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Corazon Aquino, Indira Gandhi in Time's list of 25 most powerful women

Philippine democracy icon and former Indian prime minister considered powerful women of past century.

  • Staff Report
  • Published: 15:08 November 20, 2010

25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century
  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
  • Left to right, from top: Philippine democracy icon Corazon Aquino, former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa, talk show host Oprah Winfrey, Pop queen Madonna, and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. All six have made it to Time magazine's list of 25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century.

Dubai: Philippine democracy icon Corazon Aquino and former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi were among the women from Asia who made it to Time magazine's list of 25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century.

Aquino served as an inspiration for the bloodless "People Power" revolution in 1986 that ended Ferdinand Marcos' 20-year-rule in the Philippines. As then president, she restored people's faith in good government. Aquino died of colon cancer in 2009 at the age of 76.

Corazon Aquino: Life in pictures

Indira Gandhi was elected prime minister in 1966 and successfully steered India through much of the next two decades through recession, famine, the detonation of the nation's first atomic bomb, a corruption scandal and a civil war in neighbouring Pakistan that, under her guidance, led to the creation of a new state, Bangladesh. She was the world's longest-serving female prime minister. She was assassinated in 1984.

Jane Addams, an outspoken advocate for women's right to vote, heads the US news magazine's survey of “the women who have most influenced our world” . Addams was the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Also in the list is US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Mother Teresa.

Pop queen Madonna and popular talk show host Oprah Winfrey also made it to the list, along with another entertainer, Aretha Franklin.

List of 25 most powerful women of the past century:

Related Links
  • Jane Addams (1860-1935)
  • Corazon Aquino (1933-2009)
  • Rachel Carson (1907-1964)
  • Coco Chanel (1883-1971)
  • Julia Child (1912-2004)
  • Hillary Clinton (1947-present)
  • Marie Curie (1867-1934)
  • Aretha Franklin (1942-present)
  • Indira Gandhi (1917-1984)
  • Estee Lauder (1908-2004)
  •  Madonna (1958-present)
  •  Margaret Mead (1901-1978)
  • Golda Meir (1898-1978)
  • Angela Merkel (1954-present)
  • Sandra Day O'Connor (1930-present)
  • Rosa Parks (1913-2005)
  • Jiang Qing (1914-1991)
  • Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)
  • Margaret Sanger (1879-1966)
  • Gloria Steinem (1934-present)
  • Martha Stewart (1941-present)
  • Mother Teresa (1910-1997)
  • Margaret Thatcher (1925-present)
  • Oprah Winfrey (1954-present)
  • Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)

Do you agree with the list? Who do you think is the most influential woman?

Comments (13)

  1. Added 14:22 November 21, 2010

    Corazon Aquino is the most influential woman for us.

    Anonymous, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 12:36 November 21, 2010

    politics has nothing to do with show businesses.Among 25 ladies selected as great are some from show businesses but what is irksome is the role of leaders like Indira Gandhi and great social worker like mother theresa cannot be put among actresses or artists although they are playing some roles and live in someones heart but the field is limited and not noble so please separate rulers of people from enticing departments.

    Ikramuddin Akbar, Karachi, Pakistan

  3. Added 08:32 November 21, 2010

    Why not Sonia Ghandhi ?

    Javed Sayed, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 23:46 November 20, 2010

    Exactly...What about Benazir bhutto?

    Baldeep, London, United Kingdom

  5. Added 22:08 November 20, 2010

    what about benazir Bhutto...she was brave women among all of the above women.she was brave woman and also look her struggle for democracy... in pakistan

    faheem uz zaman, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

  6. Added 22:05 November 20, 2010

    My Mom is the most powerful woman to my world..

    mohammad, Al Ain, Kenya

  7. Added 21:45 November 20, 2010

    What about Ms. Srimavo Bandaranayak, The 1st PM of the world ?

    Anonymous, Colombo, Sri Lanka

  8. Added 21:40 November 20, 2010

    why Benazeer Bhutto is missing from the list. She had led a big nation strongly.

    hassan, dubai, United Arab Emirates

  9. Added 20:47 November 20, 2010

    I admire Indiraji from the core of my heart. She was a courageous leader the subcontinent ever produced. she and her family was very close to the muslims of India and thats why congress always came into power. Besides when POWs were taken to indian camps never ever they were treated inhumanly rather treated as guests. Is there any example in history. She even sacrificed her life eradicating a dangerous separatist movement during her reign. She did not like to interfere in any communities public or personal matters. Fortunate lands own them.

    Ikramuddin Akbar, Karachi, Pakistan

  10. Added 19:58 November 20, 2010

    I think Time is choosing based on the impact they made on their field, something that brought change. With respect to Ms. Bhutto, her administration has not really brought change to the people of Pakistan and during her reign she was accused of corruption and came from long line of traditional politicians..had she not been assassinated maybe... So i guess Time has done their research well.

    Anonymous, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

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