Name: S. BASU THAKUR
Email: sudipto@indiatimes.com
Nomination: Roop Kanwar
Reason why: We in India can never progress without education just as it is essential for us to do away with some primitive customs and traditions. This has been glaringly exhibited by Roop Kanwar's suicide, which was termed as 'sati'. Roop Kanwar has made a great sacrifice to raise the issue of the importance of education for one and all.

Name: Vilas Patil
Email: vilas_patil@hotmail.com
Nomination: Yashwant Sinha
Reason why: It was during his tenure as finance minister that the sensex crossed 5000 points. It has lead to an all round development of the country.

Name: alison
Email: kanuga34@rediffmail.com
Nomination: Shah Rukh Khan
Reason why: For achieving so much in such a short time and with so much panache and style

Name: Raheel Retiwalla
Email: raheel.retiwalla@unisys.com
Nomination: Ismail Merchant
Reason why: An amazing businessman and an even more amazing film-maker. We should learn a few things from him.

Name: vinjamuri srinivasa ramanuja
Email: vinjamuri@coolmail.com
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu.
Reason why: Unlike many other politicians, he did not sacrifice the stability of the government at the Centre for his personal benefits.

Name: Chandra sekaran.N
Email: chandra_sekarant@hotmail.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: His bold action during the Kargil conflict, his patriotism, his policies towards economic reforms, his relationship with his alliance partners, etc.

Name: Pratik Parikh
Email: pratikparikh@hotmail.com
Nomination: Mahatma Gandhi
Reason why: He has given us independence. He is incomparable! A true Indian.

Name: Vivek Agarwal
Email: vivi_ag@hotmail.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: For providing a stable government, for the victory in Kargil, for initiating economic reforms and for providing good leadership.

Name: balaji babu
Email: vbalajis@usa.net
Nomination: Sachin Tendulkar
Reason why: He is a great person.

Name: pramod
Email: pramod180@usa.net
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: He is a great person.

Name: PRATAP
Email: pratap@usa.net
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: He is a great leader.

Name: Dhiren Sanghavi
Email: dhirens@hotmail.com
Nomination: Mahatma Gandhi
Reason why: He did what he said he would and that too without the aid of any tools! His life was dedicated to the nation. He did not take a single rupee for the work he did. That made him an enemy of his own son. But he was very clear -- no rewards for duty done!

Name: senthil karuppiah
Email: senthil_kumar_k@hotmail.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: The way he handled the Kargil issue, earned the trust of the people by getting re-elected as the prime minister, his honesty. He is one of the better politicians in India today.

Name: LIONEL ARANHA
Email: laranha@rediff.com
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: He is like a breath of fresh air in the political scene..

Name: Ganga Sashikanth
Email: shashank@bom2.vsnl.com
Nomination: Vikram Batra
Reason why: Kargil martyr

Name: shreya sanghvi
Email: mast_47@yahoo.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: It is only because of him that the BJP got re-elected to power. He is not corrupt like other politicians and is a role model for young children. He showed great courage and wisdom during the Kargil conflict.

Name: Siddharth
Email: siddharth81@hotmail.com
Nomination: Bhaichung Bhutia
Reason why: The reason why I would not go for a cricketer is that this year we did not have much success. Sachin Tendulkar was out of action for a major part of the year. Bhutia has redefined Indian football by becoming the first Indian to play overseas. Despite the various problems faced by sportspersons, Bhutia has made it big.

Name: e.s.venkatakrishnan
Email: venkat59@rediff.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: In spite of being pulled down by the allies of the coalition, he came back with resounding success and formed a stable government, thereby paving the way for India's growth as a super power.

Name: PADMAKSHAN VASUDEVAN
Email: padmaksh@rediffmail.com
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: The most technology savvy politician we've had. Also probably the most respected and dignified politician with a young, futuristic and practical mind.

