Who is Shah Rukh Khan?

Shahrukh Khan | http://MikeGhouseforIndia.blogspot.com 

Source unknown, but posted by R. Padmanabhan at DallasIndians@yahoogroups.com

1. He's the grandson of a freedom fighter Gen. Shah Nawaz Khan who was the major general of Indian National Army under Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

2. His father was also a freedom fighter who migrated from Pakistan to Delhi during the time of Partition.He is also a recipient of Tamra Patra from Indian Govt.

3. Only Indian to have a Statue in Grevin Museum, after Gandhiji.

4. Only Indian to be the 2nd Richest Actor in the world, more richer then Hollywood giants like Johnny depp, Tom Cruise (after doing all his Charity).

5. A rare species of orchid, Ascocenda Shah Rukh Khan, was named after him in Singapore.

6. Only Indian who is honoured with the prestigious Brand Laureate Legendary Award for his unmatched contribution to the world Cinema by Malaysian government.

7. Only Indian after amitabh to be crowned by Moroccan king.

8. Only Indian to be invited at Yale University, USA.

9. In 2010 he was invited to ring the opening bell of NASDAQ stock exchange, USA (world's biggest stock exchange) in New York.

10. Only Actor alongwith Dilip Kumar to win most no of Filmfare Awards

11. James Cameron: "I only want to come to Mumbai for an autograph of SRK. "

12. He is the most popular superstar in those places where Indian movies don't even release.

13. He has the most expensive house.......sorry.....Palace in Bollywood, coming from a middle class family with no parents to support him.(he's one of the highest tax payers in the country too)

14. He currently holds record of Longest running movie of Indian Cinema I.e, DDLJ

15. He Donated 2.5 million Indian ruppees to PM, Manmohan Singh for Tsunami Relief camp.

16.In NDTV's Greenathon event of 2009, he adopted 5 villages and Adopted further 12 villages in 2012 event.

17. Government of France awarded him both the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the Légion d'honneur - The greatest honour of France like Bharat Ratna in India.

18. He was honoured with Rajiv Gandhi Award for "Excellence in the Field of Entertainment" in 2002.

19. He was conferred the honorific Datuk title by the head of state of Malacca in Malaysia in 2007.

20. He was also honoured with an honorary doctorate in arts and culture from Britain's University of Bedfordshire in 2009.

21. In 2008, SRK named by Newsweek as one of the 50 most powerful people in the world.

22. Recently He became 2nd Indian who got awarded with an honorary doctorate by the University of Edinburgh after DR. APJ ABDUL KALAM

23. In 2013 SRK Appointed as goodwill ambassadorby the government of South Korea

24. In 2014 He was Honoured with Global Diversity Award at the State Room of Britain’s House of Commons. Britain’s Parliament honoured the king khan

25. He was awarded Best Indian Citizen Award in 1997 by the government of India

26. And also the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award from the Government of India in 2005

27.In 2007 – His lifelike wax statue was installed in London's Madame Tussauds wax museum. Due to high demand Additional versions were installed at Madame Tussauds museums in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and New York in 2010.

28. In 2009 He was given a Black Belt Honorary in taekwondo by the South Korean government.

29. Also in same year 2009 He was awarded with an honorary doctorate in arts and culture by the University of Bedfordshire

30. In 2010 He became the first Indian actor to be given the rare honour of signing the guest book at Berlin's Town Hall.

31. In 2011 He became the first Bollywood actor to be featured on the cover page of Los Angeles Times he has also been featured on time Magazine's cover page twice

32.He was also invited to Harvard University for giving a lecture to its students. He is also world’s "first" actor to be invited at Google and Twitter headquarters.

