Bye Bye Year 2004

Top Personalities

Sonia Gandhi-

Imagine reading this piece the same time last year. Imagine ever being told that in 2004, a young widow would guide the destiny of this country. Imagine then thinking of who would deliver the Independence Day address and we can take a bet, Manmohan Singh would not even be amongst the top ten names on your list! Imagine that this very lady would emerge as the third most powerful women in the world. But then you are not alone in imagining how things are so different today.

Manmohan Singh-

The ‘No’ from Sonia shook India but unanimous approval followed Dr. Manhmohan Singh’s ascendance to the Prime Minister’s post. This Economist turned politician(?) took office in his trademark unassuming manner but has been getting increasingly assertive. His initiatives in the past six months in the hot seat, particularly with the problem states of J&K, Assam and Manipur met with wide appreciation.

George Bush-

It was close. It came down to a single state and to legal challenges- almost like Elections 2000. Bush’s victory was the most remarkable considering the Iraq war had split the nation and the economic recovery was shaky. He won despite, not because of, these things. His victory came from going back to political basics – sticking to one message, having a plan to get out the vote – and doing them better than his opponents. His return to the White house for another four years has enthused both the stock market and the BPO sector in India.

Zahira Shaikh-

Zahira Shaikh hit headlines when her appeal to the apex court succeded in re-opening the Best Bakery Case.On April 12, 2004 the Supreme Court ordered retrial of the case outside Gujrat, in Maharashtra. She turned Teesta Setalvad earlier friend & anchor to foe doing a flip flop with her testimonies in court. Her pro-anti(cs) stand had the courts as well as the people of India exasperated.

Veerappan-

“Bandit”, like “brigand”, has a romantic ring. To some ears it evokes fugitive outlaws- from Robin Hood to Jesse James – who seemed nobler than the forces of law and order on their trail. It is probably how the man known throughout India simply as Veerappan would like to be remembered. That, however would be an injustice to the 124 people he is said to have killed. A 750 strong special task force had spent 14 years and a fortune trying to catch him.

Ambanis-

The man who “arguably” controls India’s largest business empire – Rs. 91,766 crore in turnover, Rs 90,000 crore in market cap, 80,000 people as employees and more than 3 million investors -came out of his closet for the first time and spoke about “being the boss”’ rocking the stock market.

L.N.Mittal-

Laxmi Nivas Mittal has acquired the habit of being in the news. First, it was for buying decrepit steel mills in remote parts of the world and cranking them into winners, then for buying a palace(Kensington Palace) in London for 70 million pounds. His company also became the world’s largest steel manufacturer with a turnover of $30 billion and more recently (in June) he hit headlines with the Rs. 200– crore extravaganza for his daughter’s wedding. There’s no denying the fact that this year belonged in more ways than one to Steel King L.N. Mittal.

Aishwarya Rai-

She figures in our list not because of her link ups to Vivek Oberoi but because without prejudice she has been the face of the great Indian Crossover – from Gurinder Chaddha’s Bride and Prejudice to movies with Meryl Streep & Michael Douglas she surely has “crossed over”. Unveiled in wax at Madame Tussad’s, London & more recently being the first Indian filmstar to appear on CBS’s highly acclaimed 60 minutes.

Click here for Deaths in year 2004

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