Critical Cut -The Twenty Who Shaped India in the 20th century
The Jury, and the ones they skipped
The Outlook panel comprised a quartet that made no bones about their strong, independent views. Fiction-writer and journalist Mrinal Pande vehemently opposed the inclusion of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru because, she argued, his vision had failed India miserably. Khushwant Singh warned that nobody would take the list seriously if India's first prime minister was left out. Former IIT Madras director Prof P.V. Indiresan had reservations about B.R. Ambedkar's divisive legacy, while historian Mushirul Hasan felt Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel suffered from an anti-minority bias. Finally though, all three found their way into the jury shortlist. As did the 17 others after some fierce discussions.
In the end, many great Indians of the 20th century lost out because the list couldn't accommodate more than 20 names. Among the missing are personages like Subhash Chandra Bose, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Indira Gandhi, cultural and popular icons like Jamini Roy, Subramania Bharati, R.K. Narayan, Raj Kapoor and M.S. Subbulakshmi, and sporting heroes like Sunil Gavaskar and Vishwanathan Anand. Surprised? But then there is no verdict that can please all.
The Twenty who made the cut
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