Table

Famous Personalities (India & World)

Famous Personalities (India & World)
Abul Fazal He was the celebrated Mughal court poet and councillor of Akbar. Works : Akbar-nama; Ain-i-Akbari.
Ahialyabai He was the famous Holkar queen. She was widowed daughter-in-law of Malhar Rao Holkar, the virtual ruler of Malwa. After the death of Malhar Rao, Ahialyabai ruled the state with great skil and understanding.
Akbar (1556-1605) He was the greatest of the Mughal Emperors in India. He founded a new religion Din-i-Elahi. He is known for reforms in land revenue administration, religious toleration, abolition of pilgrim tax and Jazia.
Alberuni He was a celebrated historian who visited India in company with the armies of Mahmud Ghazni.
Albuquerque He was the real founder of the Portuguese Empire in the East. He conquered Goa in 1510 and made it his capital. He died in 1515.
Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.) He was king of Macedon (Greece) who set out for mighty military exploits and invaded India in 327 B.C. He reached up to the Beas from where he retreated as his home-sick army refused to proceed further.
Asvaghosh Buddhist Philosopher and musician. He was the spiritual adviser of the Kushan emperor Kanishka.
Aurangzeb (1658-1707) The Mughal emperor of India, he was son of Shahjahan. He got power by acting against his father and brothers. After his death, the Mughal empire broke up.
Aurobindo Ghosh (1872-1950) Politician, philosopher, poet and yogi; passed I.C.S. 1890 first editor of Bande Mataram established an ashram; in Pondicherry.
Alexander Eiffel (1832-1932) French Engineer who built the Eiffel Tower and the locks on the Panama Canal.
Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German mathematical physicist and one of the greatest of all men of science.
Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) He was a Greek philosopher, artist, poet, and thinker. He was the founder of a famous school of philosophy.
Aryabhatta (476-520 A.D.) After whom India’s first scientific satellite has been named, was a great Indian astronomer and mathematician. Among his important contributions are the recognition of the importance of the movement of the earth round the sun, determination of the physical parameters of various celestial bodies, such as diameter of the earth and the moon. He laid the doundation of algebra and was responsible for pointing out the importance of ‘zero’.
Ashoka, the Great (273-236 B.C.) Indian Emperor, grandson of Chandra Gupta. He denounced war, embraced and preache Buddhism after the battle of Kalinga.
Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) Leader of the NAZI Party, he led Germany into conquering much of Europe in 2nd World War, responsible for the genocide of 6 million Jews. In 1945, he committed suiicide as Russians took Berlin.
Archimedes (287-212 B.C.) Greek mathematician, physicist and inventor made many discoveries in mechanics and invented the archimedean screw. Killed during siege of Syracuse by Romans.
Aristophanes (450-385 B.C.) Greek comic dramatist.
Mrs. Annie Besant (1847-1993) President of the Theosophical Society, founder of the Home Rule League (1915-16) in India, was elected President of Indian National Congress.
Amir Khusro Urdu poet who laid the foundation of Urdu poetry, a contemporary of Ala-Ud-Din Khilji, hi 750th birth anniversary was celebrated in 1975.
Amrita Pritam The noted Punjabi poetess and novelist is the recipient of the Bharatiya Janapith Award for 1981.
Dr. Alfred Nobel (1833-96) Swedish inventor of dynamite : in his will he left money for the annual prizes named after him (for work done the benefit of marking in physics, chemistry, physiology and medicine, literature and peace)
B.R. Ambedkar (1893-1956) A well known Indian jurist, statesman, social reformer and scheduled castes leader. He was the chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee and played a significant role; in drafting the Indian Constitution after India attained Independence. He was honoured posthumously with the highest civilian award of Bharat Ratna on April 14, 1990.
Mughal Emperor Babar He was founder of the Mughal Empire in India. He conquered the throne of Delhi after the first battle of Panipat (1826) and ruled for four years (1526-1530).
Baden Powell (1857-1941) He was founder of the Boy Scout movement in 1908 and Girl Guides in 1910.
