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DHYAN CHAND
SPORTS

1905-1979




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Hockey once had such a following not only in India but all over the world when spectators thronged to see India play. The man responsible for taking hockey to such dizzying heights was Major Dhyan Chand. Such was his control, when he moved with the ball; it looked as it was attached to his stick. His dribbling was poetry in motion that captured the imagination of thousands of fans throughout the world. Don Bradman the cricket maestro who once watched Dhyan Chand in a match in Adelaide in 1935 said afterwards, ‘He scores goals like runs in cricket’.

How could somebody who had no formal training make such gigantic strides in hockey? True, he came from a family of hockey players – his father Sameeshwar dutt Singh as well as his brother Roop Singh who represented India with Dhyan Chand.

Dhyan Chand was born on 29 August 1905. Frequent transfers of his father in Army affected his studies and he studied no further than 6th Grade.

But with a hockey stick, there was a metamorphosis. He could weave through an army of defense and create an opportunity for his colleagues to score. Since he had joined the Army at age of 16, due to paucity of time he practiced only at nights. This only sharpened his instincts further.

His fame spread far and wide and soon he became a regular in Indian team as Center Forward.

In three of the Olympics, 1928 Amsterdam, 1932 at Los Angeles and Berlin 1936 India’s hold on the game was so overpowering they won with huge margins with Dhyan Chand scoring most of the goals. Spectators, officials thought he had some powers of magic; such was his control of ball and wizardry.

When India defeated Germany in finals of Berlin Olympics, 6-1, Adolf Hitler is reported to have offered Dhyan Chand post of a Colonel in German Army to stay back in Germany which Dhyan Chand promptly declined.

Government of India rightly named his Birthday, August 29, as National Sports Day when they give Awards for sportspersons for their contribution in various fields. The National Hockey Stadium is rightly named after him.

Major Dhyan Chand deserves a Bharath Rathna, for he is a true Gem of Indian Sports

RAJINIKANTH
ENTERTAINMENT

BORN 1950


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amil cinema icon Rajinikanth or fondly known as just Rajini by his crores of fans is a true symbol of India's unity in diversity. His ancestors are from Maharashtra, who settled down in Karnataka. Rajinikanth, whose real name is Shivaji Rao Gaekwad started his career as a city bus conductor in Bangalore in the early 1970s. His father was a head constable with Karnataka police.
The renowned Tamil film director K Balachander spotted this young talent and took him to Madras (Chennai) to give him a chance. Rest is history. Rajini is the highest paid actor in India. For the outsiders, the popularity he enjoys is difficult to fathom. Superstar Rajini is THE ACTOR with Midas touch. Nobody in Indian cinema can claim the following Rajini has.

A P J ABDUL KALAM
ADMINISTRATOR



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Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam fondly known as just Kalam was people's President. He is a scientist & a visionary par excellence. He is often referred to as the "Missile Man of India". A P J Abdul Kalam was the Project Director of India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle - SLV-III.

The Pokhran II nuclear Tests were conducted under his guidance in 1998. The Bharat Ratna recipient became the 11th President of India in the year 2002. A bachelor Dr. Kalam is still very active in public life.

BORN 1931

BISMILLAH KHAN
ARTS

1916-2006

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Bismillah Khan was India’s most celebrated shehnai player, and one of only four musicians to be awarded the country’s highest civilian honour of Bharat Ratna. Born into a family of Dalit Muslims, his family moved from a town in Bihar to Varanasi, the holiest of cities for Hindus, when he was six.

He began learning the Shehnai from his uncle. Till he took it up, the shehnai was just a ritual instrument played at weddings and other ceremonies. Thanks to his genius, it acquired a ‘classical’ status, and came to be placed on the same pedestal as the sitar and the sarod. The tenderness of his playing enhanced the beauty and emotional appeal of the instrument, and expanded its horizons.

The soundtracks of several films, such as Sanadi Appanna (Kannada), Goonj Uthe Shehnai and Swades (both Hindi), were enriched by his virtuosity. For many, Bismillah Khan was more than a musician, his devotion to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of learning and the arts, and his daily temple performances on the banks of the Ganga, made him a symbol of the noblest Indian ideals of secularism and syncreticism.

C RAJAGOPALACHARI
POLITICAL LEADER

1878-1972

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Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari, known as Rajaji or C.R., was a lawyer, writer, statesman and a Hindu spiritualist. He was the first Governor-General of independent India. Later he became the Chief Minister of Madras State. At one time considered Mahatma Gandhi's heir, this brilliant lawyer was regarded in pre-independence years as one of the top five leaders of the Congress along with Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Of the five, Rajaji, Nehru and Patel were christened the "head, heart and hands" of Gandhi, in whose shadows they remained till his death. Ironically, all three of them were to have a tempestuous relationship, bound together only by their common goal and Gandhi's charm. However, they respected each other immensely.

Nehru wrote about Rajaji in his autobiography of how Rajaji's "brilliant intellect, selfless character, and penetrating powers of analysis have been a tremendous asset to our cause". Rajaji was perhaps the earliest Congress leader in the 1940s to admit to the likelihood of the Partition. On leaving government, he was among the first recipients of the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award.

