Name: Anshul Gupta
Email: anshulgupta@hotmail.com
Nomination: I K Gujral
Reason why: He is one of the few persons who did not buckle under the pressure. Otherwise, who in India ever wanted to leave his chair and that too of the prime minister? I am sure it is very unfortunate for the country to lose him, but then the jungle does not let a parrot rule however wise he may be.

Name: Guruprasad Padmanabhan
Email: guruprasad@cyberdude.com
Nomination: Mother Teresa
Reason why: In a great country filled with opportunists, 99% corrupt politicians and honest-to-god businessmen, with a singleminded devotion towards making a quick buck, here was a noble soul (not even Indian by birth) who gave all without any expectations. Without any craving for publicity and a single minded devotion towards helping the lesser mortals of our society. It was a real pity that her sacrifice was not fully acknowledged due to the overwhelming publicity received due to Lady Diana's death.

Name: RaguPathi
Email: rmuthusa@hotmail.com
Nomination: I K Gujral
Reason why: He, as a foreign minister and then as PM, did contribute to improve the relations with other countries. Moreover, he's clean and really worried about India and its corruption.

Name: Manoj Pillay
Email: tulip@bom3.vsnl.net.in
Nomination: Sitaram Kesri
Reason why: His mission of giving each politician a chance to become the prime minister is very appealing.

Name: Mahendra Thacker
Email: thacker.mahendra@mailexcite.com
Nomination: Shri P Chidambaram
Reason why: He made a strong case for privatisation of the public sector on the plea that it will help them become more competitive. This too in the face of strong opposition from the new power brokers from the last government.

Name: Samarvir S Minhas
Email: ssm4288@megahertz.njit.edu
Nomination: Mother Teresa
Reason why: YOU WILL SAY, IT'S FOR INDIAN NOMINATIONS ONLY, AND I SAY TELL ME ONE WHO CAN COMPARE WITH HER, SELFLESS, FOREVER GIVING, COURAGEOUS PERSONA.

I MEAN SHE COULD SAY THINGS AND GET THEM DONE, BE IT PRESIDENT CLINTON OR PRO-CHOICE GROUPS OR WHOEVER. OUT OF, WHAT NOW 100 MILLION, IF IT TAKES ONE YUGOSLAV TO EMBRACE THE POOR THEN IT IS SHE WHO IS MORE PURELY INDIAN THAN ANY ONE OF US.

Name: Darshan K Deora
Email: darshan@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in
Nomination: Anil and Mukesh Ambani
Reason why:Businessmen of the year 1997

Name: Samarth Agarwal
Email: samartha@hotmail.com
Nomination: Sachin Tendulkar
Reason why: For the way he has lead the Indian Cricket team.

Name: Manoj Varkey
Email: mvarkey@hotmail.com
Nomination: Isaignani Illayaraja
Reason why: This man is undoubtedly the best musical talent this country has ever produced. From a nameless village in Tamil Nadu, this man has risen to such great heights. THE FIRST INDIAN TO COMPOSE A SYMPHONY!! And to think this man has not received the DadaSaheb Phalke yet!! Over 850 movies to his credit and almost everyone of them a masterpiece. Those juries have not yet found it befitting to honor this genius. Why not us? My choice for the Indian of the year -- Maestro Illayaraja!

Name: Guruprasad Mysore
Email: gpmysore@michiana.net
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: The most important characteristic about a leader is his vision and his ability to motivate people towards realising that vision. In this country of mediocre "leaders", Mr Naidu is like a whiff of fresh air. His vision of using IT for the development of AP is really encouraging. In my opinion, if Mr Naidu is even partially successful in achieving his dreams, he would have done a great service to AP and India. I nominate him as the Man of the Year for starting the IT revolution in India.

Name: Raghuvir T Rayalu
Email: deyyam@purdue.edu
Nomination: Dr Abdul Kalam
Reason why: For demonstrating that self reliance doesn't mean inferior technology and pushing the space programme with perseverance and dedication. He has paved the road to success that the rest of the nation needs to follow. Chandrababu Naidu would be second, for he has shown that governance is not all politics. His only selfish desire is the development of Andhra Pradesh.

Name: Madhavan
Email: madav@chem.purdue.edu
Nomination: Shri T N Seshan
Reason why: I just browsed through the various other nominations. To my mind come two persons Mother Teresa and T N Seshan. Seshan gets the nod because, he had tried what Mother did not try. He tried to cure the cause of the various epidemic diseases which still remain as the only drawback in India's growth. He did try to bring the politicians to ground and wanted to remove the disease causing germs. Will he get a chance?

