|
Monday, 4 November 2013
Adi Godrej
Arun Sarin
|
Sabeer Bhatia
Sabeer Bhatia-co-founder of Hotmail, is one among select group of people who have made it big in America's Silicon Valley. Born in Chandigarh, Sabeer Bhatia did his schooling from St. Joseph's Boys' High School, Bangalore. He graduated from Caltech and went to Stanford to pursue his MS in Electrical Engineering. Sabeer attended many lectures by famous like Steve Jobs and was determined to make it big. After completing his Masters, he joined Apple computers. He left Apple soon after. He teamed up with his partner to create a web-based e-mail system Microsoft bought Hotmail on December 30th, 1997, for a reported sum of $400M. After the success of Hotmail, Bhatia in April 1999, he started another venture, Arzoo Inc, which however had to be shut down. In 2006, Arzoo was relaunched.
Bhatia has won many awards. Among the notable ones include the "Entrepreneur of the Year" awarded by the venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson in 1997, the "TR100" award, presented by MIT to 100 young innovators expected to have the greatest impact on technology in the next few years. Besides, he was named by TIME magazine as one of the "People to Watch" in International Business in 2002.
Bhatia has won many awards. Among the notable ones include the "Entrepreneur of the Year" awarded by the venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson in 1997, the "TR100" award, presented by MIT to 100 young innovators expected to have the greatest impact on technology in the next few years. Besides, he was named by TIME magazine as one of the "People to Watch" in International Business in 2002.
Amartya Sen
Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen was born on 3 November 1933 in Santiniketan, West Bengal. Besides being a world-renowned economist, Amartya Sen is also a philosopher. He served as a Master at the Trinity College at Cambridge University, the first Asian academic to head an Oxbridge college. Currently the Lamont University Professor at Harvard University, Amartya Sen traces his roots to an illustrious lineage. His father, Ashutosh Sen, taught chemistry at the Dhaka University. Amartya completed his high-school education from Dhaka in Bangladesh in 1941. After his family migrated to India in 1947, Sen studied at the Presidency College, Kolkata and at the DelhiSchool of Economics before moving over to the United Kingdom to complete his higher studies. He earned his doctorate from the Trinity College, Cambridge in 1959. He has taught at various reputed Universities including the University of Calcutta, Jadavpur University, Oxford, London School of Economics, Harvard and many others.
His works helped to develop the theory of social choice. In 1981, he published his famous work Poverty and Famines: An Essay on Entitlement and Deprivation, where he showed that famine occurs not only due to shortage of food, but from inequalities in the mechanisms for distributing food. He had personally witnessed the Bengal famine of 1943. He has done valuable work in the field of development economics, which has had a tremendous influence on the formulation of the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report.
He wrote a famous but controversial article in the New York Review of Books titled "More Than 100 Million Women Are Missing", wherein he analyzed the mortality impact of unequal rights between the genders in the developing world, mainly Asia, a claim that was contested by many. Thrice married, he is presently married to Emma Georgina Rothschild, a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award in 1999. In the same year, he received the honorary citizenship of Bangladesh. He received the Eisenhower Medal, for Leadership and Service in USA in 2000. In 2002, he was awarded the International Humanist Award by the International Humanist and Ethical Union.
His works helped to develop the theory of social choice. In 1981, he published his famous work Poverty and Famines: An Essay on Entitlement and Deprivation, where he showed that famine occurs not only due to shortage of food, but from inequalities in the mechanisms for distributing food. He had personally witnessed the Bengal famine of 1943. He has done valuable work in the field of development economics, which has had a tremendous influence on the formulation of the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report.
He wrote a famous but controversial article in the New York Review of Books titled "More Than 100 Million Women Are Missing", wherein he analyzed the mortality impact of unequal rights between the genders in the developing world, mainly Asia, a claim that was contested by many. Thrice married, he is presently married to Emma Georgina Rothschild, a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award in 1999. In the same year, he received the honorary citizenship of Bangladesh. He received the Eisenhower Medal, for Leadership and Service in USA in 2000. In 2002, he was awarded the International Humanist Award by the International Humanist and Ethical Union.
Mahesh Bhupathi
Mahesh Bhupathi is the first Indian to win a Grand Slam tournament in 1997 partnering Rika Hiraki in Mixed Doubles.
He is considered to be among the best doubles tennis players in the world. Born on June 7, 1974 inChennai, Tamil Nadu he has 10 Grand Slam titles to his credit.
In 1999, he teamed up with Leander Paes to win three doubles titles including Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
During that year, they became the World No. 1 doubles team. He teamed up with Martina Hingis to win the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open in 2006.
He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2001 by the Government of India.
In late 2006, he teamed up with Leander Paes to win the doubles championship at the Asian Games in Doha.
He is considered to be among the best doubles tennis players in the world. Born on June 7, 1974 inChennai, Tamil Nadu he has 10 Grand Slam titles to his credit.
In 1999, he teamed up with Leander Paes to win three doubles titles including Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
During that year, they became the World No. 1 doubles team. He teamed up with Martina Hingis to win the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open in 2006.
He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2001 by the Government of India.
In late 2006, he teamed up with Leander Paes to win the doubles championship at the Asian Games in Doha.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founded the Art of Living Foundation in 1982, to spread the message of compassion, commitment to society, and a cosmic understanding of life.