Bahadur Shah II He was the last king of Mughal Empire who took part in the Firs War of Indian Independence (so-called Sepoy Mutiny) in 1857. He was sent as a state prisoner to Rangoon (Burma) where he died in 1862.
Bairam Khan He was the tutor and guardian of Akbar, the Great. Akbar acquired the throne of Delhi mainly through his efforts. He was known as Khan-i-Khana.
Banabhatta He was the most celebrated of the learned men and court poet of Harshavardhana; author of Harshacharita and Kadambari. He was the greatest master of Sanskrit prose in his time.
Banda Bairagi (Also called Banda Bahadur) – was a Rajput by caste and a native of Rajauri (Poonch). He became bairagi in his youth but took up arms against the Mughals on the advice of Guru Gobind Singh; captured in 1716 along with 800 companions and was tortured to death.
Beethoven One of the world’s greatest musicians and composers. He became deaf at the age of 40 and despite this handicap, he wrote many memorable symphonies, songs, sonatas and concertos. Diet at the age of 56.
Bhaskara I He was the astronomer of the 7th century and was a contemporary of Brahmagupta, another famous astronomer. India’s second satellite for earth observetion, Bhaskara, is associated with his name.
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee Bengali novelist; wrote Anand Math and composed Bande Mataram, Durgesh Nandini and Kapal Kundala.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1990) American Statesman, philosopher and scientist; played an important part in framing the constitution of the U.S.A. invented the lightning conductor.
Bhava Bhuti The greatest writer of Sanskrit drama after Kalidas. His three plays Mahavir-Charita. Malti Madhav and Uttar Ram Charita are famous.
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) Fascist dictator of Italy, 1922-1943.
Genghis Khan Born in 1155 A.D. was a Mongol Chief. He is said to be one of the mightiest conquerors the world has ever produced; notoriously known as the ‘Scourge of God’. He was a military genius of the highest order.
Cleopatra (69-30 B.C.) Famous Egyptian Queen whose beauty fascinated Julius Caesar whom she accompanied to Rome. She is known for her romance with Antony dramatised by Shakes Peare in his love tragedy.
Lord Clive (1725-1774) Came to India as a clerk in the East India Company. He showed such remarkable military genius that he became commander-in-Chief. He defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah supported by the French in the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Returned to England in 1760; his later years were marked by mental disturbance and ultimately he committed suicide.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1445-1533) Born at Nadia in Bengal. He was a pioneer of Bhakti movement. He was devoted to Lord Krishna and preached the doctrine of love.
Chanakya He was the Prime Minister of Chandragupta Maurya who founded the Maurya dynasty. He is the author of Artha Shastra, an authentic book on statecraft. He is also known by the name of Kautilya.
Chand Bibi Daughter of the King of Ahmad Nagar. She was married to Ali Shah, king of Bijapur. Shi bravely fought against the soldiers of Aurangzeb but lost her life in the battle.
Charles Spencor Chaplin (1889-1977) The most famous of all film comedians.
Charlemage (1742-1814) Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, his dominions stretched from the Atlantic to the Danube and Tibet.
Charles V (1510-1558) Holy Roman Emperor who ruled Austria, the Netherlands and Spain.
Claudius Ptolemy (c.90-168) Greek astronomer and geographer, born in Alexandria; according to the Ptolemaic system. The earth was the center of the universe and the heavenly bodies revolved around it.
Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) Italian explorer in Spanish Service; landed on main land of South America in 1498 and discovered Trinidad in 1502.
Confucius (c. 551-479) The most celebrated of the Chinese philosophers.
Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) He was a brave emperor of Gupta dynasty. In his time Hindustan was rejuvenated, and art and literature flourished unobstructed. Fa-hien, the first Chinese pilgrim visited India during his region.
Charak (1st Century A.D.) Famous physician acquainted with all branches of medicine including surgery during the reign of King Kanishka.
