomination:Palaniappan Chidambaram
Reason why:Any manouevre that distances the common man from the political establishment should be welcomed. Chidambaram, despite being an unalloyed politician himself, has acted to further free the populace from the economic shenanigans of the dumb 'scoundrels'. It is notable that he does not appear to gain personally from all this! Dr Abdul Kalam is a close second.

Name:Ramesh Balasubramanian
Email:bramesh@manu.com
Nomination:T N Seshan
Reason why:In a country where corruption is a way of life, he took the politicians to task and cleaned the elections.Even though his approach was not consistent all the time, he had the guts to clean up a part of our polity. We need more Seshans

Name:Raghuram Gandluri
Email:rgandluri@exchange.wcc.lucent.com
Nomination:Nara Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why:Everybody knows that all politicians are corrupt. Unlike all those who are in chair and do nothing, Babu's vision and his views about how a government should work, are resulting in a new form of Andhra Pradesh, particularly in the IT industry. Maybe there are allegations against him, maybe some of his plans aren't fruitful but the ideas behind them are just great. Otherwise, who would expect a chief minister to talk to a guy like Bill Gates and got him convinced to set up a development centre for MicroSoft in Hyderabad??

Name:Prateek
Email:Gupta
Nomination:Mother Teresa
Reason why:There can't be enough reasons to ask -- why not?

Name:Amit Saha
Email:amitsaha@hotmail.com
Nomination:Leander Paes
Reason why:His achievements and also brought Indian tennis to international recognition

Name:Srinivas
Email:pool@earthling.net
Nomination:Deepa Mehta
Reason why:At a time when 'the glorious Indian culture' (whatever that means) has become a word that is abused by all and sundry, comes along this master director and breaks all rules -- and taboos. The maker of Fire deserves more than just a paltry 'Indian of the year', but it is the least we can do to celebrate our differences, and to recognise people who dare to be different.

Name:Mannar Dhandapani
Email:mannard@hotmail.com
Nomination:Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why:For proving that politicians can also do something worth other than dirty politics.

Name:sujatha
Email:sujatha@mailcity.com
Nomination:Mother Teresa
Reason why:I am nominating Mother Teresa for this award for all the sacrifices she had done in her life time to help the downtrodden.

Name:MLN
Email:mln@cis.ksu.edu
Nomination:Mahesh Bhupathi
Reason why:Got us the first Grand Slam. Isn't that great?

Name:Krishna Mohan
Email:chitra_mohan@hotmail.com
Nomination:P Chidambaram
Reason why:The Deve Gowda government falls and with that fell our hopes of seeing through the most appreciated Budget ever presented. The UF and Chidambaram survived together with the Budget. During the debates one could see the anguish in Chidambaram for not being able to translate a dream into reality. Chidambaram cannot be categorised as selfless; he had vision and was a supremely confident person, who probably felt that he could not do anything wrong. Wish we could have more Chidambarams!

Name:shashikanth madugula
Email:smadugul@monet.vill.edu
Nomination:President K R Narayanan
Reason why: He showed that the President of India is not just a rubber stamp and can, and should take decisions on his own for the betterment of the country

Name:Ernest Joseph
Email:jonleif@angelfire.com
Nomination:P Chidambaram
Reason why:I wish you had some simple criteria laid down for selecting Indian of the year. To narrow down the field, I think a person chosen must be alive for the entire year to be nominated. Now said that, P Chidambaram's contributions as finance minister are so huge that I do not see any other single person who has contributed, and made an impact on the progress in India during 1997 as he has.

Name:Ravi Kiran Gurram
Email:gurram@cig.mot.com
Nomination:Dr Abdul Kalam
Reason why:His visions and dream projects have proved a great asset to India's image worldwide. The world takes notice of India not because it has poverty, overpopulation or messed up politics, but for its power to indigeneously develop technology whenever the West blocked the know-how. Most of his projects starting from Agni to LCA have borne fruit in the past year. I just wish the politicians will leave him alone by not dragging him as a communal idol.

Name:Indu Mudigonda
Email:imudigonda@otb.com
Nomination:Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why:This humble common man has always provided the necessary moral and spiritual guidance for many. In spite of the muck around him (politics), his detachment from pettiness, his statesman-like approach to national issues, his "asteya" (quality of not procuring for personal benefit) have always provided the much needed hope for our nation. He always reminds me of what unselfish dedication to our motherland can be.