 

[Machete]

Rajinikanth

 

[RPK]

JAYAPRAKASH NARAYAN


POLITICAL LEADER

1902-1979

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Jayaprakash Narayan was the voice of the people during the Emergency. He mobilised the people against the dictatorial tendencies of Indira Gandhi.

He was known as Loknayak. JP was also an independence activist and political leader, remembered for giving a call for peaceful Total Revolution during the 1970s. In 1998, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in recognition of his social work. He was a conscience keeper of the society.

SAM MANEKSHAW
ADMINISTRATORS

1914-2008

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Fondly known as Sam Bahadur, Sam Manekshaw was an Indian national hero who crafted India's greatest military victories during Bangla liberation war. He was the first Field Marshal of the Indian Army.

His distinguished military career spanned four decades and five wars. Manekshaw rose to be the 8th chief of staff of the Indian Army in 1969 and under his command, Indian forces concluded a victorious campaign, the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War that led to the liberation of Bangladesh. He is one of the unforgettable Indians.

DR. E SREEDHARAN
ADMINISTRATION

BORN 1932

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E Sreedharan is one of the most celebrated international personalities in the field of Project Management. He is famously described as the Metro Man of India for his role in the creation of the Delhi Metro Railway and changing the way the people of national capital commute.

He is known for his amazing leadership skills as well as the rare ability of finishing most complex projects ahead of time and at low cost. He is renowned as the architect of the Konkan Railway project which against popular notion of being a White Elephant and being too impractical, made the project a reality at low cost and in less time.

Konkan Railway changed the face of entire West Coast of India for better. It has brought great prosperity to once most difficult area of the country. The phrase ‘Sreedharan is the one and only’ sums up this great personality.

MILKHA SINGH
SPORTS

BORN 1935

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‘The Flying Sikh’ Milka Singh was the first Indian to win a Gold medal in Athletics in Commonwealth Games in 1958 with a timing of 46.16 Seconds. Earlier in Asian Games in the same year he completed a rare ‘double’ by winning both 200 m and 400 m in 21.6 and 47 seconds respectively.

When he beat Pakistan’s ace sprinter Abdul Khaliq in a 100m race in 1962, the then President of Pakistan Ayub Khan called Milka Singh 'The Flying Sikh’ an apt title for the best athlete in Asia at that time.

In his first outing in 1956 Melbourne Olympics, young Milka did not make a mark. But in Rome Olympics, he kept improving with each race and in the final he ran his best race of his career clocking stupendous timing of 45.6 seconds, his best ever, and finished fourth and missed the bronze medal by a whisker.

Milka Singh was born in 1936 in Faisalabad now in Pakistan. Considering he had no formal training in athletics in earlier years it is astonishing he could achieve so much. Having lost his parents during partition, he faced repeated frustration when his efforts to join the Army were rejected thrice. Finally when he joined the Army’s mechanical and Electrical wing in 1952, he started his training under Haviladr Gurdev Singh. From then on there was no looking back as Milka Singh came to the limelight in 1956 National Games at Patiala.

In a desperate effort to encourage young athletes Milka Singh had announced a lakh of Rupees to anyone who could break his timing in 400m. For years there was nobody who could accept the challenge and earn the money

He was the Director Sports in Punjab after retirement and was awarded Padma Shri in 1959.

Milka Singh’s biggest contribution to this day remains the fact that he encouraged horde of youngsters to take up serious running after his success at Asian and Commonwealth Games and Olympics.

Rightly, an young director Rakeysh Mehra is making a movie on the life of Milka Singh, ‘Bhag Milkha Bhag’ with Farhan Akhthar portraying Milka Singh, which should now inspire the current and future generations.

VISWANATHAN ANAND
SPORTS

BORN 1969

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Future World Chess Champion Vishwanathan Anand started as a child prodigy by solving chess puzzles when he was still in school in Manila, Phillipines where the family had moved. His mother played an important role in grooming the young Anand. The first of the many prizes started trickling in when he solved the puzzles that came on afternoons on TV there.

Born to Vishwanatahan Iyer and Sushila in 1969 at Mailaduthirai in Tamil Nadu Anand started chess when he was barely 6 and became the youngest international Master at the age of 15. At 16 he became the National Chess Champion and a Grandmaster at 18. In between he became a graduate in commerce from Loyola College then Madras.

Speed was the essence of his game and quite often he bamboozled the best of them by his sheer speed. He won the world chess Championship between 2000to 2002 conducted by FIDE when chess organization split into two. Later when they united, Anand became the undisputed champion from 2006 till date. Anand is the only player to have won championship in many formats including Tournaments, Match, Rapid and Knockout chess.

Former Champion Vladmir Kramnik, a champion himself once said, ‘I always consider Anand to be of colossal talent, one of the Greatest in the whole history of Chess’. Gary Kasparov the former Champion worked with Anand and helped him in his world championship preparations.

The Government honoured him with a Padma Shri when he was only 16; he was the first recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Rathna Award in 1991-92 and Padma Vibhushan in 2007. Married to Aruna with a child Akhil, Anands are most unassuming leading a simple life in Spain.

