Click to play video2008 was a year of change when the anonymous Indian made a difference. Amidst triumphs and milestones, tears and destruction, there were six who stood tall. Here are our nominees for the CNN-IBN's Indian of the Year Awards in Public Service category.
Ramdev: He made yoga an internationally recognised household art. Business gurus, celebrities, British MPs and even our own Health Minister, all swear by Baba Ramdev's mantra for good health. He dreams of a disease free society and a medicine-free world. Through Ayurveda and his breathing techniques, Ramdev is today leading the Indian attempt at mass wellness.
Janaagraha: Their Jaago Re campaign was the first of its kind. Bangalore-based Janaagraha advocates participatory democracy where 'people' are agents of change. Janaagraha works tirelessly towards urban reforms, civic maintenance and employment generation for the poor.
Madhavan Nair: For him, sky was not the limit. ISRO Chairman, Madhavan Nair, was the guiding force behind the successful launch of India's first unmanned moon mission. Chandrayaan catapulted India into becoming only the fifth nation that has sent missions to the moon. And Nair hasn't stopped at just that, his team continues to work on projects to conquer new frontiers in space, including a manned mission to the Moon by 2015.
Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani: He made headlines in June last year when he issued a fatwa against terrorism in Deoband. Leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, the Maulana brought together orthodox Muslim clergy in the war against global terror. The Jamiat also initiated a special 'peace train' in November to promote national integration.
RK Singh and Pratyaya Amrit: Despite being from a sector not known for its effective implementation, IAS Officers, RK Singh and Pratyaya Amrit took the bull by its horns and worked in seamless coordination to coordinate, rescue and ensure rehabilitation of the victims of the Bihar floods, the worst ever since Independence.
Vijay Mahajan: His contribution to the field of micro finance deserves a special mention. Social entrepreneur, Vijay Mahajan wants banks for everyone and so he founded BASIX in 1996. It is an organisation that is devoted to promoting rural livelihood in over one lakh households.
These are our nominees for Public Service. Who do you think should emerge victorious? SMS IPUB to 52622 or vote on our website, www.indianoftheyear.com
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
 |
 |
 |
|
More on IBNLive Right Now
TOP NEWS
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