Name:Harish Kakde
Email:hkakde@ctel.com
Nomination:The Indian
Reason why:Don't you think it's about time the comman person deserved some recognition? They help carry the country forward despite overwhelming hurdles.

Name:Kiran Pillarisetty
Email:kpillarisetty@hotmail.com
Nomination:Mother Teresa
Reason why:She is "MOTHER" Teresa.... Mother of the poor and helpless.

Name:Rajiv P
Email:manithan1@hotmail.com
Nomination:Kiran Bedi
Reason why:She is one of the few people in public services who is honest, brave and confident. She deserves more credit because she is a woman in a male dominated country. No matter what, she will always be my hero(ine). No matter where she is transferred, nobody can stop her from carrying on her reforms.

Name:Ravi Balasubramanian
Email:ravib@ganz.co.nz
Nomination:I K Gujral
Reason why:Was an effective minister for foreign affairs, and as PM till date, has identified himself as honest and not corrupt, as is the nature of our politicians. Sad that he will not be able to continue his stint any longer.

Name:Ajith Nair
Email:ajith@ricochet.net
Nomination:K R Narayanan
Reason why:He looks like a good person among the national leaders.

Name:Afraz Ahmed
Email:afrazn@hotmail.com
Nomination:Abdul Kalam
Reason why:Abdul Kalam is a classic example of what a human being can achieve with limited resources. A bachelor by choice, Dr Kalam is wedded to science. I am glad the government at last honoured a scientist.

Name: Vikram Vyas
Email:vikram@geek.sph.unc.edu
Nomination:President K Narayanan
Reason why:He rose above partisan politics and established a glowing example of how a public figure should behave. It would not be an exaggeration to say that in this turbulent year of unprincipled politics, he emerged as the saviour of Indian democracy.

Name:Vijayaraghavan
Email:vijay@bob.lc.lucent.com
Nomination:K R Narayanan
Reason why:I am nominating President K R Narayanan for this, because he has made a fantastic job in rising to the nation's top post, through his excellent hard work, instead of just taking advantage of his caste. He also played a fantastic role in returning the Cabinet's decision in dismissing the UP government headed by Kalyan.

Name:OmPrakash K Sivanesan
Email:Om.Sivanesan@mci.com
Nomination:K R Narayanan
Reason why:For leading my country when in turmoil with grit and honesty

Name:Himanshu Shah
Email:hshah@symantec.com
Nomination:Sachin Tendulkar
Reason why:Well, talk about his age and his achievements. Sachin, not even 25 as yet, is facing more pressure than the Gujrals and Deve Gowdas of the year.

His job is not only to perform well but also is to stand by his team. The Indian team today is far better what it was 5 years or 20 years back in history.

It is the youth who can change the India of tomorrow and no one else. They are the ones who are building the society of the 21st century.

Name:Srinivas Ramdas Sunder
Email:ramdas@mba1998.hbs.edu
Nomination:K R Narayanan
Reason why:Proved to us that the Constitution is more than just a football that cheap politicians (in which I lump I K Gujral, notwithstanding his kindly grand fatherly image) can kick around for free. Without our Constitution, we cease to exist. The President, by safeguarding its integrity, saved us all.

Name:Sougata Mukherjea
Email:sougata@ccrl.sj.nec.com
Nomination:K R Narayanan
Reason why:For having the courage to stand up to powerhungry and unprincipled politicians.

Name:Vinay Chandra
Email:vinay_chandra@hp.com
Nomination:P Chidambaram
Reason why:For keeping his focus and his feet as clean as possible while dancing in the muck all around him.

Name:S S Vaidyanathan
Email:ssv@usa.net
Nomination:Leander Paes
Reason why:The only Indian who figured in the news for reasons that didn't embarrass other Indians.

Name:Parag Vaidya
Email:pvaidya@visa.com
Nomination:Ex-PM Inder Kumar Gujral
Reason why:Candle in the wind !!

Name:Manish Agarwal
Email:agarwalm@asme.org
Nomination:President K R Narayanan
Reason why:The President is the person who is most worthy of this title. Of course there are many others, but it is he who makes or breaks the life of the near billion people, who call themselves Indians. Amidst all this chaos, the political parties have created in our 50-year-old nation, it is he who stands like a 'feeling rock'. I say feeling because he feels for India's citizens while remains undeterred in his resolve to follow the right course of action, when it comes to dealing with the scums of the nation -- the political parties.

