The Hindu : Front Page : Sonia, Tata in Forbes' list of 68 people “who matter”

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Sonia, Tata in Forbes' list of 68 people “who matter”

Boston: Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata are among the five Indians named among the most powerful people in the world in Forbes' list this year of 68 people “who matter.”

India's business tycoons Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and steel giant ArcelorMittal Chairman Lakshmi Mittal also make this year's list.

Chinese President Hu Jintao has topped the 2010 Forbes list of the “World's Most Powerful People.”

For the top spot, Mr. Hu pipped United States President Barack Obama, who comes in at second place. Forbes' list picks 68 who matter, out of the 6.8 billion people on the planet.The heads of state, major religious figures, entrepreneurs and outlaws on the second annual list were chosen “because, in various ways, they bend the world to their will.”

Ms. Gandhi debuts at the 9th spot in this year's list of the world's most powerful people. Incidentally, she was not featured in Forbes' recent list of the world's most powerful women.

Recently elected to a record fourth term as head of India's ruling Congress party, 63-year old Ms. Gandhi has cemented her “status as true heiress to the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty.”

Dr. Singh, “universally praised as India's best Prime Minister since Nehru,” is ranked 18th on the list. He has moved up in the list from being 36th last year.

Mr. Ambani, who has a net worth of $29 billion, comes in at the 34th spot. His ranking too improved from his last year's 44th place. The 53-year-old “business maharaja” is Asia's richest person, who certainly likes to live like a king, Forbes said.

Occupying the 44th spot is Lakshmi Mittal, chairman of the world's largest steel company ArcelorMittal. The 60-year-old steel magnate has a net worth of $28.7 billion.

London's wealthiest resident, Mr. Mittal is sponsoring London's 2012 Olympic games, paying for most of a 400-foot twisting steel tower to be named ArcelorMittal Orbit at the city's Olympic Park.

Mr. Tata, having dropped two notches from last year, comes in at the 61st position in the list of the world's most powerful people. — PTI

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