I really appreciate the daring women who ventured into politics and created a niche for themselves. One such woman is Sadhvi Uma Shree Bharati, Union Minister for Coal and Mines, in the 13th Lok Sabha. She preferred to remain unmarried to work for the poor and needy wholeheartedly. She keeps the welfare of the destitute in mind. Uma has made it to the 13th Lok Sabha with a margin of about 2 lakh votes. This was her fifth incredible win in a row, since the ninth Lok Sabha. It is amazing that the young woman who has studied up to sixth standard, has authored books like Vivekananda’ & Peace of Mind. It is rightly said that the degrees make us literate but not educated. It is hard to believe that six-year-old little Uma participated in discussions and discourses on Hindu religion and culture and after that there was no looking back. Her being voluble and vociferous makes her an eloquent speaker. Before shooting an arrow of truth she never forgets to dip it in honey first. Without mincing words and without a scintilla of hypocrisy, she communicates well with her audience. Radiant Uma takes keen interest in protection of environment and wildlife. Be it science and technology or sports, human resource development or her own political party, she has tried to do justice to the role given to her with all her devotion and sincerity.

Cheerful and effervescent Uma deserves to be the most outstanding Indian woman of the year 2002.

Ekta Kapoor, the most successful professional of the year, is the Woman of the Year 2002. In the male-dominated TV software industry, Ekta is a true heroine. She is producing more than 25 serials and each one is being shown, on an average, four times a week on different television channels. Due to proliferation of channels, people watch different serials, but whatever their bouquet may be, it certainly contains Ekta’s serials. Her serials mainly have a woman as a central character. She has an art of making characters larger than life. Similarly, whenever a list of TV serials with a large viewership is made, Ekta’s serials form a major part of it. Ekta has broken all previous records of TV serial production and popularity, at least in India.

Once Illustrated Weekly of India called Indira Gandhi as the only Man in Parliament. I would like to call Ekta Kapoor as the only Man in TV software world.

This 27-year-old tele diva has mesmerised everybody with her ‘Kreative’ talent and has carved out a niche by her achievements. She has beautifully portrayed the Indian woman as the woman of substance through more than 20 soaps of her production house Balaji Telefilms. She is the uncrowned queen of the soap operas.

Millions of women are able to identify with her absorbing dramas highlighting the typical Indian family scenario and different facets of a woman’s life. Right from rocking the cradle to ruling the world, besides being an ideal beti, bahu and wife who is bold and beautiful, bubbling with self-confidence and independent and giving a meaning to her life—these women stand by the moral values in the testing times — perfectly blending tradition with modernity. This consistently strikes a chord with viewers across the subcontinent.

Winner of the coveted Ernst & Young Start-up Entrepreneur of the Year Award, ET Annual Awards and recently voted as one of the best communicator in Asia by Asiaweek. Ekta is the perfect choice for the ‘Woman of Year 2002.

Young and vivacious, Ekta Kapoor, in her serials, projects the image of an ideal daughter, wife, mother, daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. Her "Tulsi" in the famous Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is the role model for many. The woman in these soaps is both traditional and modern. She embodies the values of love and sacrifice, at the same time, she is assertive, and stands by her convictions. However, her life is not always a bed of roses, she also has to face many injustices. These serials are not only for entertainment but also leave an impact on viewers. In the fast-changing world of today, these serials emphasise family ties and family values. Though full of glamour and glitter, through these serials, the producer is able to present the woman as a strong individual.

My vote goes to the slum girl who topped the Jammu University. Braving odds like poverty, lack of academic guidance and inadequate resources, she made the most of whatever she had and emerged the best. Seeing what she made out of her options, she is probably one of the best women of the year 2002. A person’s ability is judged by the amplitude of change he or she can bring about. This girl’s achievement, though it got only a miniscule of attention from the media, is in effect a herculean one.

Barkha Dutt is a young woman, who we love to hear and who has carved out a special place for herself in the field of knowledge and information.

At the time of Kargil war, she stood amidst gunshots, to reach out to Indian soldiers. Though being criticised for her "hard talk", she dares to discuss the core realities and hard issues. She portrays a completely different Indian woman — a woman who makes a statement. Her job is challenging at every step there are innumerable dangers as to life, there is politics involved and cut-throat competition, she still holds the torch of truth and information. We expect the same from her in the times to come.

