From: Shobhan Lakkapragada <shobhan@dcs.uky.edu>

Date sent: Sun, 10 Nov 1996 10:57:34 -0500

Person Nominated : Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao

Reasons : He did so much good to the country. Thanks to him and Dr. Manmohan Singh, India is now a strong economy again.

From: GURDEV.SINGH@professionals.com <amrit@erols.com>

Date sent: Sun, 10 Nov 1996 07:48:54 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : T. SESHAN

Reasons : FOR HIS NO NONSENSE DEALING IN NATIONAL ELECTION. HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING. HOPE HE CONTINUE POKING HIOS NOSE IN SOME OR THE OTHER WAY, SO THAT THESE TOPIWLA AND DHOTIWAALAS WITH SCAMS AND NOT SCANDLES ARE LITTLE BIT AWAKE

From: Talluri.Sreeram@professionals.com <sreeram@hotmail.com>

Date sent: Sun, 10 Nov 1996 00:04:19 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : A. B. Vajpayee

Reasons : Hello,

I would like to nominate Mr.A.B.Vajpayee as he one person who can change the Face of India and bring a clean government.

From: Sreeram.Talluri@professionals.com <s947697@iplabs.ins.gu.edu.au>

Date sent: Sun, 10 Nov 1996 00:00:36 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : sachin tendulkar

Reasons : Indian cricket is Sachin and Sachin is Indian Cricket and,any country would love be happy to have him in their team unlike, PV etc..

From: Sanjeev.verma@professionals.com < s944384@iplabs.ins.gu.edu.au>

Date sent: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 23:58:18 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : sachin tendulkar

Reasons : Indian cricket is Sachin and Sachin is Indian Cricket

From: Jyotsna Mehta <jyoraj@enter.net>

Date sent: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 19:07:13 -0500

erson Nominated : CMM Prem Kumar

Reasons : For standing up to the corrupt politicians.

We need more people like him.

From: N.Sivaramakrishnan <bitechm@giasmd01.vsnl.net.in >

Date sent: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 17:01:10 -0500

Person Nominated : Sanath Jayasurya

Reasons : One of the main reasons for the transformation of the Sri Lankan team into World Champions. Has single handedly changed the general attitude of "slow & steady wins the race."

From: Bharathi@professionals.com

Date sent: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 13:38:05 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : Atal Behari Vajpayee

Reasons : For remaining only hope for India. When the ruling and oppostion parties are practicing undemacratic and opportunitstic means of keeping BJP out of power, with the quiet and dishonest approval of the so called "intellectual" media, Mr. Vajpayee is effecively leading the only decent and viable political party in the country. If the people do not recognize and disapprove the shameless acts of ruling and other oppostion parties, India may slowly and permanently loose the demacratic set up. Just imagine India today without BJP. Imagine the whole political scenario dominated only by Non-BJP parties. There will not be any checks. Laloo, Bukhari, and Chandraswami may want to rewrite the constitution !

From: SENIOR

Date sent: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 16:04:19 -0500

Person Nominated : MICHAEL JACKSON

Reasons : BECAUSE HE IS THE KING OF POP,BESIDES IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!!!

From: BALASUBRAMANIAN.SUNDARAM@professionals.com <BALA@CMM.CHEM.UPENN.EDU>

Date sent: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 08:46:06 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : H. D. SHOURIE

Reasons : He showed the way to use public interest litigations to bring justice to Indian society

From: Kedar.Janwadker@professionals.com <kedar@mindspring.com>

Date sent: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 07:01:51 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : Leander peas

Reasons : Always gave his best for India ( including Davis cup). Gave a tough fight to Andre Agassi. Has a killer instinct that is what is lacking in Indian Sports.

Humble Gentleman.

From: Nikhil.Kolekar@professionals.com <nikhil@west.bri.com>

Date sent: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 18:38:53 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Reasons : Atalji could have proved to be the best prime minister we have had. Unfortunately (for us) he could not survive the number game in today's fragmented democracy, he acted the best one could have under those circumstances.