Anand is singularly responsible for putting India on the International map of chess and making it a popular sport for younger generation. His contribution both as a player and motivator is invaluable to the younger generation. He is another true Bharath Rathna.

SUNIL GAVASKAR
SPORTS

BORN 1949

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In the Seventies, The West Indies had the best bowling attack and were undisputed champions of the world. In his debut series to West Indies in 1971 Gavaskar became the first Indian batsman to score three centuries and a double hundred to announce his arrival to Test cricket.

His ability to negotiate pace and spin alike on any wicket especially the West Indian fast bowlers set him apart as one of the greatest opening batsmen in the game.

He is the first batsman to score 10,000 runs and 34 centuries till it was overtaken few years back. He was the first Indian to aggregate more than 700 runs in a series and his 774 runs at an average of 154.80 remain the highest scored by a batsman in his debut series.

In 1975-76 series Gavaskar and his brother-in-law Gundappa Vishwanath both scored centuries while chasing an improbable score of over 400 runs, which India won by scoring 406 for 4 - second highest run chase in the fourth Innings in Test cricket.

When India resumed cricket ties against Pakistan Gavaskar scored 89 in first Test, 97 in second Test and a century in each innings of 111 and 137 although India lost the series.

Gavaskar bade farewell to captaincy immediately after India beat Pakistan in the World Championship of Cricket in Victoria in Australia.

Gavaskar was honoured with a Padma Bhushan in 1994. Border- Gavaskar Trophy has been instituted for Australia and India cricket Test matches, a fitting honour for the great cricketer.

KAPIL DEV
SPORTS

BORN 1959

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He won World Cup Cricket for India for the time in 1983.

Kapil Dev played 131 Test matches for the country and not even once he was run out, such was his fitness, judgment. It was the same fitness and judgment that helped him run a long distance and take a high-pressure catch to dismiss Vivian Richards which helped India on the way to becoming World cup Champions in ODI in1983.

Kapil Dev Nikhnaj was born in January 1959 in Haryana and perhaps this marked cricket taking roots in rural India.

In the same World Cup the Haryana hurricane scored 175 not out off only 134 balls with 16 fours and 6 Sixes, then the highest score in a ODI match after India was reduced to 17 for 5 against Zimbabwe. That Innings gave India the self belief they can bounce from any position.

Kapil Dev once hit 4 successive sixes that helped India avoid follow-on against England when he had Tail-ender Narendra Hirwani with him after losing nine wickets. Spectators in England voted this as the most spectacular event seen in Lords cricket ground.

In an age when India flourished mainly due to world class Spinners, Kapil was the first genuine medium fast bowler who went on to beat the then World record for highest number of wickets of Richard Hadley and went on to take 434 wickets.

He was one of the finest all-rounders of the game and is the only player to have taken 400 wickets and scored over 5000 runs.

In a heroic display that became his style, taking pain-killing injections for a serious groin injury Kapil came out to defend a small score of 143 and took 5 for 28 to help India beat Australia.

In a 1987 World cup match playing against Australia he agreed with the umpires that their original score of 268 should be increased by two runs as a Six was wrongly declared as four and hence was revised to 270. In reply India scored 269 and lost the match by one run. Wisden recorded that ‘Kapil Dev’s sportsmanship proved the deciding factor in a close-run match’.

In 2008 Indian Army honoured him with a rank of Lieutenant Colonel of India’s Territorial Army.

 

[Bhairava]

What is Milkha Singh, Sunil Gavaskar, V Anand, Rajnikanth, Bismillah Khan etc doing on the list ?



Abdul Kalam, Sardar Patel, JP, Homi Babha are worthy contenders..not the above.

 

[RPK]

SACHIN TENDULKAR
SPORTS

BORN 1973

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It is believed when Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar takes guards to play the gods themselves descend on field to watch him play. Such is his mastery, concentration, talent and ability even opponents can’t help but watch in sheer helplessness and admiration as ball speeds to boundary at regular intervals.

Sachin burst in to cricket scene when he took on ace leg- spinner Abdul Qadir and scored 53 runs in 18 balls scoring 27 runs off a Qadir over in a match in Pakistan when he was barely 16.

Sachin was born in April 24, 1973 in Mumbai. His genius was first seen by his coach Ramanath Achrekar in school when playing for Sharadshram School along with Vinod Kambli, Sachin scored 326 not out in a partnership of 664 in a Harris Shield match.

Tendulkar has virtually broken every record in the game and has established quite a few of his own. He recently scored 100 centuries when he scored his hundredth against Bangla Desh in an ODI at Mirpur.

Don Bradman acclaimed the greatest cricketer ever, invited him to participate in his birthday celebrations along with spinner Shane Warne. Bradman’s wife once while watching Tendulkar on TV, pointed out to Bradman that they both had similar stance and style of play.

Sachin scored a century in his debut Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat when he was less than 16 years scoring 100 not out and became the youngest Indian to score a century on his debut. He has scored a century in debut matches of Ranji, Duleep and Irani Trophy matches. At 19, he became the first overseas player to represent Yorkshire and scored over 1000 runs at an average of 46.52.

During a World cup series, Tendulakr who had to rush back home as his father passed away, at the instance of his mother, came back to England to help the team at a crucial time to qualify for the knockout stage.