C. R. Das Lawyer, poet, journalist and politician, co-founder of Swarajya Party.
C. Rajagopalachari (1878-1972) Popularly known as Rajaji, he was the first and last Indian who became Governor-General. Earlier, he was Chief Minister of Madras, a Union Minister and Governor of West Bengal. He was founder of the Swatantra Party.
Count Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) Great Russian novelist: author of War and Peace, generally regarded as the greatest novel ever written.
Charles Darwin (1809-82) English naturalist whose Origin of the Species first set out the theory of evolution by means of natural selection.
Calvin (1509-64) French religious reformer who preached his severe doctrine (Calvinism). In geneva, where he created a Protestant republic.
Dante (1265-1321) The greatest of Italian poets. Author of Divina Commedia.
Dara Shikoh Eldest son of Shah Jahan who was hostile to Aruangzeb. Aurangzeb, the second son of Shah Jahan, captured the throne by killing Dara Shikoh in a battle.
Lord Dalhousie He was the British Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856. His period of office was known for extensive annexations and as far as the consolidation of British power in India is concerned, he ranks with Wellesley and Hastings.
Dayanand Sarawati Great Hindu reformer of the 19th century and founder of the Arya Samaj.
Darius I (548-485 B.C.) King of Persia, landed a force in Greece in 490 but was beaten at Marathon.
Disraeli (1804-1881) English statesman and novelist. Became Prime Minister in 1868. He contributed greatly to the building up of a great Empire.
David (1038-970 B.C.) King who united Israelites in Canaan.
Dhanvantari A renowned Indian physician who adorned the court of Chandragupta Vikramaditya.
Dhyan Chand The grand old man of Indian Hockey.
Edisn American inventor. Born in Ohio, he became first a newsboy and then a telegraph operator. He invented an automatic repeater for telegraphic messages, phonograph, incandescent lamp.
Einstein (1879-1955) German-Swiss world famous scientist known for his theory of relativity. In 1933, he was driven by the Nazis and took asylum in the U.S.A.
Eisenhower (1890-1969) 34th President of the U.S.A. Supreme Commander of all the Allied armies in the west during the second world war. He introduced’Eisenhower Doctrine’ in 1957, a policy of giving aid to Middle Eastern countries against international communist aggression.
Elizabeth I (1533-1603) Queen of England; daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Spanish Armaj was defeated during her reign. Her reign is famous for development in literature, colonisation and naval power. Shakespeare lived in her time.
Epicurus (342-270 B.C.) Greek philosopher; founder of Epicurean philosophy which taught that virtues should be followed because they led to happiness.
Erasmus (1466-1536) Dutch scholar and philosopher, one of the great figures of the Renaissance.
Euclid (330-260 B.C.) Greek mathematician who laid the foundations of modern geometry.
Euripides (480-406 B.C.) Great Athenian tragic dramatist.
Fa-hien The first Chinese pilgrim who came to India during the reign of Chandragupta Vikramaditya.
Fabius Maximus (‘Conctator’) (d. 203 B.C.) The Roman dictator who saved Rome from Hannibal by deliberately avoiding battle. From this policy comes the term ‘Fabian tactics’.
Fahrenheit (1686-1736) German physicist, inventor of the method of reading a thermometer which bears his name.
Faraday (1791-1867) English physicist and chemist, founder of the science of electro-magnetism.
St. Gregroy (257-336) Founder of the Armenian Church; his festival is 9th March.
Gregory XIII (1502-1585) Pope who introduced the Gregorian calendar.
Grenville (1541-1591) Elizabethan sea-captain who, with his one ship, the Revenge, fought a fleet of Spanish warships in 1591 and died on the deck of the San Pablo.
Gautam Buddha The founder of Buddhism, who born as a Kshatriya prince to Suddhodana, king of Kapilvastu in Nepal. His birth place is stated to be Lumbini village. He renounced his royal heritage, and turned away from his pretty wife and infant son to ponder of the problems of birth, death and disease. He attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree in Bodha Gaya in Bihar.
