Man Of The Year:
The Common Man

This year has been particularly harsh. Recession in the economy, soaring prices, unseasonal rains, political instability and an indifferent level of governance combined to put that extra strain on the common man’s back which could have broken the proverbial camel’s back. But he has fought back; demonstrated beyond doubt that when it comes to resilience and sending the right message at the right time, there’s no one quite like him.

The recent elections in four states revealed this clearly. Governments of Rajasthan and Delhi were sent packing with the disdain that they deserved. Despite the theories of anti-incumbency, the shrewd voter retained the government in Madhya Pradesh. The message was loud and clear at the end of the day: govern efficiently or get out. Neither the "euphoria" over Pokhran nor the much-touted Hindutva agenda could sway the voters from reading the political situation sagaciously. The onion crisis and the salt shortage were borne stoically as were the losses caused by the unseasonal rains in several parts of the country. Quietly but determinedly, the common man continued to plough his lonely furrow unmindful of the activities of the likes of Romesh Sharma.

It is because of this sterling quality that out of the morass have risen "common" men (and women) with uncommon abilities — lodestars like economist Amartya Sen, cricket sensation Sachin Tendulkar, Asiad’s golden girl Jyotirmoy Sikdar, Dhanraj Pillay’s merry band of dribblers, internationally acclaimed film-maker Shekhar Kapur, almost-axed boxer Dingko Singh, and last, but not the least, the girl-next-door who has brought magic realism into her performances — film actress Kajol. These are only some of the people who made India tick at home and abroad and brought a cheer to our hearts.

The common man, whether he is a farmer or a labourer, a clerk or housewife; the faceless Indian performed his due role day in and day out. And at the end of a gruelling struggle, emerged the real winner. Regionalism, caste-ism, communalism, corruption, criminalisation, governmental inefficiency, rampant politicalisation et al do bind him down (see cartoon) but in his own dogged way he manages to emerge the winner — like he does this year, too. It is unlikely that he will go back to the margins. In him lies our hope for the new millennium.