Name: Rolwin Lewis
Email: rolwinl@singnet.com.sg
Nomination: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi
Reason why: They have achieved more in tennis than any other Indian player(s) in a single calendar year. Their exploits on the court have raised the pride Indians feel when supporting their sportsmen. The duo have been very patriotic by giving priority to country assignments over personal professional meets. They are definitely sportsmen to be proud of.

Name:Sarfraz H Dairkee
Email: sarfraz@emirates.net.ae
Nomination: Professor Abdul Kalam
Reason why: A symbol of excellence in science and technology. Any nation can be proud of. It is a proof that with competent leadership, even with scarce resources, a nation can do wonders in technology. Professor Kalam, Homi Bhabha, Sarabhai, Sam Pitroda and many many unsung heroes are gems modern India is proud of.

Name: Kartik Subramanian
Email: ksubrama@eecs.uic.edu
Nomination: Dr Kalpana Chawla
Reason why: Only the second Indian and the first Indian woman in space. She is really a trailblazer and a role model. She has set a perfect example for the millions of Indian women. She has gone where, to quote (or rather misquote) from the opening lines of Star Trek '...go where no Indian woman has gone before.' Without a doubt, she IS the Indian of the year.

Name: Ami Shah
Email: arihant@hotmail.com
Nomination: Diana Hayden
Reason why: MY REDIFF INDIAN OF THE YEAR IS DIANA HAYDEN BECAUSE SHE, BY BECOMING "MISS WORLD '97" HAS STUNNED THE WORLD AGAIN. SHE HAS GIVEN A MORAL TO INDIAN GIRLS AND THE WORLD THAT THE INDIAN WOMEN IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD! THANKS DIANA FOR MAKING INDIA PROUD.

Name: Sateesh Narahari
Email: narahari@hotmail.com
Nomination: Common man
Reason why: For tolerating politicians, fake swamis, corrupt doctors, corrupt government officials and many rounds of elections. For the bravery shown in times of distress (everyday!!!) and the courage shown in the times of despair!! (every hour!!) Despite frustration and confusion, for keeping the India together.

Name: Manoj Jauhari
Email: mnj@cybertex.ch
Nomination: Joginder Singh (Ex-CBI director)
Reason why: For fighting boldly against corruption -- the need of the hour. The need of the year. His strict actions were a lesson for corrupt politicians. He encouraged us (the youth of India) to raise our voices against corruption. He taught us the determination to work for the improvement of the nation. This Indian never worried about the consequences, or the obstacles. I am proud of him.

Name: Madhulika Gupta
Email: maadhulika_gupta@hotmail.com
Nomination: P Chidambaram
Reason why: Relentless even in the face of adversity to achieve his goals. The only leader with actionable plans. Has maintained his promises and has inspired confidence in his leadership. An international in approach. An economist of world standard. Genuine and sincere. Has integrity in commitment.

Name: Baljit Ghuman
Email: baljit.ghuman@sheridanc.on.ca
Nomination: Sampooran Singh 'Gulzar'
Reason why: I am a very good fan of Mr Gulzar, and would not miss his movie for the world. His movie Machis touched me. He had the guts to bring the truth out of Indian democracy. Also, I admire his love and passion for the past history of India and Pakistan, which he identifies as 'mulk' and 'watan' looking at it from a poet's point of view. I think he is the best writer and director. THE UNBEATABLE.

Name: Diva Nepurayil
Email: divan@sprynet.com
Nomination: Dr Abdul Kalam
Reason why: He symbolises the Indian scientist, an intelligence of high integrity. He is a role model for the generation.

Name: Satish Karry
Email: satishkarry@hotmail.com
Nomination: Dr Avil Pakir Jalaluddin Abdul Kalam
Reason why: In simple words he proved that India is self reliant and can stand up to any other country, or fare better if required.

Name: Kiran Yerramasu
Email: YERRAMASUK@AETNA.COM
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: It was hard to say that nobody is corrupt in the country/world. Everybody is looking at their own party positions. Pulling each other down. Knowingly or unknowingly. Nobody thinks about the nation, where we are going. That’s very shameful. But I feel Mr Naidu is doing enough for his state and is also playing a key role at the Centre. A dynamic administrative personality, he is trying to bring in a technical revolution in the state, in spite of the controversies and obstacles from all sides.

Name: RAMKUMAR SRIVATSA
Email: tvrajan@sympatico.ca
Nomination: DAWOOD IBRAHIM
Reason why: He has been able to do/accomplish within India what he wants by sitting/living outside India. He makes no bones about the fact that he is a criminal. And our glorious politicians. They are able to achieve nothing sitting in India. Further, they rob people in the guise of politics: fodder scam et al. If Dawood rules India, at least it will be finished once and for all; instead of dying slowly!

Name: Ajay Dharkar
Email: ajaydk@hduc.com
Nomination: Illayaraja
Reason why: In our Indian music world filled with copy cats. He is the original. My vote goes to maestro Illayaraja as the Man of the Year.

Name: Mudit Chandra
Email: mchandra@vt.edu
Nomination: Sitaram Kesri
Reason why: He has single-handedly done more harm to India than the UF parties put together.

Name: Rajashekhar Seelam
Email: raj@bittware.com
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: First of all, for the first time we have a politician who is doing what he is supposed to do -- "serve the people"! In his two years or so in office, not a single scandal or scam has emerged (never mind the consistent barking of some jobless Congress leaders). He has vision. This is precisely what India needs right now: politicians with vision. Introduction of some quick-fix schemes (like the Rs 2 - a - kilo) will not do us any good in the long run. Has put AP back on the track, firmly.