Name: Anandam. V Mamidipudi
Email: anand@calypso.sr.unh.edu
Nomination: A R Rahman
Reason why: Far away from all the stench of politics, from the constant failures of Indian cricketers, from the pyrrhic victories of Mahesh and Leander, only one voice rings loud and clear on how pure India actually is. One voice accompanied by music that symbolises passion, patriotism and love for the country. An unbridled cry for the health of the country, and all in melody..... all due to A R Rahman.

Name: Vikas Nehru
Email: nehru@almaden.ibm.com
Nomination: Mother Teresa
Reason why: Ask every child that has known hunger, the reason why. Ask every leper that has felt solitude, the reason why. Ask every soul that she has touched, the reason why. Ask every person that she has inspired, the reason why. Ask yourself, the reason why. And then ask GOD, why he is not more like Mother Teresa.

Name: Vivekanand Gudena
Email: Gudena@rocketmail.com
Nomination: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi
Reason why: Their names are worth a hundred words. The politicians are corrupt to the core and India has not gone any far ahead in other areas. But these boys have made India proud and have given a place to India at the international level. They have sure made an impression on every Indian.

Name: Partho Mitra
Email: partho@bom4.vsnl.net.in
Nomination: Saurav Ganguly
Reason why: The man who rose to the occasion and fought all the negatives to emerge as the most promising player of the world, and in turn proving to be a role model for the rest of the generation to follow.

Name: Dr. Pawan Saharan
Email: saharan@bom3.vsnl.net.in
Nomination: MOTHER TERESA
Reason why: MY NOMINATION WILL BE MOTHER TERESA BY ALL MEANS. MOTHER HAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT, NOT ONLY MILLIONS OF CRITICALLY ILL AND DYING PEOPLE, DESTITUTES AND HOMELESS, BUT HAS TAUGHT US THE LESSON OF BECOMING REAL HUMAN BEINGS

HER SAD BUT EXPECTED DEMISE HAS BROUGHT THE PEOPLE OF ALL RELIGIONS, CULTURES AND NATIONALITIES TOGETHER AT ONE GLOBAL PLATFORM TO REMIND US.

Name: Raman Trikkur
Email: RamanTV@aol.com
Nomination: P Chidambaram
Reason why: A rare breed. A well educated, honest politician and a decent man who worked hard to strengthen Indian economy amidst all the chaos that was going on around him. If the word "Clean Politician" is still not an oxymoron it is because of people like him.

Name: S Sri Raghuram
Email: sivalanka@mailcity.com
Nomination: K R Narayanan
Reason why: For upholding the dignity of the highest office by asking the Cabinet to reconsider it's decision to impose Presidential rule in UP. It is the first decision of its kind by any president of Independent India. And hats off to him for showing the world that there are still some people in Indian politics who can uphold ethics, a word which has became almost alien to Indian politics. He's an example to follow. He has set very high standards for the highest office. He richly deserves to be the "Indian of the Year" for saving the face of Indian politics, and for his great decision of the year.

Name: Prasad Sundararajan
Email: s-prasad@worldnet.att.net
Nomination: K R Narayanan
Reason why: KRN has amply proved his credentials in upholding national interests even in the nascent days of his presidency! For restoring the democratic values of the Indian Constitution by sending back the UF government's decision to dismiss the UP government. By giving a time to all parties to prove a majority before dissolving the Parliament against the evil designs of Kesri.

Name: Namit Sharma
Email: namjazzy@hotmail.com
Nomination: Arundhati Roy
Reason why: It's simple, really. In between all those god awful mike throwing politicians constantly conniving, plotting, planning and eventually getting us and themselves nowhere, here is one Indian who truly did us proud. She wrote a great book, but that's just one reason. She won a Booker prize and that again is just another reason. What makes me nominate Arundhati is the fact that India has finally given the literary world (as also the world at large) our very own cultural icon. What makes it better is that there is something very nice and positive about Roy- a virtue which seems to be missing in our everyday lives. Also, through the book, she has managed to spread word about India. She almost has it all. Looks good, is intelligent, articulate and of course a great writer.

Name: Sashi Velnati
Email: sbvenkat@mailhost.ecn.ou.edu
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: He decided the fate of two prime ministers of India. He stayed in the background, but was clearly the most talked about man in the political and administrative circles.

Name: Kuldeep Singh
Email: kuldeep@eng.sun.com
Nomination: I K Gujral
Reason why: The most honest and uncorrupt PM of India so far. He had his diplomatic vision to take India on to the global horizon, instead of fighting on a communal and cast basis. I wish he had continued as our PM to deliver all his promises.

Name: Venkatesh
Email: venkateshmn@rocketmail.com
Nomination: I K Gujral
Reason why: One should really appreciate the way he has tackled situations both at the national and international level. Under his prime ministership, the government could run smoothly and do duties for what it has been formed, amidst the threats of the Congress.

