Year of
The Indian woman

During 2009, more and more Indian women hit the headlines worldwide in every human endeavour — be it arts and entertainment, finance and banking, politics and administration, business and entrepreneurship or hospitality and tourism. The country has every reason to be proud of its women. Today they are generating more wealth than women of any other country. They are getting recognition and applause around the world for their courage, confidence and capability, writes Vimla Patil


Pratibha Patil became the first woman president to fly a fighter plane

Year of shock & rock
Even as the death of King of Pop shook the world of music, the year saw the rise of many new stars. Gaurav and Saurabh give a 2009 recap
The ‘King Of Pop’, Michael Jackson’s untimely death in June at 50 shocked legions of his fans around the world. But on a positive note, his death rescued his career in a way he had been unable to do himself for the past 10 years. The year saw Lady Gaga enact Madonna all over again, but the outfits were even skimpier, the message less clear, and the tunes not nearly as good. The Kanye West / Taylor fiasco didn’t do anyone any favours, and made country music fans feel the first twinge of self-righteousness.

People and distance
Rani Sircar
Years ago in 1909, Jatindra Mohan Sengupta married an English woman called Nellie. Nellie Sengupta was one of the leading lights of the Indian National Congress in its early days. Almost as interesting as the fact that a British woman was such an important member of the Indian National Congress is, — for me — the parallel fact that Nellie Sengupta’s great grandchildren’s’ spouses include a Syrian Christian from Kerala in South India, a Tamilian Brahmin, and a Zoroastrian Parsi (i.e. an Iranian, who emigrated to India circa 630 A.D.) Not exactly a league of nations, but very nearly one — would you not agree?