He has traveled extensively all across the globe, promoting global peace and development.
He was born in 1956 in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu. In 1997, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founded the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), which implements development projects in remote villages.
It has undertaken relief efforts in many locations around the world like Afghanistan, Bosnia, New York after the 9/11 attacks, Gujarat and in Asia after the devastating Tsunami.
He has been conferred by many awards around the globe like the "Peter the Great First Grade Medal of Honor" from the Russian Federation, "Guru Mahatmya" award by Government of Maharashtra, India (September 1997), Phoenix Award awarded by the Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. (April 2002) among others.
He has traveled extensively all across the globe, promoting global peace and development.
He was born in 1956 in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu. In 1997, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founded the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), which implements development projects in remote villages.
It has undertaken relief efforts in many locations around the world like Afghanistan, Bosnia, New York after the 9/11 attacks, Gujarat and in Asia after the devastating Tsunami.
He has been conferred by many awards around the globe like the "Peter the Great First Grade Medal of Honor" from the Russian Federation, "Guru Mahatmya" award by Government of Maharashtra, India (September 1997), Phoenix Award awarded by the Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. (April 2002) among others.
Viswanathan Anand
The living legend of Chess, Viswanathan Anand was born on December 11, 1969 in Chennai. His awesome speed has earned him the nickname "Lightning Kid." In March 2007, Anand won the Morelia-Linares Super Grandmasters chess tournament. He showed his genius early on as a child when he won the National Sub-Junior Chess Championship in 1983 at the age of fourteen. In 1984, Anand went on to become the youngest Indian to win the International Master Title. He became the National Champion at the age of sixteen.
His winning spree continued when in 1987, he became the first Indian to win the World Junior Chess Championship and the next year, he became India's first Grandmaster. He qualified for the Professional Chess Association World Chess Championship final by beating the likes of Michael Adams and Gata Kamsky. At the age of 22, he won the Reggio Emilia, finished ahead of greats like Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. In 1995, he lost to Garry Kasparov in New York City's World Trade Center. He achieved victories at Dortmund in 2004, the Corus chess tournament in 2006 and Linares in 2007. This Chess whizkid won the Chess Oscar in 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2004.
Anand won the FIDE World Chess Championship in 2000 after defeating Alexei Shirov in the final match held in Teheran. In 2003, he won the World Rapid Chess Championship. In 2006, he became the fourth player in history to cross the 2800-mark in ELO ratings. Among the many awards he has won, mention may be made of the Arjuna award in 1985, the Padma Shri in 1987, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 1991-1992 and the Padma Bhushan in 2000
Vishwanathan Anand has added another feather to his cap by winning the World Chess Championship in Moscow against Boris Gelfand of Israel giving a reason to his friends to rejoice once again. Having won the title previously in 2000, 2007, 2008 and 2010 and now in 2012 this was his fifth victory at the World Chess Championship where he was also the defending champion.
His winning spree continued when in 1987, he became the first Indian to win the World Junior Chess Championship and the next year, he became India's first Grandmaster. He qualified for the Professional Chess Association World Chess Championship final by beating the likes of Michael Adams and Gata Kamsky. At the age of 22, he won the Reggio Emilia, finished ahead of greats like Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. In 1995, he lost to Garry Kasparov in New York City's World Trade Center. He achieved victories at Dortmund in 2004, the Corus chess tournament in 2006 and Linares in 2007. This Chess whizkid won the Chess Oscar in 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2004.
Anand won the FIDE World Chess Championship in 2000 after defeating Alexei Shirov in the final match held in Teheran. In 2003, he won the World Rapid Chess Championship. In 2006, he became the fourth player in history to cross the 2800-mark in ELO ratings. Among the many awards he has won, mention may be made of the Arjuna award in 1985, the Padma Shri in 1987, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 1991-1992 and the Padma Bhushan in 2000
Vishwanathan Anand has added another feather to his cap by winning the World Chess Championship in Moscow against Boris Gelfand of Israel giving a reason to his friends to rejoice once again. Having won the title previously in 2000, 2007, 2008 and 2010 and now in 2012 this was his fifth victory at the World Chess Championship where he was also the defending champion.
Azim Premji
The software czar of India Azim Premji is the Chairman of Wipro Technologies, one of the largest software companies in India. One of the richest Indians worldwide, Premji was born on July 24, 1945. When he was studying Electrical Engineering at Stanford University in the United States, he had to rush back and take over the mantle of the family's business on the sudden demise of his father. In those days, Wipro dealt with hydrogenated cooking fats, bakery fats, toiletries, hair care soaps, baby toiletries etc. Under Premji, the company shifted from soaps to software.
Under his stewardship, WIPRO has grown from a US$ 2 million hydrogenated cooking fat company to a US $1.76 billion IT- giant. Ranked among the top 100 Technology companies globally, Wipro is also the largest BPO services provider based in India. Premji was named as the Business Man of the Year 2000 by Business India and the Business Leader of the Year 2004 by the Economic Times. The TIME magazine listed him in 2004 as one of the 100 most influential people worldwide. In 2003, the Fortune magazine named him as one of the 25 most powerful business leaders outside the US.
