The year is coming to an end and overall, it's been one hell of a year! We have had our share of ups and downs and we look forward to a better 2020. While we count down the days to the new year, let's also reflect on those who gave us strength to stand up in what we believe, the courageous who didn't bow down and the ones with gumption who inspired us to be better. We, Rediff.com, have selected 26 personalities, who we think are worthy of the title -- HERO OF THE YEAR -- and we want you, dear readers, to choose your hero!

Sex must be enjoyed equally by both you and your partner and consent is pivotal before getting into the act, says Gaurav Gupta.

Perfect occasion for Sukanya Verma to look into all the Woh woes in Hindi cinema.

The horrific sexual assault and burning alive of a young veterinary doctor has shocked the nation. A Woman in Today's India reacts to the unspeakable crime that should shame every Indian.

'I would get very pampered on the sets so my grandpa used to get very scared about that.' 'He would think I would feel great from inside and my life would get messed up.'

'Look at the impropriety of the Anti-Corruption Bureau giving Ajit Pawar a clean chit!'

'I felt a constant gag in my throat, and emerged from the movie somewhat mugged,' confesses Sreehari Nair.

Hemant Kadam tells us how he sacrificed his love for unhealthy junk food and changed his lifestyle to be fitter and lighter.

'Here was a man who played a major part in helping the Bengalis of East Pakistan create a new nation, secured the merger of Sikkim into the Indian dominion and built R&AW into a formidable outfit, comparable to the best in the world.' Rameshwar Nath Kao shunned the limelight, hated to be photographed and preferred to work behind the scenes. A revealing excerpt from Nitin A Gokhale's much awaited book, R N Kao: Gentleman Spymaster.

'I have done so many films but even today when I walk on the road, people call me Kaalia. I don't feel bad. I feel proud that people have seen me in Sholay and remember me.'

At times it is better to wave the fight flag even if you are not at fault, says Leena Paranjpe.

'After my injury in Rio I never thought I'd be able to go back to the Olympics. Somewhere in my mind I felt incomplete. That feeling always kept on driving me to do better. I am very stubborn, I motivated myself to do better and that is why I am going to the Olympics'

For podcasters -- those who create podcasts -- the medium's appeal also owes to the fact that its content remains unregulated. Uncomfortable conversations, taboo subjects, stigmatised issues, are all encouraged.

Until September 14, Vaidehi Ankolekar was a bus conductor on Mumbai's famed BEST buses. Now, she is known nationwide as the mother of India's latest cricketing hero. That Saturday, her son Atharva bowled India to the Asia Cup Under-19 title.

Quentin Tarantino, declares Sreehari Nair, will be remembered as someone who made just two great movies, and who then brought misery upon himself.

Images from the second day at the US Open, the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's phone call to Trump will help restore a degree of sanity to Indian statecraft and diplomacy, notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

'Kishore Kumar lived like a king and knew that he could get away with anything. It's as simple as that.'

The veteran American set up a showdown with Romanian former world number one Simona Halep in Saturday's final.

A summary of Friday's play at Wimbledon.

Dolly Jain knows 325 ways of draping the sari, a talent that has taken her to the Limca Book Records.

Actor and mother of two Chhavi Hussein is teaching young parents how to deal with post partum depression.

'Itna passionately issine mujhse pyaar nahi kiya.'

Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday

Ramya Subramanian's fabulous transformation will inspire you too.

Things are off to a good start when a lead movie character appears for the first time against strategic music or swaggering drama and the audience bursts into wholehearted whistles and applause.

'Ishaqzaade released on May 11, 2012. It has been seven years. But if you had spoken to me on May 10, 2012, and said that I would do 13 films with so many good directors and actors, I would have said, 'Chal jhoota.''

After being overlooked for the 2019 World Cup, Rahane was dropped as Rajasthan Royals captain mid-way into the IPL following a string of low scores and the team's poor showing in the first few games.

Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday

'I feel very lucky that people have noticed my work.'

Narayanan, 33 from Chennai shares his story.

'Does Avengers: Endgame close satisfactorily?' 'Does it beat that gold standard of superhero movies, which Mr Nolan gave us nearly seven years ago?' 'After watching on an IMAX screen at a midnight show yesterday, I would say, yes sir, it most certainly does.'

'Wayanad has become famous because of Rahul Gandhi.'

... you won't feel anything either.

'I will live my life and let other people live their life too.' 'There are big problems in life yaar, like global warming. Let's talk about that.'

'In my heart, I'm quite patriotic.'

Stay calm. Be helpful. Steer clear of arguments. Encourage them to eat well, sleep and rest adequately.

These simple tips will help you fight body issues.

The celebrations after the 2017 World Cup went on for the next few months. But there was one question that the Indian cricketers failed to respond to in their interviews. 'What was their next assignment?' Nobody knew; the players were waiting for the BCCI to tell them. The BCCI, with barely any time from its endless legal tangles, had nothing in mind immediately. The likes of Australia and England were back on the field, battling it out in the Ashes in front of sizeable crowds. But for Mithali Raj and team, there was no road ahead.

'This is a movie made with this gaze fixed on its immediate well-wishers, while at the same time it squints hard looking for those swaying back and forth on the fence,' notes Rohit Sathish Nair.