33. He donated all the prize money KKR won in 2014, 15 cr rupees to the childrens hospital in Kolkata nd Mumbai.

34. He is the only Indian to win UNESCO's Pyramide con Marni award for his support of children's education.

35. He saw his father dying in front of him cause he had no money, his father died of cancer. So now He runs a free cancer ward in lilawati hospital,Mumbai and very few people knows about this.
I could have added more but I think it's enough, Shah Rukh Khan never beat the drums of his charity work. He, in an interview with 'Guardian' was Quoted as Saying "I follow Quran which says if you do charity for a reason, it's not a charity".He, in an interview with CNN, said "My friends advice me to have Photoraphs whole doing charity but i don't believe in it".//It's Really important to highlight because People think he's selfish and greedy.

No one can achieve what he has achieved in the last 20 years.He started at zero and reached at top.He was a common man came from a poor background with no parents and one mentally unstable Sister to be taken care of.He achieved everything through dedication and hard work.

He fell in love with a non-Muslim girl and married her without converting her religion.He hasn't even forced his religion into his childrens either and gave them the right to choose their religion once they get matured.

He is the real Indian,Secular and Patriotic Badshah of Bollywood-Shah Rukh Khan.

== Shah Rukh Khan - The Pride of India==
[ Must Share SRK fans & all true INDIANS ]

# # # 

Hate among us Indians and SRK

http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2012/04/hate-among-us-indians-and-srk.html 

Narain Kataria and fellow Indians;

This note is not about SRK; it is about the hate expressed towards fellow Indians in two of the notes below.  

Briefly, Sharukh Khan, as he is called SRK and the King of Bollywood, is an Indian Actor who was detained in the New York Immigration for 90 Minutes, because of his Muslim name and it was the 2^nd time it has happened.

He was here to address the students at Yale University. Googling his name will produce thousands of entries on this event. However, he had a great attitude, he said, whenever my ego gets bloated, I go to America, they bring me down. I am glad the Foreign Minister of India and the Embassy of India have taken this up with the State Department.

As Americans, we should not allow any bigotry in our land, he should be treated with respect, as he represents Billions of Indians. He can gather a Million Indians in a hurry than any other Indian.  This incident has made a "few" among the right-wing Indians happy and the notes below are indicative of it.

SRK is more Indian than Narain, me or anyone else, and he lives, serves and entertains Indians.  Narain is denigrating a fellow Indian, and being disrespectful towards millions if not billions of Indians who adore him.

I ask him, “Have you ever considered your statements to be hateful? Wouldn't it be dead wrong to say that Hinduism teaches one to be hateful?  Show your note to any average moderate Indian or American; they see the venom in it.  This is not the Hindu thing, or Indian thing, this is you the individual.”

“You don’t need to be seething, just think about what you are doing. Is this the right thing to do?”

I am sure that the 120 subscribers on this e-list are not extremists, a handful may be, but the majority is not, they are good people who mind their own business.  No one should judge a group by individuals, that amounts to stereotyping and that is most dangerous thing one can do to a nation or a people. 

We have to build a cohesive India, where we defend the rights of every Indian.  Mr. Narain Kataria, I hope you start seeing an Indian as an Indian, the bias stems from your mind, it is not a part of the majority of Indians.

The average Indian living in India would be appalled to read your statements.

Mr. Kataria,  you are propagating hate against fellow Indians....and probably increase their blood pressure and make them sick of your rhetoric. Is this the right thing to do?

Until the myths or facts (to the other) are cleared up, where both sides agree to the "agreed facts" ill-will continues. I don’t know if you have a gain in this, leadership or financial, that is your business. 

You and I have an opportunity to serve as guidance to create a balance in a society based on agreed facts by all sides. No nation or individual will live in comfort, when falsities circulate.

You had held a conference, about Islam and you did not invite Muslims to the event. Was that to mis-educate the Hindus?  A true conference will have all points of view. Isn't this American way?

Make a list of all the things you believe, and let's hold a conference to put all the fabrications aside and honor India and the Indians for being truthful. Truth is the only thing that triumphs; it will restore the trust in the society. Let's learn to live our religions, whatever they might be. 

We need to work to mitigate the ill will, would you join me in doing so?