He was awarded honorary doctorates by many renowned institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, besides serving on the Prime Minister's Committee for Trade and Industry in India. He founded the Azim Premji foundation in 2001, a not-for-profit organization to help the poor and the downtrodden. He received the Padma Bhushan award from the Union Government in 2005.
Under his stewardship, WIPRO has grown from a US$ 2 million hydrogenated cooking fat company to a US $1.76 billion IT- giant. Ranked among the top 100 Technology companies globally, Wipro is also the largest BPO services provider based in India. Premji was named as the Business Man of the Year 2000 by Business India and the Business Leader of the Year 2004 by the Economic Times. The TIME magazine listed him in 2004 as one of the 100 most influential people worldwide. In 2003, the Fortune magazine named him as one of the 25 most powerful business leaders outside the US.
He was awarded honorary doctorates by many renowned institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, besides serving on the Prime Minister's Committee for Trade and Industry in India. He founded the Azim Premji foundation in 2001, a not-for-profit organization to help the poor and the downtrodden. He received the Padma Bhushan award from the Union Government in 2005.
Zakir Hussain
Noted tabla player Ustad Zakir Hussain was born on March 9, 1951. The son of the tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha, Ustad Zakir Hussain has given performances across the globe. After doing his schooling from St. Michael's High School in Mahim, he went on to complete his graduation from St Xaviers, Mumbai before leaving for the United States in 1970, starting his international career. He has worked with many international bands like The Beatles, Shanti as well as renowned artists across the globe. His first solo release, Making Music, received rave reviews worldwide.
He hit international headlines in 1992, when his album Planet Drum, in collaboration with Mickey Hart received a Grammy for the Best World Music Album. He has performed with artists like George Harrison, Ali Akbar Khan, Ravi Shankar, Aashish Khan, Vasant Rai, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Jack Bruce, Tito Puente, Pharoah Sanders, the Hong Kong Symphony, New Orleans Symphony and many others.
Zakir Hussain has composed the music for several movies like Heat and Dust , In Custody, The Mystic Masseur and others. Besides, he has played the tabla on the soundtracks of Apocalypse Now, Little Buddha and other films. He was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship, the United States' most prestigious award for a master in the traditional arts in 1999. He received the Indo-American Award in 1990 in recognition of his contribution to relations between the two countries. He has received a host of awards in India too. Zakir Hussain was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1991 and the Padma Bhushan in 2002. He co-composed the opening music for the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. Besides, he was commissioned to compose music for San Francisco's leading ballet company, Lines. He married noted Kathak dancer Antonia Minnecola.
He hit international headlines in 1992, when his album Planet Drum, in collaboration with Mickey Hart received a Grammy for the Best World Music Album. He has performed with artists like George Harrison, Ali Akbar Khan, Ravi Shankar, Aashish Khan, Vasant Rai, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Jack Bruce, Tito Puente, Pharoah Sanders, the Hong Kong Symphony, New Orleans Symphony and many others.
Zakir Hussain has composed the music for several movies like Heat and Dust , In Custody, The Mystic Masseur and others. Besides, he has played the tabla on the soundtracks of Apocalypse Now, Little Buddha and other films. He was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship, the United States' most prestigious award for a master in the traditional arts in 1999. He received the Indo-American Award in 1990 in recognition of his contribution to relations between the two countries. He has received a host of awards in India too. Zakir Hussain was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1991 and the Padma Bhushan in 2002. He co-composed the opening music for the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. Besides, he was commissioned to compose music for San Francisco's leading ballet company, Lines. He married noted Kathak dancer Antonia Minnecola.
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam graduated in aeronautical engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1958 and joined the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). In 1962, Kalam joined the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). In 1982, he rejoined DRDO as the Chief Executive of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
Dr. Kalam is credited with the development and operationalization of India's Agni and Prithvi missiles. He worked as the Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development from 1992 to 1999. During this period, the Pokhran-II nuclear tests were conducted. Dr. Kalam held the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India from November 1999 to November 2001.
Dr. Kalam took up teaching at Anna University, Chennai from November 2001. He is a prolific author. His books, "Wings of Fire", "India 2020 - A Vision for the New Millennium", "My journey" and "Ignited Minds - Unleashing the power within India" have become bestsellers. He is a favourite with children all over the country and has met children all over the country and has encouraged them with his learned talks.
Dr. Abdul Kalam was conferred with the Degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa by the Simon Fraser University, Canada. He also wrote a book named “Turning Points: A journey through challenges” which was published by Harper Collins India. The book tells us about his story with details from his career and presidency that are not generally known. He speaks on certain points of controversy offering insight into an extraordinary personality and shows a vision of how a country with a great heritage can turn out to be great with perseverance, confidence and effort.
Dr. Kalam has received a host of awards both in India and abroad. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1981, Padma Vibhushan 1990 and the Bharat Ratna in 1997. He is of the view that we should work wholeheartedly to make India a developed nation by 2020. Besides being a bachelor, Kalam is a strict disciplinarian, a complete vegetarian and teetotaler. Among the many firsts to his credit, he became India's first President to undertake an undersea journey when he boarded the INS Sindhurakshak, a submarine, from Visakhapatnam. He also became the first president to undertake a sortie in a fighter aircraft, a Sukhoi-30 MKI.
