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Famous personalities of India | Why celebrate them?
India’s rich tapestry of heritage and traditions has given rise to an array of extraordinary individuals, known as famous personalities of India, whose contributions have left an indelible imprint globally. Figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Sachin Tendulkar stand as testament to the remarkable influence that Indian personalities have had across diverse fields. The contrast between India’s pre-independence era and its current global standing is stark, with the nation’s progress largely attributed to the tireless efforts of its citizens. This blog pays homage to the Indian luminaries whose significant roles in the fight for freedom have shaped the country’s destiny.
Famous personalities of India | Which are the top 10?
For many among us, the term “Famous personalities of India” brings to mind renowned figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. While these two luminaries are monuments to the country’s independence struggle, there are a great many other Indians who have made tremendous contributions to the fields of politics, culture, entertainment, literature and much more.
1. Mahatma Gandhi
The Indian independence movement was spearheaded by Mahatma Gandhi. He is regarded by many as one of history’s greatest leaders and was instrumental in guiding India toward freedom from British domination.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India. A nearby princely state’s minister served as his father. He completed his legal studies at University College London when he was a young man, working as an advocate in Bombay with some measure of success before coming home to resume his legal career.
After becoming known as an authority on Hindu law, he went on a lecture tour across India, discussing politics and religion. He also wrote several books that were eventually published, such as Hind Swaraj (1909), The Story of My Experiments with Truth (1925), An Autobiography, or The Story of My Experiments With Truth (1929), etc.
2. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
The Dalit Buddhist Movement was inspired by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, an Indian jurist, economist, politician, and social reformer who fought against societal injustice against Untouchables (Dalits) in India. Additionally, people call him Babasaheb. Ambedkar was the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and the country’s first minister of law after independence.
Ambedkar was raised by untouchable people (then known as Dalits). He was born into a group that had varying degrees of socioeconomic adversity as a result of their absence from Hinduism’s caste system, and as a result, he experienced prejudice from a young age.
3. Jawaharlal Nehru
The first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was a remarkable leader who was instrumental in the Independence cause. He was also a superb writer and public speaker. Nehru was not only a leader; he also made contributions in the spheres of politics and education.
On November 14, 1889, in Allahabad, Jawaharlal Nehru was born (India). After completing his education at Cambridge University and Harrow School (London), he chose to study law despite his parents’ wishes for him to become an engineer (England). After arriving back in India from England, he enrolled at the Allahabad High Court and began practicing law there for 15 years before joining the fight to end British authority over India.
4. J. R. D. Tata
Indian industrialist J. R. D. Tata established the Tata Group of enterprises in 1868 and presided over it from 1932 to 1938, 1940 to 1953, and from 1957 to 1988. His father had traveled to Paris, France, where he was born on December 28, 1904. He passed away in Mumbai, India, on November 29, 1993, at the age of 88, following a chronic illness.
Tata is well-known for launching Tata Airlines (now Air India), the first commercial airline in India, and Air India International, the first steel mill in Asia (which became Vistara). In 1971, the Royal Aeronautical Society in the UK honored him for his groundbreaking contributions to the growth of civil aviation by making him the first Indian to be admitted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame.
5. Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi, the first female prime minister of India, was a great leader. She served as prime minister from 1966 until her assassination in 1977 by her bodyguards. She was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru.
In many ways, she was an effective leader. She had a superb sense of direction, for instance, so that no one could ever get lost while following her (and this is why India is still on top of its game today). The crowds that gathered around Indira whenever she appeared in public were so sizable that it was impossible to manage them. She was also an exceptional speaker.
6. Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, lyricist, and composer. He was the son of Indiradevi and Ashoke Kumar Ray. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest directors ever.
The master storyteller Satyajit Ray has left behind a film legacy that is equally the responsibility of India and the rest of the world. His films show great humanity, in-depth observation, and deft handling of people and circumstances.
Satyajit Ray was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Oscar in 1992. Other honors include the Indian ‘Bharat Ratna medal and the French ‘Lègion d’Honneur.’
7. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, a scientist, and statesman served as India’s eleventh president from 2002 until 2007. In India, he is referred to as the ‘Missile Man’ for developing ballistic missiles and launchers.
He worked as an aeronautical engineer with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Defense Industries Department (DID), Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC), and Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). He was instrumental in the development of the country’s nuclear, space, and missile programs (ISRO).
8. Lata Mangeshkar
India’s most renowned playback singer is Lata Mangeshkar is one of the famous personalities of India. She began her career in 1942, and it has now lasted more than seven decades. Mangeshkar has sung songs in over 36 regional Indian languages and international languages, predominantly in Marathi and Hindi, for over a thousand Hindi film soundtracks.
The government of India presented her with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the country’s highest honor in the film industry, in 1989. The Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian accolade, was also given to her. According to the Guinness Book of Records in 1974, Lata Mangeshkar was the most-recorded musician in history.
9. Sachin Tendulkar
The God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, was a former captain and cricketer for India. He is recognized as one of history’s best batsmen. Before he ended his professional cricket career in 2013, Tendulkar played for the Mumbai squad from 1988 to 2013. He received the Bharat Ratna for his contributions to Indian cricket and athletics.
He is also the first male cricketer to score 200 runs in one-day internationals and has the most runs ever scored by an individual in test cricket (14927 runs) (ODIs).
10. AR Rahman
AR Rahman is an Indian composer, singer, songwriter, music producer, musician, multi-instrumentalist, and philanthropist. He was born on January 6, 1967, in Madras, Tamil Nadu. When Rahman was four years old, he started piano lessons and helped his father at the studio.
The much-anticipated break came in 1992 when director Mani Ratnam asked AR Rahman to write the score and soundtrack for the Tamil film Roja, for which he received his first National Award for best music director. Initially, AR Rahman wrote soundtracks for documentaries and jingles for TV commercials. For Slumdog Millionaire in 2009, he received Grammy, Bafta, Golden Globe, and Academy Award nominations.
Key takeaways
- India is a country of great personalities.
- There are various famous personalities of India who have entered the annals of history.
- These well-known Indian individuals demonstrate the diversity and greatness of the country and show how it competes on the international stage.
- They have represented our nation abroad as its flag carriers, and they will be remembered for their contributions to the growth of the nation.
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog. In case of any queries, reach out to us or drop a comment below!
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FAQs
Q1. Who was known as the Grand Old Man of India?
Answer – Dadabhai Naoroji was known as the Grand Old Man of India. He was an Indian nationalist and critic of British economic policy in India.
Q2. Who is the most well-known person from India?
Answer – This is a difficult question to answer because it all depends on several factors, but in terms of general popularity, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi) has to be the most well-known personality.
Q3. What can we learn from successful people?
Answer – These great personalities teach you a lot about the value of self-belief and self-trust since there will be many people who will try to prevent you from following your dreams, but if you believe in the strength of your dreams and the ability of yourself, your chances of success are high.