Thank you Narain

Mike

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Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, commentator on national radio network, writes weekly at Dallas Morning News and bi monthly at Huffington post, The Smirking Chimp and other periodicals. His daily blog is www.TheGhousediary.com

Subject: Fwd: DETENTION OF SHAH RUKH KHAN AT AMERICAN AIR PORT

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Pravin Pankhania <arisearjun42@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Apr 14, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Subject: Fwd: DETENTION OF SHAH RUKH KHAN AT AMERICAN AIR PORT
To:

RESPECTED COLLEAGUES: SAADAR NAMASKAR!

HERE IS MY FACEBOOK RESPONSE TO THE NEWS ITEM – DETENTION OF SHAH RUKH KHAN AT AMERICAN AIR PORT

Narain Kataria

(718) 478-5735

Response No. 1

Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) is a very cunning and crafty actor. He has a very soft corner for Jihadists.

Even though more than 95% terrorist acts were conducted by radical Islamists all over the world, this fellow came out with a grossly misleading nonsensical twaddle that “terrorism has no religion”! Readers also should note that SRK and his ilk have never condemned Islamic terrorists who murdered 3000 on 9/11 in New York, 200 in Mumbai, 200 in Madrid, 200 in Bali, Indonesia; and 350 in Beslan in Russia.

Instead of finding fault with Islamic terrorists, SRK came out with a movie “My Name is Khan” and gave a good conduct certificate to Jihadists who have been extolling the virtue of violence and hatred against humanity and mercilessly murdering innocent men, women and children.

Unlike naïve and spineless Indian Government, American government is determined to crush terrorism in this country with an iron hand. They are aware that their responsibility is to protect Amercian citizens from terrorists.

It is very easy to hoodwink Hindus. But it seems that American government knows it very well this guy is playing Al Taqiyya with them. (Al Taqiyya is a part of Islamic doctrine of deception which enjoins on all the Muslims to blatantly lie and cheat non-Muslims in furtherance of Islam.).

A man is known by the company he keeps. Hence I would warn Nita Ambani and other Hindus to think twice before choosing their friends. Otherwise, one day they will have to pay a very heavy price for their ignorance/stupidity.

Responsee No. 2

DETENTION OF SHAH RUKH KHAN IN NEW YORK

I do not understand as to why some Indian government agencies are making a lot of noise whenever some Indian Muslim is detained at any air port in America – in this case Shah Rukh Khan – SRK.

It is a well known fact that most of the terror acts are conducted all over the world by radical Islamists. Muslims have already killed more than 3000 Americans in New York. Muslims are shooting American soldiers in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Hence it is the responsibility of American intelligence agencies to safeguard the security of their citizens because they do not know the difference between a Muslim terrorist and an ordinary Muslim.

So whenever American notice some Muslim entering America, they become extra careful and ensure that safety of their citizens is not jeopardized.

SRK may be a big name in India, but here nobody knows him! Moreover, India government should give up the habit of Muslim appeasement in foreign countries also. From their past experience, in America, every Muslim in this country is considered suspicious until proven otherwise by the law enforcement agencies. Hence, India government should not be guided by the pressure tactics of Muslim groups in India and let American agencies do their national duty.

India government has to learn a lot of things from American system if they sincerely wish to protect their citizens from terrorist attacks.

Khan Premieres Quietly in Mumbai

Khan' Premieres Quietly in Mumbai

An article by Arlene Chang and comments by Subra Narayan

Courtesy of Wall Street Journal

The movie "My name is Khan" is going to be yet another block buster Bollywood movie, the extremists in India have been destrucitve and preventing it from being shown in Mumbai, India. As an Indian, I have to figure out how to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill for the well being of my mother land.

I ask the Wall Street Journat to assess the economic impact bullyism will have on Mumbai? It will make every one's life difficult. What about the Jobs that the ordinary people would lose? If it were in the United States, the cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad would scout the businesses to move to their cities, offer incentives, tax breaks and safety and security of every one in the City. When there was electricity shortage in California, Texas Cities advertised in California papers to move to Texas including my own Dallas ... and we wooed some businesses, and Atlanta beat us a few times as well. Let the competition and free market determine the survivability of a City.

