Madhavan Nair, Team Chandrayan named CNN-IBN Indian of the Year

New Delhi, Feb 2 (IANS) Eminent space scientist G. Madhavan Nair and Team Chandrayaan have been declared the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year 2008 Monday.

Nair, currently the chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and his team also bagged an award in the Public Service category at the event.

'CNN-IBN Indian of the Year Awards initiative is an attempt to recognise the contribution of individuals who have stood first amongst equals,' said Rajdeep Sardesai, editor-in-chief, IBN network.

Also honoured at the do was Bollywood veteran Dilip Kumar with the Lifetime Achievement Award and late assistant subp-inspector Tukaram Omble and the Mumbai police - 'The Mumbai Bravehearts' - for Extraordinary Service to the Nation during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

HDFC Bank MD Aditya Puri, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Abhinav Bindra and Bollywood actor Aamir Khan won the awards in the business, politics, sports and entertainment category respectively.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was also presented a Special Achievement Award for her contribution to bringing a change in the state of Delhi.

Music maestro A.R. Rahman was felicitated with an award in a stand-alone Global Indian Category for putting India on the global entertainment map with his Golden Globe Award and three Oscar nominations for underdog drama 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

The winners were chosen through a unique four-tier selection process audited by Ernst & Young.