Name: Vinesh Dedhia
Email: vdedhia@marlin.utmb.edu
Nomination: President K R Narayanan
Reason why: Your question made me look at India with a much more positive attitude. Amidst these dark clouds of the five C's -- corruption, crime, casteism, communalism and Congressism (which embodies all the other c's) which are currently hovering over India, there are some people who are bringing some cheer and a ray of hope to the common man on the street.

Worthy of mention are I K Gujral for giving up the kursi rather than indulging in any horse trading. P Chidambaram for going on with economic reforms against all odds. C Naidu for being a man with vision. Bhupathi and Paes for showing to the world that Indians have what it takes to win in a world event. Ganguly for his positive attitude. Mother Teresa for genuine concern for the poor. A P J Kalam for his tireless efforts to make India self reliant in defence.

Amongst all these stars, the one which out shone all others, was initially never thought to be one with a spine. He was supposed to be a rubber stamp of our corrupt-to-the-core politicians. He was not supposed to use his head and intelligence. But to the pleasant surprise of all of us, he did not bow down before the politicians and other criminals in the hour of need.

He upheld the law of the land. Without doubt my nomination goes to our President K R Narayanan. We, millions of Indians whole over the world should support him in any way we can, because he is going to require all the strength in the future to fight the mighty Congress and other powerful criminals.

Name:Syed Nadeem Ahmad
Email: syednade@iscs.nus.edu.sg
Nomination: Dr A P J Abdul Kalam
Reason why: For putting India on the world scientific map. For coming up with fabulous research achievements for India, even in the face of all political pressure (which finally took its toll as he was removed from his lab and tied down in ministerial corridors in Delhi.)

Name: Narayanan, KV
Email: peacsing@singnet.com.sg
Nomination: His Excellency Shri K R Narayanan
Reason why: I would nominate our President for the Indian Of the Year. Being the superior Constitutional authority of our country, he has proved to be the best in all political crisis. His election to the top post in the 50th Year of Independence, that to from a backward community has proved that it was not community, but his knowledge that made him the President of India.

After going through all the nominations, and the number of nominations our Pesident has received till date there is no doubt that he will be the Man of the Year for our Country -- India.

Name: Rajib Bandyopadhyay
Email: rajib@apchem.gifu-u.ac.jp
Nomination: Saurav Ganguly
Reason why: It's Saurav, who showed great courage against all odds. Right from the Toronto Sahara Cup to the latest test series against Sri Lanka. What a splendid performance! He has been already chosen as the Ceat Cricketer of The Year, and has also ranked seventh in the world standard.

Saurav is a class by himself. As far as the year 1997 is concerned, it's his name which glorifies the name of India.

Name: S Kumar
Email: rac@bom2.vsnl.net.in
Nomination: Mother Teresa
Reason why: Simplicity in life and for helping the poor.

Name: Rakesh Sharma
Email: itsonlyforme@hotmail.com
Nomination: I K Gujral
Reason why: For being strong towards the right path against all pressure and not caring for his seat. In the situation that is prevalent in the dirty Indian politics, taking such a step would not have been easy. It's been good to see that for once, someone has taken a step considering the national interest rather than personal gains.

It's a pity that vested interests like the Congress president Sitaram Kesri, who can think of nothing else but their own personal interests, didn't let him continue. But I wish all success to him in the coming elections and all the worst to Congress. I hope someone in the top wakes up and decides to do something about the political scenario and ban parties like Congress for ever or at least people like Kesri.

I also laud Gujral for having taken steps like the compulsory teaching of illiterate people as a prerequisite up to Class 12, and the attempt to prevent criminals to stand in elections. I hope such steps turn into rulings so that people like Kesri, Kalpnath Rai and others do not have a say in Indian politics anymore.

Name: Srikanth Ramachandran
Email: srikr@rocketmail.com
Nomination: Dr Abdul Kalam
Reason why: He is one of the greatest scientists India has ever produced. Without his selfless work, India wouldn't have attainted such heights in defence research.

Name: Meghashyam Tamvada
Email: tmegha@hotmail.com
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: For his behind the scene role in national politics.