He has now scored highest number of runs, maximum centuries, and is reckoned as the greatest cricketer ever to play the game. He is the first player to score a double century in ODI cricket.

Wisden named him the second greatest batsman behind Don Bradman and second all time great batsmen after Vivian Richards to play ODI cricket

For all his achievements, the living legend is still humble, hasn’t lost his love and hunger to play and remains an icon India and world would love to see.

In recognition to his services to the game, the Government has made him a Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha. It is likely he would be honoured with Bharath Rathna, an honour that the little master truly deserves.

M S SWAMINATHAN
IDEA LEADER

BORN 1925

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Back in the 1960s, half of India was hungry. While 80% people in the country were farmers, crop yields were meagre due to the lack of infrastructure and modern technology. It was literally a ' ship to mouth existence ' for many Indians. India was at the mercy of donor nations like America. Our leaders were forced to go West with begging bowls. This changed due to the work of a team of dedicated scientists led by Dr M. S. Swaminathan. Supported by an outstanding Agriculture Minister, C. Subramaniam, and by Prime Ministers Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi, they successfully launched a Green Revolution that made the country self-sufficient in food.

Swaminathan and his fellow scientists adapted, for Indian conditions, high yielding varieties of wheat, rice and other food products. Because of their efforts, a once starving nation acquired a food surplus in a mere fifteen years. Now in his late eighties, Dr. M S Swaminathan is as devoted as ever to the Indian farmer, travelling across the country promoting sustainable methods of cultivation. In 1999, Time magazine placed him in the Time 20 list of most influential Asian people of the 20th century.

 

[lightoftruth]

where is Indira Gandhi ?

 

[RPK]

VIKRAM SARABHAI
IDEA LEADER

1919-1971

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Known as the Father of the Indian space programme. Vikram Sarabhai was one of the greatest scientists of India. Apart from being a scientist, he was a rare combination of an innovator, industrialist and visionary. He was greatly influenced by nationalist movement. Vikram Sarabhai was instrumental in establishing the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) at his house in Ahmedabad.


Sarabhai did research on the time variations of cosmic rays and concluded that meteorological effects could not entirely affect the observed daily variations of cosmic rays; further, the residual variations were wide and global and these were related to variations in solar activity. Vikram Sarabhai visualized a new field of research opening up in solar and interplanetary Physics. It exposed him to the new vistas of space science with the launching in 1957 of Sputnik-I. Subsequently, the Indian National Committee for Space Research was created, of which Vikram Sarabhai became Chairman.

With active support from Homi Bhabha, Vikram Sarabhai set up the first Rocket Launching station (TERLS) in the country at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram on the Arabian Coast, as Thumba is very close to the Equator. The first rocket with sodium vapour payload was launched on November 21, 1963. In 1965, the UN General Assembly gave recognition to TERLS as an international facility.

After the sudden death of Homi Bhabha in an air crash, Vikram Sarabhai was appointed Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission in May 1966. He wanted the practical application of science to reach the common man. He decided to acquire competence in advance technology for the solution of country’s problems based on technical and economic evaluation of its real resources. He initiated India’s space programme, which today is rated one of the top Five in the World.

N R NARAYANAMURTHY
ENTREPRENEUR

BORN 1946

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N R Narayanamurthy is synonymous with Infosys and India’s IT revolution. He climbed the ladders of phenomenal success without dropping his ethical precepts by the wayside. The Infosys legend began in 1981 when Narayana Murthy dreamt of forming his own company, along with six friends, though-he didn't have any seed money.

Luckily, his wife Sudha Murthy gave all her savings of Rs.10000. It was Murthy's first big break. The decade until 1991 was a tough period when the couple lived in a one-room house. The second break came in 1991 when Indian doors to liberalization were flung open… Murthy grabbed the opportunity with both hands and has never looked back ever since.

Today, Infosys is the first Indian company to be listed on the US NASDAQ. As he claims "I'm a capitalist in mind, a socialist at heart." It was this belief in the distribution of wealth that made Infosys one of the first Indian companies to offer employees stock-option plans. Infosys now has hundreds of employees who are dollar millionaires.


The Infosys Foundation headed by his wife, channels millions into charity every year.

Simplicity, humility and maintaining a low profile are the hallmarks of this super-rich Bangalorean. And the man is principled to a fault. Sometimes he courts controversies because of his strong views and politically incorrect statements.

In 2008, Murthy was honored with the Padma Vibhushan award conferred by the government of India. He has also received the Légion d’Honneur from the government of France, besides being honored with the title Commander of the Order of the British Empire by the government of Britain.

Murthy also holds the distinction of being the first Indian to win the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year award. In 2005, he was among the ten most-admired global business leaders as per a ranking by Economist.

J R D TATA
IDEA LEADER

1904-1993

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J R D Tata was known as a perfectionist among his peers. The only industrialist to get India’s highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna, JRD was a pioneer aviator who started civil aviation in India. In 1938, at the age of 34, J R D was elected Chairman of Tata & Sons making him the head of the largest industrial group in India.
For decades, he directed the huge Tata Group of companies, with major interests in Steel, Engineering, Power, Chemicals and Hospitality. He was famous for succeeding in business while maintaining high ethical standards. Under his chairmanship, the assets of the Tata Group grew from US$100 million to over US$5 billion.
He started with 14 enterprises under his leadership and half a century later in 1988, when he retired, Tata & Sons was a conglomerate of 95 enterprises which they either started or in which they had controlling interest. J R D’s also promoted fine arts and one of the most admired philanthropists of his time.

