Kapil Dev becomes an icon after he leads India to an unexpected win in the 83 World Cup final against the West Indies. Prakash Padukone wins the All-England Badminton Championship in 80 and the inaugural World Cup singles title in 81. In the 86 Asiad, P.T. Usha notches the highest individual medal tallyfour golds, one silver.
Mother Teresa wins Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, gaining international recognition for her order, Missionaries of Charity, and for her work among the poor and ailing in the slums of Calcutta.
Salman Rushdie wins the Booker Prize in 1981, changing the course of Indian writing in English.
J. Krishnamurthis philosophy of the Self influences many luminaries, including Pupul Jayakar. He subsequently sets up the Rishi Valley schools based on an alternative education system.
Ramakrishna Hegde, once a PM-in-waiting, quits as Karnatakas CM in 88 owning moral responsiblity in a phone-tapping case.
A.R. Antulay is forced to resign in the early 80s after the cement scandal and goes into political eclipse. Is acquitted in the 90s.
Maneka Gandhi, has a spat with mother-in-law Indira in the early 80s and tries in vain to capitalise on the Sanjay legacy.
Chandra Shekhar launches a padayatra in 1983 in a bid to move into the front-line of Opposition leaders.