Gagarin Yuri Gagarin was the Russian cosmonaut and the first spaceman of the world. He was launched into space in Vostok-1 on April 12, 1961 and brought back safely after a flight in space. Died in plane crash on March 27, 1968.
Galileo (1564-1642) Italian scientist. He was professor of mathematics. He is known for invention of telescope.
Guru Gobind Singh The tenth and the last Guru of the Sikhsa real founder of Sikh power whose major part of life was spent in fighting with the Mughals.
Gokhale Gopal Krishna The doyen of Indian statesmen and the chief leader of the moderate section of Indian National Congress, Gopal Krishna Gokhale was the greatest parliamentarian known to India.
Garibaldi (1807-1882) The famous Italian soldier and patriot who was condemned to death in 1834 for being concerned in a plot to seize a Government vessel, but escaped to South America. Later he returned to Italy and became head of a great volunteer army, intent upon liberating Italy.
Herod the Great (73-4 B.C.) King of Judea under the Romans: to him is attributed the massacre of the innocents.
Herodotus (485-425 B.C.) Greek historian, called ‘the father of history’.
Herschel (1738-1822) Discoverer of the planet Uranus and the satellites of Saturn.
Hippocrates (460-370 B.C.) Greek physician: ‘The father of medicine’. Rules of conduct for doctors are still based on his Hippocratic Oath.
Harshavardhana (606-647 A.D.) He was the last great Hindu King of northern India.
Heiun-Tsang Chinese pilgrim who visited India during the reign of King Harsha (606-647 A.D.). He has left interresting records of the conditions in India at that time.
Homer (850 B.C.) Famous Greek epic poet. Author of the classics the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Hannibal (247-183 B.C.) Carthaginian general crossed the Alps into Italy where he is unbeaten for 15 years.
Hardicanute (1019-42) Son of Canute the Great, and the last Danish king of England; imposed the tax known as Danegeld.
Heroun-al-Rashid (763-809) The most famous Khalipha of Baghdad; hero of the Arabian Nights.
Ibnbatuta A South African scholar and traveller who visited India during 1333 AD. He spent 8 years in India and has written about the reign of Mohammad Tughlaq.
Ilango Adigal A Chera Prince who is the author of the 7th century Tamil epic called Silappadigaram-or the jewal anklet.
Innocent III Powerful Pope who initiated the 4th Crusade.
Ivan the Terrible (1530-84) First Czar of Russia, who earned his name by his cruel treatment of his subjects.
Jesus Christ The Founder of Christianity: born at Bethlehem, the first-born of His mother Mary. According to Mathew, His birth was miraculous and Josepli was His foster-father. He learned his father’s trade of carpentry at Nazareth, and began His mission when he was about thirty. A summary of His teaching is found in the Semmon on the Mount.
Joan of Arc (1412-31) The girl whose heroism inspired the French to drive the English out of Oreleans and enabled Charles to be proclaimed king. She was burnt as a heretic at Rouen.
Julius Caesar (100-44 B.C.) Roman general known for invasion of Gaul and Britain. Defeated Pompey in the Civil Gaul War. His assassination by his trusted friend Bruttus is considered the most famous classic betrayal.
Jayadeva He wrote Gita Gov-inda in the 12th century. The book is noble specimen of lyrical poetry and describes the love of Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha, their separation and final union.
Jayprakash Narayan Socialist leader and thinker, devoted himself to Sarvodaya movement. Arrested during Emergency in June 1975. His death in October 1979 created a moral vacuum.
J. L. Nehru (1889-1964) The great Indian leader and maker of modern India. He was the first Prime Minister of free India from 1947 and remained in the office till his death.
J. F. Kennedy (1917-1963) President of the United States from 1961 until his assassination at Dallas, Taxas, in November 1963.
Kabir Das Was one of the greatest exponents of Bhakti Movement-a socio religious movement spread in the Middle Ages which aimed at stopping conversions to Islam and fighting the tyranny of the Brahmins in the social set-up of the Hindus. He believed in the unity of God and equality of all religions.