GHANSHYAM DAS BIRLA
ENTREPRENEUR

1894-1983

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Indefatigable optimist Ghanshyam Das Birla was an iconic industrialist and a great patron of freedom movement. He was one of closest associates of Mahatma Gandhi. The discrimination he faced during the early days of business venture in Calcutta made him anti-British.

He singlehandedly built a true Indian jute empire taking on the might of English and Scottish merchants. His another milistone was Hindustan Motors which set up in 1940. The 'Ambassador' car made Birla a household name. He was also a great philanthropist.

He generously donated for the promotion of higher education in technical fields. BITS Pilani is one such example.

He was a remarkable visionary of India’s future, his passion to contribute his best for the socio-economic progress and well-being of his nation, before and after independence makes him a real icon.

VERGHESE KURIEN
ENTREPRENEUR

BORN 1921

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India's most trusted brand was created not by a mightly Multinational Corporation nor by a great public sector company. The brand of course is AMUL, an extraordinary story of co-operation among farmers across India. AMUL was the brainchild of an engineer from Kerala Verghese Kurien, who went on to become India's milkman.

Over Fifty years ago, this visionary made his home in the barren lands of Gujarat. The rest ..... as they say is history. AMUL is India's best brand, a huge marketing success, an example of what a great visionary can achieve against the odds.

By creating AMUL, Kurien helped generate employment for millions of farmers and labourers. Befittingly, AMUL was born and nurtured in the home state of Mahatma Gandhi, who wanted the rural people of India to be self-reliant and independent. Truly and most deservingly Dr. Verghese Kurien is one of the greatest Indians.

DHIRUBHAI AMBANI
ENTREPRENEUR

1932-2002

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Dhirubhai Ambani built India's largest private business conglomerate 'Reliance', which became the first Indian company to feature in Forbes-500 list.

He is considered one of the greatest entrepreneurs. He is a classic rags to riches story. He is hailed as the one who rewrote Indian corporate history and built a truly global corporate group at times taking on both his rivals and government. Dhirubhai Ambani is credited with shaping India's equity culture, attracting millions of retail investors in a market till then dominated by financial institutions.

Dhirubhai revolutionised capital markets. From nothing, he generated billions of rupees in wealth for those who put their trust in his companies. His efforts helped create an 'equity cult' in the Indian capital market. He is regarded as the greatest wealth creator of the 20th Century India.

DEV ANAND
ENTERTAINMENT

1923-2011

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Dev Anand the original Peter Pan of Indian films is undoubtedly an evergreen legend. For more than six decades Dev Anand, fondly called Dev Saab, entertained audiences across the globe with his unique acting style & his charismatic persona.

He was the first suave, cool & chic romantic hero of Bollywood. His exuberant and youthful performances set him apart. With more than a 100 films to his credit as an actor, most of them as the leading man, Dev had a special way with his leading ladies, be it Suraiya, Geeta Bali, Madhubala, Waheeda Rehman, Hema Malini, or later the much younger Zeenat Aman.

Some of his best works included C.I.D, Guide, Jewel Thief, Hum Dono, Kala Paani, Kala Baazar, Paying Guest- the list is endless. In 1949, he launched his own banner of Navketan Films that produced the iconic Guide. He directed 19 films & produced 35 films under this banner. In 1972, Dev Anand directed Hare Rama Hare Krishna, which assumed a cult status. His movies had some of the most romantic songs to date.

Dev Anand’s inimitable style made him a fashion icon. A darling of the fans for all times to come, Dev Anand had the conviction to perform roles with shades of gray. In an interview in 2007 he said “I dabble with ideas. I have grown beyond acting, I am a motion picture maker. That is why I am alive.” This perhaps best sums up Dev Sahab, who passed away in December 2011 at the age of 88 while still working on the script of his next film.

DILIP KUMAR
ENTERTAINMENT

BORN 1922

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His heart-rending performances in the 40s and 50s won him the title “Tragedy King” in a career that spanned over 5 decades. He was the first actor to win the Filmfare Award for Best Actor a record 8 times indeed very few actors have left a legacy of excellence like Dilip Kumar has.

His role as Salim, in K Asif’s magnum opus epic Mughal-e-Azam remains etched in the history of Indian cinema. Starting with a 100% advance booking for seven weeks, the film created history on many counts. Dilip Kumar delivered many hits like Devdas, Deedar, Yahudi and Madhumati. Satyajit Ray is once said to have described him as the “ultimate method actor”.

And his involvement with his roles was so intense that in the late 50’s he was advised by a psychiatrist to take up lighter roles to overcome his depression. That’s when he proved his versatility in hits like Aan, Andaaz and Kohinoor. Dilip Sahab took a break from acting from 1976 to 1981 and made his come back with Kranti, a run away hit. This was followed by hits like Shakti, Vidhataa, Mashaal and Karma.