Name: Suresh Subramanian
Email: esubra@emirates.net.ae
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: Very clean, dedicated and a very mature leader, one anyone would be proud of.

Name: kishore
Email: ram@att.com
Nomination: Sonia Gandhi
Reason why: For withstanding the most powerfull organisation -- the Sangh Parivar.

Name: y2k
Email: hit.kat@usa.net
Nomination: Amartya Sen
Reason why: Brought glory to the country .

Name: Zephyra Tenral
Email: tenral@hotmail.com
Nomination: The people of India
Reason why: Through all that has happened in the last year, through a war, a cyclone, an election, political skirmishes, various lost matches, WE survived!! That's reason enough.

Name: Laxminarayan S
Email: slraj@hotmail.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: He has chalked a new course for the political scene in India.

Name: Shiva Reddy
Email: shiva@us.ibm.com
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: He is the hope of India

Name: Sanjay
Email: sanjayarni@hotmail.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: Deft handling of the Kargil episode.

Name: rishika
Email: rishikaverma@hotmail.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: He is the only honest politician we have. All the other politicians are only concerned about their own interests..

Name: bhavin purohit
Email: bpsilver@hotmail.com
Nomination: The common man
Reason why: Nobody has had it as bad as the poor guy on the road, the common man. Through all the conflicts, strikes, the ups and downs, floods and quakes, wars and bus diplomacies, price hikes and other innumerable problems, the common man still has hope, still has a dream, still dares to believe in that dream... Hats off to the resilience of the indian masses!

Name: Suprabha Ray
Email: suprabha_ray@hotmail.com
Nomination: The Indian soldier
Reason why: Why ? Because they died so that we live in a free country.

Name: dinesh rao
Email: dineshrao@hotmail.com
Nomination: Sharad Pawar
Reason why: He is a genius!

Name: Jensen Prithvi
Email: jenesis@giasmda.vsnl.net.in
Nomination: Vishwanathan Anand
Reason why: He consistently kept the Indian flag flying high at the international level.

Name: vaibhav tike
Email: vebbow@rediff.com
Nomination: Dr B G MATAPURKAR
Reason why: He is a reknowned surgeon at the LNJP Hospital in New Delhi. He has experimented with surgery for hernia and has developed it to quite an extent. It involves tissue regeneration without major surgery. He is a great man. Hats off to him!

Name: Kasturirajan
Email: kasturig@hotmail.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: He is an honest politician, he knows how to keep political forces under control, he was bold enough to give the go ahead for nuclear testing and dealt effectively with the Kargil issue.

Name: Jayadev Menon
Email: jayadevm@rediff.com
Nomination: A B Vajpayee
Reason why: Won the election again. Had the guts to take on the Pakistanis. Has shown that there is more stuff in him than what the Opposition would like everyone to believe.

Name: Jaya Reddy
Email: jayareddy17@hotmail.com
Nomination: Mahatma Gandhi
Reason why: Who else is synonymous with truth, non-violence and above all, divinity?

Name: Venkata Reddy
Email: mallidi@rediffmail.com
Nomination: Mahatma Gandhi
Reason why:Who else embodies the spirit of one-sixth of the world's population?

Name: Sri valleesha
Email: valleesha@hotmail.com
Nomination: Mahatma Gandhi
Reason why: If you believe there is 'divinity in loving ... purity in serving.. unity in sharing... peace in caring....', we have to vote for this great man.

Name: Dipti Prakash Pradhan
Email: diptiprakashp@hotmail.com
Nomination: A B Vajpayee
Reason why: He is a role model for Indian politicians who lack public image and vision. A man who commands respect by the sheer weight of his clean image and vast experience in public life.

Name: Manas Guha
Email: manasmita@hotmail.com
Nomination: Subhas Chandra Bose
Reason why: What he dreamt once is being achieved by the then forward block which is the BJP now.

