India's 10 Unsung Personalities


Bangalore: There are people who contribute to the society greatly but are seldom known. They quietly do their bit without expecting anything in return. These extraordinary and selfless people bring meaning to hundreds of lives. Here are the unsung heroes of the nation, as listed by Tenzin Yangdon for Yahoo news.

Irom Sharmila:
Irom Sharmila is also known as the "Iron Lady of Manipur". She is a civil rights activist and a political activist. Sharmila is an example of a woman's perseverance. Since 2 November 2000, she has been on a hunger strike to demand that the Indian government abolish the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which is a cause for violence in Manipur and other parts of northeast. Not having eaten food or water for more than 500 weeks, she has been called "the world's longest hunger striker". She is on a continuous hunger strike for past 12 years. She has certainly shown the world the choice to live without fear in one's own homeland.

Ashok Khemka:
Ashok Khemka is another unsung hero on the list. He is widely known as 'Haryana's most shoved about civil servant' and was the one who blew the whistle on Vadra’s DLF deal. He is an example of an honest, dedicated IAS officer. He chose the life of an IAS officer instead of a comfortable life that usually accompanies an IIT graduate. In his 21 years in service, Khemka was transferred an enormous 43 times.

In 2008, Robert Vadra had purchased a 3.5 acre plot for Rs 7.5 crore, which he then sold to realty major DLF for Rs 58 crore. On October 8, Khemka questioned this relationship between Vadra and DLF and sought a list of Vadra's land deals. But, instead of the list he got a transfer order.

Also Read: 10 Most Powerful People in 2012