Besides acting, he worked towards strengthening ties between India and Pakistan. He was awarded the Nishaan-e-Imtiaz, the highest civilian honour conferred by the government of Pakistan in 1998 and the Dada Sahab Phalke award in 1994.

Dilip Kumar has also been actively involved in charity work. In 1980 he was appointed the Sherrif of Mumbai and was also a Member of Parliament from 2000 to 2006. And as the soft dusk closes around him, if Dilip Saab were to look back at his life, there’s little that he’d want to change.

 

[RPK]

A R RAHMAN
ENTERTAINMENT

BORN 1966

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The title Mozart of Madras sums up the personality of A R Rahman. As 'Time' magazine rightly describes ' Like Gershwin or Lennon-McCartney, the name A R Rahman stands for melody, quality, energy, instant hummability; a sound both personal and universal, devouring many older forms and transforming them into something gorgeously new ' the music man of modern India has no parallel in the world of cinema.

One of the most prolific and successful film composers in India he has won both Oscars and Golden Globe. His hunger for innovations, gift for golden melody and a cosmopolitan touch that reflects the new, globally conscious India, have given Mr. Rahman a kind of national-hero status. He is also one of the top selling artists in the World, who has sold over 100 million copies of his work so far. A true man of music.

LATA MANGESHKAR
ENTERTAINMENT

BORN 1942

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For over 6 decades Lata Mangeshkar continued to be the reigning queen of playback singing, having sung for over a thousand Hindi films and in twenty regional Indian languages. Though a young Lata began singing at the age of 13, her breakthrough song was ‘Aayega Aanewala…’ from the film ‘Mahal’ in 1949 picturised on Madhubala, and there was no looking back.

Over the years, from SD Burman to AR Rahman, Lata has sung for every mainstream music composer and Lata Mangeshkar has lent her voice to both film and non-film songs. It is said that during the Sino-Indian War in 1963,

Mangeshkar’s rendition of the patriotic song ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo…’ was so powerful that it brought tears to eyes of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Apart from the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Vibhushan and the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, Lata Mangehskar has also been honoured with India’s highest civilian award - the Bharat Ratna.

Nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1999, Lata Mangekshkar is the only Indian singer who has a perfume brand named after her. Few know that besides her accomplishments in playback singing, Mangeshkar composed music for Marathi films and also produced Marathi and Hindi films. (Bharat Ratna)

SATYAJIT RAY
ENTERTAINMENT

1921-1992

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One of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th Century, Satyajit Ray, took Indian cinema to the world through his Bengali films. He won the Oscar award for Lifetime Achievement in 1992. His tryst with international acclaim began with his first film Pather Panchali, winning at the Cannes film festival in 1956.

As a director Ray is noted for his humanism, his versatility, and his detailed control over his films and their music. What sets Ray apart from the rest is the fact that he was a true auteur. From writing the story and screenplay to designing sets and costumes, operating the camera, composing music for his films and even designing their posters, Ray did it all. And it wasn't just about awards.

Many of his films like the Apu trilogy and Aparjita were box office hits. Satyajit Ray experimented with documentaries, fantasy, and science fiction to investigative films. He was a part of what critics call the Indian New wave cinema. Many national and international filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, James Ivory and Abbas Kariostami have been influenced by his style. In addition to being a film maker, Ray was also a writer and a gifted illustrator.

Children love Feluda, the detective and Professor Shonku, the scientist two of Ray’s literary characters. Cinema great Akira Kurosawa aptly said ”Not to have seen the cinema of Ray would mean existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon. “

 

[vsdoc]

Drs Swaminathan and Kurien - without them we would still be hungry. You cannot grow as a nation on an empty stomach.

Drs Bhabha, Sethna, Ramanna and Kalam - without them we would not be a nuclear power.

Indira Gandhi - was at the helm of the post-Independence Indian ship during its most stormy days

Field Marshall Sam "Bahadur" Maneckshaw - architect of our most famous military victory and payback for the Partition - no politically correct qualms in saying it as it is.

JRD Tata - the industrial backbone of modern India.

 

[RPK]

RAJ KAPOOR
ENTERTAINMENT

1924-1985

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Actor, director and cinema mogul Raj Kapoor is a giant of Indian cinema. ‘The Showman’ as he was fondly called, led the rise of Bollywood during the Golden Age of Indian cinema.

Kapoor’s Awaara & Shri 420 crossed borders with ‘Awaaro Hoon’ and ‘Mera Joota Hai Japani’ echoing across the world from the lanes of Moscow to the Middle East even China. In 2005 Awaara was listed in Time Magazine’s All-TIME 100 greatest films since 1923.

Thematically and stylistically Kapoor’s early films, mostly featuring Nargis, contain stunning black-and-white cinematography and urgent social messages. The later films were more commercially minded. But even there the basic theme remained that of a social divide.

His skill as a storyteller made films like Awaara, Barsaat, Shree 420 and later Bobby and Ram Teri Ganga Maili box office hits. Critical acclaim and honours came with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, a Padma Bhushan, numerous Filmfare Awards.