For the sake of Mumbai, and every one in Mumbai including the Sainiks, I hope the Mubaikers wake up and stops the bullyism. If the businesses move out, then these guys stand to lose, then they will chase all North Indians out of the city, and when they loose more, they would chase any one who does not speak Marathi and at the end, they may realize that they were wrong. Let's not lookdown upon the misguided, but sit down with them and see if they are a tool of others or if they sincerely believe in it, let there be a dialogue that, let them see the value of India together is better off than Maharashtra, Gujarat, TN, Bengal or others separately. I would urge a real genuine heart to heart conference on the topic.

This article is shared at http://www.mikeghouseforindia.net/ and DallasIndians@yahoogroups.com in existence for nearly 6 years serving the every one in Dallas, prior to that the community was served through Asian American Journal published between 1993-2000 and Asian news Radio, the first Desi talk show radio in Dallas that began in 1996. You are welcome to join, if you have positive things to contribute and to make the world a better place to live for every one, please do so.

We do allow extreme views for us to understand the insignificant but potent hate that pervades in our society and learn to work at it. Hate mongering is not any one's monopoly - there is an equal percentage of Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Christians, Buddhists (alphabetical order) and others who spew nothing but hate, we cannot exclude them, they are part of the society and we hope some day, they can see that hate produces hate, belligerency produces belligerency and it makes sense to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill.

Let events like this bring people together to find solutions. I hope the comments that flow in here would be suggestions to make life better and not hate mongering or blaming or cursing. I challenge your goodness to write here, you are welcome to show your meanness, because I believe, some day, you will see that it makes sense to respect the otherness of other.

Jai Hind
Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouseforIndia.net
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'Khan' Premieres Quietly in Mumbai
Terror in the Maximum Cityby Subra Narayan

Should Pakistani and Australian cricket players be allowed to play in the upcoming IPL? Well that is a decision best left to IPL, which is a private organization and the Government of India, as it is somewhat of a political issue. But a handful of thugs have no right to decide who can come to India to play cricket or whether its citizens have the right to live and work in any part of the nation. The Sena goons have hijacked and terrorized my beloved city of Bombay, oops Mumbai, for well over four decades, resorting to unlawful means, inciting violence and destruction of public property.

This city was not built in a single day, but these senseless goons waste no time in bringing life to a standstill by way of their infamous bandhs and morchas. And now they have decided it is time to inflict their wrath on Shah Rukh Khan for his comments on including Pakistani players! I don’t care much for his movies or acting talents, but there was nothing wrong when he said that cricket or any other game for that matter should not be influenced by politics. He had every right to speak his mind, in his capacity as the owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders, whether you agree with him or not, whether you like his movies or not. If you don't agree with what he said, then well write about it, invite him to a duel on multiple TV channels, pick his brains and let him have it in front of an audience.

But why threaten to picket his upcoming movie release, why call him a traitor and why arouse hundreds of misguided folks who have nothing better to do than burn effigies, posters, bash people and destroy property!

Sachin Tendulkar echoed the sentiments of a majority of Indians when he unequivocally stated that, ‘I am a proud Indian first and then a Maharashtrian’. Needless to say he incurred the wrath of India’s moral police, the self-appointed demagogues. Are we living in a civilized society or the Stone Age? It is a complete mockery of the Constitution which upholds every citizen’s right to freedom of speech and expression. India recently celebrated 60 years of being a Republic, not a Banana Republic!

We elect our leaders democratically in the hope that they will uphold the law, ensure citizens’ safety and improve their lives. We don’t elect them so that they can sit and watch helplessly while an unlawful bunch of vitriol spewing hooligans continue to issue diktats on the law abiding, tax paying citizens of the nation. Shame on such a government for letting this happen in one of the largest metropolis whose folks take pride in this wonderfully diverse cosmopolitan hub.The whole country is aghast at the merciless treatment being meted out to Indian students in Australia, rightfully so.