Name: Srinivas Mallampalli
Email: msbvasu@hotmail.com
Nomination: Nara Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: It is very difficult to find a politician who has won the elections with a good mandate, has a vision as to where his state should be in the next century and works towards it.

Name: Kumar
Email: vandana@md2.vsnl.net.in
Nomination: Narayanamurthy, chairman, Infosys
Reason why: A true creator of wealth for his already huge and growing family of shareholders.The first Indian to go global with NASDAQ. A role model for all IT companies .And above all ,a simple man .

Name: Raghavan M.S
Email: ragavan8@hotmail.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: Even when surrounded by so many so-called Hindu fanatics, he is taking his own decisions which are neutral and just.

Name: B. Venkateswara Rao
Email: vrbollu@hotmail.com
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: Because he has lent a new dimension to Indian politics.

Name: Arafath
Email: arafath@sol.net.in
Nomination: Indira Gandhi
Reason why: The dedication with which she worked for India's integrity.

Name: Sandhya S
Email: hrsh@md3.vsnl.net.in
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: A politician who genuinely wants to do some good for Andhra Pradesh. You may disagree with him but he at least has a sense of purpose.

Name: suriyaprakash
Email: umats
Nomination:A B Vajpayee
Reason why: A great statesman. Every action and reaction shows maturity. He handled Kargil in a deft manner and is taking India to great heights.

Name: k hariharan
Email: hariharan108@rediffmail.com
Nomination: Mahatma Gandhi
Reason why: Architect of India's freedom struggle, had a hold over the masses, good leadership qualities and was a true saint.

Name: Shrikant
Email: sshrikant@usa.net
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpeyee
Reason why: A man true to his name. His actions are self-explanatory. Could have named the Indian army and its fearless warriors too, but then finally the 'Enter' key is hit by him...

Name: jasmine bajaj
Email: jasminebajaj@hotmail.com
Nomination: Aishwarya Rai
Reason why: She has done India proud!

Name: yogesh bhardwaj
Email: yogesh_bh@rediff.com
Nomination: Mohammad Azharuddin
Reason why: He is the perfect example of a true sportsman who has selflessly served his country despite various controversies right from the time he became captain. He is equally responsible for the growth of talented youngsters in the team such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly etc.

Name: milind pandit
Email: milindpandit@exite.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: A true statesman, a man with tremendous vision, a friend to all though a dreaded enemy to some.

Name: Aditya Bagaria
Email: scherzo_2000@rediffmail.com
Nomination: All the soldiers who fought in Kargil
Reason why: Without the aid of these invincible spirits India would have by now lost its individuality. It is these soldiers who have helped restore Indian territories by driving out infiltrators. Jai Hind!

Name: Hemant Sharma
Email: hemant_24@rediffmail.com
Nomination: Mahatma Gandhi
Reason why: He devoted his entire life for the betterment of the poor and for the freedom of India.

Name: janga chakravarthy
Email: janga_chakri@rediff.com
Nomination: Leander Paes
Reason why: Because he along with Mahesh Bhupathi won two Grand Slam titles. They are the only pair in the history of tennis to enter all the four Grand Slam finals in the same year. Paes also won one Grand Slam mixed doubles title. He has made Indians very proud.

Name: Ashu
Email: munsha@mailcity.com
Nomination: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Reason why: A true son of the soil, the 'iron man of India'. If it were not of him perhaps India would not be as consolidated as it is today.

Name: Mandeep Singh Bhatia
Email: mbhatia@dfuture.com
Nomination: Soldiers who fought in Kargil
Reason why: They fought selflessly without worrying about themselves or their families.

Name: sumit kumar
Email: sumik@rediff.com
Nomination: Indian army
Reason why: Our soldiers sacrifice everything for their motherland without caring for their life and future. If India could give a fitting reply to Pakistan in Kargil this year, it was only due to these heroes.

Name: mukesh.g
Email: mukeshgopinath_010678@rediff.com
Nomination: A R Rahman
Reason why: Because he gave the people a clear idea about old India through the track of 1947- Earth.