AP is now back again in the reckoning as an investment hub. He has already rejected two opportunities to become the PM (well, at least according to grapevine sources). Keeping a patchy quilt of 13 parties together is not a joke and he has done it pretty convincingly. Again, according to grapevine, he is the UF candidate for PM in the upcoming elections. HE WORKS! And he is making other people work.

Name: Aranyak Das
Email: aranyak@hotmail.com
Nomination: Common Indian Citizen
Reason why: Why?

1. He continued his struggle for those three magic words "Roti, Kapda, Makan" even after 50 years of independence.

2. He patiently saw the transition of desi politicians from freedom fighters to street fighters and still continues to believe in this kind of democracy.

3. Still thinks that achievements of sports personalities is more than anything else in the 50th year of Independence.

4. Still believes that "Mehmaan jo hamaara hota hai, woh jaan se pyaara hota hai," irrespective of the fact that we have to take loans from a world body and then give some amount to some "friendly neighbour"

Name: Rajeev Nagabhirava
Email: raja@isi.edu
Nomination: N Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: As I start this I am trying to recapture the essence of the question. We are looking for a man who had the maximum impact on the nation in the overall scenario. This is irrespective of what he had done in the past and what he is going to do in the future. Keeping that in mind I see a lot of people in my mind, Eg: P Chidambaram, K R Narayanan, N Chandrababu Naidu, Saurav Ganguly, Leander and the list goes on. Then it boils down to who among them!!

Chandrababu Naidu was a key player in efficiently handling two crisis situations in national politics. At the state level he is efficiently managing his job. The ideas, the approach, the attitude and vision are exceptional.

Simple concepts like janmaboomi, to crucial decisions like the PM of our country.. Efficiency in work, the way he administers his subordinates. The vision of a hi-tech city (Cyderabad). Power projects, learning from others, making people and involving the press in the decisions of the state.

Name: Aninda Mitra
Email: asmitra@ix.netcom.com
Nomination: H D Deve Gowda
Reason why:Deve Gowda. What can I say, a simple man, an average politician -- thrust into a thankless job of enormous significance. He truly heralded the era of overseeing coalition governments, while simultaneously keeping alive much needed economic change within the constraints of an advanced social system in an advanced state of decay.

Deve Gowda reminds me of the common man in India who finds himself in situations not of their own making. But situations which they nevertheless have to grapple with resilience, skill and courage. And this, Shri Gowda did very well! Gowda after all had no choice to ask but why, his was only to do and die.

Name: Rahul Purini
Email: Rahul@ti.com
Nomination: N Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: Here is a politician (very rare among them) who is trying to pave the way for the state, and the country into the 21st century. It was his effort that have attracted world giants like Microsoft, IBM, Toyota... to the state. He may not be the most honest politician you have known, but he is trying to do his best and has succeeded to an extent.

Name: Prashant Darisi
Email: pdarisi@hotmail.com
Nomination: Sitaram Kesri
Reason why: A joker holds a government/country to ransom. Forces the exchequer to spend millions in re-election, and can still become the PM of the country. Wow!

Name: Somesh Jaiswal
Email: somesh_jaiswal@ccmail.prusec.com
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: For having a vision for my beautiful Andhra Pradesh.

Name: PP Singh
Email: j1974@mbox2.singnet.com.sg
Nomination:Mr Rajesh Pilot
Reason why: Good clean man

Name: Pranav Shah
Email: pranav@corp.home.net
Nomination: Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi
Reason why: Well, both of these stars have brought India's name in the top 10 with their amazing year in tennis doubles. Which Indian team or player in any sport has been ranked that high? None... They have done India proud. For that they both deserve this recognition.

Name: Srikant Chellappa
Email: schellappa@fedex.com
Nomination: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi
Reason why: I can only say, what a great way to divert attention from all that India has been going through. Truly inspires other Indians, even me in the US to say in spite of all the odds, mera Bharat is still mahan.

Name: Kiran K Ganji
Email: kganji@eecs.uic.edu
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: The politician with a vision. Undeterred will, hacking populist policies wrecking the government. More importantly, trying to turn for the first time an electronic government.

Name: Anoop Venat Kondavaty
Email: anoop@alpha.fdu.edu
Nomination: Leander, of course!
Reason why: He has put us on the tennis world map, which makes every Indian proud. He is an "epitome" of a true fighter who fights with aggression till the end, irrespective of the result. Bravo! Leander!

Name: Suresh Mantrala
Email: mvsuresh@iname.com
Nomination: President K R Narayanan
Reason why: For the first time in the history of the Republic of India, a person has shown that a president is no more going to accept what ever the Cabinet has to say, and declined to rubber stamp it. Some people when act right, can bring hope to the already demoralised nation.

Name: Gururaja Yellapur
Email: Guru.Yellapur@mci.com
Nomination: Dr K R Narayanan
Reason why: First of all he has grown to his current position starting from a poor, common man stage. Secondly and mainly, for the impact he had on the Indian government in the last one year. He showed that still there are good people in the high offices of the nation, and that one person can make a difference.

Sure there were good efforts from a few other people like P A Sangma initiating a discussion of the policies, and current status during the golden jubilee session, etc. But that is not enough. There is Chidambaram with a great impact on Indian economy. But we badly needed to start cleaning up our political mess created during the last 5 decades. So I strongly nominate our President as the Man of The Year. He is one man who has shown light to the country when it has faced problems.

Name: Prasad
Email: pkuppa@hotmail.com
Nomination: Pandurang Athvale
Reason why: Social service (with no pomp and show).

Name: Sarosh Aibara
Email: esappp@ksc7.th.com
Nomination: I K Gujral
Reason why: In one of the shortest reigns as PM, he showed that honesty and character can still prevail even in this dark political era. His determination to make amends with our neighbours and to make India a noteworthy world power, certainly qualify him to be the Indian of the Year 1997.