Name: Ajay K Shukla
Email: ajayshukla@hotmail.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: He is the great man who puts the nation's interest above all in every walk of life. Who else is in Indian politics right now with that kind of attitude?

Name: Ranga Rajan
Email: RRajan@csu.ldu.net
Nomination: N Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: For showing every one that politicians can do some good work. We have had enough of dirty politicians like P V Narasimha Rao, Kesri, Laloo, Bangarappa.... Our country really requires leaders like Chandrababu, Jyoti Basu and Vajpayee.

Name: Uma Shankar
Email: shankarkk@ci.tulsa.ok
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: His administrative skills are being applauded by almost everyone, and he has attracted the top IT industries in the world. His new concept of clearing files has to be appreciated. With no doubt he is the 'Man of the Year.'

Name: Vinod Devan
Email: vjd00455@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
Nomination: P Chidambaram
Reason why: He is one of the few well educated politicians. Also, his plans for a better India are genuinely good and noteworthy. We had expected a severe fall in the Indian economy after Dr Manmohan Singh, but Mr Chidambaram did not fail us.

Had it been a vote for the man of the decade, I would have voted for Mr T N Seshan. But as far as 1997 is concerned, Mr Chidambaram gets my vote. I only hope he gets a complete five year term to prove to the country, and the world how much good he can do for India.

Name: Jaishree Srinivasan
Email: jaishr@okstate.edu
Nomination: Arundhati Roy
Reason why: I would like to nominate her for successfully writing her Booker prize winning novel, The God of Small Things. Kudos to her for having made it despite having no formal experience! She certainly has made us proud of being Indians with her hugely successful novel which is set in India, and is very Indian in essence.

This is also a matter of pride for the Indian woman who tries to succeed against all odds. It's no mean achievement for Roy to catch the attention of the world without glorifying Indian poverty or religion (which is the basis of most novels about India). Unlike the other successful Indian authors who have been well recognised in the West, she has lived and still chooses to live in India. She certainly deserves this honour.

Name: Rajesh S Parthasarathy
Email: rpartha@ichips.intel.com
Nomination: Illayaraja
Reason why: He deserves the nomination for his contribution to the music world.

Name: Srinivasa Varadharajan
Email: rajan@psiphi.umsl.edu
Nomination: Myself
Reason why: Seeing people like P Chidambaram and Abdul Kalam being nominated, I think the award deserves someone better. Since most people don't know anything about me, the award can be The Common Man. Since The Common Man is not usually allowed to come to the podium, the award can be handed over to someone like Vidhyakar of Udhavum Karangal.

Name: Jaipat
Email: jaipat@bellatlantic.net
Nomination: President K R Narayanan
Reason why: For doing all of us proud and reminding us, just in time for the 21st century, that to be great one does not have to be "twice-born." Let all you struggles learn from his example, it may be struggles of differing kinds. Mr Narayanan, thank you for gracing the highest chair. It was long overdue. V P Singh also stands vindicated.

Name: Vrishabha Sikand
Email: vsikand@bbn.com
Nomination: Mother Teresa
Reason why: You want a reason?

Name: Subrat Mishra
Email: subrat@hcla.com
Nomination: K R Narayanan
Reason why: Because, by the single act of not dissolving the UP assembly, he has brought hope to the millions of us that all in not lost in Indian politics. He is a reminder that once we had great leaders who believed in our motherland. His act raises hope that more will rise from the ashes of the dead.

Name: Naini Mandala
Email: om9ess@hotmail.com
Nomination: P Chidambaram
Reason why: Chidambaram has consistently (right from his commerce ministry) proven that India needs a strong and open economy to take the country, and its rural poor into the next century. He also shows and gives hope that the educated people also have to play a role in the country's politics if it has to become dependable, and muster the citizens's faith once again.

Name: Madhup Rathi
Email: madhup.rathi@intelligroup.com
Nomination: P Chidambaram
Reason why: He has shown courage in spite of the Leftists to further the economic reforms. His tax concession and efforts to reduce tax evasions have changed the way this country operates.