From: kiran.kumar.s.vemireddi@professionals.com <kiranv@utdallas.edu>

Date sent: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 09:33:38 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : T. N Seshan

Reasons : For being an officer who fought against the illegal practices in one of the most crucial systems, the electoral system, which serves the true purpose of democracy, it gives the people the right to choose their representatives, no rigging or any other illegal practices.

From: Sridhar@professionals.com <sridhart@ix.netcom.com>

Date sent: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 10:19:15 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : Indian Judiciary

Reasons : At last, the court offers an average Indian, a hope for a better future. The courts have proved that ministers and officials cannot get away with their anti-national activities.

From: Rajesh.Naik@professionals.com <rnaik@andrew.cmu.edu>

Date sent: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 11:48:01 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : T N Seshan

Reasons : His impact on cleaning up the election process in India. Hats off to him for standing up and taking on our corrupt Indian politicians.

From: Ramesh.Subramanian@professionals.com <sramesh@coe.wvu.edu>

Date sent: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 14:13:25 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : Leander Paes

Reasons : Invariably every decade or so, comes one individual in the annals of Indian Sports who does something which motivates other people, irrespective of their discipline. Examples in this category include Milkha Singh and in recent history- Vishwanathan Anand.

For this reason the achievement of Leander Paes should be put in perspective - Not only did he win a medal in a sport which is a mainstream sport (unlike billiards), at the olympics, he proved that Indians can do well in a game which one needs good facilities and the bugbear of Indians- a killer instinct.

The goosepumps which everyone felt when the national anthem was played at the arena was to me enough to nominate Mr. Paes for this great honour.

From: jaideep.purkayastha@professionals.com <jpurkay@emory.edu>

Date sent: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 14:22:56 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : mr. jyoti basu

Reasons : the most honest, principled and able politician-cum-administrator in the current corrupt political scenario. At age 84 he has a hectic schedule and would have had the reins of the country had his party so desired. he is seen to have risen above all and is by all means the most respected and admired.

From: PRASHANT RAJ MATHUR <pmathur@top.eng.utoledo.edu>

Date sent: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 00:00:49 -0500

Person Nominated : T.N. SESHAN

Reasons : I would select T.N.Seshan as the Rediff Person of the Year ,by the way he conducted the 1996 General Elections.

The commitment and confidence with which he worked makes me pick him as the Person of the Year . Kudos to him for conducting free &fair elections in Jammu &Kashmir.

From: raj.sodhia@professionals.com <fourrinc@ix.netcom.com>

Date sent: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 21:08:14 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : atal bihari vajpayee

Reasons : a capapble man of honesty, clearity and understanding. he has certain principals ,charm and dedicated outlook .

mr vanpayee is capable leader who will have a consistent policies to lead the nation.

he commands respect and following in the country . he can follow a moderate path to the best interest of country .he is above pretty politics and can set high standards of morality and conduct to be followed by each and every member of his administration.

From: Sundeep Krishan Sood <sood0002@gold.tc.umn.edu>

Date sent: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 00:40:57 -0500

Person Nominated : atal bihari vajpayee

Reasons : He symbolized change, and lent charater to the dwindling aura of an Indian Politician

From: Sachin.Mishra@professionals.com <sachin@tl-dev.hkg.hp.com>

Date sent: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 00:13:22 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : Mr. Justice Jagdish Saran Verma

Reasons : Because of his tough approach and backing to the judiciary the high handed, powerful Executive has been shown that they are not above the law. Narasihma Rao, Chandraswami, Laloo Yadav, ITC, Satish Sharma, Sheila Kaul, Kalpnath Rai have all been made answerable to the constitution.

From: ray kumar <rkumar@drk.sph.emory.edu>

Date sent: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 04:03:02 -0500

Person Nominated : Jyothi Basu

Reasons : He came close to occupying the PM's chair which should ightfully be his. By far the most astute and charismatic politician in the history of indian politics ruling uninterruptedly for almost 20 yrs.

