IOTY 2015 Award Goes to People of Chennai for Heroism During Floods

The people of Chennai, who showed tremendous heroism and selflessness in helping one another during the devastating floods of November, have bagged CNN-News18's Indian of the Year award for the year 2015.

Singer Chinmayi Sripada, and fellow Chennaites Aruna Anand, Selva Ganapathy and RK Balaji accepted the award from Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari at a glittering function held in New Delhi on Thursday evening.

When Chennai was flooded during November-December 2015 from the worst rains in the city in over a century, several residents, including film stars and other celebrities threw open their homes to those who were stranded without food or shelter.

"We have given back to society what we got from society. We did what we were supposed to do," said Sripada on behalf of the group which also accepted the award in the Public Services category.

Even in pouring rain, thousands had come out in the flooded streets to organise rescue missions and to cook and distribute food for the hungry and homeless.

Narrating one of the several incidents of humanity the city witnessed, Aruna, wife of chess champion Viswanathan Aanand said, "An old person who lived alone told me that for years nobody had bothered even to smile at him. But, when the floods hit the city, everybody came to him to find out if he was alright. The floods brought the city together. The flood water has now receded. Hope, humanity will not recede."

The award ceremony witnessed a rare moment when three-time Olympic hockey gold medal winner, Balbir Singh Dosanjh, was honoured with a Life Time Achievement Award.

The entire 1980 Olympics gold medal winning hockey team turned up, sticks raised in a guard of honour, as the 92-year-old former captain reached the dais to receive his award.

An emotional Balbir Singh said, “My team won three hockey gold medals between 1948 and 1956. We were the first to win gold medals for independent India under the Tricolour. Before that we won under the Union Jack for United Kingdom”.

He fondly remembered scoring five out of a total six goals at the 1952 Olympics hockey finals, adding, "It still is a record, nobody has broken it so far."

The IOTY award in the Outstanding Achievement category was given to Bindeshwar Pathak of the Sulabh movement for his stellar role in the Swachh Bharat programme.

One of the liveliest moments was when Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, who got a Special Achievement Award, narrated an instance of censorship in her film Queen. She spoke about how the censors blurred out a bra, specially flown in from Delhi's Lajpat Nagar market to Paris, from a scene in the film.

The spunky actress who spoke in the context of the censorship row over the film Udta Punjab, turned towards Union Minister Arun Jaitley saying, "We are concerned with the way things are going. Hope the issue will be suitably addressed."

Actor Ranveer Singh received a Special Achievement Award for his roles in films like Bajirao Mastani and Dil Dhadakne Do. His father Jagjit Singh Bhavnani accepted the award on his behalf.

United Technologies won an Outstanding Achievement Award for their contribution ot the Make In India initiative.

Tennis legend Leander Paes, who received a Special Jury award in recognition of his 18 Grand Slam wins said, "It is a true honour. Nothing is bigger than this. What I have achieved is because of the love and affection of millions of people.

Micro finance leader Bandhan Bank got the award in the Business category. “Bandhan Bank is an opportunity to serve the poor, bank the unbanked. It is a big step towards financial inclusion,” said chairman Chandrashekhar Ghose, who received the award from Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

The IOTY award under the Sports category went to tennis star Sania Mirza. "It is my debut here. It took a long time for me to receive CNN News18 Indian of the Award. It is truly an honour. This is for all those girls who dream big,” she said after receiving the award.

The award in the Entertainment category was given to Baahubali director SS Rajamouli who said it should have gone to his entire cast and crew.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Union Minorities Affairs minister Najma Heptullah, Petroleum minister Ashok Pradhan, Ministers of State Babul Suypriyo, Kiren Rijiju and Jitendra Singh, Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh Suhag were among the other dignitaries who attended the grand finale.