But what about the goondas in Mumbai that rail against their own countrymen who migrate from other parts of the country for a livelihood. In the 60’s when the tiger was young and had just tasted blood, the target was predominantly South Indians and Gujaratis. Now the Uttar Bharatiya is being attacked and forced to learn Marathi or else! Vir Sanghvi’s latest column in the Hindustan Times poignantly captures the essence of the moment as he traces the birth of the Sena in the 60’s and its achievements or lack thereof. Ironically as history has shown us so many times, that once you create a Frankenstein it always comes back to bite you. In this case, the Sena is Congress’s Frankenstein!

Pinky Virani, an activist and author of “Once was Bombay”, tackles the negative forces that are responsible for the decline of this once beautiful city and comes down heavily on the Sena. And now decades later the tiger may be aging but doesn’t seem to have given up its old habits. Many people are of the opinion that India’s time has finally arrived on the world stage and we are racing speedily towards becoming a superpower.

The events in the last couple of months tell a different story though. How can a bunch of ruffians be allowed to decide who has the right to settle down and live in Mumbai? Or for that matter how can petty politicians decide whether Hyderabad belongs to Telangana or AP? You may disagree with me on this issue, but the founding fathers did a big disservice to the nation by allowing the formation of states on a linguistic basis.

The Bombay Presidency should have been left untouched in 1960 which eventually gave rise to linguistic, regional and parochial jingoism. We should all be proud of our mother-tongue, but that shouldn't form the basis for who gets to live in your mother-State. Languages cannot be forced down someone’s throat, they should feel free to learn and enjoy it.

I love to sing in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada & Malwi, although my singing abilities are questionable. But the point is that language should not be a determinant in who gets to settle down in which part of the country, if it is a free nation. Every schoolchild knows to recite the Pledge, which glorifies India’s rich heritage and cultural diversity.

We were unified as one country in our freedom struggle against the British. But somehow after 60 years, we seem to have become more disintegrated, parochial, fanatical and even fascists on our way to becoming a superpower. Is “India Shining”? Jai Hind!

February 11, 2010

'Khan' Premieres Quietly in Mumbai

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703525704575061174036495404.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_world

By ARLENE CHANG

MUMBAI—The film "My Name is Khan" premiered in Mumbai Friday amid tight security and on a much-reduced number of screens after right-wing protesters earlier this week damaged cinemas slated to show the new movie by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.

Activists of the Shiv Sena party, a Hindu nationalist group, earlier this week vandalized movie theaters scheduled to show the film, ripping posters of the movie and breaking windows. They were protesting the views of Mr. Khan, who said that Pakistan's cricket players should be allowed to participate in India's professional cricket league. Mr. Khan is co-owner of Kolkata's cricket team and a hugely popular star in the sub continent.

Police took 2,739 protestors into custody and 108 have been charged with damaging property, said D. Sivanandhan, Mumbai Police Commissioner.

View Full ImageReuters
Indian police personnel stationed outside a theater scheduled to screen "My Name Is Khan."

Originally, 63 screens were scheduled to show the movie; only 13 did so Friday. None of the city's theaters screened morning shows for the film. Fun Cinemas and INOX were the first two multiplexes to start screenings for the film with their matinee shows.

"There were people who came in to buy tickets early in the morning, in anticipation of the shows starting, and some obviously went away," said Vishal Kapur, chief operating officer of Fun Cinemas. "But, when we opened bookings, there was a huge rush and our first show was a full house." An official at BIG Cinemas, another multiplex chain, said: "We have screened one show and the response good, but we have still not decided the fate of a full opening; we are still testing the waters."

Many theaters across the city resembled a fortress, with hundreds of police personnel stationed in and around their premises.

