1. Mother Teresa-Christian Missionary
2. Muthulakshmi Reddi-Doctor and Founder of Avvai Home
3. Kamarajar-Former Chief Minister of Tamilnadu.
4. Steve Waugh-Australian Cricket Player and captain.
5. Vladimir Lenin-Socialist, Women’s right activist, founder of USSR.
6. Imran Khan-Pakistan Cricket player and captain.
7. Goundamani-Tamil Actor and Comedian.
8. Adam Gilchrist- Australian Wicket Keeper Batsman.
9. S.Ve.Sekar- Actor, comedian, dramatist and MLA.
10. Erwin Johanas Rommel-German Army General during World War II.
1. Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was a Roman Catholic Nun. She was born in Albania but took Indian Citizenship. For 45 years, she took care of the sick, orphaned and the dying and was an advocate for poor and the helpless. By the age of 12, she was convinced that she should commit herself to religious life. She left home at the age of 18 as a missionary and she never saw a parents or siblings again.
Teresa received Vatican permission in 1950 to start the diocesan congregation that would become the Missionaries of Charity. Its mission was to care for the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the blind, the lepers, and all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone. It began as a small organization with 13 members in Calcutta; today it has more than 4,000 nuns running orphanages and charity centers worldwide, caring for refugees, the blind, disabled, aged, alcoholics, the poor and homeless, and victims of floods, epidemics, and famine.
By 1996, she was operating more than 517 missions in over 100 countries. At the time of her death, Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity had over 4,000 sisters, an associated brotherhood of 300 members, and over 100,000 volunteers, operating 610 missions in 123 countries. I am happy to share in my forum that the most admired person of mine is a women and an Indian citizen.
2. Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddi
Muthulakshmi Reddi was a medical practitioner, social reformer and Padma Bhushan awardee belonging to India. Muthulakshmi was the first women doctor in India. During the olden days, girls of India faced various constraints before Independence especially. They weren’t educated properly and they weren’t allowed to socialize with men. Even today in many parts of India women still face many problems and as a result of which they aren’t allowed to progress in life. In spite of various constraints faced by girls in India of her time, she could complete her higher education. In 1907, she joined the Madras Medical College, where she achieved a brilliant academic record. With several gold medals and prizes to her credit, Muthulakshmi graduated in 1912 to become one of the first woman doctors in India. Muthulakshmi Ammal had earlier been advised not to appear for the very difficult M.B and C.M. course but she shocked everyone by getting 100 per cent result in surgery. She won most of the merit medals and prizes of that year.
She was also was a tough one. She was also the first woman to be nominated to the Madras Legislative Council, where she was elected Deputy Chairperson. She was the founder-president of the Indian Women’s Association and became the first advisor to the Mayor of the Madras municipal corporation. She was the prime mover behind the legislation that abolished the system of dedicating young girls to temples (devadasi) and played a role in rising the minimum marriage age for women. She founded the Cancer Institute (WIA) in Madras and Avvai Home, the first institute in Madras to admit and educate poor and destitute girls with no caste bias.
Muthulakshmi’s father supported her decision’s not to get married, despite her mother’s pleas and protest. But her resolve was broken when impressed with her academic excellence, Dr. Sundar Reddi, a well-known surgeon and the first Indian doctor to become a Fellow of the Royal Society of Civil Surgeons (FRCS), approached for her hand. She was soon persuaded his daughter to marry Dr. Reddi in 1914. Muthulakshmi consented but not without a fight. She demanded that she should be treated as an equal and be given the freedom to do what she wanted. She was given the freedom. In1936, Muthulakshmi Reddi leased land in Adyar village for the Avvai Home. Girls were also encouraged to learn spinning and weaving.
Having seen her young sister die of cancer, she was determined to make cancer treatment available in Madras. She went to England for her post-graduation and studied cancer treatment as well as gynecology. Her son, Krishnamurthy later became a cancer specialist. She founded the Cancer Institute at Adyar (just 5 blocks away from my house) now well known all over India.
Muthulakshmi wrote in her autobiography that her best pastime was to look after little children. Even while studying medicine, a neighbor’s child would be found in her lap.
This great passion for children found full expression in Avvai Home where many young women have found the means for formal education.
3. Kamarajar
Kamarajar was born in Virudhunagar, Tamilnadu. He was known for his generous, humane thoughts. He belonged to the part of Indian National Congress and widely regarded as “King Maker” as he was primarily responsible in giving India some best politicians. Kamaraj dedicated his heart and soul for the welfare of the nation. I can go to the extent of saying if Kamaraj wasn’t there India would still be living in the past. Kamaraj introduced innovative plans to improve Tamilnadu, especially when he was the Chief Minister. Kamaraj led a simple life and he didn’t earn any property for himself. He implemented free education with food. Kamaraj was highly genuine in his entire life and he never used his influence to help any of his relatives in any case. He rarely visited his house. Once he visited his ailing mother and his mother requested him to have food at house. Kamarajar accepted and was having his lunch. At that time one of his assistants asked him,” When did you have your food last in home?” “It was 20 or 25 years back”. That was the reply! During flood and cyclones, Kamaraj personally went to the affected areas and involved in relief operation. Adjusting his dhoti like a typical farmer, holding on the rope he use to cross waters. Even his assistants and ministers were surprised to see a CM of a state involving in the relief operations. When Kamaraj expired there was a heavy downpour of rain indicating the demise of a soul which was noble. I doubt whether people like Kamarajar would be born again. But they need to take birth for the welfare of my country.
4. Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh was an Australian Cricket Player (1985-2004) and was the captain of the National Cricket Team from 1999 till 2004. Even today after 5 years after his retirement, he is considered to be the most successful cricket captain in the history of cricket. He was a member of the Australian Cricket Team which won the WC 1987 and he led Australia as a skipper to win the WC1999 by defeating Pakistan comprehensively I the finals. He was considered to be mentally tough even under tough conditions of the game and he made Australia dominant in world cricket for almost a decade in both versions of the game. The Australian team under his captaincy won 16 test titles consecutively. He always considered India as the ‘Last Frontier’ and his ultimate dream was to win a test series in India, a dream that never became a reality. However, Ricky Ponting’s team won a test series in India after Waugh’s retirement.
Steve Waugh is an extremely humane, caring and loving person who involves in social work. Steve Waugh helps Udayan- a leper home in Calcutta. Steve Waugh has got great admiration for India and Indian culture.
5. Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin was born in Russia and was a communist/socialist. He led the workers and the peasants against the Tsarist autocracy and removed monarchy from the Russian Empire in 1917 through October Revolution, thus establishing the Soviet Union in 1922 after a civil war (1917-1922). The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R), shortly known as Soviet Union served as a role model for future socialist states and also an inspirational nation for many vibrant young youths across the globe. Vladimir Lenin is regarded as the founder of USSR and formulated the centrally planned economy in the Soviet Union with equal rights for men and women, compulsory education, security for women, abolishment of pornography, discrimination and women’s rights activism.
6. Imran Khan
Imran Khan was a Pakistani Cricket player and he was the captain of the winning National team in the 1992 Cricket World Cup. Imran Khan was an excellent, sincere dedicated cricketer. After retirement, Imran Khan entered into politics and started the Tehreek-e-Insaaf or the Justice Party and worked for the welfare of the Pakistani people. He built a cancer hospital and a Cancer research center in Lahore to treat cancer patients. His mother died of cancer and he resolved to fight against cancer.
7. Goundamani
Goundamani is a veteran Tamil comedian and actor. Goundamani has been my most favourite comedian since the days I started seeing cinema during the days of Scaner/National TV sets with Yaagi antenna. Goundamani is widely known for his humour along with co-actor Senthil. Goundamani’s role formed an integral part in many Tamil films taken from the 1980’s till early 2000. Due to ill health concerns, Goudamani stopped acting in movies. Karakaatakaran, Chinna Gounder, Tata Birla are some of the many popular films of Gounamani.
8. Adam Gilchrist
Adam Gilchrist was an Australian Wicketkeeper batsmen and a member of the World cup winning squad of 1999, 2003 and 2007. Gilchrist led the Deccan Chargers to victory in the Indian Premier League-II tournament held in April-May 2009. Gilchrist was an aggressive cricketer well known for the ability to score quickly. He was probably the best keeper batsmen of all times. Apart from cricket, Gilchrist maintained a good relationship with all cricket players very rarely involving in issues, problems. Gilchrist while visiting Chennai, India during a tour ate fish kurma in a road side eatery with the kids of slum thus being a reason for smile in someone else face.
9. S.Ve.Sekar
S.Ve.Sekar is a Tamil comedian, actor, politician and dramatist. Right from my childhood, S.Ve.Sekar’s film and dramas have impressed me a lot. S.Ve.Sekars humor, social thoughts and criticism of politicians is aptly portrayed in all his dramas. Aayiram Udhai Vaangiya Apoorva Sigamani, Alwaa, Thathu Pillai are some of the favourite dramas which I listen often. He is the present MLA of the Mylapore constituency representing AIADMK. He won the Legislative assembly elections in 2006 to become an MLA. Since then he has actively involved in many reforms and plans to improve the quality of lives of people living in his constituency.
10. Erwim Rommel
Erwin Rommel was a Nazi Field Marshal under Hitler during World War II. Rommel was one of the favorite commanders of Hitler. He was extremely skilled in desert warfare and tank battle tactics. Nazi Germany was considered to be one of the cruel evil empires during World War II. But Rommel proved to be different and that difference is what impressed me when I studied history during my fifth grade at school. Rommel was considered to be the most humane, gentle commanders in the entire Nazi military. Rommel was highly respected by fellow commanders, soldiers, his sub-ordinates and also even by opponent (enemy) commanders. While invading any foreign territory Hitler always gave orders to persecute and torture Jewish men, women and children. Those orders were ignored by Rommel and his men. His battalion and tank divisions were extremely kind to the prisoners of war and captives. Rommel although fighting for the wrong side, led his battalion with utmost sincerity, dedication and love for his country.
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