Awards and accolades
1981 – Padma Bhushan Award by Government of India
1990 – Padma Vibhushan Award by Government of India
1997 – Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration by Government of India
1997 – Bharat Ratna Award by Government of India
1998 – Veer Savarkar Award by Government of India
2000 – Ramanujan Award by Alwars Research Centre in Chennai
2007 – King Charles II Medal by Royal Society in UK
2007 – Honorary Doctorate of Science by University of Wolverhampton in UK
2008 – Doctor of Engineering (Honoris Causa) by Nanyang Technological University in Singapore
2009 – Hoover Medal by ASME Foundation in USA
2009 – International von Kármán Wings Award by California Institute of Technology in USA
2010 – Doctor of Engineering by University of Waterloo
2011 – IEEE Honorary Membership by IEEE
2012 – Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) by Simon Fraser University
Dr. Kalam is credited with the development and operationalization of India's Agni and Prithvi missiles. He worked as the Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development from 1992 to 1999. During this period, the Pokhran-II nuclear tests were conducted. Dr. Kalam held the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India from November 1999 to November 2001.
Dr. Kalam took up teaching at Anna University, Chennai from November 2001. He is a prolific author. His books, "Wings of Fire", "India 2020 - A Vision for the New Millennium", "My journey" and "Ignited Minds - Unleashing the power within India" have become bestsellers. He is a favourite with children all over the country and has met children all over the country and has encouraged them with his learned talks.
Dr. Abdul Kalam was conferred with the Degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa by the Simon Fraser University, Canada. He also wrote a book named “Turning Points: A journey through challenges” which was published by Harper Collins India. The book tells us about his story with details from his career and presidency that are not generally known. He speaks on certain points of controversy offering insight into an extraordinary personality and shows a vision of how a country with a great heritage can turn out to be great with perseverance, confidence and effort.
Dr. Kalam has received a host of awards both in India and abroad. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1981, Padma Vibhushan 1990 and the Bharat Ratna in 1997. He is of the view that we should work wholeheartedly to make India a developed nation by 2020. Besides being a bachelor, Kalam is a strict disciplinarian, a complete vegetarian and teetotaler. Among the many firsts to his credit, he became India's first President to undertake an undersea journey when he boarded the INS Sindhurakshak, a submarine, from Visakhapatnam. He also became the first president to undertake a sortie in a fighter aircraft, a Sukhoi-30 MKI.
Awards and accolades
1981 – Padma Bhushan Award by Government of India
1990 – Padma Vibhushan Award by Government of India
1997 – Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration by Government of India
1997 – Bharat Ratna Award by Government of India
1998 – Veer Savarkar Award by Government of India
2000 – Ramanujan Award by Alwars Research Centre in Chennai
2007 – King Charles II Medal by Royal Society in UK
2007 – Honorary Doctorate of Science by University of Wolverhampton in UK
2008 – Doctor of Engineering (Honoris Causa) by Nanyang Technological University in Singapore
2009 – Hoover Medal by ASME Foundation in USA
2009 – International von Kármán Wings Award by California Institute of Technology in USA
2010 – Doctor of Engineering by University of Waterloo
2011 – IEEE Honorary Membership by IEEE
2012 – Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) by Simon Fraser University
Ratan Tata
Ratan Tata is one of the most well-known and respected Indian businessman. He served as the Chairman of the Tata Group from 1991 till 2012. As a Mumbai-based conglomerate, he is also a member of the prominent Tata family of Indian industrialists and philanthropists.
Ratan Tata was born on December 28, 1937 in Mumbai. When he was a child his parents separated and he was brought up by his grandmother Lady Navajbai. He went to Campion School in Bombay, Bishop Cotton School in Shimla and finished his schooling from Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. He graduated with a degree in Architecture and Structural Engineering from Cornell University in 1962 and also did the Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School in 1975. He is also a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity of Yale University, United States.
In 1962, Ratan Tata began his career in the Tata group. At first he used to work on the shop floor of Tata Steel, shoveling limestone and handling blast furnace. In 1991, JRD Tata stepped down as the chairman of Tata Industries and named Ratan Tata as his successor. Under Ratan’s stewardship, Tata Tea attained Tetley, Tata motors attained Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Steel attained Corus. These triumphs turned Tata from a large India-centric company into a global business with 65% revenues from abroad. He also contributed in the development of Indica and Nano.
Ratan Tata has also served in various organizations in India and abroad. He is a member of the Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry and he is also on the board of governors of the East-West Center, which is the advisory board of RAND's Center for Asia Pacific Policy. He also serves on the program board of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's India AIDS initiative.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in January 2000. He serves on the boards of several leading organizations, both in the public as well as the private sector in India. He is a member of the International Investment Council set up by the President of South Africa and serves on the programme board of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's India AIDS initiative. Ratan Tata is credited for leading Tatas' successful bid for Corus, an Anglo-Dutch steel and aluminum producer, which was acquired for an estimated £6.7 billion by Tata Sons.
On 28th December 2012, Ratan Tata retired from the Tata group. It also happened to be his 75th birthday. Ratan Tata is succeeded by Cyrus Mistry, the son of Pallonji Mistry and the managing director of Shapoorji Pallonji Group.