The distributors of the film, Fox Star Studios, expressed relief at the film's phased release in Mumbai and were optimistic about the film's prospects. "The past few days have been very difficult for us and business in Maharashtra has definitely been impacted," said Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox Searchlight. "But, what's important is that the audience has loved the film and the response to it has been absolutely rock solid."

Fox Star Studios will market and distribute the film throughout India; Fox Star is a joint venture between Twentieth Century Fox and Star, which are owned by News Corp., owner of Dow Jones & Co., the publisher of The Wall Street Journal.

Analysts say the Shiv Sena is trying to put up a show of strength and regain its hold on the Marathi-speaking voters of Mumbai, the capital of the state of Maharashtra, by resorting to violence over Mr. Khan's comments. The Sena, which was founded in 1966 by cartoonist Bal Thackeray, lost many voters to the rival Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in last year's state assembly elections. The MNS was formed by Raj Thackeray, nephew of the Shiv Sena founder. Both compete for the votes of Mumbai's natives, many of whom feel they have been bypassed by the city's growing wealth amid an influx of immigrants from elsewhere in India.

"The Sena has been a powerful party in Maharashtra and the fact that they did not do well in the last assembly elections is definitely still playing on their minds," said Mahesh Rangarajan, a political analyst at Delhi University.

"They are trying to regain lost ground by their tactics."
arlene.chang@wsj.com

You are welcome to share your suggestions at:

http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2010/02/khan-premieres-quietly-in-mumbai.html#comments

~~~~

Sonia Gandhi - Shahrukh Khan most influential leaders

Newsweek is one of the most respected Magazines that I have come to enjoy reading since my college days in early seventies. In this report about 50 Most influential or powerful people in the world, I was offended by the insinuation of the writer about Shahrukh Khan;Here it goes, " The magazine describes Shahrukh Khan, who occupies 41st spot, as the King of Bollywood. “.... Khan is huge in the Muslim world, even in Pakistan and Afghanistan..."

The writer's innuendo about "Muslim world" is wrong, as it has nothing to do with the Muslim world, Amitabh Bachhan was equally popular in his days and in the same places, and so were Dev Anand, Rajendra Kumar and Raj Kapoor. To be fair he should have mentioned the religion of Sonia Gandhi to make a point about India that every one can make it. His intention may be good, but it is painting the wrong picture.

Every Bollywood actor was popular in those Nations regardless of their religion and it is wrong to suggest that he is popular in Muslim world because he is a Muslim".

By the way, these guys are popular in Russia, Thailand, Hong Kong, African and East European countries. Bollywood and Hollywood are the only excellent movie makers of the world.

Mike Ghouse

Pakistan's general 20th most powerful person in world
http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=3227
The Nation (Pakistan)
Publication Date: 22-12-2008

Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is ranked among the “50 Most Powerful People of the World” selected by Newsweek, a leading American weekly magazine.

The list, carried in the magazine’s January issue, is led by President-elect Barack Obama, whose legacy, it said, will be decided by actions he takes over the next four years.

Indian Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan also made it to the list. Among others, it includes Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, United Arab Emirates President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Iran’s Supreme leader Ali Khamenei and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.


General Kayani is placed at 20 on the list. In theory, Newsweek says, he answers to President Asif Ali Zardari. But general Kayani and his troops remain the dominant power in what could be the “most dangerous country in the world”.

“He’s responsible for Pakistan’s nukes; for the battle against Al-Qaeda and its tribal allies along the Afghan border; and for managing tensions with neighbour India,” Newsweek stresses, noting that so far, the Pakistan Army has kept itself out of politics and seems focused on the battle against extremists. “In the wake of the November terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Kayani stood firm on Pakistan’s sovereignty while also taking measures against the alleged sponsors of the outrage,” it says.

“Kayani insists he’s a committed democrat, but he nevertheless argues that military interventions (there have been four since independence 61 years ago) are sometimes necessary to maintain Pakistan’s stability. He likens coups to temporary bypasses that are created when a bridge collapses on democracy’s highway. After the bridge is repaired, he says, then there’s no longer any need for the detour,” it added.

Obama, who tops the list, is followed by Chinese President Hu Jintao, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Markel and powerful Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

A surprise inclusion in list, which the magazine admits is subjective, is Osama bin Laden, whom the Newsweek describes as “global terrorist”. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il also finds place in the list.

Placing Sonia Gandhi at 17th spot, the magazine says though Indian political scene is riven by factions, Congress remains the strongest national force and rules unchallenged. “In the world’s largest democracy, she is the queen.”

The magazine describes Shahrukh Khan, who occupies 41st spot, as the King of Bollywood.

“It’s not just that his romantic flicks make gazillions--it’s where those gazillions come from. Khan is huge in the Muslim world, even in Pakistan and Afghanistan. (The movies thrive on the black market.) Their main appeal is certainly the song-and-dance numbers, but Khan (a Muslim married to a Hindu) makes devoutly secular films where love trounces bigotry,” it says, adding that Sonia Gandhi gives Khan’s DVDs to visitors, especially Muslim ones. “Here’s hoping tolerance will leap from reel life to real life.”

For Osama bin Laden, who finds 42nd spot, the magazine says the manhunt may not have been successful, but it has driven him far underground.

Once a glutton for publicity, he hasn’t shot a new video since September 2007, and no audio message from him has been heard since May 2008, it adds and quotes knowledgeable Taliban sources as saying “the sheik” (as acolytes call him) rarely has contact with even his top lieutenants, who are steadily being eliminated: in 2008, at least eight of the 20 most wanted Al-Qaeda operatives died in Predator attacks along the Afghan border.

“The underlings who have replaced them don’t match their brains or planning skills, Taliban sources say. But as the Mumbai attacks showed, Osama’s ideology continues to inflict monstrous harm,” it points out.

Awarding Chinese President Hu second place, Newsweek says he is a guy “you wouldn’t think twice about - cautious, colourless and corporate and in the past, he has lost spotlight to other world leaders with bigger egos and sharper elbows. “

But to underestimate Hu Jintao would be a monumental error. His position as China’s President makes him CEO of a financial juggernaut that’s projected to post USD 280 billion trade surplus this year. While the rest of the world plunges deeper into recession, Hu the Humble is emerging as the one who is holding the lifeline.”

The economic crisis and market meltdown has got “Economic Triumvirate” place among the top ten. They are central bankers: Ben Bernanke of the US Federal Reserve; Jean-Claude Trichet of the European Central Bank (ECB); Masaaki Shirakawa of the Bank of Japan; and, to a lesser extent, counterparts in China, India, Brazil, Mexico and elsewhere.

“They are enormously powerful, and in 2009 they may determine whether the global economy avoids calamity, the magazine notes. Not since the early 1980s, when high inflation plagued many advanced economies, or perhaps the 1930s, has their role been so crucial as global economic growth is slowing to a standstill,” Newsweek says.

“Economists at Deutsche Bank forecast that the world economy will expand a meagre 0.2 per cent in 2009 - the worst year since at least 1950. In 2007, growth was almost 5pc. Without stronger growth, the slump might feed on itself and fuel economic nationalism,” it warns.

Giving reasons for placing Kim on the list, Newsweek notes that he is in bad shape after suffering a stroke but still presides over a handful of nuclear weapons, an arsenal of long-range missiles and a million-man army.

A weakened leader could in fact feel compelled to prove his toughness by threatening outside world. An in recent weeks Pyongyang has halted its rapprochement with South Korea and “torpedoed” talks aimed at getting it to give up its nuclear weapons. “Whether strong or weak, he’s still dangerous,” it observes.

Others on the list include the Dalai Lama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Gen David Petraeus, Iraqi leader Nuri al-Maliki, US House speaker Nancy Pelosi, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Pope Benedict XVI, Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch and popular show host Oprah Winfrey.