Name:Rajagopal Srinivasan
Email:Srinivasan.Rajagopal@gecapital.com
Nomination:President K R Narayanan
Reason why:For his right decision at the right time during the UP crisis

Name:Keerthik Sasidharan Nair
Email:knair@pearson-college.uwc.ca
Nomination:K R Narayanan
Reason why:In an age where mediocrity reigns supreme. When the social fabric is so tenuous that people still sadistically enjoy their brethren's blood in the name of caste. When mockery is made of the highest seat of justice. An age where the rulers of the land resort to every conceivable immoral act, and all such extreme examples is not an exciting time to rule a complex bunch of people like the Indians.

However, the election of K R Narayanan was a breath of fresh air in an extremely stale atmosphere of the Parliament and parliamentary democracy. To say that he was elected for his caste would be an absolute injustice on him, on our 'hopefully' widening mindset, on the millions in India who look upon him.

Saying that it is India's great fortune to have such a talented person at its helm is tantamount to a cliche, but not saying it would be a sin. He makes me proud, with respects to his past deeds and in the display of his being a lawabiding citizen in an increasingly lawless society, on being an Indian and above all a human being.

Name:Subhajyoti Bandyopadhyay
Email:s_bandyopadhyay@mgmt.purdue.edu
Nomination:Mahesh Bhupathi-Leander Paes
Reason why:It seems ironical, and downright sad when one has to choose the best not through a process of addition, but that of subtraction. It was the year when we could have looked back with pride: we turned five-oh. Instead, we try our best to brush under the carpet bootleggers who go by the name of politicians. Power-hungry ignoramuses who form what is known as the Indian Cricket Board, which is supposed to serve the opium to the masses. Or the citizens of the world economy who hid under governmental aanchals at the whiff of competition. One could go on.

But then one looks at one bright spot: one spot which we could show to the world with justifiable pride. The story of two youngsters willing to take on the world, and coming out tops. The story of indefatigable belief in each other, and the belief to be the best.

A story which makes us hope to start our own stories again at "Love all".

Name:Sivaram Parameswaran
Email:sivaram_ap@hotmail.com
Nomination:P Chidambaram
Reason why:When the whole nation was paying the price for the cheap political game played by every existing party, this man was right at the helm and taking care of business. Without a Chidambaram or Manmohan Singh, it is a nightmare to think about the Indian economy, when the whole political system has become such a joke. Hats off to Chidu !!!

Name:Dr N V Thakkar
Email:drnvelji@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in
Nomination:Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why:Clean politician with patriotic political background

Name:Kamlesh Thakur
Email:prime@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in
Nomination:P Chidambaram
Reason why:THE FINANCEBILL, 1997, HAS BEEN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF ALL THE HAPPENINGS IN THIS YEAR.

THERE WAS THE NARASIMHA RAO GOVERNMENT WITH A DR MANMOHAN SINGH AS THE DISTINGUISHED WELL RESPECTED PROFESSIONAL FOR THE FINANCE MINISTER, AND THERE WAS A DEVE GOWDA LED COALITION GOVERNMENT WITH A CHIDAMBARAM FOR THE SAME POST.

THE CHIDAMBARAM BUDGET TOOK AWAY ALL THE GLORY FROM THE DIMINISHING SHINE OF MANMOHAN REFORMS AND POLISHED THE BILL TO REALLY SHINE TO MEET OUR AMBITION AND YET BALANCE THE BUDGET.

THIS IS THE MOST HISTORIC CONTRIBUTION ONE WOULD EXPECT IN A DEMOCRACY LIKE OURS. HAS THIS NOT CONTRIBUTED TO:

CONTINUING THE DOWNTREND IN THE RATE OF INFLATION,

ARRESTING THE SPECULATIVE RISE IN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET

LOWERING THE INTEREST RATES

BRINGING THE COMMON MAN MORE REALISTICALLY CLOSER TO HIS GOALS!!!

P CHIDAMBARAM IS THE ONLY MAN WHO COULD ACCOMPLISH THIS.

