The famous Gujarati poet Narmad in a poem asks “ Who is the real Gujarati? The one who is a Brahmin? The one who prays at Somnath? The one who is a Vania?” And he goes on with the questions only to end saying, “The one in whose heart rests Gujarat, that is a Gujarati”.

Following the controversy created by my letter to Bachchanji in this column last week, one of the questions asked of me is, “So, who should be our brand ambassador?” So here are my thoughts on the matter.

We are looking for an ambassador because we turn 50. Ideally I would choose 50 people under the age of fifty, who truly represent the best of Gujarati asmita – generosity, inventiveness, the ability to fight odds, non-violence, a caring for fellow humans, an entrepreneurial spirit.

Let me share some of those who could make my list. And this is not in any order of importance nor is the list exhaustive. Arkhiben Mithabhai Vankar, a village healer and midwife who invented a herbal pesticide that keeps aphids, white flies and mealy bugs away. Arkhiben has now a patent filed and a business deal with Matrix Biosciences of Hyderabad.

Sudhaben Dagli, the visually impaired sarpanch who has transformed her village into a green oasis and has given new meaning to inclusion in her community.

The Pathan brothers from Vadodara who have made us a proud cricketing state.

Pranav Mistry from Palanpur, designer, innovator, engineer who developed The Sixth Sense at MIT.

Mansukhbhai Jagani, of Mota Devaliya village, Amreli, who has modified his motorbike into a plough-tractor helping farmers save lakhs of rupees.

Kaushal Patel, Certified Ethical Hacker And Forensic Investigator

The young woman gang raped in Patan who remained undaunted in the face of bribes and threats to see her rapists punished, giving courage and voice to hundreds of women.

Vishal Mehta, CEO & Founder, Infibeam.com, who has made an inexpensive Indian e-book, the Pi, giving other international e-book companies a run for their money.

Kamlesh Patel, he of the indomitable spirit, who dances even without the use of his legs.

The young Dalit woman who refused to be coerced into not standing for a village sarpanch election, and fought and won her rights in the High Court of Gujarat.

Chatrasingh Ranchod, Bheekiben Arsamd, Bisiben Vaghela, Nirmalaben Indrakar and their colleagues who faced the wrath of their communicates and saved their minority neighbours from being massacred. And Sarojben and Bashirunben who formed a united front and shamed the men of their village incited by rioting mobs to ensure total peace in their locality.

Bharat Bariya who became the first Bharata Natyam performer from Panchmahal and who used his clout to change attitudes regarding widows in his community.

Archan Trivedi who fought a long battle with cancer and today counsels and gives courage to hundreds of cancer sufferers.

Maya Patel of Navapura, who, in spite of studying only till the 4th grade, worked to become an expert in IT and trains doctors, lawyers and students at her institute.

Abhijat Joshi, who has made Gujarat proud and known in the world of screen writing.

Manduben, an Adivasi from Chota Udepur who started a bus cooperative to ensure that children continued going to school, after students lost their lives in a public bus accident and parents wanted them to quit school.

Prajapati, a traditional potter, who invented the low cost 100 rupee fridge to make longer lasting vegetables a reality for low income families.

Vaishali Shambhubhai, a chirpy 12-year-old, now in Class VIII, who ran to the rescue of another boy stuck to an electricity pole, risking her own life and receiving the National Bravery Award 2009

16 year old Shital Pandya who skated from Jamnagar to Delhi to propagate the message of saving the girl child.

These are just some of the special people that make up our state and that make us proud. People who are the true asmita of Gujarat. People I would love to represent our spirit to the world in our golden jubilee year.