Ratan Tata was born on December 28, 1937 in Mumbai. When he was a child his parents separated and he was brought up by his grandmother Lady Navajbai. He went to Campion School in Bombay, Bishop Cotton School in Shimla and finished his schooling from Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. He graduated with a degree in Architecture and Structural Engineering from Cornell University in 1962 and also did the Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School in 1975. He is also a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity of Yale University, United States.
In 1962, Ratan Tata began his career in the Tata group. At first he used to work on the shop floor of Tata Steel, shoveling limestone and handling blast furnace. In 1991, JRD Tata stepped down as the chairman of Tata Industries and named Ratan Tata as his successor. Under Ratan’s stewardship, Tata Tea attained Tetley, Tata motors attained Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Steel attained Corus. These triumphs turned Tata from a large India-centric company into a global business with 65% revenues from abroad. He also contributed in the development of Indica and Nano.
Ratan Tata has also served in various organizations in India and abroad. He is a member of the Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry and he is also on the board of governors of the East-West Center, which is the advisory board of RAND's Center for Asia Pacific Policy. He also serves on the program board of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's India AIDS initiative.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in January 2000. He serves on the boards of several leading organizations, both in the public as well as the private sector in India. He is a member of the International Investment Council set up by the President of South Africa and serves on the programme board of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's India AIDS initiative. Ratan Tata is credited for leading Tatas' successful bid for Corus, an Anglo-Dutch steel and aluminum producer, which was acquired for an estimated £6.7 billion by Tata Sons.
On 28th December 2012, Ratan Tata retired from the Tata group. It also happened to be his 75th birthday. Ratan Tata is succeeded by Cyrus Mistry, the son of Pallonji Mistry and the managing director of Shapoorji Pallonji Group.
Awards and Achievements
- 2004 - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Technology by Asian Institute of Technology
- 2005 - Honorary Doctor of Science by University of Warwick
- 2006 - FIRST Magazine Award for Responsible Capitalism
- 2006 - Awarded the 26th Robert S. Hatfield Fellow in Economic Education by Cornell University
- 2007 - Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- 2008 - Honorary Doctor of Science by Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
- 2008 - Honorary Doctor of Law by University of Cambridge
- 2008 - Recipient of the 'Global Indian Award' at the NASSCOM Global Leadership Awards
- 2009 - Ratan Tata was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- 2010 - Business Leader of the Year by The Asian Awards
- 2010 - Honorary Doctor of Laws by Pepperdine University
- 2010 - Legend in Leadership Award by Yale University
- 2012 - Honorary Degree by The University of New South Wales
A. R. Rahman
Born in Chennai on January 6, 1967 as A. S. Dileep Kumar, he came to known as A.R.(Allah Rakha Rahman) after he converted to Islam. His father, who worked as a composer and conductor died when A.R.Rahman was young as a result of which A.R.Rahman had a difficult childhood. When he was just 11, he joined the troupe of famous South Indian composer Ilaiyaraaja. He later graduated from the Trinity College at Oxford University, with a degree in Western classical music. His lucky break came when he was asked by famous director to compose the music for his movie Roja in 1991. Roja's music went on to create waves and there was no looking back ever since.
Rahman notched up many other hits like Bombay, Kadhalan, Indira, Minsaara Kanavu, Muthu and Love Birds, Swades, Rang De Basanti and Guru. His music was very different from the rest of the pack. He made his debut in Bollywood with the film Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma. He has worked with all the leading directors both in Bollywood as well as in the South Indian film industry. He has won international acclaim. He composed the score and soundtrack for the Chinese film Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003. The famous international composer Andrew Lloyd Webber hired Rahman to compose the music for his maiden stage production Bombay Dreams in 2002.
He is a recipient of the Padma Shri. Over the years Rahman has had the distinction of working with some of the best personalities in the Indian entertainment industry like Javed Akhtar, Mehboob, Gulzar, Vairamuthu, Anand Bakshi, Vaali and P.K.Mishra. Rahman’s studio, Panchathan Record Inn, was inaugurated in 2005 and is regarded as among the finest of its kind in Asia with regards to equipments and overall development.
KM Music, the personal music label of AR Rahman was launched in 2006. Its first release was the music of Sillunu Oru Kaadhal scored by Rahman himself. He has also been involved in a number of prestigious international projects such as Elizabeth: The Golden Age that was directed by Shekhar Kapoor in 2007. Rahman also scored the music for Slumdog Millionaire in 2008. This work fetched him two Oscars and a Golden Globe. The music was extremely popular with Jai Ho reaching number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 at the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles.
Over the years Rahman has been the recipient of a number of awards and recognitions. In 2010 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, which is third in the list of civilian awards conferred by the government of India.
He also won the Filmfare Best Music Director Award for his work in Delhi 6 in 2010. The same film also fetched him the Best Music Direction award at the Star Screen Awards. His song Nana from the film Couples Retreat was nominated in the Best Original Song category in the 2010 Academy Awards.
Rahman notched up many other hits like Bombay, Kadhalan, Indira, Minsaara Kanavu, Muthu and Love Birds, Swades, Rang De Basanti and Guru. His music was very different from the rest of the pack. He made his debut in Bollywood with the film Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma. He has worked with all the leading directors both in Bollywood as well as in the South Indian film industry. He has won international acclaim. He composed the score and soundtrack for the Chinese film Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003. The famous international composer Andrew Lloyd Webber hired Rahman to compose the music for his maiden stage production Bombay Dreams in 2002.