Kalhana Was poet and historian of Kashmir. He lived in the 11th century A.D. He is author of Rajatarangini, his masterpiece.
Kalidasa The greatest epic Snaksrit poet and dramatist. Works : Shakuntala; Raghuvansham; Kumar Samhava; Meghdut; Ritusamhara.
Kamal Ataturk Builder of modern Turkey. He was a fine soldier. He defended the Dardanelles against the British in 1915 and drove the Greeks out of Turkey in 1922. He was President of the Turkish Republic and virtual dictator 1923-1938.
Kanishka He was the third and the greatest king of Kushan dynasty (120 A.D. to 162 A.D.) He was a great conqueror, became a patron of Buddhism and was the only ruler of India who had his territory even in Central Asia beyond the Pamirs.
Kharavela He was the ruler of Kalinga. He reigned during the first century B.C. and Kalinga rose to great fame under his rule. He was a Jain.
Kepler (1571-1630) German astronomer who worked out the laws of planetary motion.
Krishnadeva Raya The most famous Raja of Vijayanagar kingdom, the last great Hindu ruler of Southern India (1509-1529). He was a very learned man, capable ruler and a great warrior, who often defeated the Muslims.
Kumaril Bhatta Was a well-known preacher of Hinduism during the eighth century.
Lamarck (1744-1829) French naturalist, author of a theory of the evolution of animals, known as Lamarckism.
Lavoisier (1743-1794) French chemist who gave oxygen its name and was the first to establish that combustion is a form of chemical action; guillotined during the French Revolution.
Lloyd George He was Prime Minister of Britain (1916-1922). His resource-fulness; and diving power brought about the defeat of Germany, He was one of those primarily responsible for the Versailles peace settlement.
Louis XVI (1754-1793) The king of France who was executed in 1793 after the French Revolution which had taken place in 1789.
Leonardo da Vinci One of the greatest all-round geniuses the world has known; painter, architect, sculptor, scientist, engineer and musician, Famed as painter of the Last Supper, Mona Lisa and other great works.
Lenin (Russian) Nikolai Lenin (1870-1924) was founder of Bolshevik communism and by far the greatest single driving force behind the Soviet revolution of October-November 1917. his father was a schoolmaster.
Marconi (1874-1937) Inventor of the first practical method of wireless telegraphy.
Maria Theresa (1717-1780) Empress of Austria. Queen of Bohemia and Hungary.
Marie Antoniette (1755-93) Daughter of Maria Theresa, and wife of Louis XVI of France.
Mazzini (1808-1872) Italian patriot who was compelled to leave the country while endeavouring to secure independence of Italy. He was back in Rome in 1848 and was elected dictator of the Roman Republic. He could not hold the position for long and when France occupied Rome he was again driven to England. He however, lived to see a unified Italy.
Megasthenes Was an ambassador to Chandragupta Maurya’s court sent by Seleucus. He lived in Patilputra for five years (302 B.C. to 298 B.C.). The account written by him of India is a source of our knowledge of that period.
Michaelangelo The renowned Italian artist, painter, sculptor, architect and poet; one of the greatest geniuses.
Prophet Mohammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) He was Born in 570 A.D. in Mecca. He was the founder of Islam. He was the son of Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib and Amina bint Wahb.
Mohammad Bin Tughlaq (1325-1351) A very learned man who possessed an uncommon intelligence and remarkable memory but was an unsuccessful and unpopular emperor.
Montessori Madam (1970-1952) Italian educator and originator of the method of education known as Montessori system.
Machiavelli (1469-1527) A Florentine historian and diplomat. Author of ‘The Prince’.
Magellan Commanded the first expedition in 1519 to soil round the world. Discovered passages to the Pacific from the Atlantic through Straits later on named after him.
Mahavira (599-527 B.C.) Founder of Jainism-a-religious sect of the Hindus.