KAMLESH THAKUR

Name:Pradeep Chakraborty
Email:pchakra@asiansources.com
Nomination:Sitaram Kesri
Reason why:Despite all that's happened, Chacha has managed to keep the Congress united under him so far. He even decided to topple Deve Gowda, fully aware that the Congress did not have a majority in the House. And his gamble paid off, when despite tall claims of the UF leaders that "we won't change our leader", they dumped Deve Gowda for Gujral. Even now, the Congress has won the battle over the Jain Commission report, thanks to Kesri. Gujral and the UF are out for good.

I hope the country learns from the experience of the past year that voting BJP or UF is not a solution. Both like the Congress are equally power-hungry. At least, in 1987, the Congress didn't come to power as they were short of a majority. But the BJP takes the cake -- a 13-day government at that. Whatever be the outcome of the elections, if held, Kesri is my Indian of the year for taking some bold decisions. Hope he can translate that for the country in the driver's seat.

Name:Dalbir Khubbar
Email:dkhubbar@hotmail.com
Nomination:I K Gujral
Reason why:He is the only PM who can be compared with the late Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Name:Santanu Ghose
Email:aghose@airmail.net
Nomination:Dr APJ Kalam
Reason why:If Dr Kalam can get going with re-usable missiles that he claimed to have developed, it will finally give India the respect it deserves. Also by extending Agni to 5000+ km range it will finally pursuade Uncle Sam not to try to keep India down -- simple reason: Uncle Sam does not like to tangle with those countries that can retaliate if attacked. This is amply shown by the US dealing with China. China gets all the trade and sale of nuclear technology because China has missiles which can hit the west coast of US. If Dr Kalam can make operational the weapons he is talking about that will assure a Security Council seat.

Name:Sabeshan Kanagalingam
Email:skanagal@chem.utoronto.ca
Nomination:P Chidambaram
Reason why:For continuously liberalising trade policies that will finally give India a proper footing in the world global market.

Name:Dr Rakesh H Mehta
Email:drmehta@worldnet.att.net
Nomination:P Chidambaram
Reason why:He has relentlessly pursued the liberalisation beliefs for the Indian economy within the framework of the world market. His resilience at bouncing back to the political arena and transcending that cesspool if you will, to maintain the focus on important issues for the country is truly exemplary. He certainly is the ace amongst the Indian political deck of jokers.

Name:Vikram Somani
Email:vsomani@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in
Nomination:Nobody
Reason why:All the best Indians go out of this country and the foreigners get the best out of these Indians.

Why these people leave their country..... You should have nominations for the "Worst Indians". I would love to read about them.

Name:Susmita Das
Email:sush7971@hotmail.com
Nomination:Mother Teresa
Reason why:Without her, the poor and the destitute would be just existing not living. She has done more for the common masses than any of the politicians ever promised to do.

Name:Sundar Sankaran
Email:sunsan@wipsys.soft.net
Nomination:K R Narayanan
Reason why:We are living in an era where politics has become synonymous with corruption, nepotism, caste and crime, not necessarily in that order. In these troubled times, when the temptation is to tread the beaten path, President Narayanan has shown great courage and sagacity by ploughing a lonely furrow and standing up to the unscruplous politicians who seek to rape the Constitution (pardon the usage, but that's exactly what it is!).

As a man of unquestioned integrity and more importantly, one who has not played on the sentiments by cashing in on his lower-caste origins, he stands out from his ilk. In my opinion, 100 words is just not enough to sing his praises.

Name:prasad Haldule
Email:haldulpd@email.uc.edu
Nomination:Mr Chidambaram Finance Minister
Reason why:

Name:Mastram
Email:mastram@hotmail.com
Nomination:Bansi Lal
Reason why:He is the only politician who remained firm even if it meant losing his vote bank. His decision to reduce subsidies is unique in Indian politics.

Name:Prasad
Email:phaldule@uceng.uc.edu
Nomination:P Chidambaram
Reason why:He is the only man in Parliament who has worked sincerely and is always thinking about the economic reforms, so as to make India economically stronger.

Name:Ashok Subramaniam
Email:subashok@hotmail.com
Nomination:P Chidambaram
Reason why:The genius finance minister showed his peers that he stands by his word of opening up the Indian economy, and bringing in the much awaited reforms. This has consolidated India's position as a dominant player in the world and has opened the eyes of the West who viewed India as a closed door.

Name:J.Bhaskaran
Email:jbhaski@hotmail.com
Nomination:Mother Teresa
Reason why:Do I have to express the reasons in words ? And even if so, will it be possible for a simpleton like me?