He is a recipient of the Padma Shri. Over the years Rahman has had the distinction of working with some of the best personalities in the Indian entertainment industry like Javed Akhtar, Mehboob, Gulzar, Vairamuthu, Anand Bakshi, Vaali and P.K.Mishra. Rahman’s studio, Panchathan Record Inn, was inaugurated in 2005 and is regarded as among the finest of its kind in Asia with regards to equipments and overall development.
KM Music, the personal music label of AR Rahman was launched in 2006. Its first release was the music of Sillunu Oru Kaadhal scored by Rahman himself. He has also been involved in a number of prestigious international projects such as Elizabeth: The Golden Age that was directed by Shekhar Kapoor in 2007. Rahman also scored the music for Slumdog Millionaire in 2008. This work fetched him two Oscars and a Golden Globe. The music was extremely popular with Jai Ho reaching number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 at the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles.
Over the years Rahman has been the recipient of a number of awards and recognitions. In 2010 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, which is third in the list of civilian awards conferred by the government of India.
He also won the Filmfare Best Music Director Award for his work in Delhi 6 in 2010. The same film also fetched him the Best Music Direction award at the Star Screen Awards. His song Nana from the film Couples Retreat was nominated in the Best Original Song category in the 2010 Academy Awards.
Dhirubhai Ambani
Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani was born on 28 December 1932, at Chorwad, Junagadh inGujarat, When he was 16 years old, he moved to Aden,Yemen. Initially, Dhirubhai worked as a dispatch clerk with A. Besse & Co. Married to Kokilaben. Dhirubhai also worked in Dubai for sometime. He returned to India and founded the Reliance Commercial Corporation with an initial capital of Rs 15000. Dhirubhai set up the business in partnership with Champaklal Damani from whom he parted ways in 1965.
Dhirubhai started his first textile mill at Naroda, near Ahmedabad in 1966 and started the brand "Vimal". Dhirubhai Ambani is credited with having started the equity cult in India. With the passage of time, Dhirubhai diversified into petrochemicals and sectors like telecommunications, information technology, energy, power, retail, textiles, infrastructure services, capital markets, and logistics.
Dhirubhai courted controversy all throughout his life. Many a times, he has been accused of unethical business practices and has been accused of having manipulated government policies to suit his own needs. He was involved in an open spat with Nusli Wadia of Bombay Dyeing. The end to this tussle came only after Dhirubhai Ambani suffered a stroke. While Dhirubhai Ambani was recovering in San Diego, his sons Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani managed the affairs. The Indian Express had turned the guns against Reliance and was directly blaming the government for not doing enough to penalize Reliance Industries. The battle between Wadia - Goenka and the Ambanis took a new direction and became a national crisis. Gurumurthy and another journalist, Mulgaokar consorted with President Giani Zail Singh and ghost-wrote a hostile letter to the Prime Minister on his behalf. The Indian Express published a draft of the President's letter as a scoop, not realizing that Zail Singh had made changes to the letter before sending it to Rajiv Gandhi. Ambani had won the battle at this point. Now, while the tussle was directly between the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Ramnath Goenka, Ambani made a quiet exit. The government then raided the Express guest house in Delhi's Sunder Nagar and found the original draft with corrections in Mulgaokar's handwriting. By 1988-89, Rajiv's government retaliated with a series of prosecutions against the Indian Express. Even then, Goenka retained his iconic stature because, to many people, he seemed to be replaying his heroic defiance during the Emergency regime.
Dhirubhai Ambani won many words and accolades during his life. In November 2000, he was conferred the 'Man of the Century' award by Chemtech Foundation and Chemical Engineering World for his contribution to the growth and development of the chemical industry in India. In June 1998, he was awarded the Dean's Medal by The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, for setting an outstanding example of leadership. Dhirubhai Ambani was also named the "Man of 20th Century" by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Dhirubhai Ambani suffered a "brain stroke: on June 24, 2002 and was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital inMumbai. He had suffered another stroke in February 1986 which had paralyzed his right hand. He passed away on July 6, 2002. On Dhirubhai Ambani's first death anniversary, the Union Government released a postage stamp in his memory.
Dhirubhai started his first textile mill at Naroda, near Ahmedabad in 1966 and started the brand "Vimal". Dhirubhai Ambani is credited with having started the equity cult in India. With the passage of time, Dhirubhai diversified into petrochemicals and sectors like telecommunications, information technology, energy, power, retail, textiles, infrastructure services, capital markets, and logistics.
Dhirubhai courted controversy all throughout his life. Many a times, he has been accused of unethical business practices and has been accused of having manipulated government policies to suit his own needs. He was involved in an open spat with Nusli Wadia of Bombay Dyeing. The end to this tussle came only after Dhirubhai Ambani suffered a stroke. While Dhirubhai Ambani was recovering in San Diego, his sons Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani managed the affairs. The Indian Express had turned the guns against Reliance and was directly blaming the government for not doing enough to penalize Reliance Industries. The battle between Wadia - Goenka and the Ambanis took a new direction and became a national crisis. Gurumurthy and another journalist, Mulgaokar consorted with President Giani Zail Singh and ghost-wrote a hostile letter to the Prime Minister on his behalf. The Indian Express published a draft of the President's letter as a scoop, not realizing that Zail Singh had made changes to the letter before sending it to Rajiv Gandhi. Ambani had won the battle at this point. Now, while the tussle was directly between the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Ramnath Goenka, Ambani made a quiet exit. The government then raided the Express guest house in Delhi's Sunder Nagar and found the original draft with corrections in Mulgaokar's handwriting. By 1988-89, Rajiv's government retaliated with a series of prosecutions against the Indian Express. Even then, Goenka retained his iconic stature because, to many people, he seemed to be replaying his heroic defiance during the Emergency regime.