Madan Mohan Malviya A great Indian Nationalist. He had been long associated with Congress Party and was thrice elected its President. Leader of the Hindu Mahasabha; founder of the Banaras Hindu University.
Man Singh He was the adopted son of Raja Bhagwan Das. He fought against Rana Pratap; in 1576 and won th battle of Gogunda. He was appointed by Akbar to govern Kabul. He died in the ninth year of Jehangir’s reign.
Manu Famous Hindu law-giver; author of Manu Simriti.
Mao Tse-Tung Chairman of Communist China (People’s Republic of China) who died at the age of 82 was inspiration behind the great communist revolution that transformed China and sent shock waves throughout the world.
Marco Polo (1256-1323) Famous Venetian traveller and explorer; the first European to visit China; made journeys through China. India and other Eastern countries and published a record of his wanderings.
Martin Luthar (1483-1546) Great German religious reformer who lived to see the principles of Reformation widely established.
Newton Sir Issac Newton (1642-1727) English physical scientist and mathematician is generally known as world’s greatest man of science. He achieved immortal fame for his work on the nature of white light, the calculus and the law of gravitation.
Nek Chand The creator of the world famous Rock Garden in Chandigarh has been bestowed official recognition by the Punjab Government and Chandigarh Administration. He has also been honoured by French, the Japanese and the people of the United States.
Napoleon Bonaparte (1766-1821) Great French statesman and soldier who rose to be the Emperor of post-Revolution France. He won series of splendid victories against England, Russia and Austria in 1805 but was completely defeated in the battle of Waterloo in June, 1815 and exiled to ST. Helena where he died six years later.
Pythagoras (582-507 B.C.) Greek scientist and mathematician; to him is attributed the discovery of the multiplication table, the decimal system and the square on the hypotenuse.
Phidias Specially famous for his works in gold, ivory and bronze. Known for the sculptures in the British Museum : The Elgin Marbles.
Philip of Macedonia (382-338 B.C.) Father of Alexander the Great and king of Macedonia.
Picasso (1881-1973) Spanish painter. His work is to be found in public galleries and private collections all over the world.
Plato (427-347 B.C.) The renowned Greek philosopher, His Dialogues and Republic are among the greatest ancient works. He was Socrates disciple and Aristotle’s teacher.
Prithvi Raj Chauhan A legendary figure in Indian history. A great warrior of his time, valiant soldier and able ruler. He waged many wars against his neighbours. In 1191 he defeated Mohammad Ghori but next year in 1192 was defeated by the latter and put to death.
Pulakesin II (608-642) The most powerful ruler of Chalukya dynasty in the Deccan. He extended his territory in all directions and in doing so came into conflict with both Harsha in the north and with the Pallavas in the south. He was successful during most of his reign but was finally defeated and slain in conflict with the Pallavas.
Pushyamitra Shunga (183-161 B.C.) He was the Commander-in-Chief of the Maurya armies in the last days of the Mauryas. In approximately 185 B.C. he murdered his master and founded the Sunga dynasty (185-72 B.C.), Pushyamitra’s reign was marked by a Brahminical revival as a reaction against Ashoka’s patronage of Buddhism.
Premachand (1880-1937) A well-known Indian writer and novelist. His Urdu and Hindi novels an short stories have earned international recognition.
Rajaraja I the Great (985-1014) He was a king of the Chola dynasty in the south of India. He was a great conqueror. His conquests included the territories the Cheras, Pandyas, Vengi Kalinga, and even Ceylon and the Laccadive and Maldive Islands. Under him, the Chola power reached its zenith. He was responsible for the creation of the great Siva temple at Tanjore.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1884-1963) He was the first President of the Indian Republic (1950-1962). In early life, he was a prominent member of the Youth Movement in Bihar. In 1917, he joined the Congress and took active part in the Non-co-operation Movement of 1920. He was Minister for food in 1947; President of the Indian Constituent Assembly (1946-1949).
Ramakrishna Paramhansa Great religious saint and teacher of Bengal whose teachings led Swami Vivekananda of found the Rama Krishna Mission.
