India Inc mints money, grows in size, fights for turf

	The Achievers

India Inc's managers have always had the enterprise, they found the sure shot way to make billions this year and with the billions came the clash of egos - as large as their larger-than-life persona. Ambani vs Ambani, Tata vs Birla, Ambani vs Mittal, the fights came in all permutations and combinations, making 2007 arguably the most happening as well as a tumultuous period for the Indian industry that stamped its authority overseas with about 250 acquisitions worth over 32 billion dollars. The Tatas acquired Anglo-Dutch steel giant Corus, Essar walked away with Canada's Algoma, Birla's conquered mining giant Novelis, Mallya took a swig of Scottish whisky major Whyte & Mackay.

The global expansion too was not void of fights be it between an Indian and foreign entity or among the domestic giants such as Tatas and Mahindras, who are still slugging it out for acquiring US auto giant Ford's British brands Land Rover and Jaguar. The resurgence of Indian industry comes on the back of uncanny skill shown by the corporate world to make money, possibly faster than others in the world. The size of Indian bourses, one of the fastest growing markets, more than doubled since January 2007 with market capitalisation of all the listed entities booming to over 1.7 trillion dollars from just over 800 billion dollars.

More in India 2007:

	Vikram Pandit - doing India proud at the international stage

India CEO's who hit the news: Vikram Pandit joined the league of Indira Nooyi (CEO, Pepsico) and Arun Sarin (CEO, Vodafone) by becoming the CEO of the world's largest financial institution Citibank. Controversial writer Taslima Nasrin was hounded in the state of Left parties and shunted from Kolkata to Rajasthan and Delhi. She just said the writer in her would die without Kolkata. The latest development, CPI (M) veteran is ready to accommodate Taslima provided Centre take charge of security.

• Priyanka Todi daughter of a rich Hindu businessman and Rizwanur a Muslim graphic designer. Their love and subsequent marriage brewed a storm in West Bengal as the system, in connivance with the rich businessman who greased its machinery well, forced the young Rizwanur Rehman to allegedly kill himself for loving.
• The monument of love received monumental love this year as the Taj Mahal got itself a snug place in the 7 New Wonders of the World. The UN said it had nothing to do with it. But countries, high on patriotism to get their respective symbols world’s attention, sent millions of SMSs making the organiser even richer.
• The Q returned to haunt the country and the Congress as Italian businessman Quattrocchi was caught and then released in Argentina. The CBI was left with an egg on its face and its hands wringing in air as the Buenos Aires court not only declared Quattrocchi an innocent, but also asked CBI to pay-up for his trial!
• The year saw banned ULFA unleashing a series of attack on the Bihari community living in Upper Assam's killing 70 people. During the year more than 75 bomb blasts have taken place killing at least 50 people and injuring more than 500. The adivasis vandalised public property. And to the horror of all, a young adivasi woman was stripped on the roads by a section of the mob flaring up the situation further and leading to the imposition of curfew.
• Following the violence, the demand for ST status from six other communities, including morans, motoks, chutiyas, tai-ahoms and koch-rajbongshis, has become strident.