Dhirubhai Ambani won many words and accolades during his life. In November 2000, he was conferred the 'Man of the Century' award by Chemtech Foundation and Chemical Engineering World for his contribution to the growth and development of the chemical industry in India. In June 1998, he was awarded the Dean's Medal by The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, for setting an outstanding example of leadership. Dhirubhai Ambani was also named the "Man of 20th Century" by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Dhirubhai Ambani suffered a "brain stroke: on June 24, 2002 and was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital inMumbai. He had suffered another stroke in February 1986 which had paralyzed his right hand. He passed away on July 6, 2002. On Dhirubhai Ambani's first death anniversary, the Union Government released a postage stamp in his memory.
Lakshmi Nivas Mittal
Lakshmi Nivas Mittal was born on June 15, 1950 in Sadulpur,Rajasthan, India and is presently the CEO & Chairman of Arcelor Mittal. Lakshmi Nivas Mittal was listed in the Forbes List of Billionaires in 2006 as the the richest Indian and the fifth richest man in the world with an estimated wealth around of $25.0 billion and is the richest man in the United Kingdom.
Young Lakshmi Nivas Mittal spent his first years in Sadulpur, before his father moved to Kolkata. Lakshmi graduated from St. Xavier's College, Calcutta. He founded Mittal Steel in 1976, which soon became a global steel producer with operations on 14 countries. His success mantra lies in the identification, acquisition and turnaround of many loss making steel companies all across the world.
In 1994, he took over the international operations of his family's steel business. Arcelor Mittal is presently the world's largest producer of low and mid-grade steels, with operations in Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, South Africa, Poland, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and many other countries. Mittal is considered to be close to the British Prime Minister Tony Blair and has donated large sums of money to the Labour party coffers. He bought his residence at 18-19 Kensington Palace Gardens from Formula One car racing boss Bernie Ecclestone in 2004 for £57.1 million ($105.7 million), the highest-ever price paid for a house.
His son Aditya is the CFO(Chief Financial Officer) of Arcelor Mittal. Mr. Mittal has been nominated as a member of the Foreign Investment Council in Kazakhstan, the International Investment Council in South Africa, the World Economic Forum's International Business Council, besides being a Director of ICICI Bank Limited and being on the Advisory Board of the Kellogg School of Management in the United States.
Young Lakshmi Nivas Mittal spent his first years in Sadulpur, before his father moved to Kolkata. Lakshmi graduated from St. Xavier's College, Calcutta. He founded Mittal Steel in 1976, which soon became a global steel producer with operations on 14 countries. His success mantra lies in the identification, acquisition and turnaround of many loss making steel companies all across the world.
In 1994, he took over the international operations of his family's steel business. Arcelor Mittal is presently the world's largest producer of low and mid-grade steels, with operations in Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, South Africa, Poland, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and many other countries. Mittal is considered to be close to the British Prime Minister Tony Blair and has donated large sums of money to the Labour party coffers. He bought his residence at 18-19 Kensington Palace Gardens from Formula One car racing boss Bernie Ecclestone in 2004 for £57.1 million ($105.7 million), the highest-ever price paid for a house.
His son Aditya is the CFO(Chief Financial Officer) of Arcelor Mittal. Mr. Mittal has been nominated as a member of the Foreign Investment Council in Kazakhstan, the International Investment Council in South Africa, the World Economic Forum's International Business Council, besides being a Director of ICICI Bank Limited and being on the Advisory Board of the Kellogg School of Management in the United States.
N.R. Narayanamurthy
N.R. Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys Technologies is one of the most famous personalities in India's I-T sector. Born on August 20, 1946, he obtained a degree in electrical engineering from the National Institute of Engineering under University of Mysore in 1967 and went on to do his Masters from IIT Kanpur in 1969.
He joined Patni Computer Systems in Pune. While at Pune, he met his wife Sudha Murty. In 1981, he founded Infosys alongwith with six otherpeople. He served as president of the National Association of Software and Service Companies, India from 1992 to 1994.
Murthy was the CEO of Infosys for twenty years, and was succeeded by Nandan Nilekani in March 2002. He functioned as the Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Mentor from 2002 to 2006.
He is on the governing bodies of many leading institutes like the International Institute of Information Technology - Bangalore, and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He is a member of the Advisory Boards and Councils of various well-known institutions like the Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Corporate Governance initiative at the Harvard Business School, Yale University and the University of Tokyo's President's Council.
Besides, he has served on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India, as a member of the Prime Minister's council on trade and industry, as a member of the Asia Advisory Board of British Telecommunications and was the Chairman of the committee on Corporate Governance appointed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in 2003.