C. V. Raman (1988-1970) He was an eminent Indian scientist F.R.S. National Professor of physics and founder Director of Raman Research Institute, Bangalore. He was awarded Nobel Prize of his discovery of ‘Raman Effect’ (1930). His work on study of crystal structure is of unique importance. He died on November 20, 1970.
Ramanujacharya The great Vaishnava teacher of Tamil Nadu; founder of Bhakti Movement.
Rana Pratap The bravest and the most illustrious figure in the history of Rajputs. A great patriot who refused to submit to Akbar-the great Mughal Emperor.
Rana Sanga Rajput ruler of Mewar; a veteran warrior who has lost eye, one hand, one leg and had scars of eighty wounds on his body. Defeated by Babar in 1527 at the battle of Kanwaha.
Rabindra Nath Tagore Great Indian poet, novelist, philosopher and thinker. Awarded Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. Works : Gitanjali : the Crescent Moon : Fruit Gathering; Gora; The Wreck; Gardener; Sadhana; Mashi; The Post Office (Dakghar); Hungry Stones.
Razia Sultan Daughter of Eltutmish; she was the first and the only Muslim lady who ever sat on the throne of Delhi Sultanate.
Lord Rippon Governor General of India (1880-1884); famous for repeal of Vernacular Press Act; the first Census of India in 1881 was taken in his time; Factory Act; policy of free trade.
Robespierre (1758-1794) Enthusiastic leader of the Jacobian party who took active part in the French Revolution.
Roger Bacon (1214-1294) Inventor of Gun Power and founder of experimental science; man of remarkable gifts and inventive power.
Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) was the 32nd President of the U.S.A. He was a great American statesman who served as President from 1933 till his death being the first President to be elected for more than two terms. ‘His was-time meetings with Churchill and Stalin, and his energetic prosecution of the second World War were considered as the most important features of his foreign policy.
Rousseau (1712-1778) Famous for his two remarkable works Confessions and Le Contrat Social which gave French a new field of thought and laid down principles of government and conduct which bore fruit in the French Revolution.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1774-1833) Raja Ram Mohan Roy was one of the greatest reformers that India has produced. He was instrumental in eradicating social evils like Sati, Purdah and child marriage, from the Indian soil. He advocated widow remarriage and stood for women’s education. He was a profound scholar of Arabic, Persian and Sanskrit. He was also the founder of Brahmo Samaj.
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) He was originator of psychoanalysis. He was born of Jewish parents and from 1860 lived at Vienna until, following the Nazi occupation in 1938, he migrated to London. Some of his famous works are : The Interpretation by Dreams, The Psychopathology of Everyday Life, The Ego and the Id.
Socrates (470-399 B.C.) Greek philosopher, whose teachings are known from the writings of his pupils, Xenophon and Plato. He taugh people to think carefully and logically. Charged with corrupting the morals of the young, he was condemned to die by drinking hemlock.
Solomon (10th c.B.C.) Son of David, ruler of Israel and Judah.
Solon (638-558 B.C.) Great Athenian law-giver.
Sophocles (495-406 B.C.) Popular Anthenian dramatist author of Antigone. Electra, Oedipus.
Shivaji (1627-1680) The great Maratha leader who fought the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb tooth and nail. Shivaji drew his inspiration from his mother Jijabai and Guru Ramdas. He vanquished the general sent by Aurangzeb and succeeded in establishing a Hindu State in Deccan.
Surdas A blind poet who worshipped Krishna and spread Krishna Bhakti cult. Sur Sagar and Shaitya Lahari are the collections of his poems.
Samudragupta (330-375 A.D.) Son and successor of Chandra Gupta I; one of the most powerful and the ablest of the Hindu kings; a great military genius, a great scholar, poet and musician; known as the Indian Napoleon on account of his great conquests.
Stalin (1879-1953) Soviet statesman, He was leader of the Russian People for nearly thirty years, He was an active revolutionary from the age of 17 and took an important part in civil war 1917 and became an outstanding figure in Russia after the death of Lenin. He assumed military leadership against the German invasion, June 1941, After his death, he was severely criticised by the Russian leaders.
