NDTV’s Indian of the Year award, held this year after a gap of several years, was a celebration of the women of India, the millions who have driven real change and who contribute to the have the power to transform India.
Union Minister Smriti Irani, former banker Naina Lal Kidwai, Squadron Leader Nikita Malhotra, para-athlete Suvarna Raj, tennis icon Sania Mirza, and Delhi’s first Uber driver Shanno Begum received the award on behalf of the women of India.
The glittering evening saw the biggest faces – from top politicians, and business leaders to film and sports personalities – celebrating the exceptional and paying homage to the unsung.
India’s Heroes Award went to the team of rat miners involved in the heroic rescue of 41 trapped in a collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel last year. One of the most moving moments of the evening was when actor Sunny Deol walked up to the team and hugged them, wiping tears.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar started the celebrations by giving away the first few awards, including the Science Icons of the Year, which went to the ISRO team behind the successful Chandrayaan and the Aditya-L1 missions.
In his address, the Vice President urged the media, as a key pillar of society, to contain the “freefall of misinformation”. Using the Citizenship Amendment Act CAA as an example, he said it is a reprieve for persecuted people and does not deprive anybody of citizenship, but a different impression was created. The media, said Mr Dhankhar, must play its role and tackle misinformation.
Vikrant Massey, who delivered a stellar performance in the superhit film’12th Fail’, won the ‘Actor Of The Year’, the ‘Sports Performance Of The Year’ went to the Indian Women’s cricket team and was awarded by Suvarna Raj (para-athlete & motivational speaker) and Sania Mirza. Sunny Deol, who made a grand comeback last year with his blockbuster-hit ‘Gadar 2’ a remake of his 2001 film, won the ‘Entertainer Of The Year’. The heroes from the Silkayara tunnel rescue operation were also honored with the ‘India’s Heroes’ award.
The awards honour those who have thought ahead, dared to be different, and redefined the meaning of ‘being a true Indian’.
Here is the complete list of winners:
Health Leader of the Year: Dr Yazdi Italia, Padmashree awardee
Ex. Hon. Director, Go-NGO Sickle Cell Anaemia Control Program, Govt. of Gujarat
Business Leader of the Year: N Chandrasekaran, Chairperson, Tata Sons
To accept on his behalf is Mr Kreethivasan, CEO Tata Consultancy Services
Entrepreneur of the Year: Deepinder Goyal
CEO & Founder, Zomato
Innovator of the Year: Peyush Bansal
Founder, LensKart
The India First Award: Amitabh Kant
India’s G20 Sherpa
Best Performing Small State Award: Pramod Sawant
Chief Minister of Goa
Entertainer of the Year: Sunny Deol
Sports Performance of the Year: Indian Women Cricket Team
(Represented by: Shafali Verma, Shriyanka Patil, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav)
India’s Heroes: The Silkyara Saviours
Actor of the Year: Vikrant Massey
Director of the Year: Atlee
Climate Influencer of the Year: Prajakta Koli
UNDP Youth Climate Champion
Science Icons of the Year: M Srikanth, Mission Director, Chandrayaan-3 & Mission Director, Aditya L1
Dr P Veeramuthuvel, Project Director, Chandrayaaan-3
K Kalpana, Associate Project Director, Chandrayaan-3
Nigar Shaji, Project Director, Aditya L1
Social Impact Influencer of the Year: Kusha Kapila (Actor, Influencer)
The LiFE In India Award: Gadge Meenakshi
Sarpanch, Mukhra village, Telengana
Indian of the Year: Women of India
Union Minister Smriti Irani, tennis legend Sania Mirza, Squadron Leader Nikita Malhotra, Naina Lal Kidwai, members of the Indian Women’s cricket team, and scientists from ISRO, received the award.