From: Elango.K@professionals.com <elango@wipro.wipsys.soft.net>

Date sent: Sat, 2 Nov 1996 15:36:46 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : Justice J.S.Verma

Reasons : Though hawala case came first to the former chief justice Venkatachaliah, he failed to take initiative. But Mr. Verma took the opportunity to cleanse the political class. Not only in the hawala case, he is giving very clear signals to the culpir

its in the excutive & politics through his pronouncements in the court. This can be seen even in the Bihar fodder scam case in which the govt approached the supreme court against the high court order.

From: GIRISH.DESAI@professionals.com <HBHW97A@PRODIGY.COM>

Date sent: Sat, 16 Nov 1996 13:49:34 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : P V NARSIMHA RAO

Reasons : HE IS THE VILLAIN AND THE HERO OF THE YEAR. PUBLISH HIS PICTURE WITH HALF BLACK AND HALF BRIGHT FACE.

From: V.Garg@professionals.com <vgarg@gnn.com>

Date sent: Sat, 16 Nov 1996 13:54:59 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Reasons : Only hope for India, all other leaders are corrupt. He has a vision for graet india.

From: Krishnakumar@professionals.com

Date sent: Sat, 16 Nov 1996 17:14:17 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : T N Seshan

Reasons : I don't have to say. Every citizen knows.

From: VIJAY.DWIVEDI@professionals.com <jains@ncc.moc.kw>

Person Nominated : T.N. Seshan

Reasons : In think he is "The Man of the Decade" due to his dynamic personality and self-confidence, he showed to every Indian that even a single man can change the system successfully. he is simply a terrific person. Even Former cricketer of the Pakistan Imran Khan told in a press confrence that 'Pakistan need a man like T.N. Seshan'. I salute Mr. T.N. Seshan.

From: deepak@professionals.com <dtakhtan@jaguar1.southal.edu>

Date sent: Sun, 17 Nov 1996 09:12:27 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : Arundhati Ghosh

Reasons : She is in the mould of Indira Gandhi, when men like Mulayam were hiding with tail between legs, she stood alone...and oh boy...we need more Arundhatis.. way to go...she is my heroin....all the best India...

From: Neil.Barman@professionals.com <Neil.Barman@jhu.edu>

Date sent: Sun, 17 Nov 1996 11:24:53 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : Shabana Azmi

Reasons : Neither is she a political figure, neither can one deny her impact in both India and the world. Perhaps what she has accomplished for India no other woman has. She really deserves the honour.

From: Harish.Ramachandra@professionals.com <hramacha@top.eng.utoledo.edu>

Date sent: Sun, 17 Nov 1996 12:09:59 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : T N Seshan

Reasons : The Judiciary no doubt deserves credit for refusing to join the rot, the Indian Polity has become. But cleaning up elections would be the first step in this direction. Seshan deserves this award for standing up to the brow-beating and mud-slinging by the dirty politicians of all the parties.

From: Chaitanya.Kuber@professionals.com <C.Kuber@student.anu.edu.au>

Date sent: Sun, 17 Nov 1996 16:38:12 -0800 (PST)

Person Nominated : Sachin Tendulkar

Reasons : What should i say that hasn't been said before about this cricketing genius. The wonder boy of indian cricket and the world's best batsman. A good fieldsman and an pretty good bowler. Plus bot a bad start as a captain either. He's taken the Indian cricket Team after disastours end to the World Cup and very bad tour of England to a very solid win over the aussies and then the Titan Cup. On and off the field a gentalman to the heart and a great ambassador for the game of cricket and for India. As he is fittingly known amongst my freinds "God" is my vote for Rediff Person of The Year.

From: Ranjit Dandekar < randa973@knuten.liu.se>

Date sent: Sun, 17 Nov 1996 23:26:18 -0500

Person Nominated : Leander Paes

Reasons : The only person who really put in that extra effort when representing the country- and he always does it!

From: Arvind Nayak < ana@fmsc.com.au >

Date sent: Mon, 18 Nov 1996 04:46:07 -0500

Person Nominated : Leander Paes

Reasons : Despite his limitations, due to his sheer guts and determination he won an individual Olympic medal in the most professional sport in the world, Tennis.

Continued