Sun Yat-Sen The founder and the first President of the Chinese Republic, 1912. In 1905, founded the China Revolutionary League in Europe and Japan and played a prominent part in the 1911 revolution.
Sir Saiyyad Ahmed (1817-1898) An educationist and reformer of the Muslim community in India. He established the M.A.O. College at Aligarh in 1875 which later became Aligarh Muslim University.
Shri Narayan Guru He was great Social reformer, saint and philosopher of Kerala who has a place next to Adi Sankara. He flourished in The first half of the twentieth century and worked for eradication of untouchability and social equality based on caste. He was the first to propagate the idea of ‘one caste, one religion and one God’ for man.
Simuka He was the founder of Satavahana dynasty. He is said to have destroyed the power of the Kanvas and the remnants of the Sungas.
Timur A notorious Muslim warrior from Central Asia. He is remembered for his invasion and sack of Delhi where he ordered indiscriminate massacre andplunder. His invasion has caused the end of Tughlaq dynasty.
Tipu Sultan Ruler of Mysore, who succeeded his father Haider Ali. He allied himself with the French and declared war on the English. When the Marathas and the Nizam combined together, he was defeated and killed in the battle of Srirangapttam.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Son of Hargobind whose tercentenary of martyrdom was celebrated throughout the country on the December 6, 1975 was the ninth Guru of Sikhs. He was ordered by Emperor Aurangzeb to embrace Islam; he refused and was executed.
Tansen (1506-1589) Celebrated musician and one of the Nav Ratnas in the court of Akbar. He was a great exponent of Indian classical music.
Todarmal One of the Nav Ratnas and Revenue Minister in the Court of Akbar. Famous for reforms in Land Revenue Administration.
Tolstoy, Leo He was a great Russian writer, Mahatma Gandhi was greatly influenced by his works.
Trotsky Russian Revolutionary; one of the leaders of Bolshevist revolution; assassinated in exile in Mexico.
Varahmihira (505-587) He was a distinguished Indian astronomer, mathematician and philosopher. He was one of the nine gems of the court of king Vikramaditya.
Vasco da Gama A Portuguese sailor who, in 1498, rounded the Cape of Good Hope and succeeded in reaching the port of Calicut.
Vivekananda (1863-1902) He was a great Hindu saint and religious leader; founder of the Ramakrishna Mission. He was born in Calcutta on January 12, 1863 and his original name was Narendranath Dutta. He led the Vedanta movement. His message influended many of India’s leaders in national awakening in the 20th century. He asked his countrymen to cultivate faith in themselves. He died on January 4, 1902, at the age of 39.
Voltaire (1694-1778) One of the greatest of French philosophers and writers. Author of Essays on the Morals; Spirit of Nations.
V.D. Savarkar He was an ardent Indian nationalist who was in the front ranks of the freedom fighters in the twenties. He was sentenced by the British to transportation for life his part in a conspiracy case. He remained President of the Hindu Mahasabha for a long time. He wrote an account of the happenings of 1857 under the title first Indian War of Independence. He died in 1966.
Warren Hastings He was the first Governor-General (1774-1785) in India during the British reign. His period is known for Regulating Act, 1773; First Marhatta War (1775-1782) and Pitt’s India Act, 1784 to improve the Indian administration.
Walt Disney American cartoonist; creater of MickeyMouse and other cartoons shown on the screen and ‘True Life Adventures’.
Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) American President 1913-1921; famous for his fourteen points and largely responsible for the setting up of the League of Nations.
William Wilberforce A distinguished agitator and orator against slave trade during the reign of George III.
Xenophon (430-355 B.C.) Greek historian and general pupil of Socrates.
Xerxes (519-465 B.C.) King of Persia.
Zoroaster Persian prophet; lived about the seventh century B.C. Parsis of India are his followers.
Related Topicसंबंधित विषय