Think of on screen romances and Nargis and Raj Kapoor are the first to come to mind. Raj Kapoor also founded RK Films in 1948, the most important studio of the post-Independence era and one of the first big banners in Bollywood till the 80s. In the late 70’s and early 80’s he began the trend of films focusing on the female protagonist and is credited with launching actress’ such as Dimple Kapadia, Padmini Kolhapure and Mandakini.

Son of film actor and theatre personality Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor belongs to the first family of Bollywood, and remains the first man of Indian cinema.

AMITABH BACHCHAN
ENTERTAINMENT

BORN 1942

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Arguably India’s most popular and influential movie star Amitabh Bachchan has been a larger than life icon for almost 4 decades now. Though Amitabh made his debut as an actor in 1969, it was his breakthrough performance in Prakash Mehra’s ‘Zanjeer’ in 1973 that catapulted him to stardom.

Films such as ‘Deewar’, ‘Majboor’ and ‘Trishul’ through the 1970s established Amitabh as the ‘angry young man’ who fought the system on his own terms, an image that endeared him to the common man. The actor’s popularity saw a meteoric rise in the 80s, so much so that when Amitabh met with a near fatal accident on the sets of ‘Coolie’, lakhs of people thronged outside the hospital and community prayers were held at temples for his recovery.

Bachchan took a brief hiatus from films and joined politics in 1984, having contested the elections on a Congress ticket from Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. The actor soon grew disenchanted with politics and returned to acting, making a comeback with hits like ‘Shahenshah’ and ‘Agneepath’.

Though Amitabh’s popularity waned in the 90s and his business venture ABCL Corp wound up due to mismanagement, he reinvented himself and made a comeback on television with the popular game show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ in 2000, which he continues to host. Apart from the small screen, in the new millennium Bachchan reconnected with his cinema audience with hits like ‘Mohabbatein’, ‘Black’, ‘Baghbaan’ and ‘Sarkar’.

At 69 Amitabh Bachchan continues to entertain both on television and the movies and connect with his fans through Twitter and his blog… and for millions of cinema lovers, Amitabh Bachchan remains a living legend who defines everything an indomitable hero stands for.

AMARTYA SEN
ECONOMIST

BORN 1933

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Amartya Sen, India’s only Nobel laureate in Economics is a very rare example of an academician who has had a major effect on politics and public movements. His work on the causes of famine changed public perceptions all over the World. He showed why thousands might starve even when a country's food production has not gone down. He redefined the way the developed World deals with the issues like poverty, famine and malnourishment etc. Amartya Sen created the United Nations' Human Development Index, which has become the most authoritative international source of welfare comparisons between countries.

- A strong advocate of tribal rights, human rights, globalisation with a human face, Prof. Sen is still active in public life often guiding or leading a debate on some of the most important issues of today.

- Undoubtedly, he is one of the most influential Indians of our times.

R K LAXMAN
ARTS

BORN 1921

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R K Laxman, the creator of 'common man' is way and ahead India's finest cartoonist, and one of the world's best. Laxman's committment and curiosity, his unfailing humour and irony have elevated him to iconic status. It isn't easy to draw cartoons day after day for over 60 years. Laxman has done the job for 'The Times of India' like a true saint. He is one of the most incisive observers of post-independence India. He made millions of Indians smile every single morning for over 60 years and gave the common man of this country; a face, a voice, an identity and a consistent presence and importance in every aspect of our lives.

You may not always like Laxman's cartoons. Sometimes they may sound dry and lacking in zaniness, but you will definitely appreciate his mastery over the medium, his craftsmanship, and his unending search for humour in what may otherwise appear to be a humdrum life. All cartoonists, young and old, ridicule politicians. But the greatness of Laxman is that he never ridicules the poor and the underpreviliged. That makes him stand tall above many younger cartoonists. That's what makes him great.

M F HUSAIN
ARTS

1915-2011

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As an obituary in ‘Guardian’ rightly puts it, ‘Faultlessly secular and a great promoter of Indian identity, Husain never let his Muslim background stand in the way of his celebration of what he saw as his own heritage of Hindu myth and religion'. With his usual aplomb, he turned his back on his detractors and continued to paint in the name of his multireligious India elsewhere’.

M F Husain was a star on the contemporary Indian art scene. He was a renaissance man, who got honour and money for the modern Indian art, which was earlier dismissed by the West as worthless.

He was India’s foremost modern painter. This barefoot artist produced over 40,000 paintings – ensconced in the past to which he belonged. Unfortunately the wave of bigotry that bore down on him from the mid-1990s kept Husain in the headlines for wrong reasons. Even after his death in exile, he continues to dominate the national imagination, both for those he outraged and for those who see him as a great secular cause. Husain refused to accept limitations on his freedom of expression. He will be remembered for that more than anything else. In a true sense Husain was an artist who had a brush with the nation.

PANDIT RAVISHANKAR
ARTS

BORN 1920

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Pandit Ravishankar is India's greatest living sitarist. His achievements in Indian classical music (such as developing new playing techniques, composing orchestral pieces using Indian instruments and adapting rhythm patterns from the south Indian classical tradition) are widely acclaimed.

