Who is my figure of modernity and why do they matter?

(Who or what did you select for your figure of Asian modernity assignment?) Why did you choose this figure and what do they represent about contemporary, modern Asia? Is this a figure of modernity that speaks to Asia broadly or one country (or city or village) specifically? What larger theoretical themes does your figure demonstrate, e.g. gender and sexuality, poverty and development, urban/rural divide, media and technology, nationalism, etc.? What is the past and future of your figure? Is it a positive one? Are they optimistic? How does modernity respond to them (i.e. how are they treated in the world at large)? What does their future look like?