Name: Ashwani Kathpalia
Email: Ashwani_Kathpalia@Gap.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: For leading India through one of the most turbulent and unstable times. Also, for his deft handling of the war like situation in Kargil and his diplomacy which won us laurels from all over the world.

Name: Shaikh Anees
Email: khairu@vsnl.com
Nomination: Amitabh Bachchan
Reason why: He is the legend of the Indian film industry. He truly personifies the spirit of Indians. He has the charisma, the presence and the look.

Name: Sridhar
Email: unagsr02@shafika.vetri.com
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: He is one chief minister who is actually doing good for his state. He has vision and he is good not only at planning but also in executing ideas.

Name: Ravi Prakash
Email: ravibpl@rediffmail.com
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: He is the only politican in India who understands the importance of information technology which is the future of the world.

Name: Vidya Nag MR
Email: vidyanag@rediffmail.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: For the first time after Nehru and Gandhiji, a personality has single handedly won the hearts of millions of Indians, even the Opposition has accepted him as an individual of substance. He led India with patience and guts in a small but implication-oriented war (Kargil), he has brought about a sense of balance in the sensitive issue of religion (something which no other PM has been able to do) and above all, India has without doubt progressed under his leadership. Undoubtedly, he is the man of the year!

Name: Veena
Email: veevenk@yahoo.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: Because he is a good diplomat, is good at handling various situations and is an experienced and seasoned politician.

Name: Ashutosh Divecha
Email: adivecha@bigfoot.com
Nomination: T N Seshan
Reason why: The way he changed the electoral procedures or better , the way he ensured compliance and straightened out the election process in India.

Name: R K Sinha
Email: nidhoo@hotmail.com
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: It has been rightly said that conflicts have defined the Indian political spectrum this year. It was the astute leadership of Vajpayee that has helped us emerge not only unscathed but stronger too, to face the challenges of tomorrow and to attain higher levels of economic growth and social harmony.

Name: ketan
Email: ketansanghavi@hotmail.com
Nomination: A B Vajpayee
Reason why: The only person who has been able to hold India together.

Name: mangalkumar
Email: mangal_kumar@rediff.com
Nomination: Vivekananda
Reason why: A great visionary.

Name: Rajesh
Email: rajeshv@blore.tcs.co.in
Nomination: Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: He proved that if politicians can do something for the people (or even give the impression that they are working hard for them), incumbency can actually be an advantage in an election

Name: Tarun Chhabra
Email: tarun.chhabra@ggn.spcnl.co.in
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: We have a stable government because of one man and that is Atal Bihari Vajpayee!

Name: vikram Bhat
Email: bhatvikram@yahoo.com
Nomination: A B Vajpayee
Reason why: For his success in Kargil, in keeping the Gandhi family out of power, in giving India an alternative to the Congress and a lot more.

Name: M V Srinivas Reddy
Email: mvsreddy@hydbad.tcs.co.in
Nomination: Nara Chandrababu Naidu
Reason why: For his vision, administrative skills and the competitive spirit he brought in among the other states's chief ministers.

Name: rupesh pai
Email: rupe-sh@satyam.net.in
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: He has proved that he is capable of leading India into the new millennium.

Name: manish sampat
Email: manishsampat@hotmail.com
Nomination: All the soldiers who died in Kargil
Reason why: They are the unsung heroes whom we should salute and thank for the peaceful life that we are living in our secure homes.

Name: Vidya Raman
Email: vidraman@usa.net
Nomination: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Reason why: For managing a successful comeback in the election, the tackling of the Kargil issue and for preserving India's security tactfully.

Name: S.Muthusamy
Email: smuthu_2410@yahoo.com
Nomination: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi
Reason why: These two gentlemen showed energy and zeal by capturing the unthinkable number one ranking in the men's doubles in world tennis. They came up the hard way and aganist all odds.