DHIRUBHAI AMBANI , MAN WITH VISION !

There are scores of rags to-riches stories in every society, but there is only one on Dhirubhai. Dhirubhai earned quite handsomely in the yarn business and graduated from a yarn trader to a mill owner in 1966 by setting up a small textile mill at Naroda, near Ahmedabad and then his tryst with success followed. A man far ahead of his times, Dhirubhai Ambani epitomised the dauntless entrepreneurial spirit. From a humble beginning, he went on to create an enviable business empire within a span of just 25 years. The Rs.60,000 crore Reliance Group is a living testimony to his effort.

INDIRA GANDHI , HEROINE OF INDIA

Indira Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917, in Allahabad, the only child of Jawaharlal Nehru, later the first prime minister of India. Being influenced and inspired by her parents, Indira Gandhi rose to power in India and eventually became prime minister. She dedicated her life to progress in her country despite the overwhelming problems and challenges she encountered.

A graduate of Visva-Bharati University, Bengal, she also studied at the University of Oxford, England. In 1938 she joined the National Congress party and became active in India's movement for independence. In 1942 she married Feroze Gandhi (1913-60), a Parsi lawyer also active in the party. Shortly after both were arrested by the British on charges of subversion and spent 13 months in prison.

AZIM PREMJI , WIPRO CHIEF

Azim Hasham Premji, Chairman, Wipro Corporation is an alumnus of Stanford University, USA. He joined Wipro in 1966 at the age of 21. Under his leadership, a Rs. 70 million company in hydrogenated cooking fats has grown to a $500 million diversified Corporation in Services, Technology Products and Consumer Products with leadership positions in the businesses it is in.

One of the world's richest men, Mr. Azim Premji's strength lies in bringing together and building teams of high potential-high performing people. His vision and pragmatism have helped Wipro Corporation become the #2 most competitive and successful company in India as rated by Business Today, a leading business magazine in India. Wipro in terms of market capitalization is among the top 10 Corporations in India.

In the year 2001, Premji established Azim Premji Foundation, a not-for-profit organization with a vision of influencing the lives of millions of children in India by facilitating the universalisation of elementary education. This means every child is in school and learning. The financial resources to this foundation have been personally contributed by Premji. The current programs of the Azim Premji Foundation cover over 5000 rural schools.

AMITABH BACHAN , KING OF BOLLYWOOD

Amitabh Bachchan :

Amitabh Bachchan :

Amitabh Bachchan -- the ‘Shahenshah’ of Bollywood was born to well-known poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan in Allahabad on October 11, 1942. Amitabh went to Sherwood College, a boarding school in Nainital, and then to Kirori Mal College in Delhi University where he earned a double MA. The elder son of Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a former stage actor, radio announcer and freight company executive in Shaw Wallace in Calcutta, before coming to the land of dreams, Bombay Mumbai. He had to struggle a lot in Bollywood because of his unconventional looks and his height. At 6’3”, he was considered far too tall by the filmmakers.

It was on the sets of B R Ishara’s ‘Ek Nazar’ (1972) that Amitabh and Jaya Bhaduri realized that they were in love with each other. They married soon after.

It was his 13th film 'Zanjeer’, directed by Prakash Mehra, which catapulted Amitabh to fame. Amitabh introduced the motif of the 'angry young man' to Indian cinema.Bachchan essayed a fantastic range of ‘off-beat’ roles under the direction of veteran Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Apart from ‘Anand’ and ‘Namak Haraam’, he gave standout performances in ‘Abhimaan’ (1973) ‘Mili’ (1975), ‘Chupke Chupke’ (1975), ‘Jurmana’ (1979) and ‘Bemisaal’ (1982).