Independence Day Special: 8 Indians Who Made India Proud Globally
India is set to celebrate its 72nd Independence Day on August 15, 2018. This year so far, there have been more than one reasons to cheer the feeling of being an Indian with many Indians having made the country proud.
New Delhi, August 14: India is set to celebrate its 72nd Independence Day on August 15, 2018. This year so far, there have been more than one reasons to cheer the feeling of being an Indian with many Indians having made the country proud. we have innumerable reasons to say 'I am an Indian' with great pride as several Indians continue to ensure that the national flag is held high in the global arena.
From Hima Das running her way to glory to Rahul Dravid entering the ICC Hall of Fame, several Indians this year have given us reasons to celebrate. As we mark 72 years of India's freedom, here's taking a look at seven Indians who made us proud globally over the past few months.
Hima Das
She ran her way to gold and how. This July, India got a new hero - Hima Das - who created history by winning the gold medal in the women's 400-metre event at the IAAF World U20 Championship in Finland. Hima became the first Indian athlete to win gold in a world championship across all age groups in a track event. Coming from the rice fields of Assam, the 18-year-old on achieved a feat that no other Indian girl had done before her, and we loved it. Her videos of hugging the Indian flag and weeping with pride while the National Anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' was played in Finland continue to go viral on the social media.
Balkrishna Doshi
In May this year, veteran Indian architect and professor Balkrishna Doshi received Pritzker Architecture Prize, often called the Nobel Prize of Architecture, at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada. 90-year-old Doshi became the first Indian to have received the Pritzker Architect Prize. He was called the "true son of Mother India" as he received the honour in Canada. The Pritzker jury said, “Balkrishna Doshi constantly demonstrates that all good architecture and urban planning must not only unite purpose and structure but must take into account climate, site, technique, and craft, along with a deep understanding and appreciation of the context in the broadest sense.”
Rahul Dravid
This July, Rahul Dravid, fondly known as The Wall made India proud as he got inducted into the International Cricket Council- ICC Hall of Fame 2018. He is the fifth Indian to be inducted into the prestigious group after Sunil Gavaskar, Bishan Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev and Anil Kumble. The ICC also tweeted calling Rahul Dravid one of India's greatest ever batsmen. It was under his mentorship that India won the Under-19 World Cup in February this year. Dravid, who has made India proud at many instances during his cricketing career, continues to do so even after retirement.
Sonam Wangchuk and Bharat Vatwani
Sonam Wangchuk, India’s real-life ‘Phunsukh Wangdu’ and Mumbai psychiatrist Bharat Vatwani were among this year's Ramon Magsaysay Award, regarded as the Asian version of the Nobel Prize. The two, making India proud, were among six individuals declared winners. The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation President Carmencita Abella said the winners "are clearly Asia's heroes of hope, moving their societies forward through their unequivocal pursuit of the larger good."
Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of the few Indian political personalities who have made a mark on global platforms. In May this year, Modi ranked among the top 10 most powerful people in the world by Forbes in a list that has been topped for the first time ever by Chinese President Xi Jinping. He is also the most liked world leader on photo-sharing site Instagram, according to the rankings released by Twiplomacy this July. Besides that, PM Modi is also ranked first in the list of the most effective world leaders on Instagarm as well as on Facebook.
Priyanka Chopra
She conquered the world in 2000 when she won the Miss World title, and she is doing that, yet again. From winning the People's Choice Award twice to entering Forbes list of 100 Most Powerful Women and now also being tagged a 'Global Indian', there's no stopping Priyanka Chopra. In January this year, Priyanka Chopra also became the first Indian actor to have been included in LinkedIn's annual list of global influencers. In June, she was also named the ‘Hottest Woman on Planet’ by coveted Maxim magazine. The list of her achievements on the global platforms is endless and she is indeed making India proud.
Dr Vinod Paul
Dr Vinod Paul, a member of the NITI Aayog, became the first Indian to receive WHO’s prestigious IhsanDogramaci Family Health Foundation Prize for his services in the field of family health. He was chosen unanimously from six other shortlisted candidates from Algeria, China, Malaysia, Mexico, Russian Federation, Uzbekistan. Instrumental in establishing the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in 2005-06, Dr Paul is recognised globally as a leading expert in universal health coverage and human resources for health. With the WHO honour, he has given India another reason to be proud.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2018 01:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).