Narayanamurthy has won several accolades in India and abroad. In 2000, he was awarded the Padma Shri and was voted the World Entrepreneur of the Year - 2003 by Ernst & Young. In 2001, his name was included by TIME / CNN in the list of twenty-five, most influential global executives. He was ranked by the Economist as the 8th among the top 15 most admired global leaders in 2005.
Though he retired on 20th August, 2006, he continues to be the Non-Executive Chairman.
Monday, 7 October 2013
The Top 10 Tourist Destinations in India
The Top 10 Tourist Destinations in India
Agra
Agra’s Taj Mahal is one of the most famous buildings in the world, the mausoleum of Shah Jahan’s favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is one of the New Seven Wonders of the world, and one of threeWorld Heritage Sites in Agra.
Completed in 1653, the T?j Mahal was built by the Mughal king Sh?h Jah?n as the final resting place for his beloved wife, Mumt?z Mahal. Finished in marble, it is perhaps India’s most fascinating and beautiful monument. This perfectly symmetrical monument took 22 years (1630-1652) of hard labour and 20,000 workers, masons and jewelers to build and is set amidst landscaped gardens.
Jaipur / Udaipur
Jaipur is also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Jaipur is a very famous tourist and education destination in India.
Lots of people flock to Jaipur to view the various forts and monuments in Jaipur which reflect its glorious past. Tourism is a significant part of Jaipur’s economy. Some of the world’s best hotels are located here.
Forts & Monuments
- Hawa Mahal
- Amber Fort
- Jaigarh Fort
- Nahargarh Fort
- City Palace
- Jantar Mantar
- Jal Mahal
- Rambagh Palace
- Chandra Mahal, The City Palace, Jaipur
- Diwan-e-Aam, City Palace
- Central Museum, (Albert Hall Museum)
Goa
Goa is Famous for its pristine beaches, infact 90% of all the tourism in Goa happens only for its beautiful beaches in Coastal Areas. Goa has two main tourist seasons: winter and summer. In the winter time, tourists from abroad (mainly Europe) come to Goa to enjoy the splendid climate. In the summertime (which, in Goa, is the rainy season), tourists from across India come to spend the holidays.
In 2008 there were more than three million tourists reported to have visited Goa, more than half million of whom were from Foreign visitors. Infact, many foreigners have made Goa as there home for its laid-back and relaxed lifestyle !
Kashmir
Kashmir was once called Heaven on Earth, and once of the most beautiful places in the world. However, in last couple of decades, terrorism has faded its charm – A place home to Himalayan Ranges.
The State of Jammu & Kashmir has main three geographical regions known as “The Lesser Himalayas” or the “Jhelum Valley” (Kashmir), “The Inner Himalayas” or “The Indus Valley” (Ladakh & Frontier areas) also called “Trans-Himalayas”, and “The Outer-Himalayas” or “The Southern mountain range” (Jammu). The area of Jammu & Kashmir is 2, 22,236 square kilometers.
Kanyakumari
Though there are several places of tourist-interest in the town and district, Kanyakumari is especially popular in India for its spectacular and unique sunrise and sunset. The confluence of three ocean bodies – the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea – makes the sunrise and sunset even more special. On balmy, full-moon evenings, one can also see the moon-rise and sunset at the same time – on either side of the horizon.
Kerala (Backwaters)
Kerala, situated on the lush and tropical Malabar Coast, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Named as one of the "ten paradises of the world" and "50 places of a lifetime" by the National Geographic Traveler magazine, Kerala is especially known for its ecotourism initiatives, Beautiful Backwaters and Alternative healing massages.
Old Delhi
Delhi, Capital of India has many attractions like mosques, forts and other monuments that represent India’s history. The important places in Old Delhi include the majestic Red Fort. New Delhi on the other hand houses many government buildings and embassies, apart from places of historical interest.
The Qutub Minar, Red Fort and Humayun’s Tomb have been declared World Heritage Sites.
Ajanta Ellora
Ajantha & Ellora are 28 – 30 rock-cut cave monuments created during the first century BC and 5th century AD, containing paintings and sculptures considered to be masterpieces of both Buddhist religious art and universal pictorial art.
The caves are located just outside the village of Ajantha / Ellora in Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Since 1983, the Ajanta & Ellora Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Darjeeling
Darjeeling in India owes’ its grandeur to its natural beauty, its clean fresh mountain air and above all, the smiling resilient people for whom it is a home. Known for its natural splendor, Darjeeling’s best gift to its’ visitors is the dawn of a new day. The mountains awaken first with a tentative peeking of the sun.
A steep ride, five kilometers from Ghoom, or an invigorating walk up a steep incline, leads sun worshippers to Tiger Hill. The air is chilly with darkness and damp. To the east, a dull orange sun emerged painting the sky with brilliant strokes of magenta, gold, orange and fuchsia. The snow capped Everest, Kabru, Kanchenjunga, Jannu and other peaks slowly emerge from slumber to start a new day. The sun worshippers gasp at the magnificent sight.
Mysore
Mysore is a tourism hot spot within the state of Karnataka and also acts as a base for other tourist places in the vicinity of the city. The city receives the maximum number of tourists during the period of the Dasara festival when festivities take place for a period of 10 days. One of the most visited monuments in India, the Ambavilas Palace (also known as Mysore Palace) is the center of the Dasara festivities.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)