P. Bandopadhya is no doubt the most outstanding woman of the year 2002. She rose to the rank of Air-Vice Marshal. Armed forces are male-dominated areas and for a woman to carve out a niche for herself there is no easy task. The appointment of Bandopadhya has proved that women in India no longer lag behind their male counterparts and have courage and ability to walk shoulder to shoulder with them in any arena.

Women like Karnam Malleshwari, Ms Bandopadhya, Bachendri Pal, Kalpna Chawla have proved that there is no field left where women cannot excel. Because the fields like weight-lifting, armed forces, mountaineering and space travelling have had the tag ‘macho’hung on them. These women have proved that a woman is more than a pretty face on a TV commercial who uses her looks to sell whatever product it is.

A strong contender for the title is the emerging PDP leader in J&K, Mehbooba Mufti, who represents a new wave of woman power. In a state ravaged by a violent, separatist movement, Mehbooba Mufti has staunchly re-affirmed her identity as an ‘Indian’ by energetically participating in the election process. Openly defying hostile forces that tried to push womanhood behind constricting veils, she became the very epitome of ‘women’s empowerment’ by going in the midst of the alienated public of Kashmir and displayed her own class of firebrand electioneering. She played a major role in resolving the protracted stalemate between the PDP and the Congress that culminated in the formation of the first non-N.C. government in J&K. This prevented the disillusionment of the fearless voting public and kept alive their hopes for a healing touch. In male-dominated, turbulent politics of J&K, Mehbooba Mufti came forth as a youthful, dynamic leader and did all Indian women proud.

My choice revolves around 3’S — Sonia, Sunita and Sudha as all three have fought back to make a mark in their respective field. Sonia Gandhi has faced stiff opposition — although being the daughter-in-law of Indiraji and widow of our young former PM Rajiv Gandhi, she is being branded by some as "foreigner". Even in the face of this bitterness generated by some vested interests, she has managed to keep calm and cool and have gracefully headed India’s No 1 national political party with dignity. She has identified with India completely and fully devoting and depicting herself to the service of (masses) of India.

Sunita Rani on the other hand even after the medals won by her during the recent Busan Asian Games on account of alleged doping charges fought back bravely to prove her innocence. Now she stands exonerated and absolved of all charges.

Sudha Murthy has plunged into philanthropy with the same passion that she showed in other areas of life — from academic excellence to travel and adventure. Today, the Infosys Foundation set up by Sudha Murthy is transforming many poor students’ lives.

The Left-sponsored Presidential candidate, Captain Lakshmi Sahgal deserves to be the Woman of Year 2002. A veteran freedom fighter, she is the only daring lady in the parliamentary history of India to be the first woman candidate to contest Presidential elections. This practising gynaecologist at the age of 88 was pitted against much younger Abdul Kalam. She knew that she was going to lose but even then she dared to fight for presidential race. She joined the Indian National Army in 1943 and was appointed Commander of ‘Rani Jhansi Regiment’ by Netaji S.C. Bose. She was also made a minister in Netaji’s 14-member Provisional government. A woman with a strong will, she has emerged as a representative of the women of India.

My Woman of the Year, nay all years and all times, is my wife. She is no celebrity. She hasn’t won any awards nor is she written about in newspapers or featured on TV programmes. She doesn’t have the glamour of Aishwarya Rai or the charisma of Mayawati. She is a totally unknown Indian and just a housewife.

And yet she is the only woman who means and matters so much to me. But for her, my life would have been like a rudderless boat. The patience with which she has handled the quirks of my mercurial temperament year after year has raised her to the stature of an all-forbearing saint. She has managed the finances of a household presided over by a reckless spendthrift like me with such consummate skill that even experts can learn a lesson or two from her. The amount of drudgery she has to go through to keep me and mine in comfort is monumental.

She keeps the house in as much order as my whims and children’s waywardness would allow. If I savour the pleasures of uninterrupted leisure at home, the credit goes to her unlimited capacity to run through the household chores.

She is the custodian of our domestic peace and happiness and acts as a cushion against the blows and buffets of fate and foes. Many of my male chauvinistic angularities have been straightened out under her benign influence. She is the undisputed mistress of my house and yet she cuddles my ego by regarding me as her lord, her pati parmeshwar. Who else but she can be my Woman of the Year?

Suresh Dogra, Batala