National Newsmakers

2007

Dr Rajendra Pachauri

“I’m stunned” was what Dr Rajendra Pachauri said when he was told that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which he heads, had won the Nobel Peace Prize along with former US Vice-President Al Gore. The man that he is, Pachauri had never expected to be rewarded for his efforts. He simply believed in doing the best he could and not worry about rewards. So, it did come as a surprise to him when he was told that the Nobel Prize had been awarded to the IPCC along with Gore. “I am only a symbolic recipient but it is the organisation which has been awarded,” he said, quickly adding “It places a larger responsibility on me and I will ensure that more will be done.” We’re sure you will sir. Well done!

Dr Mohamad Haneef

Ask this man to lend you his SIM card and he’ll probably shudder to even think of such a thing. He has reason to. The Australian police, who arrested him in the month of July at the Brisbane airport shortly after the 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack, charged him with recklessly providing support to a terror outfit. It took a determined defence, an inquisitive media and a public outcry to make the Australian government withdraw charges that it had levelled without thorough investigation. Dr Haneef returned home to a hero’s welcome and every move of his, from the day he was taken into custody to the day he landed at his home, was gleefully covered by the media. One newsmaker definitely!



Mukesh Ambani

The Chairman of Reliance Industries was one of the richest last year and this year, he came close to earning the title of being called 'The richest'. At least that is what certain people thought. While his wealth was US$20.1 billion in March 2007, making him the world's 14th richest person and the second richest person in India, it was valued at US$55.8 billion in October. On October 29, as a result of a strong share price rally in his group companies, many thought Ambani had become the richest man in the world with a net worth of $63.2 billion. However, Reliance Industries clarified later that the calculations regarding his wealth were inaccurate.



Mayawati

Beating all pre-poll predictions, Mayawati led the BSP to power with an absolute majority in the UP elections this year. Her election as chief minister for the fourth time had much to do with the fact that she was able to win the support of Brahmins, Thakurs and Muslims – communities that had not identified earlier in large numbers with the Dalit leader. By the end of the year, US magazine Newsweek had placed her among the top eight women leaders of the world who had succeeded despite their underprivileged origins. Considered by some of being capable of becoming the Indian Prime Minister, she is currently focusing on turning Uttar Pradesh into an “uttam” (good) state and on expanding the BSP’s Dalit support base in other states. A person with such optimism cannot go unnoticed and notice we did.

Pratibha Patil

Creating a record of sorts in 2007, Pratibha Patil became the first woman president of India on July 25, 2007. However, she has had her share of controversies. First, there were allegations that the licence of a cooperative bank in Jalgaon set up by her to empower women had been revoked in 2003 by the Reserve Bank of India for alleged financial irregularities. Then came an allegation by Rajni Patil, a professor of Marathi in a Jalgaon college, and the widow of murdered Jalgaon Congressman Vishram G. Patil, that her husband had been murdered by Pratibha Patil's brother. However, these allegations haven’t dampened the spirit of the president, who seems to have taken them all in her stride.

Taslima Nasreen

The Bangladeshi writer, who has requested the Indian government to grant her citizenship, was forced to move out of Kolkata by the end of 2007. Violent protests by some groups in Kolkata made it clear to the author that she was not welcome there as well. She first fled to Jaipur and then to an NSG guesthouse near New Delhi. While promising her security as she was a guest of the country, Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that she should refrain from hurting the sentiments of those in India. The writer has promised to delete controversial lines from her forthcoming book titled Dwikhondito. But will deleting a few lines prevent her from getting into more controversies? Only time will tell!



Karunanidhi

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was very much in the thick of action, both at the regional and at the national levels in 2007. It was because of his decision that his grand nephew, Dayanidhi Maran, had to resign from the position of Union IT and Communications Minister. He was again in the news when the Supreme Court issued contempt notices to him, Union Minister T R Baalu and the state Chief Secretary L K Tripathi for defying its directive of not to go ahead with the October 1 state bandh call given by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for speedy completion of the Sethusamudram project. The octogenarian then made headlines again this year after he issued controversial statements questioning the existence of Lord Ram. His statements created a furore and stirred anger across the nation. But nothing so far has ruffled the determined DMK leader who continues to stick to his stand.

Sanjay Dutt

After making people roar with laughter last year, 'Munna Bhai' made the nation weep this year. On July 31, 2007, Sanjay Dutt was sentenced to six years in prison under the Arms Act, in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case, for illegal possession of firearms. He was lodged in the Yerawada jail in Pune and was subsequently released after the Supreme Court set him free on the condition that he would have to go back to prison the day he received a copy of the TADA court judgment. Dutt did go back to prison when the TADA court handed him a copy of its judgment. However, his lawyers then filed an appeal for bail and got him out again. In the end, all's well that ends well. What say Munna bhai?

Anbumani Ramadoss

The Union Health Minister simply couldn’t stay away from controversies this year and just kept stumbling into one after the other. If his stand-off with Dr Venugopal made him unpopular with certain sections in AIIMS, his decision to increase the period of study of doctors to six-and-a-half years made medical college students across the nation hate him with unfair generosity. Nevertheless, the doctor, it seems, has a cure up his sleeve for all the problems that plague him. Will it work? We’ll have to wait.

Vishwanathan Anand

Call him a wizard, a genius, or simply a world champion. That's because Vishwanathan Anand was crowned the undisputed World Chess Champion on September 29, 2007, after winning the 2007 World Chess Championship Tournament in Mexico City. The champ, after winning the tournament, returned home to Chennai, where he was literally accorded a royal reception by fans and friends. The champion said he was touched by the affection shown by his fans for him.

Zi Lin Zhang

This 23-year-old beauty from China made heads turn the world over in one night when she won the Miss World title. Zhang, who has a degree in Business Administration, is now working as a company secretary. Zhang personal motto is: “Where there’s a will there’s a way”. Now, that's one motto we'd like to suggest to anyone who wants to get ahead in life.