He is also known as the godfather of World music. By collaborating with George Hamson, Yehudi Menuhin, Philip Glass and scores of other internationally famous musicians, he created music that appealed to audiences across the World, and inspired cross-cultural experiments of great significance.

American interest in Indian classical music exploded after his sensational 1969 performance at the Woodstock festival (USA). He made music for films (including those directed by Satyajit Ray and Richard Attenborough), served as music director for All India Radio (AIR), became a member of Parliament, and continues to perform well into his 90s.

Few, including admirers of his fellow-sitarist Ustad Vilayat Khan, will deny that he has contributed magnificently to the creation of a classically inspired contemporary Indian musical culture. (Bharat Ratna)

VINOBA BHAVE
SOCIAL LEADER

1895-1982

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Vinoba Bhave, was often called Acharya or a National Teacher of India and he is considered spiritual successor of Mahatma Gandhi. He was associated with Mahatma Gandhi in the Indian independence movement.

In 1940 he was chosen by Gandhi to be the first Individual Satyagrahi (an Individual standing up for Truth instead of a collective action) against the British rule. Bhave also participated in the Quit India Movement.

Vinoba's religious outlook was very broad and it synthesized the truths of many religions. This formed the core of his Sarvodaya (Awakening of all potentials) movement. Another example of this is the Bhoodhan (land gift) movement.

He walked across India asking people with land to give him a portion of their land which he then distributed to landless poor. Nonviolence and compassion being a hallmark of his philosophy. He died on November 15, 1982 after refusing food and medicine few days earlier. Some Indians have identified this as sallekhana. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1983.

 

[Filmmaker]

Voted for Jayarakash Narayan

 

[Prometheus]

where is Indira Gandhi ?

in hell.............

 

[RPK]

MOTHER TERESA
SOCIAL LEADER

1910-1997

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As she once said 'Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love', Mother Teresa was embodiment of love and compassion. This Albanian Nun who made India her home to care for millions of unfortunate people has not many parallels in history.

Her child like smile, generosity, care for the poor and the less fortunate made a great impact on generation of Indians and people in other parts of the world. Mother Teresa is the only Nobel Peace Laureate from India and entire South Asia.

She may have opposed abortion and family planning on religious grounds, but she was all for the education for girls, and employment for women. Teresa's Missionaries of Charities is now an iconic voluntary organisation working for the disposessed in the World. (Bharat Ratna)

B K S IYENGAR
HEALTH & WELLNESS

BORN 1918

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Yogacharya B K S Iyengar is a living legend. He is described as a philosopher, a scientist and an artist of Yoga. He is considered to be one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world and has been practicing and teaching yoga for more than 80 years.

He has taught Yoga in a unique way to millions of people across the globe. His style of teaching Yoga is called Iyengar Yoga and it has now become one of the most effective and popular forms of Yoga in the World.

He has taught Yoga to some of the most famous people in the World including the all time great Violinist Yehudi Menuhin and other Hollywood greats.

 

[ZABASHO]

stupid thread.
Greatest Indian: Zabasho! Period.

 

[RPK]

BABA AMTE
SOCIAL LEADER

1914-2008

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A modern saint, who dedicated his entire life to the cause of sick, poor, downtrodden, tribals, national peace and unity. His ashram ‘Anandwan’ has been a home to thousands of leprosy patients and others for over 60 years. He appeared on the national scene in a big way through his ‘Knit India’ or ‘Bharat Jodo’ aandolan in the mid 1980s.

For the next 20 years, almost until he was 90, he was to push himself through a gruelling series of initiatives. He led a struggle against two dams in Maharashtra which would have submerged large tracts of forest and the homes and livelihood of thousands of tribals. He led two cycle marches of youths, the first from south to north, and the other from east to west. He led several peace missions to Punjab.

- And finally, he lent his prestige and voice to the struggle of the people who were displaced by the Narmada dams. Till his death Baba Amte lived his words.

RAM MANOHAR LOHIA
POLITICAL LEADER

1910-1967

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Lohia was THE original socialist leader in post independence India. Prime Minister Nehru and Lohia were two opposite polars. Though Lohia was influenced by Western thoughts and system, he strongly advocated a pure Indian model. He was a decorated freedom fighter, at times a maverick socialist and a highly respected political leader of international repute. He worked against economic divide & caste inequalities. Lohia’s contribution in the rebuilding of new India is very significant.

RAMNATH GOENKA
IDEA LEADER

1904-1991

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Admired as ‘Warrior of the Fourth Estate’, Ramnath Goenka was independent India’s first media baron, who valiantly fought the Emergency to uphold freedom of expression and other civil rights. Goenka was a freedom fighter and was also a part of the Madras politics before independence.

He was an iconoclast and the most combative newspaper owner in the country repeatedly taking on the establishment. He established India’s first multi edition newspaper ‘The Indian Express’ from all major parts of India to make it a truly national newspaper. His moment of glory came during Emergency. His spirited fight and courage made him a household name. He relished fighting the might of the establishment.

He took on two prime ministers Indira Gandhi and later her son Rajiv Gandhi. His never say die spirit was strikingly evident when Goenka at the age of 83, led a march against the anti-defamation bill that Rajiv Gandhi government wanted to introduce to tame the media. He came out of the freedom movement and upheld its values all his life.