Name: Thomas
Email: tomph@hotmail.com
Nomination: Chithra (K S Chithra)
Reason why: India's best female singer for 1997. This is her 4th national award. She has won the Tamil Nadu state Kalakokilam award, and the Kerala state award for the best female singer from 1985-95. And she has also recently spread her wings in the Hindi industry by singing in: Ziddi, Pardes and Aflatoon. She is the reigning queen of the Malayalam, and Tamil industry, and sings in over five languages! What more should or can I say?

Name: Gokula Kannan
Email: gokulakannan@hotmail.com
Nomination: Illayaraja
Reason why: The best-ever music director India has produced with skills ranging from Indian classical to Western classical, and especially this year when he has given excellent music for Guru, the Oscar nominee from India.

Name: Deveri
Email: Deveri@cheerful.com
Nomination: The Common Man
Reason why: It is well know that more than half of our population cannot understand who he is, what are his powers and what are his responsibilities. For that man... who still works hard to make at least a meal a day. Let us help this man get enough education to understand this world.

Name: Sathya
Email: ksathya@cec.wustl.edu
Nomination: The Common Indian
Reason why: Even with a new election coming up he is still unnerved and coughs up all the taxes needed to elect the new leader, who he knows is not going to do any good. World, learn from an Indian about patience and sincerity

Name: Nemani V Jagannath
Email: nemani@hotmail.com
Nomination: Mr T N Seshan (say this with all respect)
Reason why: At a time when India is facing major corruption eating it up, there is this man who stands up by his principles and works for the betterment of India. Even though he is alone in this era of corrupt politicians, and officials still he is the only one whom a common man respects right from the depth of his heart.

He is not only a fear for politicians but also the motivation for the youth who have lot of aspirations to do something big for their country. He is like a guiding light to all of us, and shows that if you really want to do something good then you can do it, even though the people around may not support you.

I vote for him not only for President/prime minster/ Indian of the year as he is the only deserving person, the only medicine for the present epidemic, the only true Indian.

Name: Parvez Mahmood
Email: greybd@citechco.net
Nomination:P Chidambaram
Reason why: In the mayhem to stand out and handle the country's purse honestly, sustain the foreign investor's interest/confidence and finally his Voluntary Declaration Scheme to mobilise resources from the 'common' income tax defaulter. He is honest, reliable, professional and unbiased. This says a lot about the country's real think-tank.

Name:Kannan Krishnaswamy
Email: kk@madrasmail.com
Nomination:Larry Ellison-CEO of Oracle Corp
Reason why: For providing employment to maximum number of Indians in Silicon Valley.

Name:Balaji V Manoharan
Email: balajivm@hotmail.com
Nomination: The common man
Reason why: Because he has to put up with everything the parliamentarians put us through. All for their small and short term fame. There is a saying that every person has about 15 minutes of fame. The Indian politicians certainly have not found it yet and they never will...

Name: Rashmi Kulkarni
Email: rashmi@wipsys.soft.net
Nomination: T N Seshan
Reason why: He is the only person who thought of removing corruption from the electoral process. Even after knowing that, he will never get support from political parties, he struggled. No man is perfect, he made one mistake by contesting the President's election. I nominate him because, he is the common man, who thought of bringing reforms to Indian politics.

Name: Rohit Verma
Email: rohit@malkauns.nsc.com
Nomination: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi
Reason why: These two have really done India proud! They have proved that nothing is impossible with hard work and self-confidence. Despite the adverse Indian conditions and inadequate facilities, they have turned out to be world champions! We have a lot to learn from them. Their achievements qualify them to be "Indians of the Year."

Name: Kiran Kumar B
Email: kirankb@rocketmail.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: WHO ELSE?!!! BUT THE MAN WHO'LL TAKE US INTO THE NEXT CENTURY. THE ONLY TRUE PATRIOT AFTER GANDHI.

Name: Murali Krishna S
Email: muralisk@inf.com
Nomination: Mr Nara Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: He is a result-oriented CM in India and has a great vision for his state. A good administrator, he really appreciates new technology and wants to apply it in day to day life so that his state is right on the information superhighway.

Name: Anand Rajagopalan
Email:
Nomination: Mr K R Narayanan
Reason why: For showing everyone that his post is not a rubber stamp one, and for maintaining political ethics at the right time.