Name: Ramesh Yerneni
Email: ramesh0@hotmail.com
Nomination: Sathya Sai Seva Samithi
Reason why: Sathya Sai Seva Samithi is an organisation which runs a university, a super speciality hospital, colleges and several other programs FREE of cost, without any regard to caste, creed or religion. This year they completed a water supply project in Ananthpur in AP at a cost of Rs 300 crores, and did not take a single rupee from the government. To do this they sold some of the charity properties and took a loan of Rs 100 crores from a bank.

Sathya Sai Baba even showed his readiness to sell the building where he lives, if money is still not sufficient but insisted all villages in that area get clean drinking water. This is just one instance of several of their services. Most of the people worked free for this project under the inspiration of Baba. Can you name an organisation in the world which undertook a Rs 300 crore project on its own without any organisational or governmental assistance and completed it in two years successfully, what governments could not do in 50 years?

Fluoride problem in water in this area caused physical deformation among children and other health problems. Why great organisations like this don't get any recognition or ever get Nobel prizes for their service to millions? Shouldn't we, at least, realise and respond to their love for us?

Name: Mustak Shaikh
Email: mshaikh@dlwc.nsw.gov.au
Nomination: Professor Abdul Kalam
Reason why: For his vision and achievements which makes every Indian proud.

Name: Sanju Mathew John
Email: cmannil@hotmail.com
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why:Chandrababu Naidu who came in as the villain by removing his father-in-law from the much coveted position of chief minister of AP to the hero of India. True all politicians are bad, but among the crooks and "bunch of jokers/ fools" we here have one whose brain is not that much worse.

I am supporting him for the following reasons:

1. Changing AP into an IT state. Well which other chief minister has marketed his state as much as he has? When no other CM knew the importance of IT here we have one who has paved the way and made AP as the competitor to India's "Silicon Valley." Well being the CM of AP he should favour AP to any other state thus helping in the future growth of India.

2. A good leader for keeping the UF strong. There have been two PMs in the last year or so, it has become too difficult for an average man to keep track off, there were occasions where the UF might have burst over petty differences but here we have in Naidu a leader who keeps his team strong and can carry them for a hopeful electoral victory in the 98 polls.

3. For bringing back peace and stability in AP. He has improved AP and brought forth peace and stability in AP. Reports of communal violence has been very less in the last couple of years after Naidu came to power.

4. For bringing about changes in the working of the government with high tech facilities.

5. A good negotiator. As a true Indian, I truly feel CB Naidu is the "Rediff Indian" of the year.

Name: D J Vaidya
Email: dj@hk.super.net
Nomination: Dr V B Bhatkar
Reason why: He has single handedly produced a Super Computer for India. Being in the government, where he does not get any support, let alone sufficient grant, he has achieved enviable success. He is more known to the President of the USA than to fellow Indians. Because of his contribution to the Super Computer to India, we will be able to maintain our military edge and in future we will be able to simulate nuclear testing. The US has tried desperately to destroy Dr Bhatkar's efforts by using large US corporations to poach the senior technocrats from C-DAC.

But no one can poach the architectures of PARAM from the brain of Bhatkar. He uses fresh engineering graduates to accomplish his task. In March 1998, Dr Bhatkar is going to deliver India a 100 Giga Flop machine, which will be one of three largest computers in the world. This will help us in many ways.

Name: Annamalai Kannappan
Email: amalai@hotmail.com
Nomination: P Chidambaram
Reason why: We can identify at least a dozen of them for excellence in their own field, like Dravid in cricket, Abdul Kalam in technology and so on, but what India really needs at this hour is a strong and stable economy to step in to the 21st century and to compete with other nations. Thus we need a decent and thinking politician like PChidambaram who can really do something. So let us hope we get him back in work after the next election.

Name: Dr Bhavin Jankharia
Email: bhavinj@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in
Nomination: The common man
Reason why: The only person who shines through the entire year is the common man. They say that it is not only the persecutor who is to blame, but also the persecuted. However, when living life itself is tough, the persecuted cannot even think of rousing themselves. The body and mind are focused on just one thing, survival. For bearing with our politicians, gangsters, businessman, financial scamsters, crooked film stars, corrupt government officials, unethical doctors, lawyers, hoarders and the rest, the award can only go to one person -- the common man.

Name: Shaji Joseph, Kuwait
Email: shaji@hsc.kuniv.edu.kw
Nomination: Mother Teresa
Reason why: The year 1997 is the year during which we lost "Angel of love." Born in one part of the world, decided to work for the poorest of the poor in another corner of the world, which is famous for slums and pollution. The barriers of caste, sex, creed or nationality were never a barrier for her work. One of the great personalities in the whole world -- India's second after Mahatma Gandhi. She truly deserves the award "Woman of the Year," irrespective of the scales of evaluation. Her position is high as heaven compared to the so called third rated politicians in India at present.