Four Indians on TIME's Most Influential 100

Mamata Banerjee:

The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee also features in the TIME 100 this year. Though most of Indian society remains prejudiced in patriarchy and tradition, strong women still prevail in the nation's political life. Mamata came to light last year when she and a movement she built from the grassroots wrested control of West Bengal, ending a three and a half decade of communist rule. Referred to by her supporters as ‘Didi’, she was labeled by critics as a shrieking street fighter. But ultimately she proved to be the skillful politician.

Through successive elections, Mamata steadily expanded her power base and chipped away at her opponents. In a country tarnished for its dynasties, her lower-middle-class background was no obstacle. As a chief minister, she has emerged as a populist woman of action — loud and divisive but balanced to play an even greater role in the world's largest democracy.